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Oklahoma football: Sooners’ Top 5 NFL draft classes since 2000

By John Makuch

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Dec 28, 2019; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (2) attempts a catch as LSU Tigers safety JaCoby Stevens (3) defends during the first quarter of the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game against the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2019; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (2) attempts a catch as LSU Tigers safety JaCoby Stevens (3) defends during the first quarter of the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game against the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

4. 2020 NFL Draft

This is the most recent NFL Draft of any on this list, but the class is already off to a more than great start

The draft began with wide receiver Ceedee Lamb being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the 17th pick in the first round.

Lamb joined a receiving core with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup and was able to get plenty of opportunity out of the slot in Dallas. Lamb finished with 74 receptions, 935 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season.

His highlight of the season was a touchdown catch against the Minnesota Vikings, where he pulled an acrobatic contortion move that dropped plenty of jaws on that Sunday.

At Oklahoma, he was a four-star recruit that was a superstar in college and showed plenty of what he is capable of in his first season in the NFL, with many more to come.

Kenneth Murray was a defensive leader at Oklahoma and has translated that well to the Los Angeles Chargers after being selected in the second round.

Murray was selected to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after a solid first season in a growing Chargers’ defense, finishing with 107 total tackles and a sack as well.

Murray has had a great start to his young career and has already shown his impact, helping his class get the fourth spot on this list.

Many may not see Jalen Hurts as an Oklahoma football alum as much as Alabama, but once a Sooner always a Sooner.

Hurts played one season at quarterback for Oklahoma, resulting in a College Football Playoff appearance and plenty of memorable moments throughout the season. Most notably, a 28-3 comeback against Baylor, where he led the Sooners back from a 25-point second-half deficit to an improbable 33-31 victory.

Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, it took some time for Hurts  to get his first start in the NFL after being selected in the middle of the second round.

Hurts got his first start for Philly against the New Orleans Saints after showing flashes the week before, and he led his Eagles squad to a 24-21 victory as heavy underdogs against Drew Brees and the Saints.

With Carson Wentz now traded to the Colts, there may be a full 16 starts ahead for Jalen Hurts in 2021 if the Eagles stick with him He will get his opportunity to prove he belongs in 2021.

Finally, Neville Gallimore was a defensive leader for the Oklahoma defensive line and is developing in the Cowboys defense after being selected in the third round.

The 24-year-old had 11 tackles and 0.5 sacks from the defensive tackle spot but showed plenty of promise opening up holes for his defensive line in a position of need for Dallas.

He has not made as many highlight-reel plays, but his impact will only continue to improve at the interior defensive line spot as the years go on.

While this class has only seen one season, it is shaping up to be a complete class that we will look back on with fond memories of when the Sooners had them all in one season.

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