TOP 10 FIRST OVERALL PICKS IN NFL HISTORY
Now that Bryce Young has predictably been drafted first overall by the Carolina Panthers, all eyes will be on him. The NFL Draft format is designed to benefit struggling teams by giving them higher draft spots based on their record the previous season. This has allowed many franchises to land future altering generational talents. Here we are looking at the ten best number one overall draft picks. These rankings won’t solely be based on how good the player was, it will also take into consideration the difference the player made to the franchise, and how good the other options would have been.
10. Ron Yary
OT, USC | 1968 1st overall selection by the Minnesota Vikings
Ron Yary was a 2-time Consensus All-American in college. The stud offensive line prospect was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings who had gone 3-8-3 in their first season under head coach Bud Grant. Yary started six games for the 1969 Vikings that went 12-2 and won the NFL Championship, only to go on to lose Super Bowl IV to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In 1970 Yary was fully entrenched in the starting lineup. From 1970 to 1980 Yary did not miss a single game. From 1971 to ‘77 Yary was a 7-time Pro Bowler, 6-time First Team All-Pro, and one Second Team All-Pro selection. Yary was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and named to the 1970’s All-Decade Team.
Yary had an impressive career, but lands at the tail-end of the list due to the other players taken in 1968. Art Shell, Claude Humphrey, and Larry Csonka are all Hall of Famers that were taken in that draft. Shell was also named to the 1970’s All-Decade Team as an offensive tackle. Hall of Fame quarterback Ken Stabler was also available, and would have been an improvement over Joe Kapp.
9. MATTHEW STAFFORD
QB, Georgia | 2009 1st overall selection by the Detroit Lions
Matthew Stafford is one of the most underrated quarterbacks of his generation. The Georgia QB was selected first overall by 0-16 Detroit Lions. Detroit became the first team to go winless in a 16-game season, thanks to the fledgling efforts of Dan Orlovsky, Jon Kitna, and Daunte Culpepper.
After an up & down first two seasons, in 2011 Stafford passed for 5,038 yards and led the Lions to their first winning season since 2000. Despite winning Comeback Player of the Year, Stafford was snubbed for the Pro Bowl. As a matter of fact Stafford has only made one Pro Bowl in his career, being selected in 2014 after leading the Lions to an 11-5 record. Stafford was the best quarterback Detroit had since trading Bobby Layne in 1958, but was overlooked due to the franchise’s 50+ year history of abominable quarterback play.
Prior to the 2021 season, Detroit traded their all-time leading passer to the Los Angeles Rams. Stafford proceeded to lead his team to a 12-win season (a career high) and a Super Bowl victory. Stafford has a career passer rating of 90.9, 34 fourth quarter comebacks (tied 6th all-time), 42 game winning drives (8th all-time), 52,082 passing yards (11th all-time), and 333 passing touchdowns (12th all-time). Stafford has served as the saving grace to two different franchises, and has been a top tier quarterback in the NFL for over a decade.
8. O.J. SIMPSON
RB, USC | 1969 1st overall selection by the Buffalo Bills
In 1967 the NFL and AFL had begun a joint draft, and were on the verge of a merger in 1969. The crown jewel of the 1969 draft was USC running back O.J. Simpson. The NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles had lost their first eleven games of the 1968 season, but would rattle off two wins in their final three games to take themselves out of contention for the number one pick. That pick was rewarded to the AFL’s Buffalo Bills, who finished 1-12-1.
In 1968 Simpson rushed for 1,880 yards and 23 touchdowns en route to a Heisman Trophy. Simpson was drafted by the Bills first overall in ‘69. The Juice led the NFL in rushing yards in 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1976. In the ‘73 season Simpson became the first player to ever rush for 2,000 yards. He finished the season with a then record 2,003 yards and 12 touchdowns off 332 carries, leading the league in all categories. What makes this accomplishment even more impressive is that he is the only player to rush for 2K in a 14-game season. Simpson’s 143.1 rushing yards per game remains an NFL record.
