The 2026 NFL season just kicked off, and former number one overall draft picks were front and center during Week 1 action. Trevor Lawrence and Caleb Williams were arguably the two biggest standouts from the first week of action. Of course, both of those players entered the league as some of the most highly touted prospects ever, and while things didn't go perfectly to start their careers, they are now showing just why everyone wants to land the number one pick.
Players drafted first overall are immediately given Hall of Fame-level expectations. Some players certainly have lived up to those lofty requirements and go down as some of the best players in NFL history. Others became massive draft busts.ÃÂ
The common draft era began in 1967, and 60 players have gone 1-1 since then. So, how do each of these former number one picks rank from last to first?
60. Fernando Mendoza, QB: Las Vegas Raiders, 2026
Fernando Mendoza ranks last year only because he has yet to take a regular season NFL snap. The most recent number one pick was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders to be the future of their franchise. However, Kirk Cousins is serving as the reigning Heisman winner's mentor and the Raiders' bridge QB.
Raiders fans will plead for the Indiana product, fresh off the first 16-0 season since the 19th century, to take over for the veteran sooner rather than later. When Mendoza does so, he will likely quickly shoot up this ranking. Mendoza's Heisman win was one of the best ever. He is poised, accurate, and has solid arm strength. Plus, it is hard not to root for him and his personality.
58. JaMarcus Russell, QB: Oakland Raiders, 2007
JaMarcus Russell is the biggest bust in NFL history. Russell had plenty of raw traits, but his lack of work ethic led to his downfall. The Raiders notoriously gave their quarterback blank films to see if he watched tape, and he even reported to camp at nearly 300 pounds one season.
Russell was out of the league after three seasons, and he only recorded 4,083 yards passing during that time. To add insult to injury, Russell's contract with the team was worth $68 million over six years. The only positive to come out of Russell's career was that he was a big reason why the NFL added rookie wage scales for drafted players.
57. Ki-Jana Carter, RB: Cincinnati Bengals, 1995
A number of comeback attempts led to Ki-Jana Carter playing seven NFL seasons and allowed him to avoid being the biggest NFL Draft bust of all time. He didn't do much in any of those seasons, though, so he just trails Russell as the worst number one pick ever. Carter compiled only 1,144 yards on the ground in his career, and he only had 14 NFL starts to his name. His career was basically over before it started because he shredded his knee on the third carry of his first preseason game. The talented running back was never the same after that injury.
56. Steve Emtman, DL: Indianapolis Colts, 1992
Including picks before the common draft era, the Colts are tied with the Rams for picking first overall the most times. That means a draft bust was bound to happen, and it happened to Indianapolis in 1992 when they took Steve Emtman. Injuries limited the defensive lineman to only 134 tackles and eight sacks in his career.
59. Cam Ward, QB: Tennessee Titans, 2025
Cam Ward underwhelmed during his rookie season, and Week 1 of his second year wasn't much better. The Miami product had 3,169 yards to go with only 15 touchdowns last season. Even so, he only threw one interception after Week 8. This ability to secure the football is quite impressive, considering Ward is a player who wants to air the football out. The potential is there, but Ward needs to prove himself before he climbs up these rankings.
55. Tim Couch, QB: Cleveland Browns, 1999
The Cleveland Browns are notorious for being bad drafters. That was most evident around the turn of the century, when Cleveland had the number one pick in back-to-back seasons, and both of those picks busted out.
Couch was the more painful of the two picks, as his failure led to 42 different players starting a game under center for the Browns since they returned to the NFL in 1999. His 59 starts with the team are actually tied for the most of any Browns quarterback during that time, and he did show positive flashes on the football field. Injuries were his downfall, though, and they led to the number one pick only playing five seasons.
54. Courtney Brown, DE: Cleveland Browns, 2000
After taking Couch in 1999, the Browns followed up with another NFL Draft bust in Courtney Brown. Like Couch, Brown only lasted five seasons in Cleveland, and he was out of the league after playing his sixth year in Denver. Also like Couch, injuries were Brown's undoing. He was sapped of his athleticism and was only able to get 19 sacks over his career. Finding hidden gems late in the draft is important, but the Browns are the prime example used to show why nailing early picks is so important. It can be argued that Cleveland still hasn't fully recovered as a franchise from their draft mistakes over 25 years ago.
