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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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 10: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Zack Martin #70 of the Dallas Cowboys in action against the New York Giants on December 10, 2017, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 30-10. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 10: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Zack Martin #70 of the Dallas Cowboys in action against the New York Giants on December 10, 2017, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 30-10. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

New York Giants: G Zack Martin (2014 1st Round)

This was the draft where the Giants landed Beckham, so few fans will complain about that choice. The end of the Beckham era was messy, however, leaving it fair to wonder if the Giants made a mistake not fortifying their offensive line with Martin. The Cowboys took the Notre Dame guard four picks after Beckham and he has developed into one of the NFL’s best interior linemen.

New York Jets: S Ed Reed (2002 1st Round)

The Jets have made plenty of dubious draft decisions over the years but one of the worst came in 2002. Instead of landing Reed when they could have used a young safety, New York opted to take little known Bryan Thomas out of UAB. Thomas was only a solid starter for the Jets while Reed became one of football’s best defenders.

Philadelphia Eagles: WR Reggie Wayne (2001 1st Round)

With a young Donovan McNabb under center, the Philadelphia Eagles planned to get him a young wide receiver in the 2001 draft. They went with UCLA’s Freddie Mitchell, who never emerged as a top-flight pass catcher. Making the choice worse was that Wayne went to the Colts five picks later and developed into one of the best wideouts in football with Peyton Manning.

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