Top 10 team NFL draft classes in league history

Teams in this year's NFL draft can only hope to one day land on a list such as this. These are the greatest draft classes in NFL history.

10. 1991 Dallas Cowboys

Notable picks: DT Russell Maryland (Round 1), WR Alvin Harper (Round 1), DT Kelvin Pritchett (Round 1, traded to Detroit Lions), LB Dixon Edwards (Round 2), OT Erik Williams (Round 3), DT Leon Lett (Round 7), DB Larry Brown (Round 12)

From 1988-92, the Cowboys had a series of drafts that were the reason behind this team's rapid rise to prominence in the 1990s. Hall of Famers Michael Irvin (1988), Troy Aikman (1989) and Emmitt Smith (1990) were already drafted by the time this class was put in place. It was no coincidence with all of this talent on the roster, the Cowboys returned to the playoffs in 1991 after missing them the previous five years.

9. 1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Notable picks: DT Warren Sapp (Round 1), LB Derrick Brooks (Round 1)

How do you end years of frustration for a downtrodden franchise? Draft defensive pillars such as these two talents. The Buccaneers had endured 12 consecutive seasons with 10 or more losses; the team finished 7-9 in 1995. That was considered progress. Two years later, Tampa Bay was in the playoffs for the first time since 1982. And, five years after that, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVI (Brooks had a game-breaking pick-six in that win). 

8. 1981 Washington Redskins

Notable picks: G Mark May (Round 1), G Russ Grimm (Round 3), DE Dexter Manley (Round 5), WR Charlie Brown (Round 8), DT Darryl Grant (Round 9), TE Clint Didier (Round 12)

This draft class was instrumental in the Redskins reaching four Super Bowls from 1982-91 and winning three of those games. With May, Grimm and Joe Jacoby — who was an undrafted free agent in this class — the Redskins formed the famous "Hogs" offensive line.

7. 1986 San Francisco 49ers

Notable picks: DE Larry Roberts (Round 2), FB Tom Rathman (Round 3), DB Tim McKyer (Round 3), WR John Taylor (Round 3), DE Charles Haley (Round 4), OT Steve Wallace (Round 4), DE Kevin Fagan (Round 4), DB Don Griffin (Round 6)

In 1986, coach Bill Walsh executed a plethora of trades, turning eight picks into 13. Eight of those players selected in this draft went on to start a Super Bowl for the 49ers.

6. 1996 Baltimore Ravens

Notable picks: OT Jonathan Ogden (Round 1), LB Ray Lewis (Round 1), WR Jermaine Lewis (Round 5)

Out of the mess that was the Cleveland Browns' move (or, hiatus) to Baltimore was the first draft class for the newly minted Ravens. Ogden and Ray Lewis are among all-time greats at their respective positions. Jermaine Lewis scored an 84-yard kickoff return touchdown in the Ravens' win in Super Bowl XXXV.

5. 1983 Chicago Bears

Notable picks: OT Jimbo Covert (Round 1), WR Willie Gault (Round 1), DB Mike Richardson (Round 2), DB Dave Duerson (Round 3), OG Tom Thayer (Round 4), DE Richard Dent (Round 8), OG Mark Bortz (Round 8)

While many teams were busy drafting quarterbacks in 1983, the Bears got down to business adding vital components to a team that would have one of the finest championship seasons in league history. Also, getting a future Hall of Famer in Round 8 is what they call "good draft value."

4. 1985 Buffalo Bills

Notable picks: DE Bruce Smith (Round 1), QB Frank Reich (Round 3), WR Andre Reed (Round 4), OT Dale Hellestrae (Round 4)

Three of the aforementioned players were key contributors for a franchise that went to an unprecedented four consecutive Super Bowls. Smith and Reed are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Reich directed the greatest comeback in league history. Hellestrae wasn't in Buffalo for any of that success, but did go on to a 15-year NFL career as a long snapper and collected three Super Bowl rings with the Cowboys (two of which came against the team that drafted him).

3. 1965 Chicago Bears

Notable picks: LB Dick Butkus (Round 1), RB Gale Sayers (Round 1), WR Dick Gordon (Round 7)

The Bears took advantage of having two picks in the first round, selecting all-time greats at middle linebacker and running back. Gordon was the answer to a trivia question for 30 years ... who was the last Bears receiver to be selected to the Pro Bowl? Marty Booker finally went in 2002, 31 years after Gordon's back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons of 1970-71.  Really, the only knock on this class is that it didn't result in on-field success for the Bears. Butkus and Sayers never played in a playoff game.

2. 1958 Green Bay Packers

Notable picks: LB Dan Currie (Round 1), RB Jim Taylor (Round 2), LB Ray Nitschke (Round 3), OG Jerry Kramer (Round 4)

The seeds of the Packers' success in the 1960s were planted in the 1950s. While Taylor, Nitschke and Kramer were vital cogs in a run of five NFL championships in seven years (including victories in the first two Super Bowls), Currie was part of the Packers' 1961 and 1962 NFL title teams.

1. 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers

Notable picks: WR Lynn Swann (Round 1), LB Jack Lambert (Round 2), WR John Stallworth (Round 4), C Mike Webster (Round 5)

Four Hall of Famers in one draft: This draft class was so good that it's an almost impossibility that there will be another draft class like it for as long as professional football is played. The Steelers were dominant for an entire decade. A once-dormant franchise made the playoffs in 1972 — breaking a 24-year playoff drought — and have been the league's most successful franchise ever since.