51. Kenneth Sims, DE: New England Patriots, 1982
Kenneth Sims was yet another number-one pick who dealt with injury issues throughout his career. He did play eight years in New England, but he only got to the quarterback 17 times.
50. Walt Patulski, DE: Buffalo Bills, 1972
Walt Patulski was good but not great early in his career. He led his team in sacks as a rookie while showing tons of promise. Patulski was able to get 21.5 sacks just four years into his career, but he suffered a career-ending injury and retired after only five seasons. Patulski was likely never going to be one of the best first-overall picks ever, but he was on pace to rank higher than this if it wasn't for his early retirement.
49. Travon Walker, DE: Jacksonville Jaguars, 2022
Travon Walker was drafted first overall as recently as 2022, but he has largely already been forgotten by the football community. He was a slept-on player when he was drafted, and he's been pretty subpar by first overall standards ever since. Walker is a solid player, evidenced by his two seasons securing double-digit sacks, but he just isn't a superstar.
53. Bryce Young, QB: Carolina Panthers, 2023
Bryce Young looked like one of the biggest draft busts ever, and certainly one of the biggest of the last 10 years, only a couple of games into his second season. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner had a disastrous rookie campaign and was significantly outplayed by the quarterback selected after him. Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud had one of the best rookie seasons ever.
Young was then benched in favor of Andy Dalton after only two games in year two, which made it seem like the Carolina Panthers were giving up on him because of a poor frame, bad football IQ, and a lack of arm strength. Young had fewer than four yards per dropback in four straight starts, and the 84 yards he threw for in Week 2 were the fewest in franchise history for someone with 25 passing attempts or more.
There were almost no flashes of brilliance with Young under center, which led to few believing that he could turn things around. When Young was reinstated as the starter, though, he started to do just that. Young closed out his 2024 season with seven touchdown passes in his final three games in 2024. He then put up respectable numbers (3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns) in 2025. There are still red flags with the undersized QB, and he will likely never become a megastar, but at least avoided complete bust status to become serviceable.
48. Aundray Bruce, LB: Atlanta Falcons, 1988
Aundray Bruce was supposed to be the next big edge rusher, and he looked the part early in his career. He had six sacks in each of his first two seasons, but he never took the next step. Bruce settled into a role as a situational pass rusher, which is far from what the expectations were when he was made the number one overall pick.
47. David Carr, QB: Houston Texans, 2002
David Carr didn't have it easy in the NFL. The Texans were the league's newest expansion team in 2002, and they were awarded the top pick in that year's NFL Draft. The expansion franchise didn't have many good players early on, and it made life miserable for Carr.
He was sacked a record 76 times as a rookie, which is a record that still stands. While Carr did hold onto the ball too long, he didn't have an offensive line that was able to give him sufficient time to make reads down the field. Carr's third season in the league was okay. He had 3,531 passing yards and 16 touchdowns that season, but those are underwhelming numbers for what was by far his best season. Carr spent the back half of his career as a backup.
52. Caleb Williams, QB: Chicago Bears, 2024
The year after Young was drafted, the Chicago Bears took Williams with a number one pick that they received from trading the pick that would become Young the year prior. Williams was a much more highly-touted prospect than Young, so the Panthers surely regret that decision.
However, Williams wasn't as dominant as expected in his first two seasons. Still, he broke the Bears rookie records for completions (351), yards (3,541), and touchdowns (20). Williams also threw 354 straight passes without an interception. That was not only a rookie record, but it was the fourth best mark for every quarterback in league history.
He continued getting better in year two, and year three now seems like his true breakout season in which he can become the megastar that he is supposed to be. In. Week 1, Williams broke nearly every opening game record in Bears history, and his team scored 59 points. Williams is uber creative and has great arm strength. Paired with the playcalling genius of Ben Johnson, Williams could put up video game numbers over the years to come.
