Should The Detroit Lions “Tank” The Rest Of Their Season?
Oct 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) and defensive tackle Caraun Reid (97) take the field before the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Recent Top 5 picks
Out of the 15 teams who had top five picks from 2012-14, none of them won a playoff game. 7 of the 15 teams had winning records the season following their top five pick, with five of those teams making the playoffs. Among these 15 players, only three have made the Pro-Bowl (Andrew Luck, RG III, Matt Kalil).
Respective to records as a team, the Indianapolis Colts are the only team to have made the playoffs twice since picking in the top 5. Clearly the is no correlation between drafting in the top 5 and building a winner.
2012 Draft
1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck QB (11-5)*
2. Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III QB (10-6)*
3. Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson RB (5-11)
4. Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil OT (10-6)*
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Justin Blackmon WR (2-14)
2013 Draft
1. Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Fisher OT (11-5)*
2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Luke Joeckel OT (4-12)
3. Miami Dolphins – Dion Jordan DE (8-8)
4. Philadelphia Eagles – Lane Johnson OT (10-6)*
5. Detroit Lions – Ezekiel Ansah DE (7-9)
2014 Draft
1. Houston Texans – Jadeveon Clowney DE (9-7)
2. St. Louis Rams – Greg Robinson OT (6-10)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Blake Bortles QB (3-13)
4. Buffalo Bills – Sammy Watkins WR (9-7)
5. Oakland Raiders – Khalil Mack LB (3-13)
*denotes playoff berth
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