Top 5 Best #1 Overall Draft Picks in NFL History

#5. BRUCE SMITH – DE – VIRGINIA TECH
1985 NFL DRAFT – BUFFALO BILLS
Bruce Smith turned out to be one hell of a pick for the Buffalo Bills in the 1985 NFL Draft. After 19 strong seasons, Smith is the reigning NFL sack leader at 200 career sacks.

#4. EARL CAMPBELL – RB – TEXAS

1978 NFL DRAFT – HOUSTON OILERS
Earl Campbell may have only played 8 seasons in the NFL, but he was a game changer! Leading the Oilers to the AFC championship game in his first 2 seasons, Campbell’s presence immediately changed the way defenses schemed. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1991.

#3. CHUCK BEDNARIK – C/LB – PENNSYLVANIA

1949 NFL DRAFT – PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Concrete Charlie played 14 seasons in the NFL on BOTH sides of the ball! He was a brutalizing tackler at LB and extremely durable at C, only missing 3 games in 14 seasons despite playing almost every snap.

#2. JOHN ELWAY – QB – STANFORD

1983 NFL DRAFT – BALTIMORE COLTS
2x Super Bowl champ John Elway turned out to be a dud for the Baltimore Colts who drafted him #1 overall in 1983. Elway refused to play for the Colts and was traded to the Denver Broncos  for Chris Hinton and Mark Herrmann. The Broncos got the better end of that deal as Elway went on to play 16 seasons and lead the Broncos to 2 Super Bowl victories.

#1. PEYTON MANNING – QB – TENNESSEE

1998 NFL DRAFT – INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
#1 on this list is none other than Peyton Manning, the NFL’s all time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and the only Quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl with 2 different teams.

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