46. Tom Cousineau, LB: Buffalo Bills, 1979
Tom Cousineau had all of the potential to be an elite number one pick, but in the three years directly following being selected first overall, he played in the Canadian Football League. His delayed start in the NFL took away what could have been some great years, but Cousineau was still great when he finally did reach football's top league. He led the Browns, whom he was traded to after committing to the NFL, in tackles in three of his four seasons with the team.
45. Eric Fischer, OT: Kansas City Chiefs, 2013
Eric Fisher was a consistently solid offensive lineman during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, but he was never an elite starter, and that is what you expect when you take a tackle first overall. Fisher was twice named a Pro Bowler, but you would also prefer a number one lineman to play at least a decade, and Fisher didn't do that, either.
44. Sam Bradford, QB: St. Louis Rams, 2010
Sam Bradford is one of the harder players to rank on this list, and he is probably lower here than on a lot of other outlets. On the one hand, he developed into a high-accuracy quarterback, but that didn't happen until later in his career and was largely a product of a dink-and-dunk offense that lacked big-time plays.
Bradford also dealt with injuries throughout his career that limited his production. He wasn't a bad quarterback, but he definitely wasn't number one pick quality.
43. Ricky Bell, RB: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1977
Ricky Bell's story is a tragic one. He was a talented back and had some big moments in the NFL. Notably, Bell had 142 yards and two touchdowns in Tampa Bay's first-ever playoff victory. However, medical issues cut Bell's career short.
Aching muscles, weight loss, and skin issues caused by dermatomyositis forced the running back to retire by 1982, and he tragically passed away because of heart failure only two years later.
42. Russell Maryland, DT: Dallas Cowboys, 1991
Russell Maryland joined the Cowboys just in time to help them become a dynasty. Maryland was just an okay player, as he was only selected to one Pro Bowl. He did win three Super Bowls along the way, though.
41. John Matuszak, DE: Houston Oilers, 1973
John Matuszak's acting career stands out more than his playing career, but he did have some solid years in the NFL. His prime was over his first two seasons with the Raiders, where he had 18.5 sacks over that two year stretch. Outside of that, he was a pretty average player.
40. Kyler Murray, QB: Arizona Cardinals, 2019
Kyler Murray was known for his scrambling and willingness to attempt the deep ball during his time with the Arizona Cardinals. However, he also dealt with injury issues and was released by the team ahead of the 2026 season. Murray signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings, where he beat out fellow former first-rounder, J.J. McCarthy, for the Vikings QB1 job.
Unfortunately, Murray's first game in Minnesota was a disaster. He threw an inexcusable interception on his first play and was later taken out of the game for a concussion. The talent is clear with Murray, but his career seems to be slipping through his fingers.
38. Jameis Winston, QB: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2015
Jameis Winston's best days are likely in the rearview. Winston started his career as an entertaining but streaky quarterback with the Buccaneers. He could put up big numbers because of his great deep ball, but his football IQ wasn't great, and it led to a lot of interceptions. That was even on display as recently as Winston's last season as a regular starter. In 2024 with the Browns, Winston had 497 yards and four touchdowns in a game against the Denver Broncos, but he also threw three boneheaded interceptions and lost the game.
Winston has now settled into a role as one of the best backup quarterbacks in football. He is a leader and a fan-favorite, and the Giants just rewarded him with a two-year contract extension where he will back up Jaxson Dart, a player who hasn't proven that he can keep his body out of harm's way.
37. Baker Mayfield, QB: Cleveland Browns, 2018
Baker Mayfield might not have been as generational of a prospect as many number one picks, but he was a Heisman winner with a winning attitude, and that is exactly what the Browns needed. Despite Mayfield's chip on his shoulder and the fact that he led them to the playoffs, the team moved on, and Mayfield bounced around a little before finding a home with the Buccaneers.
Mayfield had 12,237 yards and 95 touchdowns over his first three seasons with the Buccaneers, so he was just rewarded with a contract extension that ensures he remains the Buccaneers signal-caller for years to come. The two-time Pro Bowler throws too many interceptions and fumbles the football too often, but nobody can question his heart and desire to win.
