NFL draft superteams: Comparing the best of each rookie class over last decade

The NFL draft has produced remarkable players and classes in the past 10 years. As we get closer to this year's edition, we've decided to build - and rank - superteams from each draft since 2016.

Individual accomplishments, talent, and legacy are our main criteria. Recent draft classes naturally have fewer seasons in the league, so career projections and immediate impact are also key elements of this fun exercise.

Here's how our all-draft teams stack up.

10. 2025 class

Just missed the cut: CB Will Johnson, LB Jihaad Campbell, QB Jaxson Dart, TE Colston Loveland, CB/WR Travis Hunter

Strengths: Solid O-line + dangerous secondary. The 2025 class ranks last, but its offensive line is strong with Membou, Banks, Zabel, and Booker providing a great foundation. Watts and Emmanwori headline a dynamic defensive backs group that recorded 13 total interceptions last year.

Weaknesses: Lack of a superstar + hole at center. Based on last year, we can't project a 2025 draftee becoming a top-five player anytime soon. Shough outplayed first-round quarterbacks Cam Ward and Dart but has only made nine starts. McMillan was the only 2025 rookie with over 1,000 receiving yards (1,014). Jeanty averaged 3.7 yards per carry behind a terrible offensive line, Carter had four sacks, and Hunter appeared in just seven games. Most 2025 blue-chip freshmen didn't deliver. This class also lacks standout centers, as Monheim was the only one with 100 snaps played.

9. 2019 class

Just missed the cut: EDGE Brian Burns, EDGE Josh Hines-Allen, DL Quinnen Williams, DL Zach Allen, WR Deebo Samuel

Strengths: Elite front four + complete WR room. Brown, Metcalf, and McLaurin check all the boxes; they offer physicality, speed, and home-run potential. But the 2019 team's biggest strength is its defensive front. The unit is loaded with All-Pro-caliber players in Crosby, Bosa, Simmons, and Lawrence. The talent that didn't even make this defense is absurd. This squad's secondary is underrated, although it doesn't include first-rounders - the first three DBs off the board that year (Darnell Savage Jr., Johnathan Abram, and Deandre Baker) didn't meet expectations.

Weaknesses: Drama-prone offense + unimpressive LBs. Yes, this team has solid receivers. However, Murray's playing style may not be an ideal fit with high-usage pass-catchers. Imagine Brown and Metcalf - who are often unhappy with a lack of targets - in a volatile unit with a non-elite QB who's struggled to create big plays with his arm. Murray ranked last in EPA/attempt on passes of 25-plus yards in 2025, according to Sharp Football Analysis. But Murray is athletic, and this run-first offense has a strong Jacobs-Montgomery backfield with a good-but-not-great O-line. Defensively, this class may have the weakest inside linebacker group on our list.

8. 2024 class

Just missed the cut: QB Jayden Daniels, QB Caleb Williams, QB Bo Nix, RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., S Kamren Kinchens

Strengths: Quarterback situation + elite youngsters. This class has a ton of QB talent, as evidenced by its "missed cut" lineup. Maye was our pick after he almost won MVP last season, but Daniels, Williams, and Nix have all stood out. The 2024 offensive line is also in great hands with Fashanu and Alt as the starting tackles. Bowers, Mitchell, and DeJean (slot) are already established top-five players at their respective positions.

Weaknesses: Flawed front seven. Wilson isn't as good as Cooper against the run. Murphy and Fiske were PFF's 76th- and 105th-ranked D-linemen as run-stoppers in '25, respectively. Verse and Latu are two of the league's best young edge rushers, but neither has a double-digit sack season yet. It remains to be seen if their play can approach a level closer to the likes of Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons.

7. 2022 class

Just missed the cut: RB Kenneth Walker III, RB Kyren Williams, DE George Karlaftis, WR Jameson Williams, C Cam Jurgens

Strengths: Superb secondary + big-time skill players. Take one more look at that secondary. It's hard to find better young cornerbacks. At safety, Hamilton and Joseph have three first-team All-Pro berths combined in as many seasons. The star power and depth at receiver and running back also stand out. McBride is a top-five tight end.

Weaknesses: QB talent + front seven. Purdy is enjoying an outstanding career for a former "Mr. Irrelevant" and is a perfect quarterback for Kyle Shanahan's offense. However, he doesn't boast elite arm talent. Could his limited ceiling in a different system hold the 2022 team back? Defensively, Hutchinson and Bonitto lead an incomplete front seven. Although Davis and Jones are strong run defenders, they aren't established disruptive pass-rushers. Lloyd just had a breakout year, but - like Bernard - hasn't been a star linebacker for most of his career.

6. 2020 class

Just missed the cut: QB Justin Herbert, QB Jalen Hurts, LB Patrick Queen, WR Brandon Aiyuk, CB Trevon Diggs

Strengths: QB success + firepower + talented secondary. This isn't 1983, but the 2020 class turns heads thanks to the quarterbacks. It produced five playoff starters: Burrow, Hurts, Herbert, Jordan Love, and Tua Tagovailoa. Both Burrow and Hurts have also started in the Super Bowl, with the latter claiming Super Bowl MVP in '25. But Burrow is the most complete passer of the group, given his production, accuracy, and playoff record (5-2). And how about those skill-position players? Taylor, Jefferson, Lamb, and Higgins are a video-game lineup. Finally, our defensive backs offer everything we'd need - Terrell and Johnson excel in coverage, Winfield and McKinney are two of the league's most complete safeties, and Chinn adds versatility.