Simpson retired with 11,236 rushing yards, which was second all-time to only Jim Brown in 1979. Today Simpson ranks 21st on the all-time rushing yards list. His 83.2 career rushing yards per game ranks 11th. Just to hammer home how good Simpson was, during his tenure in Buffalo he only had one season with a Pro Bowl quarterback (his rookie year mind you). He routinely faced 8-man boxes as defenses sold out to stop the run. The 1969 class also included four other Hall of Famers such as Mean Joe Greene and Ted Hendricks, but it’s hard to imagine what would have become of the Bills of the seventies had they not drafted O.J. Simpson.
7. EARL CAMPBELL
RB, Texas | 1978 1st overall selection by the Houston Oilers
Earl Campbell was the pride of Tyler, Texas, and in 1977 won the Heisman Trophy as he rushed for 1,744 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Texas Longhorns. The Houston Oilers used the number one pick in 1978 on The Tyler Rose, and got an immediate return on their investment.
Campbell led the NFL in rushing yards in each of his first three seasons, racking up 5,081 yards and 45 touchdowns from 1978 to 1980. Campbell rushed for 1,934 yards in 1980 as the Oilers finished 11-5. Few players have been as impactful as quickly as Campbell was in Houston. He changed the fortunes of the franchise overnight. Campbell won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1978, and NFL M.V.P. in 1979.
Campbell retired as a 5-time All Pro and 3-time Pro Bowler. He was named to the 70’s All-Decade Team, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. Campbell’s prime was short but he was dominant during that time. What would the Oilers offenses and average quarterback play have looked like had they drafted James Lofton, Mike Kenn, Wes Chandler, or Ozzie Newsome?It is impossible to think of those Oiler teams without picturing #34 in the Luv Ya Blue jersey with his tree-trunk-sized thighs.
6. ELI MANNING
QB, Ole Miss | 2004 1st overall selection by the San Diego Chargers
In 2004 the San Diego Chargers, struggling with Drew Brees under center, held the number one pick in the NFL Draft. The consensus number one pick was Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning. There was a lot of hype surrounding the youngest Manning, his father Archie was a 2-time Pro Bowler, and his brother Peyton was coming off his first ever M.V.P. season in 2003. The only problem was that Eli didn’t want to play for the Chargers.
The Chargers would work out a deal in which they drafted Manning, and traded him to the New York Giants in exchange for North Carolina State QB Philip Rivers. The Giants made it to the playoffs in 2005 & 2006 under Manning, but failed to win a playoff game. In 2007 Patriots quarterback Tom Brady led the league in touchdowns, Manning led the league in interceptions. Yet his 10-6 Wildcard team would meet Brady’s undefeated Pats in the Super Bowl. Manning pulled off one of the most incredible plays in NFL history when on 3rd and 5 with just over a minute left in the game, Manning eluded a sack and completed a 32-yard pass down the middle of the field to David Tyree who caught the ball against his helmet. A strike to Plaxico Burress secured a 17-14 victory in Super Bowl XLII, and one of the biggest upsets in all of sports. Years later in 2011 Manning’s Giants and Brady’s Patriots met in Super Bowl XLIV for a rematch. Once again it was Eli Manning who was left hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
Eli Manning retired as a 4-time Pro Bowler and 2-time Super Bowl Champion. Eli Manning threw 44 game-tying or go-ahead touchdowns in the 4th quarter or overtime, second most all-time. He was one of the greatest quarterbacks of a generation, but he ranks 6th on this list because of how stacked the 2004 class was, as Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger were also generationally great quarterbacks.
5. ORLANDO PACE
OT, Ohio State | 1997 1st overall selection by the St. Louis Rams
It is hard to judge offensive lineman, it’s not a glamorous position. They are the big uglies, they do the dirty work, and they don’t get to boast gaudy statistics like skill positions. What stats are there for offensive lineman?; Games played, games started, sacks allowed…and pancake blocks. Orlando Pace is the reason pancake blocks are a statistic.
Playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Pace was a two-time Consensus All-American and Vince Lombardi Award winner, and took home the John Outlaw Trophy in 1996 while placing fourth in Heisman Voting. FOURTH! As an offensive lineman! The lumbering 6’7” 325-pound tackle was chosen first overall in the 1997 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. Pace played 12 seasons with the Rams and played his final season in 2009 with the Chicago Bears.
