As we approach free agency, many of the players featured are from the 2016 draft class, as their 4-year contracts signed as rookies are expiring, minus the first-rounders who had their fifth-year options picked up (17 of the 31 picks were exercised, 12 declined, and 2 were released). Some players have already gotten extensions, while several others were released from the teams that drafted them, some caught on with other teams, others did not. Let’s take a look at each draft class from 2016 and see how each team fared four years later, in ranking form.
(Bold-still on roster, Italics-different team, *Re-signed, **Fifth-year option, +Pro Bowl)
1. 
Dallas Cowboys
Round 1: RB Ezekiel Elliott*+
Round 2: LB Jaylon Smith*+
Round 3: DT Maliek Collins
Round 4: DE Charles Tapper, QB Dak Prescott+
Round 6: CB Anthony Brown, S Kavon Frazier, RB Darius Jackson, TE Rico Gathers
Analysis: I think the reasoning behind the Cowboys being No. 1 is pretty self-explanatory. A top running back in the league in the first, one of the best young linebackers in the second after a torn ACL in college, and their potential franchise quarterback in the fourth. We’ll see what happens in free agency, but Dallas would be wise to keep Dak.
2. 
Atlanta Falcons
Round 1: S Keanu Neal**+
Round 2: LB Deion Jones*+
Round 3: TE Austin Hooper+
Round 4: LB De’Vondre Campbell
Round 6: G Wes Schweitzer
Round 7: WR Devin Fuller
Analysis: The Falcons have been disappointing in recent years, but their ability to build a team through the draft and develop is among the best in the league. Neal is a great hard-hitting safety when healthy, Jones is one of the best overall linebackers in the league, and Hooper is a top tight end. Campbell is an above average starter, and Schweitzer has been fine as a starter most of his career.
3. 
New Orleans Saints
Round 1: DT Sheldon Rankins**
Round 2: WR Michael Thomas*+, S Vonn Bell
Round 4: DT David Onyemata
Round 7: RB Daniel Lasco
Analysis: The Saints only made five selections, but the value they got is phenomenal. Thomas is the best receiver in the NFL, severely outplaying the five receivers taken before him. Bell and Rankins are above average starters, and Onyemata is a fine rotational player.
4. 
Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 1: CB Jalen Ramsey**+
Round 2: LB Myles Jack*
Round 3: DE Yannick Ngakoue+
Round 4: DT Sheldon Day
Round 6: DE Tyrone Holmes, QB Brandon Allen
Round 7: DE Jonathan Woodard
Analysis: Jaguars would likely be top 3 if not for trading Ramsey. Jack has been a great linebacker in his young career, earning a second contract. Ngakoue is among the top young pass rushers, and will draw a ton of interest in free agency if the Jags don’t lock him up.
5. 
Tennessee Titans
Round 1: T Jack Conklin+
Round 2: LB Kevin Dodd, DT Austin Johnson, RB Derrick Henry+
Round 3: S Kevin Byard*+
Round 5: WR Tajae Sharpe, CB LeShaun Sims
Round 6: G Sebastian Tretola
Round 7: LB Aaron Wallace, CB Kalan Reed
Analysis: Titans got contributors in all areas of this draft, minus Kevin Dodd. Conklin is a great tackle, despite surprisingly having his fifth-year option declined. Henry is a star running back, and Byard is a ball-hawking elite safety. Johnson is a good starter and Sharpe is a fine third or fourth receiver.
6. 
Kansas City Chiefs
Round 2: DT Chris Jones+
Round 3: CB KeiVarae Russell
Round 4: G Parker Ehinger, S Eric Murray, WR Demarcus Robinson
Round 5: QB Kevin Hogan, WR Tyreek Hill*+
Round 6: CB D.J. White, LB Dadi Nicolas
Analysis: While the Chiefs don’t have the quantity of players from this draft still on the roster, the quality and value of the players they still got earns them this spot. They traded out of the first round and got Chris Jones, one of the best DL in the league. The true steal is Hill in the fifth, we all know what he can do. Russell was surprisingly cut as a rookie, and Murray was a decent starter before being traded to the Browns this offseason.