36. Jeff George, QB: Indianapolis Colts, 1990
Jeff George was a very talented quarterback. However, he played on seven different teams during his NFL career because his personality tended to create conflicts with coaches and management. That prevented George from ever becoming a true franchise quarterback. Still, George led multiple different teams to the playoffs and even led the league in passing yards in 1997.
35. Jadeveon Clowney, DE: Houston Texans, 2014
Jadeveon Clowney didn't live up to the massive expectations that were set for him when the Texans took him first overall. He has still had a long and productive NFL career, though. Clowney has 67.5 sacks in his career, but he has become a journeyman of sorts. Clowney is now on his on his eighth NFL stint, which happens to be a reunion with the Texans. He is reliable wherever he goes.
34. Dan Wilkinson, DT: Cincinnati Bengals, 1994
Dan Wilkinson was far from the Bengals' worst pick in the '90s, but he certainly didn't live up to expectations. He was still a solid, starting-caliber defensive tackle for the 13 seasons that he played in, and he did secure 54.5 sacks during his career. Fans always wanted more, though.
31. Billy Sims, RB: Detroit Lions, 1980
Billy Sims was fantastic when he was on the field, but he was another victim of injuries. He only played five seasons in the NFL, and only three of those saw him on the field for at least 12 games.
He surpassed 1,000 yards in those three seasons, and he even had 13 rushing touchdowns in each of his first two years in the league. Sims didn't have the longevity to rank higher on this list, but he was a heck of a football player.
39. Trevor Lawrence, QB: Jacksonville Jaguars, 2021
Trevor Lawrence was one of the most highly-touted prospects ever. He did next to no losing during his amateur career, but his winning ways didn't pan out with a bad Jaguars team right away. Over time, though, both Lawrence and his team have developed, and now he looks like one of the best quarterbacks in the league on a team that is firmly in contention.
Lawrence had four touchdown passes and looked elite during Jacksonville's Week 1 win of the 2026 season. He has thrice gone for over 4,000 yards, too. Lawrence seems destined to continue soaring up this list.
33. Steve Bartkowski, QB: Atlanta Falcons, 1975
The beginning and end of Steve Bartkowski's career was marked by injuries, but he was a really good quarterback during his prime. Most notably, he threw 61 touchdowns over a two-year span at the start of the '80s.
32. Jake Long, OT: Miami Dolphins, 2008
Before injuries got the best of him, Jake Long was one of the best offensive tackles in football. After Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections early in his career, Long lost a step, and he started to hop from team to team. In his prime, he was an elite blindside protector who thrived in both pass protection and run blocking.
30. Bo Jackson, RB: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1986
Bo Jackson is one of the most famous first-overall picks ever, but his career in totality might not be as impressive as you might remember. Jackson's NFL career was only four seasons long, and he never played more than 11 games in a season. He never even rushed for 1,000 yards, nor did he have more than five rushing touchdowns in a season.
Still, Jackson was one of the most dominant players in the league when he was on the field. His speed/power combination made him nearly impossible to bring down, and he went down as one of the best pure athletes in NFL history.
Jackson was a weird case, as he didn't play for Tampa Bay after they made him the top choice. Instead, he played his football for a Raiders team that took him in the following year's draft and allowed him to split time between football and MLB. His legacy as a two-sport athlete will never be forgotten, but his NFL career was somewhat averaged compared to his peers because of the lack of time he actually spent on the turf.
29. Joe Burrow, QB: Cincinnati Bengals, 2020
Joe Burrow ranks higher than every other first-overall pick from the last seven NFL Drafts because he is already a clear star. Burrow's injuries during his first, fourth, and sixth seasons limit his placement on this list, but from a pure talent perspective, there are few players, if any, better than Burrow.
Burrow surpassed 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns in each of his fully healthy seasons, and he already led the Bengals to one Super Bowl appearance. Two seasons ago saw Burrow lead the NFL in yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43), but has been the case far too often he followed that up with an injury-riddled season. Hopefully the injury bug is a thing of the past and Burrow can string together more consistency.
28. Jared Goff, QB: Los Angeles Rams, 2016
Jared Goff has always been underrated during his career, and people are finally starting to come to terms with his greatness now that he is leading a high-octane offense with the Detroit Lions. Goff's success started early in his career with the Rams, though. Goff earned a Pro Bowl nod in two of his first three seasons in the league, and he led Los Angeles to a Super Bowl appearance in year three.
