I guess you would have to look at a player's performance after he goes to a new team, how many starts they make, and maybe how many Pro Bowls (I don't like the Pro Bowl voting though).
Guys like Marshall, Bennett, Slauson, Bushrod, Garza, and Cutler would all have to be considered successes for either their production, longevity (Garza), or accolades (Marshall). You could also use Pro Football Reference's AV or PFF's.
In reference to building a guy, I believe that is true, but the numbers do not support that at all. The great teams you would think of in the last decade all were on the bottom half of draft efficiency and success.