Here’s a look at the best selections of the last 15 years, by value for the pick (first-round picks need not apply).
Click here for our worst picks from last 15 years.";
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i++] = new Array("","1. Tom Brady","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060910/060910_brady_vmed_130p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Brian Snyder", "Reuters", "241", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i-1].body = "
Position: Quarterback
Year drafted, round: 2000, 6th round, 199th pick
Team: New England Patriots
College: Michigan
The reasons: The best pick of the last 15 years? How about the most value for the pick of all-time? The Patriots knew that Brady had all the necessary intangibles when they picked him, but there were questions about his arm strength and his ability to quickly get rid of the ball. Brady answered all those questions with a resounding yes by thriving in pressure situations and leading the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles. He has completed 61.9 percent of his passes throughout his career and has 147 touchdowns passes to just 78 interceptions. ";
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i++] = new Array("","2. Terrell Davis","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040103/040103_broncosOline_hmed_2p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Bill Ross", "AP file", "273", "400", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i-1].body = "
Position: Running back
Year drafted, round: 1995, 6th round, 196th pick
Team: Denver Broncos
College: Georgia
The reasons: When the Broncos won Super Bowl XXXII, the general impression was that John Elway had finally gotten the title he deserved after a sensational career. No argument there, but while owner Pat Bowlen was uttering “This one’s for John,” Davis was the one who won it for him. Davis ran for 157 yards and had three rushing touchdowns. While injuries cut his career short, Davis ran for 7,607 yards in his career and scored 60 rushing touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He had one of the greatest seasons of all time when he ran for 2,008 yards and 21 touchdowns in 1998.";
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i++] = new Array("","3. Zach Thomas","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/051211/051211_dolphins_hmed_5p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Stephen Dunn", "Getty Images", "273", "410", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i-1].body = "
Position: Linebacker
Year drafted, round: 1996, 5th round, 154th pick
Team: Miami Dolphins
College: Texas Tech
The reasons: Branded as too short and not fast enough, Thomas has since made his critics eat their words. Thomas is just 5-11 and 228 pounds, which led most NFL executives to say “not on my team.” However, anyone who saw Thomas play at Texas Tech realized he was a productive player with great football instincts and a desire to succeed. Going into his 12th season, Thomas is coming off a year in which he recorded 103.0 tackles and 62 assists and nine passes defensed. He also shows few signs of slowing down. ";
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i++] = new Array("","4. Curtis Martin","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/061103/061103_martin_vmed_6p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Bill Kostroun", "AP", "251", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i-1].body = "
Position: Running back
Year drafted, round: 1995, 3rd round, 74th pick
Team: New England Patriots
College: Pittsburgh
The reasons: The experts pegged Martin as a role player in the NFL because he did not have great stopwatch speed. All he did was amass 14,101 career rushing yards and exceed the 1,000-yard mark for his first 10 years. Martin starred for both the Patriots and the Jets and will go into the Hall of Fame as soon as his name comes up for eligibility. He ran away from defensive backs and ran over linebackers and was great when the game was on the line. ";
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i++] = new Array("","5. Terrell Owens","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/061121/061121_to_vmed_2p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Ross D. Franklin", "Reuters file", "284", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i-1].body = "
Position: Receiver
Year drafted, round: 1996, 3rd round, 89th pick
Team: San Francisco 49ers
College: Tennessee-Chattanooga
The reasons: It’s difficult summarize Owens in a few words, but it’s clear that he is one of the game’s most physically talented receivers. The Tennessee-Chattanooga prospect dominated against small schools and was thrilled to be drafted by the 49ers, the same team that drafted Jerry Rice, one of his idols.
Once Owens established himself as an All-Pro receiver, his egomaniacal attitude emerged. He begged out of San Francisco, was drummed out of Philadelphia and had a difficult first season in Dallas. However, Owens is a game-changer who helped Eagles to the Super Bowl after catching 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s 16th in career receiving yards (11,715).";
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i++] = new Array("","6. Larry Allen","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060321/060321_allen_vmed_7p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Tony Gutierrez", "AP file", "278", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i-1].body = "
Position: Guard
Year drafted, round: 1994, 2nd round, 46th pick
Team: Dallas Cowboys
College: Sonoma State (Calif.)
The reasons: Allen was a highly regarded prospect, but few knew he would be among the all-time best interior blockers of all time. Allen has incredible physical strength and has been a very hard worker throughout his career. Few players can match his sheer strength and his surprising athleticism allows him to play with leverage. Allen’s mean streak also helped him dominate opponents.
";
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i++] = new Array("","7. Donnie Edwards","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/041212/041212_donnie_edwards_vmed.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Lenny Ignelzi", "AP", "219", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i-1].body = "
Position: Linebacker
Year drafted, round: 1996, 4th round, 98th pick
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
College: UCLA
The reasons: Scouts questioned Edwards’ ability to last a full season because he was underweight for an NFL linebacker. All Edwards has become is a dominating tackler who uses his lack of size as an advantage. He’s just 228 pounds, but has good speed and outstanding football instincts. Edwards has registered at least 100 tackles in 5 of the last 7 years and the Chiefs were thrilled to get Edwards back in the offseason after he spent the last five years in San Diego.
";
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i++] = new Array("","8. Rodney Harrison","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Interactives/Sports/NFL/bradybunch_04/harrison.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Jim Rogash", "AP", "264", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i-1].body = "
Position: Safety
Year drafted, round: 1994, 5th round, 145th pick
Team: San Diego Chargers
College: Western Illinois
The reasons: Harrison was somewhat raw coming out of college, but there was no denying that he was a high-energy player who lived to get on the field and punish opponents. He received his share of penalties for unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct in the first half of his career, but he has turned out to be a sensational player for the Chargers and then the Patriots. A Sports Illustrated poll of players named him the dirtiest player in the league in 2006, but he is an intimidator who also has made big plays in key situations throughout his career.
";
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i++] = new Array("","9. Frank Gore","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/061119/061119_gore_hmed.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Marcio Jose Sanchez", "AP", "267", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i-1].body = "
Position: Running back
Year drafted, round: 2005, 3rd round, 65th pick
Team: San Francisco 49ers
College: Miami (Fla.)
The reasons: Scouts thought Gore would never be a productive player because he had suffered a two severe knee injuries in college. Someone forgot to tell Gore, who may not have great stopwatch speed, but he runs with more toughness and heart than nearly any other back. Gore ran for 1,695 yards last season while averaging an eye-catching 5.4 yards per carry. The 49ers should be on the upswing this year and Gore is one of the primary reasons.
";
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i++] = new Array("","10. Laveranues Coles","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050918/050918_coles_vmed_7p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Kathy Willens", "AP", "298", "191", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i-1].body = "
Position: Receiver
Year drafted, round: 2000, 3rd round, 78th overall
Team: New York Jets
College: Florida State
The reasons: An off-the-field incident while playing for the Seminoles nearly ended Coles’ football career, but the Jets decided to give him a shot after talking to him and realizing that he was contrite about the shoplifting charge that had been filed against him.
He matured and has become one of the league’s more dependable receivers. He has starred for both the Jets and Redskins, and he is coming off a 2006 season in which he caught 91 passes for 1,098 yards and 6 touchdowns."; spt_NFL_Draft_booms[i++] = new Array("spt_070412_Best_draft_pick","VOTE","","","","", "lv2", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); // END editorial data