Pace anchored the Rams Greatest Show on Turf offense that won Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999. Pace was a 7-time Pro Bowler, 3-time All-Pro, and was named to the All-2000’s Team. The ‘97 draft class does feature stiff competition, as Ronde Barber and Tiki Barber were members of that class. As well was fellow all-time great offensive tackle Walter Jones, and one of the greatest pass rushers ever; Jason Taylor.
4. BRUCE SMITH
DE, Virginia Tech | 1985 1st overall selection by the Buffalo Bills
Bruce Smith was an All-American in 1984 at Virginia Tech, and was drafted first overall in 1995 by the Buffalo Bills. Smith would go on to play 15 seasons for the Bills, and 4 more with the Washington Redskins. In 2003 Smith broke Reggie White’s career sack record, as he retired with 200 sacks.
The amazing thing is that Smith, despite being the all-time sack leader, never led the league in sacks in any of his 19 seasons. That is a testament to how consistently great Smith was, for such a long period of time. His best season came in 1990 when he recorded 19 sacks, unfortunately the Bills proceeded to lose Super Bowl XXV. Smith was a key piece of the Bills teams that made it to four straight Super Bowls, but lost each one.
Smith won two AP Defensive Player of the Year awards, was named to 11 Pro Bowls, 8 All-Pros, the All-80’s Team, and the All-90’s Team. So why does he only rank fourth on this list? Well he wasn’t the best player in his draft class. With the 16th overall pick, the San Francisco 49ers drafted Mississippi Valley State receiver Jerry Rice. Rice won three Super Bowls and retired as the NFL all-time receiving and touchdown leader.
3. TERRY BRADSHAW
QB, Louisiana Tech | 1970 1st overall selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers
On January 9, 1970 in New Orleans NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle met with representatives from the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears in the Fairmont Hotel. Both teams had finished the 1969 season with 1-13 records, staking them equal claim to the number one overall pick in the upcoming draft. A coin flip was held to break the tie. Pittsburgh won the toss and secured the right to take Louisiana Tech quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
The Steelers were entering a new era under head coach Chuck Noll, after drafting their defensive leader Mean Joe Greene in ‘69, they landed their offensive leader in Bradshaw. While it would take awhile for Bradshaw to find his footing at the professional level (he threw 41 touchdowns versus 73 interceptions in his first four seasons), Pittsburgh would emerge as the team of the seventies with the aid of the Blonde Bomber. In 1974, despite an injury plagued Bradshaw only starting seven games, the Steelers met the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX. Bradshaw completed 9 of 14 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown in the victory. In Super Bowl X Bradshaw again completed 9 passes, this time for 209 yards and a pair of touchdowns, just edging out Roger Staubach’s 204 as the Steelers repeated over the Dallas Cowboys.
One of Bradshaw’s best performances came in Super Bowl XIII as the Steelers faced the Cowboys in a championship grudge match. Bradshaw went 17 for 30 for 318 yards, 4 TDs and one interception. The Steelers won 35-31. In Super Bowl XIV Bradshaw passed for 309 yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in a victory over the LA Rams. The win over the Rams made Bradshaw the first quarterback to ever win four Super Bowls, a feat only duplicated by Joe Montana and Tom Brady. Along with his four Super Bowl rings, Bradshaw collected two Super Bowl M.V.P. awards, the 1978 NFL M.V.P. award, 3 Pro Bowl honors, and was named to the All-70’s Team. Bradshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989, the only other Hall of Famer from his draft class was teammate Mel Blount, who Pittsburgh took in the third round.
2. JOHN ELWAY
QB, Stanford | 1983 1st overall selection by the Baltimore Colts
A lot of ruckus was made of Eli Manning refusing to play for the San Diego Chargers in 2004, it was unusual but hardly unprecedented. For New York Giants GM Ernie Accorsi, who traded Philip Rivers for Manning, the story was all too familiar. Accorsi was once the GM of the Baltimore Colts, who held the number one pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, and had eyes on Stanford quarterback John Elway. The Consensus All-American had finished second in Heisman voting behind Georgia running back Herschel Walker, and was the crown jewel of a stacked ‘83 draft class. The only problem was that Elway refused to play for Baltimore, as the two-sport star threatened to go play baseball instead. The Colts didn’t give in, refusing to pass on the generational prospect they drafted him anyway. Cowboys VP Gil Brandt perfectly sums up how highly sought after the young passer was; "If we already had Danny White, Dan Fouts and Joe Montana and we had the first pick in the draft, I'd still take John Elway."
