<
div id=”article-content” data-v-6f01d178=”” data-v-2cc5ffd6=””>
–>
We talk a lot about the “positional value” in the NFL -in the draft, in the sense of which positions are most cravified at the top of the draft each year and which mostly draw the most expensive contracts at the free agency. The team has 11 players on the field in any game, but we can say from a draft tendencies and trends of consumption that are the most important, most respected, most expensive.
So we returned to the first rounds of the past 10 drawings-318 total elections, with two seized-how would we get a better measure where NFL teams set up their most prized resources as a first-team player. We categorized the players where they settled as professionals, unlike what they played in college or the position they were drawn in. This is usually just an offensive question, but it is also played with versatile defense pieces.
We have outlined what positions they had the most overall elections in the first round, at most in the top 10, at most in the top five, and we can use it to create a positional rank in the last decade and see what the league appreciates the most. The best positions should not be surprising, but some of the following may have numbers you didn’t expect.
1. The attacker
Total election: 35
Top-10 Picks: 26
Top-five types: 19
Highest choice: first total (eight times)
Most/at least: six in 2024, one in 2022
Of course, this is a position that dominates the top of the draft. Quarterbacks makes up 70 percent of the square two types in the last decade, with 14 of the 20th constant search for franchise QB makes teams overpaying and trade, although the success rate is hit-or the failure, even in the first five elections. There is an aspect of flourishing or rebellion in which the QBs are assembled in one when you cross the first 10, less than one return striker per year is taken in the rest of the first round. These types include Lamar Jackson and Jordan loveSo the success rate has a slightly higher value later in the first round. Eight attackers recorded number 1 in the last decade combined for only 12 appearances of Pro Bowla, with Jared Goff (four) as the only one with more than two.
2. The edge of the edge
Total election: 50
Top-10 Picks: 16
The best five types: 12
Highest selection: First Total (Myles Garrett In 2017, Travon Walker 2021.)
Most/at least: eight in 2017, two in 2020
The second most important NFL player is the guy who is in charge of removing these attackers. We have seen elite artists with bags like such as like Maxx Crosby And myles Garrett reset the market this summer, with Micah Parsons Probably the following landed jackpot extension. The 50 first rounds are most of all the positions of the righteousness, two are in the game for each one return blow. Since this is another position that appreciates NFL teams so much, it was harder to find productive passing ruins outside the first round, with Crosby (Fourth Circle 2019) and Trey Hendrickson (Third in 2017) as recent exceptions.
3. Wide receiver
Total election: 45
Top-10 Picks: 13
The best five types: 4
Highest selection: Fourth Total (Amari Cooper In 2015, Marvin Harrison Jr. 2023.)
Most/at least: seven in 2024, two in 2018/2019
We see a top -notch level that earns $ 40 million a year, so that position is there with manual hands among the most famous by NFL teams. The receivers generally do not break the top of the draft, but for the volume in the first circles of separation, the only position with multiple choices in the first round outside the first 10 in the past decade are edge soldiers. This could actually be something of a fall for the first -round receivers, after seven last year. This is a position prone to running – there were four direct receivers in 2023, and three in a row in 2016 and 2022.
4. A return blow
Total election: 41
Top-10 Picks: 10
The best five types: 6
Highest selection: Third Total (Jeff Okudah 20000., Derek Stingley Jr. 2021.)
Most/at least: six in 2020, one in 2019
Last year, there was something extraordinary without angles in the first 20 elections, and although the position is not paid almost as well as the receptions against which they are aligned, we notice a steady increase in salary in the corner after a decade little or no growth. The angles taken at the very top of the draft can go in both extremes: Jalen Ramsey,, Denzel Ward and Gardner sauce They were solid hits, but Jeff Okudah is now on his fourth team in four years.
5. Offensive accessories
Total election: 43
Top-10 Picks: 14
The best five types: 2
Highest selection: Fourth Total (Andrew Thomas 2020.)
Most/at least: eight in 2024, two in 2017
Like receptions, the fighting is rarely at the top of the draft, but no position has more choices between six and 10 in the past decade. This is the position in which they are best located outside the top 10 – Tristan Wirfs,, Laremy Tunsil and Rashaww Slater For example, all in number 13. Last year’s first round had eight fights, which shows teams that identify another key position where it helps to spoil solid beginners on rookie contracts.
