1. WR Julio Jones, 2011, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons gave up five draft picks to obtain Jones at #6 in the 2011 NFL Draft, including their 27th overall pick in 2011 and a first round pick in 2012. You can’t say that their gamble hasn’t payed off. The physical specimen is annually one of the NFL’s top receivers, and often requires a double team to adequately cover. In 2014, Jones had 1,593 yards receiving—good for third in the NFL, and 6 touchdowns.
2. OT Andre Smith, 2009, Cincinnati Bengals
Through being the top-ranked offensive lineman in his high school class and blocking for collegiate power Alabama, Smith carried considerable hype at the top of the 2009 draft, though he slid a bit in the draft due to a poor combine. Due to injuries and uninspiring play, Smith was considered a bust during his first two seasons in the NFL. But he turned things around in 2011, and then especially in 2012 and 2013, where Smith was widely considered one of the best offensive lineman in the league. The injury bug did come back to bite him in 2014,limiting him to 9 games.
3. OT Russell Okung, 2010, Seattle Seahawks
You can say that Russell Okung was the Andre Smith of the 2010 NFL draft, with some considering him #1 overall pick talent. However, aside from a brilliant 2012 season where Okung was the #8 ranked tackle by Pro Football Focus, Okung has been consistently average. He will need to turn in a couple more dominant seasons to catch Smith.
