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5 best draft classes of all time

Reuters

The NFL draft became popular because it provides the specter of hope. Sometimes, there will be a class that populates the league with talent and sets up the NFL infrastructure for years to come. 

Here are the five best draft classes of all time.

1969

Notable selections: O.J. Simpson, Ted Hendricks, Joe Greene, Roger Wehrli, Charlie Joiner, L.C. Greenwood

One of the greatest collegiate players of all time, Simpson lived up to top billing after being selected first overall by the Buffalo Bills. The former USC star had an outstanding career before becoming infamous off the field.

Greenwood and Greene were foundational players of the "Steel Curtain" dynasty with the Pittsburgh Steelers, capturing four Super Bowls in the 1970s. Greene, nicknamed "Mean Joe," was immortalized in a Super Bowl advertisement for Coca-Cola and won Defensive Player of the Year honors twice (1972, 1974). 

Hendricks's career spanned three decades and, like Greene, he captured four Super Bowls. The eight-time Pro Bowler was preternaturally gifted at diagnosing plays at the line of scrimmage and was named to the 1970s All-Decade team. 

1981 

Notable selections: Lawrence Taylor, Ronnie Lott, Howie Long, Rickey Jackson, Mike Singletary, Russ Grimm, Cris Collinsworth

Taylor dominated the league from his very first game and won Defensive Player of the Year honors in his rookie season, the first of three occasions. The New York Giants star is considered by many to be the greatest defensive player of all time and helped the Giants to two Super Bowl victories. 

Lott became the anchor of the 49ers' defense throughout the 1980s, and the ten-time Pro Bowler won four Super Bowls across the decade. He developed a reputation as one of the most devastating tacklers in the open field and is considered by some to be the best safety ever.

Singletary starred for the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears, while Grimm, Long and Jackson were considered atop their position groups throughout their entire careers. 

1983

Notable selections: John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Richard Dent, Darrell Green, Eric Dickerson, Bruce Matthews

Widely seen as the best draft class of all time, the 1983 selection event produced: three Hall of Fame quarterbacks (Elway, Marino, Kelly); the fastest cornerback in NFL history (Green); the running back who put together the most rushing yards in a single season (Dickerson); a pair of standout linemen, one offensive (Matthews) and one defensive (Dent). 

Elway captured two Super Bowls at the end of his career, while Kelly and Marino fell short in five combined appearances, but all three quarterbacks shaped the foundation of the league for years to come. This class was so good, it warranted its own documentary, "Elway to Marino," as part of ESPN's "30 for 30" series. 

1996 

Notable selections: Ray Lewis, Marvin Harrison, Jonathan Ogden, Terrell Owens, Brian Dawkins, Zach Thomas

The Baltimore Ravens built the core of their franchise around this draft after selecting Ogden and Lewis with their two first-round picks. Ogden was arguably the best left tackle of his generation and was selected to the Hall of Fame. 

The accolades for Lewis are seemingly endless - arguably the greatest middle linebacker in NFL history, the Ravens standout won Defensive Player of the Year honors twice (2000, 2003) and became the first player with 40 sacks and 30 interceptions.

Harrison and Owens were two of the best receivers of the 2000s, and the former was part of the most prolific wide receiver-quarterback tandem in history with Peyton Manning. Dawkins and Thomas will be on the periphery of the Hall of Fame for years to come, both possessing an outstanding ability to deliver punishing hits in the open field. 

2011

Notable selections: J.J. Watt, Julio Jones, Richard Sherman, Von Miller, Marcell Dareus, Aldon Smith, Justin Houston, Cam Newton

One of the greatest influxes of talent in NFL history, the 2011 NFL Draft may eventually go down as the best class of all time. Eight of the first ten picks have made it to the Pro Bowl. The class features the league's best defensive player (Watt) and arguably the best cornerback (Sherman), outside linebackers (Houston, Miller) and wide receiver (Jones). 

A number of players would have been atop their class in a different year, such as DeMarco Murray, Tyron Smith, Randall Cobb and Julius Thomas. It's not hyperbolic to believe there could be at least 10 Hall of Famers in this group when they collectively hang up their cleats.

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