Opinion: Biggest NFL Draft slides of the last decade and change

With the NFL draft this Thursday every team is looking to bolster up their roster, but before we look ahead let's look back at some of the biggest draft slides in recent history.

A quick disclaimer. I am going to keep this within the last 10 or 15 years and not go any later than that, and this is with the knowledge of how they produced in the NFL.

1. Patrick Mahomes

This 2017 draft was absolutely loaded with star talent in players like Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Christian McCaffrey, etc… But none of these players came close to the success of Patrick Mahomes.

After not starting his first year Mahomes looked like more of a project than a franchise. Well we all know what was to follow.

Mahomes went on to win three super bowls in the span of seven years, led the league in passing once, and has a pair of MVPS to follow his impressive list of accolades.

I know this can be a stretch because he was a top ten pick, but I am certain looking back on it every team would rush to the podium to select Mahomes.

1. Johnny Manziel

I know Johnny football had a pretty underwhelming NFL career, but his college career catapulted him into being a top pick. Instead he fell the whole way to 22.

His freshman year was nothing but amazing. He joined a shortlist of freshmen winning the Heisman. This list only consists of Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston. He threw for 3706 yards on 68% completion, 26 touchdown passes, while rushing for 1,410 yards, and 21 rushing touchdowns. So how did he fall?

This can range from a lot of aspects from teams not needing a quarterback, thinking there was a better option at the quarterback position than Manziel, and concerns with his character.

With him finally getting selected to the Browns at 22 he had an underwhelming NFL career, but let's not forget all of his legendary on field moments that he had at Texas A&M.

1. Justin Jefferson

The 2020 draft was absolutely loaded when it came to the wide receiver position, however the best one in that draft fell all the way to pick 22.

In his last year at LSU Jefferson put up 111 receptions, 1,540 receiving yards, and 18 receiving touchdowns. With all these great stats there were still four receivers selected ahead of them and one drafted right before Jefferson. That's right, the infamous Jalen Reagor pick.

Since joining the NFL Jefferson has 495 receptions, 7,432 receiving yards, 40 touchdowns, and an offensive player of the year award.

1. Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson was nothing short of being spectacular in college with winning a Heisman in 2016 while putting up 9,043 passing yards, 69 passing touchdowns, 4,132 rushing yards, and 50 rushing touchdowns, but teams doubted his quarterback potential.

Leading up to the 2018 teams wanted to know if Jackson would go into the NFL as a receiver. He quickly shut those conversations down.

Since joining the NFL he has 2 MVP awards, 20,059 passing yards, 166 passing yards, 6,173 rushing yards, and 33 rushing touchdowns. Very few teams back in 2018 could justify not drafting him.

1. Derrick Henry

Coming from the best college in the 2010s era Derrick Henry was destined for greatness from the beginning, and when he performed the way he did at Alabama I don’t think anyone was thinking day two pick or later, but he went in the second round making him a surprising “draft slide”

In college Henry racked up 3,591 rushing yards, 42 rushing touchdowns, and a Heisman award. After the first round went by and only one running back went off the board no one knew what the market for the running backs were.

The Titans ended up taking a swing on the talented running back and Henry took every chance he got to prove why it was a mistake to pass on him.

Peyton Waddell is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email prw5142@psu.edu.