Angry Pope
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This was done last year....
The Ultimate NFL Draft First Round
The best selections at each first round draft slot
Pete Fiutak
It's been well established that finding quality in a draft pick after the first round is an exercise in futility, but the top picks aren't always sure things either. Teams invest/blow tens of millions of dollars every year on first round picks expecting them to be the cornerstones of their franchise, but more often than not they drain money and disappoint.
Here are the best, and worst, of all-time with a very subjective look at the Ultimate NFL Draft First Round with the best player ever taken at each first round slot. It's far more difficult than you might think to find a sure-thing, Hall-of-Fame star for each first round pick. However, it's easy to find the epic misses that set teams back years.
What's most stunning was how horrible the picks were to choose from in certain spots. The fifth pick, the 15th and 18th have been traditional wastelands, while the late 20s are utterly worthless. Learn from this you NFL teams; late first round draft picks aren't worth the money. History says they just don't work out (look at the "stars" to choose from at No. 22 & 24.)
Keep in mind that there were only more than 30 picks in the draft (at least regularly) from 1995 on. One more rule: A great pick is weighed based on what the player did for the team that drafted him. John Elway was the greatest player of all-time taken first overall, but not for Baltimore so the Colts, in effect, blew the pick. Let the debate begin.
Pick The Greatest Pick The Worst Pick
1. Terry Bradshaw, QB Louisiana Tech taken by Pittsburgh Steelers, 1970 Tom Cousineau, LB Ohio State
taken by Buffalo Bills, 1979
Also considered: O.J. Simpson, RB USC (1969), Troy Aikman, QB UCLA (1988)
Once again, Elway would be the choice except he didn't play for Baltimore. Simpson, Aikman, Earl Campbell and Bruce Smith are all fantastic choices for the greatest number one pick of all-time, but Bradshaw's four Super Bowls trumps anything the other players accomplished. Bo Jackson wasn't a bust of a player, but Tampa Bay completely blew it by alienating the Heisman winner so much that he chose to play baseball instead never suiting up for the Bucs. He would've been the choice for the worst pick if Buffalo didn't have the Tom Cousineau experience. The Ohio State star didn't sign with the Bills playing for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes where he was a marginal player at best. He came back to the NFL and played for Cleveland and San Francisco.
2. Lawrence Taylor, LB North Carolina taken by NY Giants, 1981 Tony Mandarich, OT Michigan State taken by Green Bay Packers, 1989
Also considered: Randy White, DT Maryland (1975), Tony Dorsett, RB Pittsburgh (1977)
White, Dorsett, Tony Boselli and Eric Dickerson were all worthy and Donovan McNabb deserves a bit of consideration, but L.T. is the obvious choice. There have been some tremendous busts at number two over the years and there's certainly an argument for Johnny "Lam" Jones, Blair Thomas and Rick Mirer, but Ryan Leaf is the only real challenger to Mandarich. The whiny brat from Washington State set San Diego back years after Bobby Beathard traded away a ton to get him. However, Mandarich gets the nod because of the players taken after him. The next three picks after steroid boy? Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, Deion Sanders. Oops
3. Barry Sanders, RB Oklahoma State taken by Detroit Lions, 1989 Akili Smith, QB Oregon taken by Cincinnati Bengals, 1999
Also considered: Anthony Munoz, OT USC (1980), Steve McNair, QB Alcorn State (1995)
If there could be a tie, there would be one here between Munoz and Sanders. Do you take the greatest offensive tackle in NFL history over, perhaps, the greatest running back? No argument if you say yes. Surprisingly, the third pick has been a traditional dud as players like Nebraska CB Bruce Pickens, Miami RB Alonzo Highsmith, Florida State DE Andre Wadsworth and Tennessee QB Heath Shuler were just a few of the busts. Michigan State LB Carl Banks in 1988 and Penn State RB Curt Warner in 1983 are some of the main notables, and they weren't that great. Akili Smith finished his Cincinnati career with five touchdown passes and 13 interceptions forcing Carson Palmer to be the first overall pick in 2003. The next four picks after Smith? Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Torry Holt, Champ Bailey. Daunte Culpepper went 11th. Ouch.
4. Walter Payton, RB Jackson State taken by Chicago Bears, 1975 Keith McCants, DL Alabama taken by Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1990
Also considered: Joe Greene, DT North Texas State (1969), John Hannah, OG Alabama, Jonathan Odgen, OT UCLA (1996)
Obviously there's no other choice for the best No. 4 pick of all-time, but it could be argued that as the cornerstone of the Steel Curtain, Greene was a more important player than Sweetness. McCants was Tampa Bay's worst draft pick ever, which is saying a lot. He set the standard for looking like Tarzan, but playing like Jane. It also hurts that he was taken one pick ahead of Junior Seau. Auburn RB Brent Fullwood, Ohio State QB Art Schlichter and Michigan WR Desmond Howard were also in the running for worst pick.
