Many football fans wonder who are the best NFL Draft No.1 picks of all time. Especially since there have been many top overall selections in the yearly event that never came close to living up to their potential. Well, look no further as we run down the 10 best players that were taken first in the NFL Draft, including Earl Campbell and Peyton Manning.
10. Eli Manning
Is Eli Manning one of the 10 best first-round picks in NFL Draft history? No. But when it comes to players that were the top overall selections in the annual event there are few better. The New York Giants great has broken almost all of the franchise’s passing records and being the driving force behind two come-from-behind Super Bowl victories over the New England Patriots dynasty easily makes him one of the 10 best top picks ever.
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9. Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford’s inclusion on this list may surprise some but the numbers don’t lie — over 56,000 passing yards and 357 touchdowns — as put up outstanding stats for years on a Detroit Lions team that seemed cursed. However, the two-time Pro Bowler quieted many of his doubters when he was able to do what many other QBs taking No. 1 overall couldn’t and led his team to a Super Bowl title in 2022 with the Los Angeles Rams.
8. Ed “Too Tall” Jones
Ed Jones is so legendary that most fans know him by his nickname “Too Tall” than his actual one. The Dallas Cowboys great was a dominant force for their amazing teams in the 1970s and played a huge role in their ’78 Super Bowl win. The big man helped to revolutionize the defensive end position (106 career sacks) and is one of the best defensive players ever for the most famous franchise in the sport.
7. Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell is one of the great what-if stories in NFL history. Injuries limited him to just nine seasons in the league but in that short time, he had an unbelievable run. Five times he ran for over 1,000 yards and he earned not just Pro Bowl but All-Pro honors his first three seasons in the league. The Houston Oilers was a wrecking machine where he often laid blows on opposing players instead of taking them from defenders.
6. Orlando Pace
Offensive linemen don’t get a lot of love but legendary running backs and quarterbacks are often aided by special talents on the line. St. Louis Rams great Orlando Pace is one of the only offensive linemen to be taken #1 overall and he had a career that proved he was worth it. The seven-time Pro Bowler is one of the best tackles ever and played a major role in the franchise winning their first Super Bowl in 2000.
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5. OJ Simpson
Despite his infamy off the field, OJ Simpson was a world-class player during his career with the Buffalo Bills. While leading the Bills offense he posted five seasons over 1,000 yards and one where he surpassed 2,000. He earned Pro Bowl honors on six occasions, was a five-time All-Pro, and is second all-time on the team’s rushing list.
4. Troy Aikman
At first, it seemed like Dallas Cowboys great Troy Aikman might end up being an NFL Draft bust after going 0-11 in his rookie season. However, boy were pundits wrong as the 12-year veteran would go on to be the greatest QB in Dallas history and one of the very best of the 1990s. While posting six Pro Bowl seasons the Cowboys icon was the face of a dynasty that took home three Super Bowl titles during the 90s.
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3. Terry Bradshaw
In an era where running the ball was still the preferred way to win games, Terry Bradshaw helped to push the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers into new offensive frontiers. The three-time Pro Bowler was as clutch as it gets during his legendary run with the black-and-gold and he will go down as one of the greatest athletes in Pittsburgh sports history after winning four Super Bowl trophies during his career.
2. John Elway
A case can be made that John Elway wasn’t the best player taken in the 1983 NFL Draft (Yes, Dan Marino fans) but there is no doubt he is one of the very best top overall picks of all time. A lot of pressure and expectation comes with going No. 1 overall and from the start, Elway was a great player that elevated the Denver Broncos to new heights.
However, after years of being just like Marino as a great QB who could never win it all the nine-time Pro Bowler closed his amazing career in legendary fashion with Denver’s first two Super Bowl victories.
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1. Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is not just the best NFL Draft #1 pick of all time but a real case can be made he is the greatest quarterback ever. Sure, he didn’t win as many championships as Tom Brady but no player had a greater impact on the game than the defense-reading, audible machine that was the Indianapolis Colts great.
During his iconic career, the 14-time Pro Bowler often led the league in most passing categories and earned MVP honors five different times. And like Elway, he quieted many of his greatest detractors by winning a pair of Super Bowls and making four trips to the big game towards the end of his career.