7. 
San Diego Chargers
Round 1: DE Joey Bosa**+
Round 2: TE Hunter Henry
Round 3: C Max Tuerk
Round 4: LB Joshua Perry
Round 5: LB Jatavis Brown
Round 6: P Drew Kaser, FB Derek Watt
Round 7: G Donavon Clark
Analysis: The Bolts hit some home runs with their picks. Bosa is a top pass rusher and Henry has shown the talent to be a top tight end when healthy. Brown is a fine starter when healthy, and Watt is a great fullback and special teamer. Tuerk was previously suspended before being cut, and Perry had bounced around the league after being cut himself, diminishing the value of this draft class.
8. 
Baltimore Ravens
Round 1: OT Ronnie Stanley**+
Round 2: LB Kamalei Correa
Round 3: DE Bronson Kaufusi
Round 4: CB Tavon Young*, WR Chris Moore, OT Alex Lewis, DT Willie Henry, RB Kenneth Dixon
Round 5: DE Matthew Judon+
Round 6: WR Keenan Reynolds, CB Maurice Canady
Undrafted: DT Michael Pierce, C Matt Skura
Analysis: The Ravens are notoriously good drafters, and had a solid one in 2016. Stanley was the first o-lineman off the board at No. 6 and has been improving every year, earning first-team All-Pro in 2019. Young is a top slot corner when healthy, but the true value is Judon in the fifth, who will command a strong market in free agency. While the missed on their day two picks in Correa and Kaufusi, they nailed it after the draft with two starters in Pierce and Skura.
9. 
Chicago Bears
Round 1: OLB Leonard Floyd**
Round 2: G/C Cody Whitehair*+
Round 3: DE Jonathan Bullard
Round 4: LB Nick Kwiatkoski, S Deon Bush, S Deiondre’ Hall
Round 5: RB Jordan Howard+
Round 6: CB DeAndre Houston-Carson
Round 7: WR Daniel Braverman
Undrafted: DE Roy Robertson-Harris
Analysis: The Bears had a sneaky really good draft in 2016. While Floyd isn’t a household name, he does a fine job as a situational pass rusher. Whitehair has been one of the best interior lineman in the league, earning himself a nice contract extension. Kwiatkoski was living in the shadows on special teams before being thrust into a starting role due to injuries, and should get a nice payday this offseason. Robertson-Harris was a nice undrafted find in his breakout year.
10. 
Cincinnati Bengals
Round 1: CB William Jackson**
Round 2: WR Tyler Boyd*
Round 3: LB Nick Vigil
Round 4: DT Andrew Billings
Round 5: G Christian Westerman
Round 6: WR Cody Core
Round 7: S Clayton Fejedelem
Undrafted: WR/RS Alex Erickson
Analysis: As bad as the Bengals were in 2019, some of their best players came from this draft class. After missing his rookie year, Jackson had a couple nice seasons before a down year this year. After living in AJ Green’s shadow early in his career, Boyd had a breakout year in 2018, within back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, earning a contract extension. Vigil had a nice 2019 season with 111 tackles, and Billings had been a big presence in the middle of the d-line.
11. 
Green Bay Packers
Round 1: DT Kenny Clark**+
Round 2: T Jason Spriggs
Round 3: OLB Kyler Fackrell
Round 4: LB Blake Martinez, DE Dean Lowry*
Round 5: WR Trevor Davis
Round 6: T Kyle Murphy
Undrafted: WR Geronimo Allison
Analysis: The Packers defense had a breakout year in 2019 in large part to this draft class. Clark had been a good player prior to this year, but proved to be an elite interior defender this season, earning his first Pro Bowl. Fackrell led the team in sacks a year ago, but was rarely used this season after the arrival of the Smith brothers. Martinez has been a tackling machine throughout his career, racking up over 140 tackles each of the past three years. Allison was a nice find as a UDFA, and Lowry has been a steady presence on the d-line, earning a contract extension. The only knock, second-rounder Spriggs has never cracked the starting lineup, only getting snaps due to injuries.