Goff put up impressive numbers in Los Angeles, but the Rams wanted an upgrade and traded for Matthew Stafford. The quarterback has only improved since joining Detroit.
27. Bubba Smith, DE: Baltimore Colts, 1967
Bubba Smith was the first number-one pick in the Common Draft era. As is the case with a fair share of the first overall selections on this list, it was injuries that held Smith back. When he was healthy, he was a force to be reckoned with, and that was evident in his first few seasons in the league.
Smith earned two All-Pro selections, two Pro Bowl nods, and won a Super Bowl within his first five seasons in the league. Then, he missed the entire 1972 season with a knee injury, and he never returned to form.
26. Mario Williams, DE: Houston Texans, 2006
Many experts thought that Reggie Bush should have been the top pick in 2006, but Mario Williams ended up being the better choice. Williams added up 97.5 sacks and five All-Pro nods to his resume during his 11-year career.
25. Alex Smith, QB: San Francisco 49ers, 2005
Alex Smith was the ultimate game manager, and you usually want a little more out of a number-one pick. Still, Smith's career was long and productive enough to warrant a spot in the top 25 for all-time top draft picks. His comeback from a gruesome leg injury was inspirational, too.
Article Continues Below24. Keyshawn Johnson, WR: New York Jets, 1996
Keyshawn Johnson may have been a bit of a prima donna, but he was also a very talented pass catcher. He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards four times and even caught 106 balls in 2001. Johnson may have thought he was better than he actually was, but he was, in fact, very good.
23. Irving Fryar, WR: New England Patriots, 1984
Only two receivers have gone first overall in the Common Draft era, and they rank back-to-back on this list. It took Fryar a while to get going in the NFL, as his stats in the '80s are underwhelming, but he played long enough that he outranks Keyshawn Johnson here. Fryar played until he was 38 years old, and that allowed him to rack up 12,785 receiving yards, the 24th most ever.
22. Andrew Luck, QB: Indianapolis Colts, 2012
Andrew Luck had one of the biggest âÂÂwhat ifâ careers in NFL history. He was viewed as one of the best prospects ever and quickly took over the league. However, he retired at the age of just 29 after seven seasons in the NFL.
In that little time, Luck managed to put up 23,000 yards and 171 touchdowns through the air. He seemed destined for greatness, but he prioritized staying healthy when he chose to retire from the league. Luck was heavily sacked during his time in Indianapolis.
21. Jim Plunkett, QB: New England Patriots, 1971
Jim Plunkett wasn't necessarily an elite quarterback, but he won two Super Bowls and was the Super Bowl MVP one of those times. That alone makes for an impressive resume and lands Plunkett in the top 25 best number-one picks ever.
Plunkett put up solid numbers with the Patriots, but he won his championships with the Raiders. He initially served as a backup for the Raiders before becoming the man to lead them to championship glory.
20. Vinny Testaverde, QB: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1987
Vinny Testaverde was given lofty expectations when he was drafted first overall. He might not have become the megastar he was supposed to be, but his resume is impressive. Testaverde played until he was 44 years old and threw for 46,233 yards and 275 touchdowns during that span. He had stints on eight different teams, but he found varying levels of success with each of them.
19. George Rogers, RB: New Orleans Saints, 1981
George Rogers immediately lived up to the billing of being a number one pick by setting a then record for rookie rushing yards (1,674). That mark still ranks second all-time, but Rogers' career didn't end there. Five years later, he had 18 rushing touchdowns, and he eventually won a Super Bowl with Washington.
18. Michael Vick, QB: Atlanta Falcons, 2001
Michael Vick is the best rushing quarterback ever and one of the most influential players in changing the game of football. Vick's 6,109 yards on the ground and seven yards per carry are both top-two marks all-time for quarterbacks.
The Falcons draftee was a highlight waiting to happen, and his talent on the ground makes people forget how impressive he was as a thrower as well. Vick's arm strength was incredible, and he threw a pretty ball with a perfect spiral. He quickly became a star in the NFL, and he was headed toward legend status.
