Let me start by saying, when it comes to first over all picks in the NFL, anyone with fifteen minutes to kill can make a list of the biggest busts.  On the other hand, the best first overall pick comes with much debate. I feel it has come down to two contenders:  Peyton Manning or Bruce Smith.

Bruce Smith is the all-time sack leader. He was the leader of a defensive unit that won four straight AFC championships.  He had double digit sacks in twelve of thirteen years, with the missing year being an injury plagued season in which he appeared in 5 games.  He was a twice named defensive player of the year, and four times AFC defensive player of the year.  Smith was clearly the best of his era as well as one of the best of all time.

Peyton Manning has inconceivable career statistics.  He has never thrown for less than thirty-seven hundred yards in any season, as well as never less than 26 touchdowns. Peyton Manning is one of two players in NFL history to have been named league MVP three times.  He dons a Super Bowl ring as well as a Super Bowl MVP trophy to match. Serendipitously, he was one of the great “either or” first picks for the Colts in 1998.  That year most draft experts had Manning and the infamous Ryan Leaf neck and neck for the first overall pick.  The decision of passing on Leaf gives this pick a little more clout in the big picture.

Both players are worthy of being labeled “best first overall pick”.  As a man who often favors defense and a power running game, it remains obvious that quarterback is the most important position in team sports.  That being said, I will give the nod to Peyton Manning. 

The remaining candidates who round out the top ten are as follows:

3)  O. J. Simpson – His 2,000 yard season gives him the nod for RBs

4)  Earl Campbell – maybe a hair behind O. J., and without the killer instinct (bam!)

5)  Lee Roy Selmon – Defensive player of the year in 1979, and four time NFC defensive lineman of the year

6)  Orlando Pace – Either 1, 2, or 3 at his (oh so important) position, and kept some pretty good QBs upright, a lock to be a future hall of famer

7)  Terry Bradshaw – Four Super Bowl wins and two Super Bowl MVPs: enough said

8)  Troy Aikman – Three Super Bowl victories and 90 wins in the 1990s, it is debatable if he should be higher on the list

9)  Jim Plunkett – Two Super Bowls and a Super Bowl MVP

10) Tommy Nobis – Rookie of the year, 5 pro bowls, and MR. Falcon…. he has got to be on the list

Who didn’t make the list:

John Elway – well really he was a horrible pick…..for the Colts, who didn’t get much in return in the trade to Denver

Bo Jackson – who would be one of the best 1^st pick talents/players, and also one of the best steals in the 7^th round the next year (183^rd pick overall) – but a horrible 1^st pick that was completely wasted by Tampa Bay, whom he never played for

Eli Manning – One of the great maneuver picks that ended up giving San Diego Rivers, Merriman, and Keading.   (SD would also have to get credit for one of the great 1^st overall non picks, in trading it to Atl who took Vick and left SD with Tomlinson, Dwight, Caldwell, and still getting their QB Brees with their own second round)

Share on Facebook