Fansided

Best player NFL teams passed on in the draft since 2000

By Mike Phillips

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals while playing the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals while playing the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 25: Steve Smith #89 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on September 25, 2016, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 25: Steve Smith #89 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on September 25, 2016, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Green Bay Packers: WR Steve Smith (2001 3rd Round)

The first third-rounder to make the list, Smith was underrated as a prospect before going on to have a strong 16-year NFL career. The Packers had not one, but two shots at taking Smith in the five picks preceding Carolina’s choice at 74. They went with safety Bhawoh Joe and linebacker Torrance Marshall, each of whom was gone after the 2004 season.

Houston Texans: DE Julius Peppers (2002 1st Round)

This time frame covers the entire draft history of the Texans, so we are essentially handing out the verdict for their worst draft move ever. We’ll go with their very first decision in 2002 when they took David Carr over Julius Peppers.

Carr never developed as the Texans hoped thanks to an awful offensive line while Peppers became one of the most prodigious sack artists in the NFL over the course of his career.

Indianapolis Colts: WR DeAndre Hopkins (2013 1st Round)

Like what we saw with Buffalo and Gronkowski, the Colts made a big mistake passing on Hopkins in 2013. Indianapolis went with defensive end Bjoern Werner, who never made an impact with the team. Hopkins was taken by Houston three picks later and proceeded to shred the Colts’ secondary for the next seven seasons.

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