While everybody else is busy reviewing this weekend’s NFL Draft, I’m taking a different approach.

We don’t know anything about this weekends NFL Draft, and we won’t for awhile.  It takes at least 3 seasons, probably 4-6, to truly know who had the best Draft.  Nobody knows if Sam Bradford is the next JaMarcus Russell, or the next Matt Ryan.  Hell, nobody really knows if Matt Ryan is the next Jay Cutler or the next Phillip Rivers.

So instead of wasting your time throwing my opinion on who did what this past weekend, let’s rewind the clocks a little bit.

Here’s a rundown of the 2007 NFL Draft.

There aren’t enough words to describe the Raiders taking JaMarcus Russell #1 overall that year.  Adding insult to injury is how well the 2nd (Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit) and 3rd (Joe Thomas, OT, Cleveland) picks have turned out.

Gaines Adams went 4th to Tampa Bay, and never quite panned out.  After a rocky start, Adams was traded to Chicago this past season, and unfortunately he died of cardiac arrest this offseason.

In the #5 spot, the Cardinals landed a solid OT in Levi Brown.  He hasn’t done anything wrong, but certainly is not a Top 5 Draft pick.  Likewise, LaRon Landry has not had a bad career in Washington, but certainly hasn’t lived up to the #6 pick.

Of course, these players not living up to the pick is accentuated by the fact that 3 of the best players in the NFL were taken within the next 7 picks.  At #7, Adrian Peterson, who can be considered the best RB in the league.  At #11, Patrick Willis, who may be on his way to becoming the best LB in the league.  And at #14, Darrell Revis, who certainly must be considered the best CB in the league.

In a do-over of this years NFL Draft, those 3 players, along with Joe Thomas & Calvin Johnson, must certainly be the Top 5 picks.

The last 3 Top 10 picks from that year, Atlanta’s Jamaal Anderson, Miami’s Ted Ginn, Jr., and Houston’s Amobi Okoye, certainly would not be Top 10 picks if we were to re-draft the year.  In fact, you’d be hardpressed to consider any of them as first rounders.

Marshawn Lynch (12th, Buffalo) and Adam Carriker (13th, St Louis) were solid picks who have shown flashes.

Leon Hall (CB, Cincinnati) and Michael Griffin (S, Tennessee) both went in the Top 20, and would probably be Top 10 picks if this were done over.

Brady Quinn falling to #23 was the story of that NFL Draft.  Now, its unknown how far he would fall.  He has shown flashes during his 3 years of being a decent NFL QB, but certainly not a first-rounder, and absolutely not a franchise QB.

The 2nd Round of the ’07 Draft has produced nearly as much talent as the 1st.  QB Kevin Kolb went to the Eagles with the 36th pick, and is now their starter.  TE Zach Miller (#38, Oakland) is a very reliable TE on a very bad offense.  The Bills Paul Posluszny (#34) has had his injury troubles, but has been effective when in the lineup.  The Jets were willing to trade Jonathan Vilma because of the emergence of LB David Harris (#47).

Four players from the 2nd round have all made the Pro-Bowl (compared to 8 first-rounders); Sydney Rice (WR, #44 overall, Minnesota), LaMarr Woodley (DE/LB, #46, Pittsburgh), Steve Smith (WR, #51, NY Giants), and Ryan Kalil (C, #59, Carolina).

Zak DeOssie (#116, NY Giants) is another Pro Bowler, making it twice for his long-snapping capabilities.  At #137, the Baltimore Ravens got fullback LeRon McLain, who was a Pro Bowler in 2008.

Other notable players taken during the draft include WR Mike Sims-Walker (#79, Jacksonville), QB Trent Edwards (#81, Buffalo), P Dennis Sepulveda (#112, Pittsburgh), WR Steve Breaston (#142, Arizona), TE Kevin Boss (#153, NY Giants), TE Brent Celek (#162, Philadelphia), CB William Gay (#170, Pittsburgh), K Nick Folk (#178, Dallas), K Mason Crosby (#193, Green Bay), RB Ahman Bradshaw (#250, NY Giants), and S Chinedum Ndukwe (#253, Cincinnati).