NFL.com: Julian Peterson is the best Michigan State draft pick of the 21st century

The Year of Our Lord 2017 seems like a weird year for "Best of the Century" or "Best of the 2000s" lists to pop up since we tend to like years that end in 5 or 0 for these type of compilations.

Perhaps blame the New York Times for publishing its list of 25 best films of the 21st century, which was quite the conversation piece on social media. But NFL.com's Chase Goodbread actually beat the Gray Lady to the list punch, beginning his summer series "Best Picks of the Century" back in May. 

And on Monday, Goodbread's piece on Michigan State dropped. His top five looks like this:

1. Julian Peterson
2. Le'Veon Bell
3. Kirk Cousins
4. Domato Peko
5. Plaxico Burress

Jack Conklin, who's spent all of one year in the league, is the honorable mention pick.

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There's a formula that Goodbread used to break it all down, and you can read about it in the link above.

Goodbread on Peterson:

Peterson played six seasons for the 49ers, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2003. A freakish athlete, he once took snaps at four different positions in a game for San Francisco, as he could rush the passer and cover tight ends. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2006 and made three consecutive Pro Bowls with his new team, notching a career-high 10 sacks in 2006. The next stop for Peterson was Detroit, as the Lions traded Cory Redding and a fifth-round pick to Seattle for Peterson in 2009. He started for two years in Detroit before retiring.

What are your thoughts? Accurate top five or not?

Follow digital sports producer Phil Friend on Twitter @Phil_Friend.