12. 
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 1: QB Carson Wentz*+
Round 3: G Isaac Seumalo*
Round 5: RB Wendell Smallwood, OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Round 6: CB Blake Countess
Round 7: CB Jalen Mills, DE Alex McCalister, LB Joe Walker
Analysis: The Eagles gave up a lot of draft capital in order to draft a franchise quarterback, and that’s what they got, the signal caller of the present and future, earning a big contract extension. Seumalo has turned into a starter and Vaitai has been fine as an injury replacement. Getting Mills in the seventh was a great find and has been an above average starter when healthy.
13. 
Miami Dolphins
Round 1: OT Laremy Tunsil**+
Round 2: CB Xavien Howard*+
Round 3: RB Kenyan Drake, WR Leonte Carroo
Round 6: WR Jakeem Grant*, S Jordan Lucas
Round 7: QB Brandon Doughty, TE Thomas Duarte
Analysis: The Dolphins would likely be higher on this list if they actually kept all top three players from this draft. Tunsil unexpectedly fell to them at pick 13, and was a good player for them before trading him to the Texans. Drake had the talent, but was never quite used correctly in Miami, then Kliff Kingsbury unlocked his talent after being traded to Arizona. Grant has carved out a key role in Miami as a gadget player on offense and great returner on special teams. Carroo was a massive bust in the third, failing to record even 100 yards in a season before being cut after three seasons.
14. 
Detroit Lions
Round 1: OT Taylor Decker**
Round 2: DT A’Shawn Robinson
Round 3: G Graham Glasgow
Round 4: S Miles Killebrew
Round 5: G Joe Dahl*, LB Antwione Williams
Round 6: QB Jake Rudock, DE Anthony Zettel, LS Jimmy Landes
Round 7: RB Dwayne Washington
Analysis: The Lions have been a boring and mediocre franchise for a long time, and that’s not for lack of effort. They had a solid draft here, getting their potential franchise left tackle in Decker, as long as they re-sign him next year. Robinson underperformed as a second-rounder, but has been fine. Glasgow has been a day one starter, starting all over the interior line, and Dahl earned an extension prior to his first full-time starting season.
15. 
New England Patriots
Round 2: CB Cyrus Jones
Round 3: G Joe Thuney, QB Jacoby Brissett, DT Vincent Valentine
Round 4: WR Malcolm Mitchell
Round 6: LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB Elandon Roberts, G Ted Karras
Round 7: WR Devin Lucien
Undrafted: CB Jonathan Jones*
Analysis: The Patriots should never be allowed to select a defensive back in the second round, they fail almost every single time, and Jones is the latest example. Touted as a star returner in college, he dealt with fumbles and coverage mistakes as a rookie and tore his ACL before his second year. Got cut his third year and has bounced around since. Thuney has started every game in four seasons, playing almost every snap, and will cash in this offseason, whether with NE or elsewhere. Roberts has been a solid linebacker (and fullback) and Karras has been a reliable backup due to injury, and could leave this offseason for a starting gig. Mitchell was great as a rookie before retiring to due knee issues, and Valentine was solid before being cut in 2018. Brissett was traded to the Colts in 2017, and Grugier-Hill was cut as a rookie and has been a big part of the Eagles. What the Patriots lack in drafting cornerbacks, they make up for with undrafted signings, and Jonathan Jones has been one of the best slot corners in the game.
16. 
Houston Texans
Round 1: WR Will Fuller**
Round 2: C Nick Martin*
Round 3: WR Braxton Miller
Round 4: RB Tyler Ervin
Round 5: S K.J. Dillon, DT D.J. Reader
Undrafted: K Ka’imi Fairbairn
Analysis: One of four receivers taken in the first round, Fuller has been great, but can’t be relied on to stay healthy. Martin has been a bright spot on the Texans o-line, earning an extension. The real gem, Reader in the fifth, who’s been great for them and will be looking for a new contract. The knock on this class- the failed Braxton Miller experiment.