Weaknesses: Injury concerns + incomplete trenches. Lamb, Higgins, Highsmith, Greenard, and Thomas all missed multiple games in each of the past two years. Burrow has played only one full campaign since 2023. Taylor was healthy in '25 but missed significant time in the three seasons prior. Madubuike's future is uncertain due to a neck injury. In addition to potential availability issues, this squad has an unimpressive O-line interior, and none of its edge rushers are perennial Pro Bowlers.

5. 2021 class

Just missed the cut: WR Jaylen Waddle, EDGE Jonathon Cooper, OT Spencer Brown, G Quinn Meinerz, RB Najee Harris

Strengths: Near-perfect offense + DPOY-level stars. This class is in contention for having the best offensive line in our exercise. Sewell and Humphrey are arguably the top players at their positions. The same stands for Chase at wide receiver, as he headlines a magnificent quartet featuring St. Brown, Collins, and Smith. On the other side, perennial All-Pro defender Parsons and former Defensive Player of the Year Surtain put this defense in a higher tier. Their presence compensates for the lack of star power at safety and in the interior of the D-line.

Weaknesses: Inconsistent backfield. Along with the aforementioned star-power limitation, this quarterback-running back duo raises questions. Lawrence is coming off a solid season, but the former No. 1 pick - once considered a generational prospect - hasn't delivered consistent excellence in the pros and owns a 1-2 playoff record with seven interceptions. At running back, Etienne has flashed as a dual-threat weapon, topping 1,300 scrimmage yards three times. However, he's averaged 3.9 yards per carry since 2023 and has never been to the Pro Bowl.

4. 2023 class

Just missed the cut: RB De'Von Achane, EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu, WR Jordan Addison, QB Bryce Young, TE Tucker Kraft

Strengths: Marquee class with abundant blue-chip talent. The 2023 team features already-established superstars in Robinson, Gibbs, Smith-Njigba, Nacua, Anderson, Carter, Witherspoon, and Gonzalez. The roster also has Flowers, LaPorta, Campbell, Tuipulotu, Branch, and Byron Young, who've all earned Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections. Years from now, we could look back at this as one of the most decorated classes in NFL draft history.

Weaknesses: QB question + O-line hole. Stroud was stellar as a rookie, but we haven't seen that version of him since. His level of play has regressed sharply over the past two seasons, raising questions about the quarterback's ceiling. There's also a concern at center. Joe Tippmann, who played the position at a solid level, transitioned to guard for the New York Jets, leaving Andrews as our next option.

3. 2016 class

Just missed the cut: QB Jared Goff, EDGE Leonard Floyd, DL Kenny Clark, OT Jack Conklin, DE Yannick Ngakoue

Strengths: Legendary playmakers + decorated O-line. Good luck defending this team through the air. Former MVP runner-up Prescott would feast with former Offensive Player of the Year Thomas as his possession receiver, while Hill would stretch the field with his jaw-dropping speed. Now imagine former OPOY King Henry (and Elliott) behind this incredible offensive line that features 15 Pro Bowl selections among Stanley, Tunsil, Thuney, and Kelly. Finally, the star-studded defense is headlined by future Hall of Famers Jones and Ramsey, along with three elite ballhawks. Byard, Simmons, and Howard own 97 career interceptions.

Weaknesses: LB talent + key injuries. There's a massive talent gap between the 2016 inside linebackers and every other position on the team. But the squad's Achilles heel might be the limited availability of key players, many of whom battled injuries and had their primes shortened as a result. Thomas, Elliott, Stanley, Bosa, Judon, and Howard never played five consecutive seasons at a Pro Bowl or All-Pro level.

2. 2018 class

Just missed the cut: QB Lamar Jackson, QB Sam Darnold, LB Tremaine Edmunds, CB JC Jackson, OT Orlando Brown, LB Shaquille Leonard

Strengths: MVP QBs + great trenches + defensive depth. The hardest decision in this exercise was to leave out two-time MVP Jackson. Some may have given him the nod, but Allen also has an MVP, and his playoff record is better than Jackson's. There's just too much QB talent here. Allen, Barkley, and Chubb would thrive behind a line as impenetrable as this one. Oh, and the 2018 team's overall defensive talent is impressive as well. Warner and Smith are two of the best off-ball linebackers of their generation, and the secondary is filled with All-Pro-caliber players who'd lock down receivers and create turnovers at a high rate.

Weaknesses: WR production + pass-rush ceiling. While most of the offense includes top-tier starters and award-winning players, the wide receivers aren't on that level. None of those wideouts has ever claimed a first-team All-Pro nod. At least Andrews has. Moore, Sutton, and Ridley are proven contested-catch targets, but they aren't consistent No. 1 guys. The same idea applies to our solid edge rushers. Chubb and Landry have only four double-digit sack seasons and three Pro Bowl selections combined.

1. 2017 class

Just missed the cut: RB Aaron Jones, RB Dalvin Cook, EDGE Trey Hendrickson, OT Garett Bolles, CB Eddie Jackson, WR Mike Williams

Strengths: Transcendent players. Mahomes leads this team as a three-time Super Bowl MVP and one of the most accomplished quarterbacks ever at age 30. Garrett, Watt, Kittle, and McCaffrey are also some of the most dominant players in recent memory. CMC and Kamara together make an absurdly dynamic backfield. This offense still has a former OPOY in Kupp and the underrated Godwin, a four-time 1,000-yard receiver. Defensively, the secondary perfectly backs a historic duo of edge rushers. Baker and Adams would offer strong run support, and Humphrey, Lattimore, and White were elite corners in their prime.

Weaknesses: Average LBs + O-line interior. The 2019 team isn't perfect; its off-ball linebackers and interior offensive linemen are potential liabilities. Milano and Cunningham aren't game-changers. The O-line boasts quality tackles, but its interior isn't great. Feeney, Wylie, and Pocic have never been to the Pro Bowl.