This draft could have been a disaster. Consensus top pick Eli Manning said he didn't want to play in San Diego. So the Chargers orchestrated a monster deal, landing Philip Rivers in the process. But that's not all: Pro Bowlers Nate Kaeding (third round), Nick Hardwick (third), and Shaun Phillips (fourth) were all taken. Oh, and don't forget Michael Turner (fifth), who's had a really nice NFL career, albeit in Atlanta.

While 1995 would be Bill Parcells' worst season in New England, he NAILED the draft. The first five picks were all at least major contributors. First-round pick Ty Law is a borderline Hall of Famer. Ted Johnson (second round) was solid for years. Curtis Martin, another borderline Hall of Fame pick, went in the third. Both cornerback Jimmy Hitchcock (third round) and center Dave Wohlabaugh (fourth round) were solid.

Miami did kinda okay when they obtained the most prolific passer ever in Dan Marino at the 27th -- 27th! -- spot in the first round. But this draft was more than just about Marino. Don Shula was able to get one of the greatest punters ever in Reggie Roby (sixth round) and the prolific Mark Clayton (eighth round), who caught 18 touchdown passes in 1984. Anthony Carter, the great Vikings wide receiver, was taken in the 10th round.

The last draft that Bill Parcells supervised in New York was Exhibit A of talent discernment. He took Shaun Ellis, a solid performer for over a decade, in the first round. Then there was John Abraham, he of more than 100 career sacks, with the next pick. Chad Pennington was tabbed five selections later, with a solid contributor in tight end Anthony Becht going at No. 27. Sixth-rounder Laveranues Coles had 674 career catches.

Kay Stephenson might have gotten fired a month into the 1985 season, but he was a part of drafting Bruce Smith (first round) and Andre Reed (fourth round) in the same draft. Smith is in the Hall of Fame, and Reed was a finalist in 2012. Frank Reich, the quarterback who once led a 32-point comeback, was taken in the third. Long-time Cowboys long snapper Dale Hellestrae (fourth round) was also selected by the Bills in this draft.

Much like the Bills' 1985 draft class, this group was defined by two players: 12th overall pick Warren Sapp (seven Pro Bowls) and 28th overall pick Derrick Brooks (11-time Pro Bowler). That's two cornerstones of one of the best defenses of the modern era, and along with safety John Lynch, the enforcers on a Super Bowl champion.

The Steelers got two Hall of Famers in the 1970 draft, and three more in '74. But since 1980, their best class is easily the '87 group, which can certainly hold its own. The rundown: Rod Woodson (first), Delton Hall (second), Thomas Everett (fourth), Hardy Nickerson (fifth), Greg Lloyd (sixth), Merril Hoge (tenth). That's 22 Pro Bowl appearances in one draft. That's your draft stat of the day.

While the Steelers' 1987 draft class managed 22 Pro Bowls, it didn't earn as many as the Ravens' 1996 group. Jonathan Ogden, the fourth overall pick, and Ray Lewis, who was taken 26th overall, combined for 24 Pro Bowls. Insane -- two guys, 24 Pro Bowls. What a start for the Ravens' organization, putting together the pieces for its 2000 Super Bowl run right away.

Mike Ditka had a successful 11-year stint as the Bears coach, but couldn't have won the Super Bowl or made the playoffs seven times without the class of '83: tackle Jimbo Covert (first round), wide receiver Willie Gault (first round), cornerback Mike Richardson (second round), safety Dave Duerson (third round), center-tackle Tom Thayer (fourth round), defensive end Richard Dent (eighth round), and guard Mark Bortz (eighth round). All of them started for the Bears' Super Bowl XX team. Amazing.

The names might not seem as big as the 1996 Ravens or 1983 Bears, but the Redskins' class of '81 - tackle Mark May (first round), guard Russ Grimm (third round), defensive end Dexter Manley (fifth round), wide receiver Charlie Brown (eighth round), defensive tackle Daryl Grant (ninth round), and tight end Clint Didier (12th round) -- was the core of two Super Bowl teams, and in some cases four Super Bowl teams. Considering this was Bobby Beathard's and Joe Gibbs' first draft together, this draft haul is legendary.

What makes a draft successful? Big names? Pro Bowls? Sure, but mostly it's Super Bowls. In 1991, the Cowboys obtained the underbelly of three teams that hoisted the Lombardi Trophy: defensive tackles Russell Maryland and Leon Lett, wide receiver Alvin Harper, linebackers Dixon Edwards and Godfrey Miles, tackle Erik Williams and cornerback Larry Brown. Three more players from this draft, like Kelvin Pritchett, had successful careers.

Tom Rathman (third round) was one of the best fullbacks ever. Tim McKyer (third round) played 12 years and picked off 33 balls. John Taylor (another third-rounder) is the only player to have two 90-yard touchdowns from scrimmage in a game. Charles Haley (fourth round) is freaking Charles Haley. Oh, and he has five Super Bowl rings. Steve Wallace (fourth round) was one of the prototypes of the modern left tackle. You're looking at a group that was a huge reason the Niners went back-to-back in 1988 and '89.