Who are the best draft picks of the century from the most prominent programs in college football? College Football 24/7 set out to answer this question by ranking the top draft picks since 2000 from the 30 schools that have produced the most picks since that year.
Players were ranked through a formula in which they received points for honors they've acquired in their NFL career, including being selected to the Pro Bowl (including as injury replacements) and being selected first-team All-Pro. Players were also rewarded relative to where in the draft they were selected. First-round picks benefited least because a strong career would be expected; seventh-round picks benefited most. In some cases, a bonus for longevity or outstanding play was granted. See the full formula below the list of top picks.
The series continues with a look at the best draft picks from among Oklahoma's 85 selections since 2000, which ranks ninth among all schools. RB Adrian Peterson ranks as the Sooners' best draft pick of the century after a stellar 10-year run with the Vikings. Nine former OU players since 2000 have been selected to at least two Pro Bowls, but none of their resumes stack anywhere hear as high as Peterson's.
Best picks of the century from Oklahoma
1. Adrian Peterson, running back
Points: 52.8
Drafted by:Vikings, No. 7 overall pick (Round 1), 2007
Skinny: Peterson hit quite a trifecta to help push a runaway point total: an MVP, plus Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards. He made a big immediate impact in Minnesota, going to the Pro Bowl his first four years in the league and scoring 10 or more TDs in each of his first seven. In 2012, he became one of seven rushers in NFL history to compile a 2,000-yard season (2,097).
2. DeMarco Murray, running back
Points: 18.2
Drafted by:Cowboys, No. 71 overall pick (Round 3), 2011
Skinny: Murray's role in the Dallas offense consistently grew over his four seasons there, culminating in 2014 when he led the NFL in rushing (1,845 yards) and broke Emmitt Smith's single-season club record. He won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, but left Dallas in free agency for the Philadelphia Eagles. Last season, he reached his third Pro Bowl with a 1,287-yard campaign for the Tennessee Titans.
3. Roy Williams, safety
Points: 13.2
Drafted by:Cowboys, No. 8 overall pick (Round 1), 2002
Skinny: Williams was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls, a stretch during which he made 14 of his 19 career interceptions. His career unraveled quickly thereafter, however, giving way to injuries, his release by the Cowboys, and finally two seasons in Cincinnati. Known more for his run support than his ability in coverage, he brought a physical presence to Dallas' defenses of the mid-2000s.
4. Gerald McCoy, defensive tackle
Points: 11.0
Drafted by:Buccaneers, No. 3 overall pick (Round 1), 2010
Skinny: McCoy has been a stalwart for the Bucs' interior defense, and not just as a run-stopper. He's tallied at least seven sacks in each of the last four years and made the Pro Bowl in each of the last five. In 2014, the Bucs rewarded him with a seven-year contract extension worth $51.5 million in guarantees.
5. Jammal Brown, offensive tackle
Points: 9.9
Drafted by:Saints, No. 13 overall pick (Round 1), 2005
Skinny: Brown enjoyed his best NFL season in 2006, when he was selected first-team All-Pro. He made the Pro Bowl again in 2008, but injuries forced him to miss the 2009 season, and New Orleans traded him to the Redskins before the 2010 season.
Honorable mention: DT Tommie Harris (5.5 points), OT Trent Williams (5.5), TE Jermaine Gresham (4.4), QB Sam Bradford (4.4), OG Davin Joseph (2.2).
Total number of picks from Oklahoma since 2000: 85
2017 draft picks from Oklahoma (4): RB Joe Mixon, Bengals (Round 2, No. 48 overall); WR Dede Westbrook, Jaguars (Round 4, No. 110 overall); RB Samaje Perine, Redskins (Round 4, No. 114 overall); LB Jordan Evans, Bengals (Round 6, No. 193 overall).
The Formula: MVP (7 points), Offensive/Defensive Player of the Year (6 points), first-team All-Pro selection (5 points), Offensive/Defensive Rookie of the Year (4 points), Pro Bowl selection within first two years of career (3 points), other Pro Bowl selections (1 point). Specialists and fullbacks: For players honored primarily as return specialists or fullbacks, their total points were devalued. Kickers and punters were not included in this exercise.
Draft multiplier: Total points for first-round picks x 1.1; second-round picks x 1.2; third-round picks x 1.3; fourth-round picks x 1.4; fifth-round picks x 1.5; sixth-round picks x 1.6; seventh-round picks x 1.7.
Tiebreaker: Ranking edge to lower-drafted player within same round.
Specialists and fullbacks: For players honored primarily as specialists or fullbacks, their total points were devalued. Kickers and punters were not included in this exercise.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
