When one takes a close look at the highest rated players in the NFL, the majority of the players were not 1st Round picks.
This past season, only 36.5% of PFF’s highest graded players (19/52) at each position were 1st rounders.
The results are:
1st Rounders: 19
2nd Rounders: 8
3rd Rounders: 8
4th Rounders: 1
5th Rounders: 6
6th Rounders: 2
UCFAs: 8
2019 PFF All Pro 1st and 2nd Teams:
QB: 1-Russell Wilson (3rd); 2-Lamar Jackson (1st)
RB: 1-Nick Chubb (2nd); 2-Christian McCaffrey (1st)
WR: 1-Chris Godwin (3rd); 2-DeAndre Hopkins (1st)
WR: 1-Michael Thomas (2nd); 2-Mike Evans (1st)
TE: 1-George Kittle (5th); 2-Travis Kelce (3rd)
FLEX: 1-Julio Jones (1st); 2-Austin Ekeler (UCFA)
LT: 1-Ronnie Stanley (1st); 2-Anthony Castonzo (1st)
LG: Quenton Nelson (1st); 2-Joe Thuney (3rd)
C: 1- Jason Kelce (6th); 2-Ryan Jensen (6th)
RG: 1-Brandon Brooks (3rd); 2-Zach Martin (1st)
RT: Ryan Ramczyk (1st); 2-Mitchell Schwartz (2nd)
Edge: 1-T.