Picking in the NFL Draft offers no guarantees at the top, middle or bottom of any round. Stakes are far higher in the first. Time to take a look at what teams did the last time they found themselves in the same picking position as they are in 2019.
32. Patriots: Malcom Brown (2015)
Malcom Brown came to Bill Belichick and Co. from Texas. He did a solid job in his four years with the team. Brown started at least 12 games in every season. He’s not a huge sack guy, netting only 8.5 in four seasons. He will be playing for the New Orleans Saints in 2019.
31. Rams: Robert Thomas (2002)
Robert Thomas made 30 starts in three seasons as a Ram. He had his only two career sacks with St. Louis. After that it was a year in Green Bay and then three in Oakland. An unremarkable career.
30. Packers (via Saints): Damarious Randall (2015)
Damarious Randall has made 14 picks in his four seasons. He lasted three in Green Bay before being sent to Cleveland for 2018. There were reports the Packer locker room was not pleased with the DB’s attitude, which led to his exit.
29. Chiefs: Sylvester Hicks
It wasn’t a first-round pick. However, in 1978 the Chiefs did go 29th overall and grabbed Sylvester Hicks, a defensive end from Tennessee State. He played for KC through 1981.
28. Chargers: Luis Castillo (2005)
Luis Castillo was a durable player in his six-plus years with the Chargers, starting 79 of the 83 games he played. The Northwestern star had seven sacks in his second season, never reaching that level again. A broken leg basically ended his career early in 2011.
27. Raiders (via Cowboys): Never
In 1983, the Raiders came close, chooing 26th. They grabbed Don Mosebar, a center from USC.
26. Colts: Randy Burke (1977)
Randy Burke did not pan out for the Colts out of Kentucky. He only made three starts and caught 30 passes in four seasons. He did have three TD catches in 1980.
25. Eagles: Freddie Mitchell (2001)
Freddie Mitchell was drafted by the Eagles out of UCLA. It is the rare bird that leaves an historic memory off one play but Mitchell did that, being on the receiving end of a playoff pass from Donovan McNabb on a fourth-angd-26 play that went for a first down against Green Bay.
24. Raiders (via Bears): Gareon Conley (2017)
Gareon Conley was a controversial pick after off-field trouble while at Ohio State. Injuries ruined his rookie season. However the Raiders liked what they saw in the DB as a sophomore. A rising star?
23. Texans: Never
The closest Houston has come to 23 was 21 in 2016 when it selected Will Fuller, a WR from Notre Dame.
22. Ravens: Mark Clayton (2005)
Mark Clayton made 234 catches as a Baltimore Raven in five seasons after playing college ball at Oklahoma. He found less success in his final two seasons as a St. Louis Ram, having his career disrupted by a torn patellar tendon.
21. Seahawks: Pete Kendall (1996)
Pete Kendall defined durability. He started 188 of 189 games for four teams. His career began as a Seattle Seahawk and he started every game but one in his rookie season that he saw action.
20. Steelers: Darryl Sims (1985)
Darryl Sims split four seasons between the Steelers and Browns. He didn’t live up to expectations as a No. 20 overall pick.
19. Titans: Michael Griffin (2007)
Michael Griffin may have gotten more national fame from a cupcake commercial than in his rock-solid NFL career. He played free safety for nine seasons with Tennessee before concluding his career with Carolina. Griffin made all 25 of his picks as a Titan.
18. Vikings: Erasmus James (2005)
Erasmus James came to the Vikings with a great name and game out of Wisconsin. His first two seasons were ruined by injuries. He only made 12 starts in three seasons before going to Washington for a final attempt at the NFL.
17. Giants (via Browns): Tyrone Wheatley (1995)
The Giants selected Tyrone Wheatley out of Michigan. He rushed for nearly 5,000 yards in a career that saw him play for both Big Blue and the Silver and Black of the Raiders. Wheatley scored 40 rushing TDs in the NFL.
16. Panthers: Never
The Panthers have twice selected 14th, which is as close as it gets to sweet 16 for them. They chosen Jason Peter out of Nebraska in 1998 and Star Lotulelei out of Utah in 2013.
15. Redskins: Rod Gardner (2001)
Rod Gardner had a 1,000-yard season in his second year with Washington out of Clemson. That was his best season an NFL career, which saw him also see time with Carolina, Green Bay and Kansas City.
14. Falcons: Never
In 1991, Atlanta chose 13th and selected WR Mike Pritchard from Colorado.
13. Dolphins: Laremy Tunsil (2016)
Laremy Tunsil dropped and dropped and dropped until he fell into Miam’s slot in 2016. His draft day was a complete circus. He has played in 44 games in three seasons, starting them all.
12. Packers: Alphonso Carreker (1984)
Alphonso Carreker spend five seasons as a Packer before moving on to Denver for a year and a piece of another. He had 18 1/2 sacks as a Packer.
11. Bengals: Joe Kelly (1986)
Joe Kelly spent four of his 11 years as a Cincinnati Bengal. The Bengals drafted him 11th overall out of Washington. He did start 48 out of 58 games he played in as a Bengal.
10. Broncos: Never
Denver would make the 10th pick for the first time. It was close in 2006, choosing Jay Cutler at 11. We know how that didn’t work out.
9. Bills: C.J. Spiller (2010)
C.J. Spiller blossomed in his third season as a Bill, rushing for 1,244 yards at six yards a clip. He followed that with a 900-yard season in 2013 and the rest of his career did not deliver many more highlights or headlines.
8. Lions: Ed O’Neil (1974)
Ed O’Neil played six years for the Lions and one for Green Bay out of Linebacker U, aka Penn State.
7. Jaguars: Byron Leftwich (2003)
Byron Leftwich became known for a gritty performance while injured at Marshall. He played the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Jaguars. After that it was three more teams and only six more starts.
6. Giants: Billy Hillenbrand (1944)
Billy Hillenbrand was drafted out of Indiana by the Giants. He did not play for them, rather suiting up for the AAFC Chicago Rockets for a year and then playing two seasons for the Baltimore Colts.
5. Buccaneers: Carnell Williams (2005)
Carnell Williams blasted out of the blocks for 1,178 yards as a rookie. He went for almost 800 in his second season and then after two shortened seasons due to injuries he ramped it up to 800 again. Overall, he rushed for more than 4,000 yards.
4. Raiders: Amari Cooper (2015)
The best plans….Amari Cooper had two 1,000-yard seasons to open his Raider career. He then dropped off to 680 and was having troubles in 2018. So, the Raiders dealt him to Dallas, where he erupted again and wound up with more than 1,000 yards between Oakland and the Cowboys.
3. Jets: Sam Darnold (2018)
Sam Darnold fell into the Jets when the Giants took Saquon Barkley at the second slot. Too early to tell or pass judgment as the Jets struggled in 2018 and Darnold battled through some injuries.
2. 49ers: Ken Willard (1965)
Ken Willard was a four-time Pro Bowler for San Francisco out of North Carolina. He played every season but one as a Niner and rushed for more than 6,100 yards.
1. Cardinals: George Cafego (1940)
George Cafego was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals first overall. He did not play for them. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940 and ’43, a span that was bridged by time in the U.S. Army.
