The NFL's Top 50 Draft Classes of the Decade: No. 11 Indianapolis Colts, 2003

Team Achievements: 89-23, 2 Super Bowls (2006 win), 6 straight playoff appearances.

The Colts' 2003 Selections: Dallas Clark, TE, Iowa (No. 24)
Mike Doss, S, Ohio State (No. 58)
Donald Strickland, CB, Colorado (No. 90)
Steve Sciullo, G, Marshall (No. 122)
Robert Mathis, DE, Alabama A&M (No. 138)
Keyon Whiteside, LB, Tennessee (No. 162)
Cato June, LB, Michigan (No. 198)
Makoa Freitas, OT, Arizona (No. 208)

Class Accolades: Dallas Clark - All-Pro and Pro-Bowl in 2009, No. 1 in receptions by a tight end in 2009 (100), 356 career receptions, 4,188 yards, and 41 touchdowns.
Mike Doss - 42 starts at safety for Colts, 7 career interceptions.
Robert Mathis - 2 Pro Bowls, 63 career sacks, double-digit sacks in 3 seasons.
Cato June - Pro Bowl in 2005, 10 interceptions, 362 tackles in 3 seasons as Colts' starter.

Overall Draft Analysis: The Colts' 2003 class remarkably ranks as the franchise's fourth class in the decade's top 35, inevitably, providing the talent and depth necessary for the dynasty's continued success. During the second half of the decade, Clark has emerged as one of the NFL's most prolific receiving tight ends, impressively collecting 177 catches the past two seasons. Additionally, Clark ranks No. 3 in receiving touchdowns amongst active tight ends. The team's other two offensive draft picks, Sciullo and Freitas, combined to start 19 games for the Colts, during brief stints in Indianapolis.

The Colts '03 class significantly contributed to the team's collective performance on defense, during the decade. Mathis and June joined Clark as Super XLI starters, while Clark and Mathis also started in Super Bowl XLIV. The fifth-round selection, Mathis, unassumingly became one of the league's most productive defensive ends, starting opposite of the much more heralded Dwight Freeney. Mathis has recorded 9+ sacks in five of the past six seasons, ranking No. 5 in career sacks amongst active players under the age of 30. The Colts' third Pro Bowler, June, proved similarly valuable as a talented tackler and excellent cover linebacker. June totaled 100+ tackles in three consecutive seasons, while ranking No. 5 in 2006, with 142. Doss served as a three-year starter in Indianapolis, including an outstanding rookie season. Ultimately, Doss was replaced by Antoine Bethea and released by the team after the '06 season. Additionally, Strickland and Whiteside each started 12 games for the Colts, during two-year stints with the team. The Colts' '03 draft remains amongst the decade's finest classes, contributing four regular starters, including a trio of Pro Bowlers, as well as four serviceable spot starters. Indianapolis accomplished an extremely rare NFL draft feat, as each player selected subsequently started for the team.

The Colts' "Perfect Draft" in Retrospect
(Keeping trades, only same position players are eligible)
No. 24 - TE Jason Witten, No. 58 - S Chris Crocker, No. 90 - CB Asante Samuel, No. 122 - G Kris Dielman (Undrafted), No. 138 - DE Robert Mathis, No. 162 - LB Cato June, No. 198 - LB Gary Brackett (Undrafted), No. 208 - OT Anthony Davis (Undrafted).

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