6. Defense accessories
Total election: 29
Top-10 Picks: 6
The best five types: 1
Highest selection: Third Total (Quinnen Williams 2019.)
Most/least: seven in 2019, none 2021
There was an unusual turnaround in this position: 20 defensive fights in the first round from 2015-19, but only nine in the last five years, and only one (Derrick Brown At no. 7 2020) higher than 13. The teams sought to find their own Aaron Donald and are not consistently not, so the inner defensive line regulated in the total draft value. Two highest defensive draws in the last four drafts are both Orlons (Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter), who showed the strength of his depth of the interior in February in the conquest of Super Bowl.
7. Running back
Total election: 14
Top-10 Picks: 6
The best five types: 3
Highest selection: Other total (Saquoon Barkley In 2018)
Most/least: three in 2018; No 2023
Running the back hit a real crowd from 2019-22. But there was a little recovery Was Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs 2023 and potentially high choice Ashton Jeanty It’s coming this year. The days of the top-five running back like Ezekiel ElliottLeonard Fournette and Saquoon Barkley may have largely been in the past, but even two choices of the first round this year would be most appropriate from the 2018 Barkley Draft.
Is Ashton Jeanty not missing a perspective?
Related: Ashton Jeanty reveals his nfl goal: “Being the best that has ever played a game”
8. Inner striker
Total selects: 19
Top-10 Picks: 4
The best five types: 1
Highest selection: Fifth Total (Devin White 2019.)
Most/least: four in 2018, 2021; One three times
They are defense returnees, but this is not expanded to Linebackers who are well paid or drawn any prominent. There was no first round last year and the only one drew more than 16. In the last five years, Isaiah SimmonsBasically, hybrid safety is now. Top-10 types like Roquan Smith And White was not signed again by the teams who drew them. With a rare exception, this is the position in which NFL lies low, avoiding high choices and large checks.
9. offensive guard
Total election: 14
Top-10 selection: 2
The best five types: 1
Highest selection: Fifth Total (Brandon Scherff In 2015)
Most/least: three in 2015, 2023; None in 2017
The premium placed on a fight at the top of the draft does not go down inside. Last year, no true guards were composed in the first round, and the only top 10 in the last nine drafts is Quenton Nelson. Every year in his career was a choice for Pro Bowl but was not necessarily ascended Kolta or their insult the way other positions could.
10. narrow end
Total election: 9
Top-10 selection: 2
The best five types: 1
Highest selection: Fourth Total (Kyle Pitts 2021.)
Most/least: three in 2017; none four times
Maybe success Brock Bowers Last year will help, along with top -notch prospects like Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland In the upcoming draft, but this position is largely neglected at the top of the draft. It’s hard to find recent success stories here – Dalton Kincaid He has four Touchdown in two seasons, Kyle Pitts has 10 in his four seasons. Others love Ie hockenson and Noah fantastic They sold themselves before their Novak contracts were in accordance with only in the midst of success with other teams.
11. Security
Total election: 13
Top-10 Picks: 1
The best five types: 0
Highest selection: Sixth Total (Jamal Adams In 2017)
Most/least: three three times, none four times
Kyle Hamilton It is a strong exception, but the security security in the first round has not brought a lot of return to the teams that have compiled them in rare cases you can find. Hamilton is the only security that will go more than 20 in the last five drafts and the most prominent in front of him – Minkah Fitzpatrick And Jamal Adams – they saw their original teams start from them quickly. There was no security in the first round last year, although this year contains a promising chance of South Carolinawith Nick Emmanwi and Georgiawith Malaki Stark.
12. Center
Total election: 6
Top-10 Picks: 0
The best five types: 0
Highest selection: 18. Total (Ryan Kelly In 2016, Garrett Bradbury 2019.)
Most/least: two in 2018, none five times
Less observed value as you move inside on the offensive line – the position did not have a player recorded in the top half of the first round from … Mike Pouncey went 15th in 2011. There are what seemed to be a success story in recent types like types like Tyler Lindarbaum and Graham BartonBut this is a position that does not register the value until later in the first round, if then.
Greg Auman is a NFL journalist for Fox Sports. He spent the decade earlier by covering Bukanari for Tampa Bay Times and athletic. You can follow it on Twitter on @gregauman.
Do you want great stories delivered to your inbox? Create or Login to your Fox Sports AccountAnd follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter every day!
Get more than a national football league Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
