NFL Draft: The Top 20 Number One Overall Picks in the History of the Draft
How important the number one overall pick is when the rookies are actually a part of the NFL draft? Not very. There have been many busts and success stories when it comes to players who have been drafted at that position.
But, when they are actually in the league, saying that you were picked first overall, means virtually nothing. Sam Bradford was picked first in last year’s draft, but Ndamukong Suh made the most noise in the league being awarded the Pepsi Rookie of the Year Honor.
See, what I mean? Nothing. But, there have been instances where it seems like teams with the number one pick got it right. Twelve of the number one picks of the NFL Draft are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, out of the 75 years the draft has been in place.
Well, when you look at it like that, teams rarely make the right choice.
#20 Charley Trippi: Draft of 1945, Halfback for Georgia to the Chicago Cardinals
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Charley Trippi's versatility is ultimately what puts him in the Top 20 of the entire number one overall pick draft class of the NFL. The battle between the AAFC (All-America Football Conference) and the NFL was ignited, not soley, by Trippi's decision to sign with the Chicago Cardinals instead of the New York Yankees.
His only NFL Championship came in 1947, where Charley wore basketball shoes to better his balance on the slippery field and the Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21. Trippi played halfback, quarterback, switched over to defense and then tried his hand as the punter.
Of course, the tight rules of the NFL today will not allow such flexibility. Which is a large part of why his legacy will remain intact. Besides Paul Hornung, I do not believe we will see a player adapt so successfully to each of his team's needs for the win.
#19 Paul Hornung: Draft of 1957, Halfback for Notre Dame to the Green Bay Packer
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The Paul Hornung Award is presented to the most versatile player in college football and rightfully so. In college, Hornung switched offensive and defensive positions, sometimes even in a single game. Doing so allowed Notre Dame to be such an elite and effective football team and Hornung landed the Heisman trophy in 1956.
As a quarterback, he could run, pass and block, but when the Packers landed Vince Lombardi as a head coach, he was positioned permanently as a halfback. The Golden Boy was the poster child of the successful run in the league during his career.
#18 Irving Fryar: Draft of 1984, Wide Receiver for Nebraska to the Patriots
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The most notable of his achievements would have to be that Fryar became the very first wide receiver to be drafted as the number one overall pick in the NFL Draft. Unfortunately for the Patriots, they were facing one of the greatest teams in the history of the professional league, the Chicago Bears of the 1985-86 season, led by Jim McMahon and the one and only Walter Payton.
Fryar scored the only touchdown for the Patriots in that game and the Bears went on to pack the dirt on top of the grave with a score of 46-10. Irving also became the first player to score a touchdown reception for 17 seasons consecutively.
His best receiving years came in Philadelphia where he averaged 1022.3 yards and 6 touchdowns his his three seasons with the Eagles.
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#17 Mike Vick: Draft of 2001, Quarterback for Virginia Tech to the Falcons
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Michael Vick was virtually excluded from a lot of sports reporters and players' minds after heading to prison for his participation in dog fights. There was a lot of doubt as to whether or not his image and athleticism would be able to recover from such a hard time in his life emotionally and physically.
He surprised everyone this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, after grabbing the starting quarterback position from Kevin Kolb. He led the Eagles through the season with such an improvement as a pocket passer and the same agility that allowed him to escape the grasp of his defenders easily to gain yardage for his team.
Vick is one of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game as long as your mind is not clouded with the resentment from the mistakes he has made in his past.
#16 Ed Jones: Draft of 1974, Defensive End for Tennessee State to the Cowboys
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Being only one of three players to play a whopping 15 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Ed Jones was a master in his craft and a member of the Doomsday squad of the 1970s. The Doomsday consisted of Bob Lilly, George Andrie, Larry Cole and Jethro Pugh, Lilly being the most unstoppable force of them all.
Ed Jones received his nickname Too Tall from his height of 6’9. Of course now that seems rather normal with even the quarterbacks of the draft scraping ceilings, Jones was one of a kind. He dabbled in the boxing ring for a short time but after that home is where the heart is, Jones returned to the NFL to play in 16 playoff games and three Super Bowls, winning one.
#15 Billy Cannon: Draft of 1960, Running Back for Louisiana to the LA Rams
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While Billy Cannon is remembered for playing the entire duration of the AFL, 10 years, he is only noted for a great fall from grace, when he was accused and charged with counterfeiting money along with a few friends turned amateur crooks.
His legendary run that was notarized for its excellence in athleticism showmanship was looked upon as a mistake from a false hero. Cannon was never regarded in the same light when he endured time in prison, released early due to good behavior, and developed such a hard personality that many find hard to forgive.
#14 Bill Dudley: Draft of 1942, Half Back for Virginia to the Pittsburgh Steeler
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Bill Dudley’s stint in the NFL was briefly interrupted by his enlistment into the US Armed Services, but definitely did not allow for a breach in his talent as he played for the Army’s football team and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.