5. Junior Seau, LB USC taken by San Diego Chargers, 1990 Mike Junkin, LB Duke taken by Cleveland Browns, 1987
Also considered: LaDainian Tomlinson, RB TCU (2000), Mike Haynes, CB Arizona State (1975)
Deion Sanders would be the slam-dunk choice for the greatest No. 5 pick if he didn't have his Hall-of-Fame years with San Francisco and Dallas instead of Atlanta. When all is said and done, Tomlinson will probably be the greatest No. 5 pick over the somewhat overrated Seau (has there ever been a player that danced more after making a tackle nine yards down the field?) Penn State RB Curtis Enis, Nebraska LB Trev Alberts and Oklahoma LB Cedric Jones didn't work out at the five, but Junkin was a legendarily bad pick. Cleveland traded draft positions with San Diego for two rounds and gave away LB Chip Banks to get the five taking Junkin at least two rounds too early. Penn State LB Shane Conlan went two picks later.
6. Tim Brown, WR Notre Dame taken by Oakland Raiders, 1988 Rich Campbell, QB California taken by Green Bay Packers, 1981
Also considered: Jimbo Covert, OT Pittsburgh (1983), Torry Holt, WR NC State (1999)
Brown is the pick for his Hall-of-Fame-to-be career scoring points for so many years of solid play. However, Covert probably deserves the all-time No. 5 slot. Campbell beat out Houston QB David Klingler and Nebraska RB Lawrence Phillips for the worst pick, but it's close. Campbell's career in Green Bay? Three years, 386 yards, three touchdowns and nine interceptions. Brett who?
7. Phil Simms, QB Morehead State taken by NY Giants, 1979 Andre Ware, QB Houston taken by Detroit Lions, 1990
Also considered: Champ Bailey, CB Georgia (1999), Troy Vincent, CB Wisconsin (1992), Sterling Sharpe, WR South Carolina (1988)
Like the third pick, the seventh has been a historic graveyard of mediocre selections. Simms is the choice almost by default winning a Super Bowl and taking the Giants to another. There are some fantastic, legendary dogs with the seven from Boston College DE Mike Mamula to Tennessee OL Charles McRae to Penn State QB Todd Blackledge, but Ware is the biggest bust of the bunch throwing for 1,112 yards and five touchdowns with eight interceptions in his four years.
cont'd...
The Ultimate NFL Draft First Round
The best selections at each first round draft slot
Pete Fiutak
It's been well established that finding quality in a draft pick after the first round is an exercise in futility, but the top picks aren't always sure things either. Teams invest/blow tens of millions of dollars every year on first round picks expecting them to be the cornerstones of their franchise, but more often than not they drain money and disappoint.
Here are the best, and worst, of all-time with a very subjective look at the Ultimate NFL Draft First Round with the best player ever taken at each first round slot. It's far more difficult than you might think to find a sure-thing, Hall-of-Fame star for each first round pick. However, it's easy to find the epic misses that set teams back years.
What's most stunning was how horrible the picks were to choose from in certain spots. The fifth pick, the 15th and 18th have been traditional wastelands, while the late 20s are utterly worthless. Learn from this you NFL teams; late first round draft picks aren't worth the money. History says they just don't work out (look at the "stars" to choose from at No. 22 & 24.)
Keep in mind that there were only more than 30 picks in the draft (at least regularly) from 1995 on. One more rule: A great pick is weighed based on what the player did for the team that drafted him. John Elway was the greatest player of all-time taken first overall, but not for Baltimore so the Colts, in effect, blew the pick. Let the debate begin.
Pick The Greatest Pick The Worst Pick
1. Terry Bradshaw, QB Louisiana Tech taken by Pittsburgh Steelers, 1970 Tom Cousineau, LB Ohio State
taken by Buffalo Bills, 1979
Also considered: O.J. Simpson, RB USC (1969), Troy Aikman, QB UCLA (1988)
Once again, Elway would be the choice except he didn't play for Baltimore. Simpson, Aikman, Earl Campbell and Bruce Smith are all fantastic choices for the greatest number one pick of all-time, but Bradshaw's four Super Bowls trumps anything the other players accomplished. Bo Jackson wasn't a bust of a player, but Tampa Bay completely blew it by alienating the Heisman winner so much that he chose to play baseball instead never suiting up for the Bucs. He would've been the choice for the worst pick if Buffalo didn't have the Tom Cousineau experience. The Ohio State star didn't sign with the Bills playing for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes where he was a marginal player at best. He came back to the NFL and played for Cleveland and San Francisco.
