Ranking the Best Players from the 2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was a defensive coordinator’s dream and a goldmine of future legends. This class delivered game-wrecking pass rushers, sure-handed receivers, lockdown corners, and first-ballot Hall of Famers.
From Troy Polamalu’s chaos-creating style to Jason Witten’s unmatched toughness, these players didn’t just have great careers—they helped define a decade of NFL football.
We’re counting down the top 10 players from this powerhouse class. The ones who hit hardest, lasted longest, and left the biggest mark on the league.
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#10: Dallas Clark
Tight End | 6’3″, 252 lbs
Drafted: 24th overall by the Indianapolis Colts
Teams: Indianapolis Colts (2003–2011), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012), Baltimore Ravens (2013)
Dallas Clark wasn’t just a tight end, he was a matchup nightmare. Lining up in the slot, on the line, or out wide, Clark gave Peyton Manning a reliable, chain-moving weapon who could eat up zone coverage and torch linebackers in man.
His hands were money, especially in the red zone, and in 2009 he posted career highs with 100 catches and 10 touchdowns. A key piece of the Colts’ offensive juggernaut, Clark helped Indy stay near the top of the league for nearly a decade.
Accolades:
- Super Bowl XLI Champion
- Pro Bowl (2009)
- Second-Team All-Pro (2009)
- 505 career receptions, 5,665 yards, 53 TDs
- 100 receptions in 2009—tied 2nd-most in a season by a TE at the time
#9: Nnamdi Asomugha
Cornerback | 6’2″, 210 lbs
Drafted: 31st overall by the Oakland Raiders
Teams: Oakland Raiders (2003–2010), Philadelphia Eagles (2011–2012), San Francisco 49ers (2013)
Nnamdi Asomugha didn’t put up flashy interception numbers, but that’s because quarterbacks stopped throwing his way. In his prime, he was a true shutdown corner, locking down top receivers with size, technique, and elite awareness.
For a stretch in the late 2000s, he was the most feared corner in football, often eliminating one side of the field entirely. He didn’t talk much, but his film did all the loud talking—tight coverage, no mistakes, just dominance.
Accolades:
- 3× Pro Bowler (2008–2010)
- 2× First-Team All-Pro (2008, 2010)
- NFL Alumni Defensive Back of the Year (2006)
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team (Second Team)
#8: Osi Umenyiora
Defensive End | 6’3″, 255 lbs
Drafted: 56th overall (2nd round) by the New York Giants
Teams: New York Giants (2003–2012), Atlanta Falcons (2013–2014)
Osi Umenyiora brought speed, bend, and chaos off the edge—and when the lights were brightest, he delivered. A cornerstone of those fierce Giants defenses, Umenyiora helped New York take down Tom Brady’s Patriots not once, but twice in the Super Bowl.
He had a knack for forcing fumbles (32 career!) and was a nightmare for offensive tackles thanks to his explosive first step. In 2007, he dropped 6 sacks in a single game, showing just how dangerous he could be on any snap.
Accolades:
- 2× Super Bowl Champion (XLII, XLVI)
- 2× Pro Bowler (2005, 2007)
- Second-Team All-Pro (2010)
- 85 career sacks, 32 forced fumbles
- 6-sack game vs. the Eagles (2007) – Giants franchise record
#7: Asante Samuel
Cornerback | 5’10”, 185 lbs
Drafted: 120th overall (4th round) by the New England Patriots
Teams: New England Patriots (2003–2007), Philadelphia Eagles (2008–2011), Atlanta Falcons (2012–2013)
Asante Samuel was the definition of a ball hawk—aggressive, instinctive, and always lurking for that game-changing pick. He had a knack for jumping routes and flipping momentum in an instant.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft, he turned into one of the most productive corners of his era, finishing with 51 career interceptions, including 10 in 2006 alone. Samuel made huge plays in big games, helping the Patriots win two Super Bowls and racking up four straight Pro Bowl nods in his prime. You threw his way? You paid the price.
Accolades:
- 2× Super Bowl Champion (XXXVIII, XXXIX)
- 4× Pro Bowler (2007–2010)
- 2× First-Team All-Pro (2007, 2009)
- NFL Interceptions Leader (2006, 2009)
- 51 career interceptions, 6 career pick-sixes
#6: Anquan Boldin
Wide Receiver | 6’1″, 220 lbs
Drafted: 54th overall (2nd round) by the Arizona Cardinals
Teams: Arizona Cardinals (2003–2009), Baltimore Ravens (2010–2012), San Francisco 49ers (2013–2015), Detroit Lions (2016)
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Anquan Boldin came into the league and dropped 217 receiving yards in his debut—still the most by a rookie in Week 1 history. That’s how you introduce yourself. Built like a linebacker but ran routes like a technician, Boldin was one of the toughest, most fearless receivers to ever do it.
Over the middle, in traffic, clutch moments—he delivered every time. He helped the Ravens win a Super Bowl and racked up over 1,000 career receptions, all while playing with an edge that set the tone for every offense he joined.
