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Top 10 No. 1 Picks
1. QB John Elway (1983) -- Colts
Drafted by the Colts, then traded to the Broncos, Elway would go on to play 16 NFL seasons. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls, passing for 51,475 yards and 300 touchdowns. Elway won back-to-back Super Bowl titles in his last two seasons, and earned Super Bowl MVP honors in his final NFL game. Elway was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. 2. RB Earl Campbell (1978) -- Oilers
While his career lasted only eight seasons, Earl Campbell's battering ram style made him one of the best running backs ever to play the game. Campbell won rushing titles in each of his first three seasons (1978-80), and was named NFL MVP in 1979. He rushed for 6,457 yards in his first four seasons (second all-time). Campbell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
3. RB O.J. Simpson (1969) -- Bills
Simpson made NFL history in 1973, when he became the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season (2,003 in 14 games). He was named NFL MVP that season. Simpson would go on to win four rushing titles, running for 11,236 yards in 11 NFL seasons. Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
4. QB Terry Bradshaw (1970) -- Steelers
Bradshaw led the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in six seasons (1974, '75, '78 and '79), becoming one of just four players to win at least two Super Bowl MVP awards. Bradshaw threw for 27,989 yards and 212 touchdowns, and would also earn NFL MVP honors in 1978. Bradshaw was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.
The Colts made the right choice when they selected Peyton Manning.
5. QB Peyton Manning (1998) -- Colts
Manning's first nine NFL seasons have put him on track to become the most prolific passer in NFL history. Manning has more wins (92), passing yards (37,586) and touchdown passes (275) than any quarterback in his first nine seasons. He set an NFL single-season record with 49 touchdown passes in 2004. He is a two-time NFL MVP (2003, '04), seven-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl champion.
6. QB Troy Aikman (1989) -- Cowboys
Aikman led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in four seasons (1992, '93 and '95). He was selected to the Pro Bowl six times and named MVP of Super Bowl XXVII. Aikman, who tossed 165 touchdown passes, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
7. DE Bruce Smith (1985) -- Bills
A key member of the Bills when they reached four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s, Smith would go on to record 200 sacks (most since sacks became an official stat in 1982). He recorded at least 10 sacks in 13 of his 19 NFL seasons, and was selected to 11 Pro Bowls. He was also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year (1990, '96).
8. T Ron Yary (1968) -- Vikings
Yary played in 207 career games (199 with the Vikings), and started four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX and XI) for the Vikings in an eight-year span. He was selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls (1971-'77) and named to the 1970s All-Decade Team at tackle. Yary was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
9. DE Lee Roy Selmon (1976) -- Buccaneers
The first draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Selmon would go on to play nine seasons with Tampa Bay. He reached six Pro Bowls while becoming Tampa Bay's all-time leader with 78.5 sacks. Selmon was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1979. He was selected to 1980s All-Decade Team and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
10. T Orlando Pace (1997) -- Rams
The rock of the Rams' offensive line, Pace has been named to seven Pro Bowls in 10 NFL seasons and was part of the Rams' 1999 Super Bowl-winning team. Pace and Ron Yary are the only offensive linemen to be drafted No. 1 overall in the common draft era, and Pace should join Yary in the Hall of Fame.
Honorable Mention
QB Jim Plunkett (1971) -- Patriots
RB Billy Sims (1980) -- Lions
QB Drew Bledsoe (1993) -- Patriots
DE Ed "Too Tall" Jones (1974) -- Cowboys
WR Irving Fryar (1984) -- Patriots
what a bag of douche.
good to see bruce on there tho.
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Drafted by the Colts, then traded to the Broncos, Elway would go on to play 16 NFL seasons. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls, passing for 51,475 yards and 300 touchdowns. Elway won back-to-back Super Bowl titles in his last two seasons, and earned Super Bowl MVP honors in his final NFL game. Elway was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. 2. RB Earl Campbell (1978) -- Oilers
While his career lasted only eight seasons, Earl Campbell's battering ram style made him one of the best running backs ever to play the game. Campbell won rushing titles in each of his first three seasons (1978-80), and was named NFL MVP in 1979. He rushed for 6,457 yards in his first four seasons (second all-time). Campbell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
3. RB O.J. Simpson (1969) -- Bills
Simpson made NFL history in 1973, when he became the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season (2,003 in 14 games). He was named NFL MVP that season. Simpson would go on to win four rushing titles, running for 11,236 yards in 11 NFL seasons. Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
4. QB Terry Bradshaw (1970) -- Steelers
Bradshaw led the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in six seasons (1974, '75, '78 and '79), becoming one of just four players to win at least two Super Bowl MVP awards. Bradshaw threw for 27,989 yards and 212 touchdowns, and would also earn NFL MVP honors in 1978. Bradshaw was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.
The Colts made the right choice when they selected Peyton Manning.
5. QB Peyton Manning (1998) -- Colts
Manning's first nine NFL seasons have put him on track to become the most prolific passer in NFL history. Manning has more wins (92), passing yards (37,586) and touchdown passes (275) than any quarterback in his first nine seasons. He set an NFL single-season record with 49 touchdown passes in 2004. He is a two-time NFL MVP (2003, '04), seven-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl champion.
6. QB Troy Aikman (1989) -- Cowboys
Aikman led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in four seasons (1992, '93 and '95). He was selected to the Pro Bowl six times and named MVP of Super Bowl XXVII. Aikman, who tossed 165 touchdown passes, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
7. DE Bruce Smith (1985) -- Bills
A key member of the Bills when they reached four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s, Smith would go on to record 200 sacks (most since sacks became an official stat in 1982). He recorded at least 10 sacks in 13 of his 19 NFL seasons, and was selected to 11 Pro Bowls. He was also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year (1990, '96).
8. T Ron Yary (1968) -- Vikings
Yary played in 207 career games (199 with the Vikings), and started four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX and XI) for the Vikings in an eight-year span. He was selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls (1971-'77) and named to the 1970s All-Decade Team at tackle. Yary was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
9. DE Lee Roy Selmon (1976) -- Buccaneers
The first draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Selmon would go on to play nine seasons with Tampa Bay. He reached six Pro Bowls while becoming Tampa Bay's all-time leader with 78.5 sacks. Selmon was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1979. He was selected to 1980s All-Decade Team and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
10. T Orlando Pace (1997) -- Rams
The rock of the Rams' offensive line, Pace has been named to seven Pro Bowls in 10 NFL seasons and was part of the Rams' 1999 Super Bowl-winning team. Pace and Ron Yary are the only offensive linemen to be drafted No. 1 overall in the common draft era, and Pace should join Yary in the Hall of Fame.
Honorable Mention
QB Jim Plunkett (1971) -- Patriots
RB Billy Sims (1980) -- Lions
QB Drew Bledsoe (1993) -- Patriots
DE Ed "Too Tall" Jones (1974) -- Cowboys
WR Irving Fryar (1984) -- Patriots
what a bag of douche.
good to see bruce on there tho.
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