Which non-QBs were considered generational prospects at the time of their draft?

How they panned out in the league doesn’t matter it’s just how they were viewed at the time of their draft. Generational is subjective but in general, it’s not just a great player at their position, it’s a once in a generation type of talent (maybe these prospects surface in back-to-back years or the same year, but this shouldn’t be looked at as just the best prospect that comes along every 4-5 years or so).

Since about 2000, the ones that come to mind for me are:

RB

Reggie Bush (2nd overall, 2006)
Saquon Barkley (2nd overall, 2018)

Bijan could certainly be argued as well as Adrian Peterson. McFadden, Ricky Williams, etc. are candidates, but I think the two above stand out, especially considering the “RBs don’t matter” narrative had already started when Saquon was taken.

WR

Calvin Johnson (2nd overall, 2007)
Ja’Marr Chase (5th overall, 2021)
Marvin Harrison Jr. (4th overall, 2024)

It feels like going beyond that opens up the floodgates too much with receivers like Julio/Green, Cooper, etc.

TE

Kyle Pitts (4th overall, 2021)

Maybe Bowers could be put into this mix, but he didn’t carry the same hype that Pitts did.

OT

Orlando Pace (1st overall 1997) is right around 2000 as a slam dunk generational tackle, but not sure if there have been any legitimate generational tackle prospects since, although a lot of great ones. Joe Thomas could be argued. More recently Sewell also had a ton of hype, but was done no favors in a loaded draft class.

iOL

Quenton Nelson (6th overall, 2018)

Edge

I think this is the hardest one because there are so many borderline cases you could argue like Nick Bosa, Myles Garrett, Mario Williams, Courtney Brown, Chase Young, Aiden Hutchinson and Jadeveon Clowney (Clowney absolutely was generational at a point, but I think the shine had worn off ever so slightly as a generational pick by draft time, even if he was still the 1st overall pick). If you concede on one, you kind of have to just open up the floodgates and the “generational” tag becomes diluted.

Only one I feel comfortable saying was seen as generational is Julius Peppers (2nd overall, 2002).

DT

Ndamukong Suh (2nd overall, 2010)

LB

Lavar Arrington (2nd overall, 2000)

CB

Patrick Peterson (5th overall, 2011)

Stingley and Sauce felt borderline but I don’t think fully there as generational at the time of their draft. At a time Stingley was viewed that way after his freshman season, but that fell off. Their hype also ate into one another’s.

S

Sean Taylor (5th overall, 2004) for sure.

I think Roy Williams and Eric Berry could be argued although not sure if fully there.

K

Sebastian Janikowski (17th overall, 2000)