Accolades:
- Super Bowl XLVII Champion
- Offensive Rookie of the Year (2003)
- 3× Pro Bowler (2003, 2006, 2008)
- Over 1,000 career receptions (1,076)
- 13,779 receiving yards, 82 touchdowns
- Fastest receiver to 400 career catches (in just 67 games) at the time
#5: Jason Witten
Tight End | 6’6″, 263 lbs
Drafted: 69th overall (3rd round) by the Dallas Cowboys
Teams: Dallas Cowboys (2003–2017, 2019), Las Vegas Raiders (2020)
Jason Witten was the definition of dependability. He wasn’t flashy, but he was always open, always blocking, and never missing a snap, a coach’s dream!
Witten made a career out of moving the chains and leading by example, anchoring the Cowboys’ offense through multiple eras. His route-running was crisp, his hands were steady, and he played with toughness that never showed up on the stat sheet but won games. He walked away with over 1,200 catches, second-most ever by a tight end at the time.
Accolades:
- 11× Pro Bowler (2004–2010, 2012–2013, 2017)
- 2× First-Team All-Pro (2007, 2010)
- Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2012)
- 1,228 career receptions (4th all-time)
- 13,046 receiving yards, 74 touchdowns
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
#4: Andre Johnson
Wide Receiver | 6’3″, 229 lbs
Drafted: 3rd overall by the Houston Texans
Teams: Houston Texans (2003–2014), Indianapolis Colts (2015), Tennessee Titans (2016)
Andre Johnson was an absolute force, a perfect blend of size, speed, and strength who could bully corners and take the top off a defense. He was the face of the Texans franchise for over a decade, consistently producing elite numbers despite inconsistent quarterback play.
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Johnson had five 100-catch seasons and led the NFL in receiving yards twice, carving out a legacy as one of the most dominant wideouts of the 2000s. Quiet off the field, but loud as hell between the lines, Andre was all business—and all production.
Accolades:
- 7× Pro Bowler (2004, 2006, 2008–2010, 2012–2013)
- 2× First-Team All-Pro (2008, 2009)
- 2× NFL Receiving Yards Leader (2008, 2009)
- 1,062 career receptions
- 14,185 receiving yards, 70 touchdowns
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team (Second Team)
#3: Kevin Williams
Defensive Tackle | 6’5″, 311 lbs
Drafted: 9th overall by the Minnesota Vikings
Teams: Minnesota Vikings (2003–2013), Seattle Seahawks (2014), New Orleans Saints (2015)
Kevin Williams was a wrecking ball in the trenches, dominating offensive lines with power, quickness, and technique. As one half of the legendary “Williams Wall” in Minnesota, he made life miserable for running backs and quarterbacks alike.
Williams wasn’t just a space-eater, he was a playmaker, racking up 60+ career sacks and batting down passes like a defensive end. For nearly a decade, he was the gold standard for 4-3 defensive tackles, anchoring elite run defenses and drawing double-teams every Sunday.
Accolades:
- 6× Pro Bowler (2004–2006, 2008–2010)
- 5× First-Team All-Pro (2004–2008)
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
- 63 career sacks, 9 forced fumbles, 5 defensive TDs
- 171 career starts with the Vikings
#2: Terrell Suggs
Outside Linebacker / Defensive End | 6’3″, 265 lbs
Drafted: 10th overall by the Baltimore Ravens
Teams: Baltimore Ravens (2003–2018), Arizona Cardinals (2019), Kansas City Chiefs (2019)
Cincinnati Bengals At Baltimore Ravens 11 18 2018
Terrell Suggs was built for AFC North football; mean, relentless, and downright nasty coming off the edge. He stepped into a stacked Ravens defense and carved out a legendary career of his own, finishing with 139 career sacks and a reputation as one of the most feared pass rushers of his generation.
Suggs could bull-rush you, bend around you, or bait you into a turnover. He was also a tone-setter, vocal leader, and certified closer in big moments—and oh yeah, he won two rings along the way.
Accolades:
- 2× Super Bowl Champion (XLVII, LIV)
- 7× Pro Bowler (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010–2011, 2013, 2017)
- NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2011)
- 1× First-Team All-Pro (2011)
- 139 career sacks (9th all-time), 7 defensive TDs
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team (Second Team)
#1: Troy Polamalu
Strong Safety | 5’10”, 207 lbs
Drafted: 16th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (2003–2014)
Troy Polamalu wasn’t just a safety, he was pure chaos wrapped in black and gold. Whether he was leaping over the line at the snap, baiting quarterbacks into bad decisions, or flipping the field with a pick-six, Polamalu played with instincts you couldn’t coach and a motor that never cooled.
He was the heartbeat of the Steelers’ defense during two Super Bowl runs, redefining the safety position with his blend of athleticism, timing, and fearless playmaking. You didn’t just game plan for him—you prayed he didn’t wreck your day.
Accolades:
- 2× Super Bowl Champion (XL, XLIII)
- 8× Pro Bowler (2004–2008, 2010–2011, 2013)
- 4× First-Team All-Pro (2005, 2008, 2010, 2011)
- NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2010)
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020