2. Lawrence Taylor, LB North Carolina taken by NY Giants, 1981 Tony Mandarich, OT Michigan State taken by Green Bay Packers, 1989
Also considered: Randy White, DT Maryland (1975), Tony Dorsett, RB Pittsburgh (1977)
White, Dorsett, Tony Boselli and Eric Dickerson were all worthy and Donovan McNabb deserves a bit of consideration, but L.T. is the obvious choice. There have been some tremendous busts at number two over the years and there's certainly an argument for Johnny "Lam" Jones, Blair Thomas and Rick Mirer, but Ryan Leaf is the only real challenger to Mandarich. The whiny brat from Washington State set San Diego back years after Bobby Beathard traded away a ton to get him. However, Mandarich gets the nod because of the players taken after him. The next three picks after steroid boy? Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, Deion Sanders. Oops
3. Barry Sanders, RB Oklahoma State taken by Detroit Lions, 1989 Akili Smith, QB Oregon taken by Cincinnati Bengals, 1999
Also considered: Anthony Munoz, OT USC (1980), Steve McNair, QB Alcorn State (1995)
If there could be a tie, there would be one here between Munoz and Sanders. Do you take the greatest offensive tackle in NFL history over, perhaps, the greatest running back? No argument if you say yes. Surprisingly, the third pick has been a traditional dud as players like Nebraska CB Bruce Pickens, Miami RB Alonzo Highsmith, Florida State DE Andre Wadsworth and Tennessee QB Heath Shuler were just a few of the busts. Michigan State LB Carl Banks in 1988 and Penn State RB Curt Warner in 1983 are some of the main notables, and they weren't that great. Akili Smith finished his Cincinnati career with five touchdown passes and 13 interceptions forcing Carson Palmer to be the first overall pick in 2003. The next four picks after Smith? Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Torry Holt, Champ Bailey. Daunte Culpepper went 11th. Ouch.
4. Walter Payton, RB Jackson State taken by Chicago Bears, 1975 Keith McCants, DL Alabama taken by Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1990
Also considered: Joe Greene, DT North Texas State (1969), John Hannah, OG Alabama, Jonathan Odgen, OT UCLA (1996)
Obviously there's no other choice for the best No. 4 pick of all-time, but it could be argued that as the cornerstone of the Steel Curtain, Greene was a more important player than Sweetness. McCants was Tampa Bay's worst draft pick ever, which is saying a lot. He set the standard for looking like Tarzan, but playing like Jane. It also hurts that he was taken one pick ahead of Junior Seau. Auburn RB Brent Fullwood, Ohio State QB Art Schlichter and Michigan WR Desmond Howard were also in the running for worst pick.
5. Junior Seau, LB USC taken by San Diego Chargers, 1990 Mike Junkin, LB Duke taken by Cleveland Browns, 1987
Also considered: LaDainian Tomlinson, RB TCU (2000), Mike Haynes, CB Arizona State (1975)
Deion Sanders would be the slam-dunk choice for the greatest No. 5 pick if he didn't have his Hall-of-Fame years with San Francisco and Dallas instead of Atlanta. When all is said and done, Tomlinson will probably be the greatest No. 5 pick over the somewhat overrated Seau (has there ever been a player that danced more after making a tackle nine yards down the field?) Penn State RB Curtis Enis, Nebraska LB Trev Alberts and Oklahoma LB Cedric Jones didn't work out at the five, but Junkin was a legendarily bad pick. Cleveland traded draft positions with San Diego for two rounds and gave away LB Chip Banks to get the five taking Junkin at least two rounds too early. Penn State LB Shane Conlan went two picks later.
6. Tim Brown, WR Notre Dame taken by Oakland Raiders, 1988 Rich Campbell, QB California taken by Green Bay Packers, 1981
Also considered: Jimbo Covert, OT Pittsburgh (1983), Torry Holt, WR NC State (1999)
Brown is the pick for his Hall-of-Fame-to-be career scoring points for so many years of solid play. However, Covert probably deserves the all-time No. 5 slot. Campbell beat out Houston QB David Klingler and Nebraska RB Lawrence Phillips for the worst pick, but it's close. Campbell's career in Green Bay? Three years, 386 yards, three touchdowns and nine interceptions. Brett who?
7. Phil Simms, QB Morehead State taken by NY Giants, 1979 Andre Ware, QB Houston taken by Detroit Lions, 1990
Also considered: Champ Bailey, CB Georgia (1999), Troy Vincent, CB Wisconsin (1992), Sterling Sharpe, WR South Carolina (1988)
Like the third pick, the seventh has been a historic graveyard of mediocre selections. Simms is the choice almost by default winning a Super Bowl and taking the Giants to another. There are some fantastic, legendary dogs with the seven from Boston College DE Mike Mamula to Tennessee OL Charles McRae to Penn State QB Todd Blackledge, but Ware is the biggest bust of the bunch throwing for 1,112 yards and five touchdowns with eight interceptions in his four years.
cont'd...