17. 
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1: QB Jared Goff*+
Round 4: TE Tyler Higbee, WR Pharoh Cooper+
Round 6: TE Temarrick Hemingway, LB Josh Forrest, WR Mike Thomas
Undrafted: LB Cory Littleton+
Analysis: Like the Eagles, the Rams gave up a king’s ransom to get their franchise quarterback, but unlike the Eagles, the rest of the Rams draft wasn’t good. Higbee is a fine player, not quite a starter and Cooper was a great returner before being cut in 2018 for some reason. The saving grace, finding Littleton after the draft and turning him into one of the better linebackers and special teamers in the league.
18. 
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1: OT Germain Ifedi
Round 2: DT Jarran Reed
Round 3: RB C.J. Prosise, TE Nick Vannett, OT Rees Odhiambo
Round 5: DT Quinton Jefferson, RB Alex Collins
Round 6: C Joey Hunt
Round 7: WR Kenny Lawler, RB Zac Brooks
Analysis: After trading back to the end of the first round, the Seahawks got Ifedi, who has been the starting right tackle for most of his time in Seattle. The penalty-prone tackle got his fifth-year option declined, and the ‘Hawks have a decision to make to either potentially upgrade or stick with what they know. Reed has Seattle’s best d-lineman for years, and it would be wise to keep him around. Prosise has been a fine rotational back, Jefferson was up and down before coming on this season, and Hunt filled in nicely this season due to injury. Vannett was traded to the Steelers in early 2019, and Collins bounced around with success, but is out of the league with legal trouble.
19. 
Carolina Panthers
Round 1: DT Vernon Butler
Round 2: CB James Bradberry
Round 3: CB Daryl Worley
Round 5: CB Zack Sanchez
Round 7: TE Beau Sandland
Analysis: The Panthers only made five picks, three of them cornerbacks, and only one is still on the team, albeit he is pretty good. After losing Josh Norman, that was their goal in the draft to find his replacement, and Bradberry has been one of the better corners, not quite Pro Bowl level, he could reach that point, so the Panthers better retain him. Butler hasn’t lived up to his first-round name, barely cracking the starting lineup, and the Panthers may look elsewhere.
20. 
Denver Broncos
Round 1: QB Paxton Lynch
Round 2: DE Adam Gotsis
Round 3: S Justin Simmons
Round 4: RB Devontae Booker
Round 5: G Connor McGovern
Round 6: FB Andy Janovich*, S Will Parks
Round 7: P Riley Dixon
Analysis: After winning the Super Bowl and the retirement of Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler leaving for Houston in free agency, the Broncos needed a new franchise quarterback. They traded up to the 26th pick to select Paxton Lynch, who only started four games in two seasons before being cut in 2018. He was a massive bust who really put a damper on the rest of this draft class that actually isn’t too bad. Simmons played at an All-Pro level this year, and will be paid handsomely this offseason. McGovern found a nice role as the starting center in recent years, Janovich is a fine fullback, and Parks is a solid backup safety and special teamer. Booker got a ton of playing time early but had been passed on the depth chart by Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman in recent years. Gotsis is the only other blemish in this class, recording only five sacks in four years as a second-rounder.
21. 
Minnesota Vikings
Round 1: WR Laquon Treadwell
Round 2: CB Mackensie Alexander
Round 4: G Willie Beavers
Round 5: LB Kentrell Brothers
Round 6: WR Moritz Bohringer, TE David Morgan
Round 7: DE Stephen Weatherly, S Jayron Kearse
Undrafted: FB C.J. Ham+
Analysis: The Vikings really struck out with Treadwell, who is one of three first-round receiver busts. Alexander found a nice role as their slot corner, and while the Vikings are known to retain their own, may not be able to extend the second-rounder while paying several other starters. Weatherly and Kearse were nice finds in the seventh as rotational players, and turning Ham into a Pro Bowl fullback may be their biggest accomplishment from this class.
22. 
