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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/TheFencingCoach on 2024-04-17 16:03:01.

I’ll start. Some that come to mind (and this is why I’m not a GM):

Luck: Obvious one. He was the perfect QB prospect and probably the best draft prospect I’ve ever seen. Strong arm, processed the field amazingly, football IQ was unparalleled.

Lawrence: The best prospect since Luck, he did everything right in college and made Clemson a powerhouse whenever he was on the field. Cannon arm, could scramble well, fast release, and had 67% accuracy in college with few turnovers. Lawrence was as slam dunk a #1 overall pick as they come, and while he’s what one would call a work in progress that hasn’t quite yet lived up to expectations, as a prospect, he was god-tier.

Megatron: Another obvious one. Never had there been a player that had the combination of Johnson’s size, speed, catch radius, and reliability. This play from college will forever be burned in my memory.

Sammy Watkins: Maybe one of the best collegiate route runners I’ve ever seen. Didn’t pan out in the pros due to injuries and a supposedly questionable work ethic. But he was special in college.

Chance Warmack: Another guy who on tape was peerless in my book. I was surprised when Jonathan Cooper got drafted ahead of him (who also turned out to be a bust). But Warmack was a guy I remember being next level great on tape.

OJ Howard: Another Bama player who I thought was the complete package. He was a great blocker, ran a 4.5 forty at 6’6 250 pounds, and had solid hands (that somehow turned stone in the pros). Howard was average at best with us, but when he tore his Achilles he immediately became expendable and never recovered.

Joe Thomas: I remember watching him at Wisconsin and just thinking of how flawless his game was. Reminded me of a young Tony Boselli in that he showed up on tape in the best way, for a position that isn’t usually glorified. Came into the pros and was excellent immediately as a rookie and remained that way his whole career.

Antonio Cromartie: Hands down the best collegiate CB I’ve ever seen. He tore his ACL which is why he fell in the draft, but he was a lock down corner through and through, his instincts were next level, and while he had his ups and downs in the pros, he had a great career.

Jalen Ramsey: Another great FSU DB who did everything right on tape and had amazing measurements to complement the tape. Made an immediate impact and is on track for a hall of fame career.

Robert Gallery: Still remember watching him in the Outback Bowl. It was one of the rare cases where an OT took over a game and he was opening holes for Fred Russell that were as spacious as a canyon. He (like Aaron Curry) became the inheritor of the “safest pick in the draft” meme, and while he turned into a decent Guard, he was a mega disappointment at LT.

Julius Peppers: Just a stupid good athlete. Tall, bullishly strong, fast, amazing pass rush repertoire, he was as good an edge prospect as they come and looked like a man among boys.

Sean Taylor: John Madden said that there were two players he felt would have been worthy of a 1st round pick out of HS: Sean Taylor and Adrian Peterson. Taylor was a speed demon, hit like a truck, and had excellent cover skills. He was fun to watch in the pros and it was a shame he died so young.

Trent Richardson: Yeah yeah, he sucked in the NFL and was a mega bust that had the vision of a naked mole rat. But that guy was a man among boys in college. Hit the hole with power, amazing breakaway speed, and seemed impossible to bring down.

Saquon: So fun to watch at PSU. His biggest issue is struggling to stay healthy but the cuts this guy makes for his size and his agility were special.