Unfortunately, Vick lost his prime when he was arrested for dog fighting. He did have an incredible comeback after returning to the NFL, but he was never able to live up to his fullest potential because of the time he spent in jail.
17. Drew Bledsoe, QB: New England Patriots, 1993
Drew Bledsoe is perhaps most known for being replaced by Tom Brady, but he did have a solid career in his own right. Bledsoe passed for 44,611 yards and 251 touchdowns during his career. One of his four Pro Bowl appearances even came after Brady became the Patriots starter.
15. Cam Newton, QB: Carolina Panthers, 2011
Cam Newton was a quarterback in a defensive lineman's body. He was massive, and although it led to defenders hitting him hard, it also led to him becoming one of the best rushing quarterbacks ever. Instead of avoiding defensive players, he ran through them.
Newton also had an incredible arm. Newton's 2015-16 season was special. His Panthers offense was potent, and Newton's âÂÂdabâ and âÂÂSupermanâ celebrations became global sensations. Unfortunately, the Panthers lost to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl that year, but not until after the quarterback secured the MVP award.
14. Ron Yary, OT: Minnesota Vikings, 1968
Only 10 first overall picks drafted in the common draft era have been elected to the Hall of Fame. Ron Yary is one of them. Yary was so talented at protecting the quarterback that he became the first offensive lineman ever drafted number one. He lived up to the selection with a magnificent career that included seven Pro Bowl nods.
13. Ed Jones, DE: Dallas Cowboys, 1974
Ed Jones, nicknamed Too Tall, was a mountain of a man. Jones wasn't heavily scouted for a top pick, but his physical traits were too much to pass on for the Cowboys. Jones' ability to get after the quarterback led to 106 career sacks, and even when he didn't pressure the quarterback, his size made him a threat to get swats at the line of scrimmage.
12. Carson Palmer, QB: Cincinnati Bengals, 2003
Carson Palmer is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. Although he wasn't usually a top-five quarterback in the league, and he never won a championship, he was consistently a top-10ish player at his position, and he succeeded for a long time.
Palmer threw for 46,247 yards and 294 touchdowns during his career, which rank 16th and 17th all-time, respectively. His longevity is amongst the best ever, and Palmer was a Super Bowl away from reaching legend status.
11. Lee Roy Selmon, DE: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1976
Lee Roy Selmon was Tampa Bay's first superstar. He made six straight Pro Bowl appearances and is now a Hall of Famer. Selmon played with ferocious intensity when it came to getting after the quarterback and stopping the run.
10. Orlando Pace, OT: St. Louis Rams, 1997ÃÂ
Orlando Pace is not as well known as the other number one picks in the top 10 of this list, but his placement is more than warranted. Many consider Pace to be the greatest offensive lineman of all time. He made seven Pro Bowls while protecting his quarterback's blindspot, and he did it in an era where the Rams had one of the best offenses in league history.
16. Myles Garrett, DE: Cleveland Browns, 2017
Myles Garrett is the best number one pick over the last decade. He was a rare hit at the top of the NFL Draft for the Browns. The edge rusher was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in the offseason and just received some unfortunate injury news, but he is coming off one of the most dominant individual seasons ever.
Garrett broke the single-season sack record (23) en route to winning his second Defensive Player of the Year award. He is now one of only nine players with multiple DPOY trophies to their names. While Garrett's Rams tenure didn't get off to a create start in Week 1, the Rams are still championships favorites, and the seven-time Pro Bowler should only add to his resume in the coming years.
9. Matthew Stafford, QB: Detroit Lions, 2009
Matthew Stafford played on some bad Lions teams early in his career, but he was never the problem. With Calvin Johnson lined up outside, Stafford was one-half of one of the best quarterback-receiver pairings this century. He was able to put up massive numbers with Megatron catching his passes.
He hit 40,000 career yards quicker than anyone else in history, and he ranks top seven all-time in passing yards, (64,671), passing touchdowns (423), and completions (5,577). Stafford even has one of the 15 5,000-yard seasons in league history to his name. After putting up monster numbers in Detroit, Stafford was finally able to lead his team to championship glory after being traded to the Rams. He just won the MVP at age 37, too.