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1: CB Artie Burns
Round 2: S Sean Davis
Round 3: DT Javon Hargrave
Round 4: OT Jerald Hawkins
Round 6: LB Travis Feeney
Round 7: WR Demarcus Ayers, LB Tyler Matakevich
Analysis: Burns has been a massive bust, being relegated to special teams the past few seasons. Davis has been a fine starter, nothing super special. Hargrave is what’s saving this draft, who will be looking to get paid in free agency if not retained.
23. 
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1: C Ryan Kelly**+
Round 2: CB T.J. Green
Round 3: OT Le’Raven Clark
Round 4: DE Hassan Ridgeway, LB Antonio Morrison
Round 5: OT Joe Haeg
Round 7: LB Trevor Bates, C Austin Blythe
Analysis: The Colts have been very good drafters, especially the last few drafts, with this class being the obvious outlier. Kelly is a very good center and should be their franchise center if/when they extend him. Green was a massive bust in the second, Clark has only started a handful of games, and both Ridgeway and Morrison were traded away. Blythe really came on for the Rams as a starter after being cut in 2017.
24. 
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1: DE DeForest Buckner**+, G Joshua Garnett
Round 3: CB Will Redmond
Round 4: CB Rashard Robinson
Round 5: DE Ronald Blair, OT John Theus, OT Fahn Cooper
Round 6: QB Jeff Driskel, RB Kelvin Taylor, WR Aaron Burbridge
Round 7: CB Prince Charles Iworah
Analysis: The final draft before the Lynch/Shanahan era was a bad one, outside of Buckner of course, who’s turned into one of the best d-lineman in the league. Garnett dealt with injuries and poor play before getting cut. Redmond and Robinson didn’t last long and have bounced around the league.
25. 
New York Giants
Round 1: CB Eli Apple
Round 2: WR Sterling Shepard*
Round 3: S Darian Thompson
Round 4: LB B.J. Goodson
Round 5: RB Paul Perkins
Round 6: TE Jerell Adams
Analysis: The Giants have been the subject of ridicule the past several years, and their front office is a big part of that ridicule. Overpaying in free agency for sub-par players, and questionable drafting, with 2016 a recent example. Apple was a questionable pick at the time of the 10th overall selection, and is one of the bigger busts in Giants history. Shepard is a great receiver when he’s not concussed, and if he suffers one more, his career is in jeopardy. Thompson was a starter in 2017 before being cut in 2018. Goodson was a tackling machine despite injuries before being traded to Green Bay before 2019. Perkins got some action early as a rookie, but fell out of favor due to injury and was cut in 2019.
26. 
New York Jets
Round 1: LB Darron Lee
Round 2: QB Christian Hackenberg
Round 3: DE Jordan Jenkins
Round 4: CB Juston Burris
Round 5: OT Brandon Shell
Round 7: P Lachlan Edwards, WR Charone Peake
Undrafted: WR Robby Anderson
Analysis: Where to start with this draft. What was looking like a great pick in Lee his first two seasons ended with a suspension and a trade that landed just a sixth-rounder. The Hackenberg experiment was short-lived and a massive failure. Jenkins has quietly been an improving and productive pass rusher, a position of weakness for NYJ. Shell has been the main starting right tackle throughout his career before being benched this season and is likely out the door. Anderson has been a top receiver since entering as an undrafted free agent, and a team will likely overpay for him.
27. 
Cleveland Browns
Round 1: WR Corey Coleman
Round 2: DE Emmanuel Ogbah
Round 3: DE Carl Nassib, OT Shon Coleman, QB Cody Kessler
Round 4: LB Joe Schobert+, WR Ricardo Louis, S Derrick Kindred, TE Seth DeValve
Round 5: WR Jordan Payton, OT Spencer Drango, WR Rashard Higgins, CB Trey Caldwell
Round 7: LB Scooby Wright
Analysis: If you’re looking for a reason why the Browns have been so bad, look no further than the 2016 draft class. From selecting Coleman as the first receiver in the first, it’s all downhill from here. Ogbah is a good player but was traded last offseason, and Kessler was a miss in the third before being traded in 2018. Nassib and Coleman were both cut and found new homes. The only reason the Browns are not at the very bottom is Schobert, who’s one of my favorite players and a great underrated linebacker.
