Who are the best Round 1 NFL Draft picks of all time? It is a question football fans often wonder with so many legends of the league being selected in the first round. Well, look no further as we list the 10 greatest players to be taken in the opening round of the NFL Draft.
10. Aaron Donald
In many ways, Los Angeles Rams great was the heir apparent to Lewis as the most dominant defensive force in the league over an outstanding decade in the NFL. The 13th pick overall in the 2014 NFL Draft earned Pro Bowl honors every season of his career and in all but two was voted as an All-Pro. He put the new-look LA Rams on the map in helping to win a championship in 2022 and will go down as one of the greatest pass rushers ever after tallying 111 sacks during his career.
9. Ray Lewis
Similar to Lawrence Taylor, Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis was an absolute force of nature. At his peak, few players on defense could have the sort of impact he did on opposing offenses and NFL games. The 26th pick in the 1996 NFL Draft ended his career with over 2,000 tackles, 31 interceptions, 41.5 sacks, and helped make turn the Ravens into a notable brand while leading them to their two Super Bowl titles.
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8. Walter Payton
When it comes to Round 1 NFL Draft picks Walter Payton is not just one of the 10 best, but he is also the greatest in Chicago Bears history. The 4th pick in the 1975 NFL Draft is arguably the most beloved player in the team’s history and it is understandable because he was the bright spot during many difficult seasons in Chicago. His 16,726 rushing yards are second all-time and that is why many long-time football fans feel he is the best running back ever.
7. Reggie White
Reggie White is seen by many football fans as the greatest pass rusher the sport has ever seen. He was a complete player who could beat opposing offensive linemen in different ways but also had signature moves. He is second on the all-time sack list and the 4th overall pick in the 1984 draft played a massive role in leading the Green Bay Packers to consecutive Super Bowls in the 90s. White was one of the rare defensive players that often received MVP consideration.
6. Jim Brown
Jim Brown is one of the most influential players from the Golden Age of the league. The Round 1 NFL Draft pick from 1957 (6th overall) was pure excellence during his nine-year career as he was a Pro Bowler every season and earned All-Pro honors in all but one. The legendary running back is a massive part of 1950s NFL lore for being one of the scariest and most ferocious players of his era.
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5. Dan Marino
Miami Dolphins icon Dan Marino is one of the few players on this list who never won a championship but it doesn’t matter considering how influential he was on the game. For decades running the ball was the preferred route for every team to put points on the board. However, Marino and the Dolphins were the first team to pass the ball and win consistently.
In an era geared completely toward running over passing, the 27th pick in the 1983 NFL Draft revolutionized the position and put up stats for passing never before seen in the league at that time.
4. Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is the other legend on this list who never won a Super Bowl. But like Marino, it did not matter because of how unbelievable his talent was. For many NFL fans, when it comes to the best running backs in league history the list starts with Sanders. The 3rd overall selection in the 1989 NFL Draft was a highlight machine that earned Pro Bowl honors every single year of his career.
Sanders had the bad luck of being on one of the most cursed franchises in history, but due to the sheer excellence of his talent, he elevated them to respectability throughout his career.
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3. Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is not just one of the best Round 1 NFL Draft picks of all time (1st overall in 1998) 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 John 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.
2. Jerry Rice
All you need to know about San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice is that to some around the NFL, he is the greatest player of all time despite being in a position that heavily relies on QB play. Luckily the 16th pick in the 1985 NFL Draft had the chance to work with a couple of Hall-of-Famers. No player was better in the clutch than Rice and the 10-time All-Pro owns the league records for receptions, touchdown catches, and receiving yards to this day.
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1. Lawrence Taylor
No defensive player had more of an effect on a game than New York Giants icon Lawrence Taylor. The 2nd pick in the 1981 NFL Draft was a mix of elite athleticism, unbreakable will, and pure rage. Taylor was a monster who had opponents beaten before they even took the field, the eight-time All-Pro won the MVP award in 1986 and legitimately was one of the scariest players ever.
The fact that he led the team to a pair of Super Bowl titles is just the cherry on top of an absolutely stellar career.