After the war was over, Dudley returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the end of their 1945 season and became the team’s leading scorer in just four games. He played three season with the Steelers, three with the Detroit Lions and three with the Washington Redskins.
He was nicknamed Bullet Bill, despite his lack of speed, and was one of the most feared kick off returners in history.
#13 Earl Campbell: Draft of 1978, Running Back for Texas to the Houston Oilers
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Three-time Offensive Player of the Year and 1978’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Earl Campbell led the league in rushing and if he had remained in the league a little longer would have racked up considerable praise and honors.
In the eight seasons of his NFL career, Campbell posted rushing yards in 1980 that were only second to OJ Simpson at the time and 9,407 yards in total.
The sole reason I do not believe we will see another prolific running back like Campbell or Simpson, is the lack of fire that the athletes of right now hold. Nothing is done for the love of the game, but surrounded by worries of their image and how their financial standing is being affected by everyone else’s contributions compared to their own.
Campbell played to help his team win and that is what makes him so elite.
#12 Keyshawn Johnson: Draft of 1996, WR for Southern California to the Ny Jets
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Since Irving Fryar was the first wide receiver selected at the number one position in the NFL draft, Keyshawn Johnson took his place as the second. Johnson falls into the perception of very outspoken to say the least, but he was incredibly talented during his jaw jabbing.
It is a little expected of the wide receivers of our generation to be prima donnas and have a lot of personality to trail along with their accolades as an athlete, so it does not surprise me that he carries a lot of his on field characteristics to behind the desk as he analyzes and discusses the football players now.
He is the only Tampa Bay Buccaneer to have recorded two 1,000-yard seasons in a row and reached 600 receptions extremely quick.
#11 Tommy Nobis: Draft of 1966 (NFL), Linebacker for Texas to Atlanta Falcons
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Tommy Nobis was the first player ever drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and soon after became first ever Falcon to be voted to the Pro Bowl in his rookie year. The most troubling fact of his career is that he has yet to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the year and with the team’s all time tackles record in a single season with 294, you would think that he would have reached consideration and election by now.
He was one of the cleanest images of a football player that the league has ever seen, and maybe his lack of entry into the HOF is due to presets set in place to only look deeply into the players who were the bigger stars and had the most outlandish character.
#10 Buck Buchanan: Draft of 1963 (AFL), DT for Grambling to the KC Chiefs
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Junious Buchanan was a part of the AFL Kansas City Chiefs when they were two-time AFL Champions and winners of one World Championship in 1969. Buchanan was one of the quickest lineman you may have ever seen which allowed to become an efficient pass rusher. He had a massive effect on the line of vision for the quarterback and batted down many passes and was very durable for a man that took as many hits as he had sustained.
He received All Star selection for six years and immediately after received two Pro Bowl selections in 1970 and 1971. Buchanan is in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
#9 Lee Roy Selmon: Draft of 1976, Defensive End for Oklahoma to Tampa Bay
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After being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Selmon established himself as the leader of his defensive unit and even after missing a few games due to injury in his rookie season, he was able to keep the Bucs’ Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player.
Selmon captured the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1979 by a unanimous vote and was elected to the Pro Bowl six times during his career. The staff that Selmon played for knew how superior he was to the rest of the defensive line and that he was the strongest among the weak when it came to his teammates.
#8 Peyton Manning: Draft of 1998, Quarterback for Tennessee to the Indianapolis
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One of the two active players in this list of the greatest number one draft picks, Peyton Manning is the blueprint of an elite quarterback. He is a pure pocket passer and does not have to use his feet much, if at all, to escape defenders. His arm is so quick and accurate that he provides hours of tape for coaches trying to develop a plan to stop him.
Manning is one of the most important factors in the antitrust suit that players are constructing against the NFL for their part in the lockout situation that we as fans and the league as a whole face now. But, not only is he an instrumental slice of the NFLPA’s pie, but he is the deciding element in the success of the Indianapolis Colts.
Earlier this season, it seemed like we were seeing the kryptonite kicking in as Manning’s Superman persona began to wear off and he actually appeared to be an average league quarterback. Maybe you would have believed that he was if this was your first year watching him play, but as an avid sports fan, most people realized that he was finally experiencing the drought that so many had been waiting to arrive.
By the end of his career, Peyton Manning will be considered one of the top five quarterbacks of all time, if he is not already.
#7 OJ Simpson: Draft of 1969, Running Back for Southern California to the Buffal
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Besides the fact that OJ Simpson has been swirling in all circles involving legal drama, he was a great athlete in the NFL. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in the year of 1985, he rushed for 2,000 in 14 seasons and had 200 yard rushing stats in six different games.
Simpson’s legal troubles involving the case of his murdered wife, and some others following years after, have clouded the public’s perception of him. If he had not been facing such tumultuous and eyebrow raising allegations we would see him plastered over every television during every analysis involving the NFL or college football.
