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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 10
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 29: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears walks out of the tunnel during pregame warmups before playing the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 29: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears walks out of the tunnel during pregame warmups before playing the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Chargers: WR Larry Fitzgerald (2004 1st Round)

The 2004 first round was interesting for the Chargers, who drafted Eli Manning and traded his rights to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers’ rights and three draft picks.

While Rivers did have an excellent career in San Diego, the Chargers could also have had Fitzgerald, who went third to the Arizona Cardinals. Fitzgerald is on pace to finish behind only Jerry Rice in the NFL’s all-time receiving leaderboards in several categories.

Los Angeles Rams: LB Khalil Mack (2014 1st Round)

The Rams did get Aaron Donald in this draft, but they whiffed with their first pick, choosing offensive tackle Greg Robinson second overall. Robinson was a massive bust, a fact that was made worse by the fact that Mack went just three picks later to the Oakland Raiders. Having Mack and Donald on the same defense would have been terrifying for the NFC West.

Miami Dolphins: CB Darrelle Revis (2007 1st Round)

This is yet another case of a team passing on a player who would go on to haunt them in their division for a long time. Miami spent the ninth pick of the 2007 draft on Ted Ginn, a speedy wide receiver who has had a long career but never developed into a top pass catcher. Revis went five picks later to the Jets where he became the best cover corner in football, throttling Dolphins’ receivers for years.

Home/NFL Draft