The NFL's Top 50 Draft Classes of the Decade: No. 30 Indianapolis Colts, 2002

Team Achievements: 99-29, 2 Super Bowl appearances (2006 win), 7 straight playoff berths.

The Colts' 2002 Selections: Dwight Freeney, DE, Syracuse (No. 11)
Larry Tripplett, DT, Washington (No. 42)
Joseph Jefferson, CB, Western Kentucky (No. 74)
David Thornton, LB, UNC (No. 106)
David Pugh, DT, Virginia Tech (No. 182)
James Lewis, DB, Miami (No. 183)
Brian Allen, RB, Stanford (No. 204)
Josh Mallard, DE, Georgia (No. 220)

Class Accolades: Dwight Freeney - 3-time All-Pro, 5 Pro Bowls, 84 career sacks, 35 forced fumbles, No.1 in sacks in 2004 with 16, nine forced fumbles as a rookie, 253 total tackles.
Larry Tripplett - 5 sacks, 126 total tackles in 30 starts with Colts.
David Thornton - 367 total tackles as 3-year Colts' starter, No. 6 in tackles in 2003 (145).

Overall Draft Analysis: The 2002 class, headlined by All-Pro pass rusher Dwight Freeney, serves as the Colts' second draft to rank in the decade's top 35. Freeney arguably ranks as the decade's most accomplished pure pass rusher, recording double-digit sacks in six out of eight seasons. Freeney has become the Colts' most dominant defensive contributor for the NFL's winningest regular season team, since 2002. Freeney trails only John Abraham in sacks by an active player, drafted during the decade. Tripplett and Thornton respectably complimented Freeney on defense, combining to start 67 games in four seasons with the team. The fourth- rounder, Thornton, impressively placed No. 6 in total tackles in the NFL in 2003. Ultimately, the Colts' defense ranked in the league's top 11, three out of the four seasons the trio was in tact.

Unfortunately, the rest of the draft class failed to provide significant impact, starting a combined six games, with the Colts. Jefferson performed considerably below third-round value, while Indianapolis released Pugh, Lewis, Allen, and Mallard after, or prior to, a single season with the team. Nonetheless, the '02 class provided significant, sustained impact, opposite of Peyton Manning and the Colts' vaunted offense. Freeney will likely garner Hall-of-Fame consideration, as he nears the century mark for career sacks, amassing each as an Indianapolis Colt.

The Colts' "Perfect Draft" in Retrospect
(Keeping Trades, Only Same Position Players Eligible)
No. 11 - DE Dwight Freeney, No. 42 - DT Rocky Bernard, No. 74 - CB Brian Williams, No. 106 - LB James Harrison (Undrafted), No. 182 - DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu (Undrafted), No. 183 - Ryan Clark (Undrafted), No. 204 - RB Chester Taylor, No. 220 - DE Raheem Brock.

References: All statistics and draft results as reflected on NFL.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com.