8. Eli Manning, QB: San Diego Chargers, 2004
Eli Manning followed in the footsteps of John Elway and immediately requested a trade out of the organization that took him number one. Like Elway, Manning also had a magnificent career after being moved to a team that better fit him. Manning is responsible for some of the best Super Bowl games and biggest Super Bowl moments in history, as he twice beat the Patriots dynasty in dramatic fashion in the biggest game.
Eli and his brother Peyton were both drafted first overall. Two family members both making the same league together is impressive enough, but both being so talented that they are taken with the top pick is unfathomable. Manning has an interesting Hall of Fame case because he was never the best QB in the league, but he certainly helped define an era.
7. Earl Campbell, RB: Houston Oilers, 1978
Some running backs rely on speed, but Earl Campbell relied on power and strength. He ran through opposing defensive players en route to 9,407 career rushing yards and 74 rushing touchdowns. The running back will forever be remembered as the greatest Houston Oilers player ever.
6. O.J. Simpson, RB: Buffalo Bills, 1969
O.J. Simpson has stayed relevant long after his playing days, and his off-the-field drama makes people forget that he was once one of the best running backs ever. Simpson was a part of arguably the biggest trial in United States history, and he ended up seeing jail time for an unrelated crime.
Simpson's recent passing was big news. Back in the '70s, he was unstoppable on the gridiron. The running back led the NFL in rushing yards four times. During that span, he became the first of only nine backs to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.
5. Terry Bradshaw, QB: Pittsburgh Steelers, 1970
Terry Bradshaw is one of the best winners in NFL history. Bradshaw led the Steelers to becoming a dynasty, as they won four championships with him under center. His numbers don't jump off the page, but that is just a product of his era.ÃÂ Bradshaw delivered massive plays in the biggest moments.
4. Troy Aikman, QB: Dallas Cowboys, 1989
Troy Aikman was an incredibly accurate quarterback, and it led to three Super Bowl victories during the golden age of Cowboys football. Under the leadership of Aikman, America's team knew how to win the most important football games, which is something that has become more of a rarity since his retirement.
3. Bruce Smith, DE: Buffalo Bills, 1985
If the quarterback position wasn't so valuable, Bruce Smith would have a case as the best number one NFL Draft pick ever. Smith's 200 sacks are the most ever, and he was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Because the quarterback position is the most important in football, having someone who can make life hard on opposing signal-callers is the next most valuable thing. Smith made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks, and he is clearly one of the best sack artists in league history.
2. John Elway, QB: Baltimore Colts, 1983
Say what you want about the Colts, but they clearly know how to evaluate quarterbacks. Along with Jeff George, Andrew Luck, and Peyton Manning, the Colts selected John Elway with the first overall pick.
Of course, Elway never played for the Colts, who were in Baltimore at the time. Instead, the prize of the quarterback class of 1983, arguably the best NFL Draft class ever, decided to threaten that he would play baseball if he was drafted by the Colts. Baltimore took him anyway, but they were forced to trade him to the Denver Broncos, and the rest is history.
Elway's cannon of an arm and ability to use his legs made him one of the best physical freaks to ever play the quarterback position. It led to five Super Bowl appearances, two of which he won to end his career. A number one pick never playing a down for the team that drafted them isn't ideal for said team, but there is no denying that Elway is one of the best NFL players ever, regardless of being drafted first overall.
1. Peyton Manning, QB: Indianapolis Colts, 1998
The expectation for number one overall picks is that you become a Hall of Famer, but becoming one of the clear-cut all-time greats is even better. While no one has a resume like Tom Brady, who was a sixth-round pick, there is no doubt that Manning is one of the best players ever.
Manning's five MVP awards are the most in league history. He is also the all-time leader in 4,000-yard passing seasons (14), single-season passing yards (5,477), single-season passing touchdowns (55), and first-team All-Pro selections for a quarterback (seven). He is even third in career passing touchdowns (539) and career passing yards (71,940).
Manning's tenure with the Colts was legendary, but his time with the Broncos is not to be forgotten either. His accuracy was unmatched during his Colts days, and he won with his brain on the Broncos.