28. 
Buffalo Bills
Round 1: DE Shaq Lawson
Round 2: LB Reggie Ragland
Round 3: DT Adolphus Washington
Round 4: QB Cardale Jones
Round 5: RB Jonathan Williams
Round 6: WR Kolby Listenbee, CB Kevon Seymour
Analysis: The Bills franchise has really begun to turn around in recent years, and the players from the previous regime are few in numbers. Lawson is an ok player, but not the star pass rusher he was touted to be. Ragland was traded to KC his second season, Washington has bounced around, and Jones is in the XFL.
29. 
Oakland Raiders
Round 1: S Karl Joseph
Round 2: DE Jihad Ward
Round 3: DE Shilique Calhoun
Round 4: QB Connor Cook
Round 5: RB DeAndre Washington
Round 6: LB Cory James
Round 7: G Vadal Alexander
Undrafted: RB Jalen Richard*
Analysis: Ever since Jon Gruden took over, he’s been trying to get rid of Karl Joseph, from cutting his playing time to outright drafting his replacement last year in Johnathan Abram. He’ll hit the open market to get another shot to start fresh. The rest of this draft isn’t anything to show off. Ward was traded away in 2018, Calhoun was cut several times, and Cook never got a chance and is now in the XFL. Washington is a nice backup running back who may re-sign or sign elsewhere to compete for a starting job. Richard was a great find after the draft as a third-down passing back, and even earned a contract extension this offseason.
30. 
Washington Redskins
Round 1: WR Josh Doctson
Round 2: S Su’a Cravens
Round 3: CB Kendall Fuller
Round 5: DT Matt Ioannidis*
Round 6: QB Nate Sudfeld
Round 7: LB Steven Daniels, RB Keith Marshall
Analysis: You can’t talk about dumpster organizations without mentioning the Redskins, although things could be turning around in 2020, but that’s another blog. One of the four teams who took a receiver in the first, the Redskins struck out on Doctson, who showed potential, unlike Coleman and Treadwell, but couldn’t put it all together before being released before this season. Cravens really flashed as a rookie, but retired before 2017, but later returned and traded to the Broncos. Fuller was traded to the Chiefs as part of the Alex Smith trade, which shocked Redskins fans as Fuller was projected to be their next starting corner. Ioannidis really came out of nowhere and has been one of their best pass rusher the past two seasons, earning a contract extension.
31. 
Arizona Cardinals
Round 1: DT Robert Nkemdiche
Round 3: CB Brandon Williams
Round 4: C Evan Boehm
Round 5: S Marquis Christian, OT Cole Toner
Round 6: CB Harlan Miller
Analysis: Oh Robert Nkemdiche, barely played as a rookie, did nothing his second season, finally recorded a sack his third season before getting hurt, then got released. What a mess that was. It seems like the Cardinals have never been able to find a second cornerback opposite Patrick Peterson, and they tried so hard to make Brandon Williams that guy, but it never happened (maybe Byron Murphy is the guy). Boehm got released in 2018, Christian and Toner couldn’t last a season, and Miller has bounced around. Overall, nothing to show for in 2020.
32. 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 1: CB Vernon Hargreaves
Round 2: DE Noah Spence, K Roberto Aguayo
Round 4: CB Ryan Smith
Round 5: OT Caleb Benenoch
Round 6: LB Devante Bond, FB Danny Vitale
Undrafted: RB Peyton Barber
Analysis: When you draft a kicker in the second round and cut him before his second season, you earn a spot at the bottom of this list. Hands down. Hargreaves was a good pick, and a good player, but was cut due to lack of hustle and discipline. Spence was also cut, same with Benenoch, Bond, and Vitale. Smith has started a handful of games, but has since been demoted to fifth on the depth chart. Barber was a solid find after the draft, being the primary back the past couple seasons, but could be moving on.
Football Nerds 