Elway had played his cards right and got himself traded. Baltimore sent the Stanford product to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a first round pick in 1984, offensive lineman Chris Hinton, and quarterback Mark Herrmann. Elway would go on to play his entire 16-year career in Denver, where he led his teams to five Super Bowl appearances, winning two of them. Elway retired with a career record of 148-82-1, 31 fourth quarter comebacks, 9 Pro Bowls, and an M.V.P.
Elway was named to the All-90’s Team, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. While there is no contesting how great a quarterback Elway was, his ranking nearly suffered due to the sheer greatness of the ‘83 quarterback class. Hall of Famers Jim Kelly and Dan Marino were also drafted in the first round in 1983. One can’t help but wonder how drastically the landscape of the NFL would have changed if the Colts passed on drafting Elway.
1. PEYTON MANNING
QB, Tennessee | 1998 1st overall selection by the Indianapolis Colts
Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf? That was the question going into the 1998 NFL Draft. Washington State’s Leaf was seen as an equal to Tennessee prospect Peyton Manning, as experts were torn on which quarterback should go first overall. The Indianapolis Colts chose wisely when they selected Manning. While Other great players in the ‘98 class include Charles Woodson, Fred Taylor, Randy Moss, and Alan Faneca, Peyton Manning stands head and shoulders above the rest.
The Sheriff led the league in passing yards three times, and passing touchdowns four times. In 2013 a 37-year old Manning set NFL records with 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns, winning his fifth M.V.P. award. Manning was named to 14 Pro Bowls, 7 All-Pros, 2005 Walter Payton Man of the Year, 2012 Comeback Player of the Year, and the All-2000’s Team.
Peyton Manning defined an era of football with his high flying offenses, computer-like mind for the game, and his rivalry with Tom Brady. Manning won a Super Bowl with the Colts and the Denver Broncos, and retired with every major passing record in the book. There is no argument or debate to be had, Peyton Manning is the greatest number one pick in NFL history.
Next Five Out
11. Troy Aikman
The number one pick of the 1989 draft won three Super Bowls as the starting QB of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty of the nineties. Unfortunately the Hall of Famer doesn’t make the top ten because of how stacked his draft class was. Deion Sanders, Barry Sanders, and Derrick Thomas all went in the top five, and were better players than Aikman.
12. Cam Newton
The 2011 draft class shaped an entire decade of football with the number of star players it produced, such as J.J. Watt, Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Richard Sherman, Tyron Smith, and Jason Kelce. The number one pick was Auburn’s National Championship winning, Heisman quarterback Cam Newton. He led the Carolina Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2015.
13. Andrew Luck
Luck would rank significantly higher on this list if it wasn’t for the injuries that cut his career short. Luck was drafted first overall in 2012 by the cellar-dwelling Indianapolis Colts. In his first three seasons he went 33-15 and averaged 4,319 yards and 28 touchdowns per season. Luck took his team to the playoffs four times, but retired after the 2018 season.
14. Joe Burrow
After enjoying one of the greatest college football seasons ever at LSU, Burrow was drafted first overall in 2020 by the Cincinnati Bengals. His rookie season was cut short due to injury, but in his first full season as a starter he led the Bengals to a Super Bowl LVI appearance. Had Burrow’s protection held up for half a second longer he likely would have been able to throw the ball down field to Ja’Marr Chase for a game-winning touchdown. It feels like a safe bet that Burrow will have plenty more opportunities at a Super Bowl ring as he is currently 5-2 in the playoffs after three seasons in the league.
15. Myles Garrett
The Cleveland Browns made Garrett the first overall pick in 2017, and since then he has made 4 Pro Bowls and recorded 74.5 sacks. Garrett’s ranking suffers due to the fact that it was the same draft class that produced Patrick Mahomes at number ten. Mahomes is a two-time Super Bowl champion and already staking claim to one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game.