#6 Bruce Smith: Draft of 1985, Defensive End for Virginia Tech to the Buffalo Bi
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Bruce Smith played 19 seasons in the NFL and tallied 11 Pro Bowl selections by his career’s end. Smith was a standout in his college years, receiving the Outland Trophy at the close, presented the nation’s top lineman.
Smith became the league’s sack whiz, sitting on a Buffalo Bills’ record of 171 sacks as he took his talents to Washington to play for the Redskins. His record will probably never be grazed or broken, especially with so many rules in place now to keep the quarterback profoundly protected. It was unfortunate that a field goal attempt kept the Bills from winning an NFL Championship, making Smith one of the greatest players to never have captured that honor.
Smith compacted a few more sacks during him time with Washington and broke Reggie White’s all time sacks record with 200 of his own.
#5 Chuck Bednarik: Draft of 1949, Linebacker for Pennsylvania to the Eagles
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Like stated before, a player who could be as devastatingly effective on both sides of the ball was hard to find, however Bednarik managed to slip into the category of versatility and be equally dominant on the offensive and defensive sides of the line of scrimmage.
There was virtually no one in the league playing against him that could escape his crushing hits while he played center for the offense and linebacker for his team’s defense.
Bednarik only missed three games in 14 seasons in the professional football league and was the last of the NFL’s sixty minute men. One of his most memorable hits was one on New York Giants’ Frank Gifford , that placed him on injury reserved for a year.
Criticized at the time for his reaction to the tackle that gave Gifford a concussion, Bednarik was extremely emotional knowing that he had come through and won the game for his team.
#4 Ron Yary: Draft of 1968, Offensive Tackle for USC to the Minnesota Vikings
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Ron Yary spent most of his career with the Minnesota Vikings and only one season with the Los Angeles Rams in 1982. He was the first offensive lineman ever drafted at the number one spot in the draft and went on to aid the Vikings in 11 division titles and won the 1969 NFL Championship.
Yary’s will to play in games despite an injury that he may have obtained during a previous game, just proved a lot to his teammates and boosted their confidence in him.
His speed and agility paired with his body’s willingness to stay balanced made for the ideal offensive lineman and guided the Vikings to four Superbowl tries. Despite not winning any of their attempts, Yary is still regarded as one of the greatest at his position in the history of football.
#3 Terry Bradshaw: Draft of 1970, Quarterback for Louisiana Tech to the Steelers
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Bradshaw has got to be one of the most entertaining players turned analysts visible right now, next to Herm Edwards. You can tell from the comments he makes how passionate he still is about the game of football. In his younger years, that obsession for greatness was exhibited during his professional career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Being in his presence could make the greatest athlete star struck from pure appreciation of how immaculate his game developed over time.
Six years and four Superbowl wins described Bradshaw’s presence in the Steelers camp from 1974-1979 and there has yet to be another quarterback who has proven himself reliable and resilient in as many championship situations, besides San Francisco 49ers golden child, Joe Montana.
#2 Troy Aikman: Draft of 1989, Quarterback for UCLA to the Dallas Cowboys
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Troy Aikman was a three-time Superbowl champion and will forever be one of the most remembered Cowboys in the history of Dallas. After a little bit of drama surrounding his starting quarterback status with the team, he won the position over Steve Walsh and continued to be the centerpiece of success in Texas, America’s team.
Having Michale Irvin on the field to catch any ball Aikman threw the distance, contributed enormously to the achievements that the Cowboys were able to compound during the late eighties through the nineties.
Anytime Aikman led his team to the promised land of the Superbowl, he came away the victor debuting in his first Bowl win against the Buffalo Bills with four touchdowns. His rookie season was not all butterflies and rainbows as the Cowboys finished 1-15, but with great talent and drive comes vast improvement.
#1 John Elway: Draft of 1983, Quarterback for Stanford to the Baltimore Colts
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There are very rare occasions where you can say that a football player of such high quality that spent his entire professional career with one franchise. Not saying that it has never happened besides with John Elway, but how many other elite players can be placed in that category? Very few, which makes Elway so extraordinary as a player and a person.
The loyalty shown by sticking it out with the same organization despite the direction they may have been headed during anytime of his tenure was great. Some people do not allude to his short stint as a baseball player, which played a large part in his ultimatum to the Baltimore Colts for a trade.
He had played two summers of minor league baseball with the Yankees and threatened to dedicate full time to New York if he was not traded.
Therefore his legacy in Denver began. Elway holds many records for the Broncos franchise, including most total touchdowns ( 334 ), winning percentage (.641) and most career completions ( 4,123). He has returned to the Denver Broncos as the executive vice president of football operations and with such an in depth knowledge of the organization and what the need to return to glory, he was the perfect man for the job.
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