As the calendar turns to April each year, months of speculation and analysis culminate in what has become the biggest off-season spectacle in sports: the NFL draft. These days, the tests and examinations that potential draftees must complete, run the gamut from physical and mental evaluations to character interviews and cognitive assessments. When all is said and done, however, only one player will be selected first overall, and as history has shown us, that really means little more than hype.
With such high expectations, the top pick is almost setup to fail, but some have prospered. Here is a look at the five most successful number one draft picks in NFL history:
#5: Ron Yary (Minnesota Vikings - 1968)
Following an illustrious college career at the University of Southern California, Ron Yary was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the first pick in the 1968 NFL draft. It marked the first time that a true offensive lineman had ever been selected first overall. What the Vikings didn't realize, was that they were getting quite a return on their investments. Yary played 15 seasons in the NFL, and during that time he only missed two games due to injury. He helped anchor a Vikings line that won an NFL Championship, appeared in four Super Bowls and claimed 11 division titles. Yary's personal achievements were recognized with seven pro bowl selections, a place in the Vikings' Ring of Honor and a spot in Canton's Pro Football Hall of Fame.
#4: Chuck Bednarik (Philadelphia Eagles - 1949)
When the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Chuck Bednarik in 1949, they knew that he was a versatile player. However, few could have imagined just how valuable he would be. Bednarik was a "60 minute man," meaning that he played on both sides of the ball. Despite a violent 14-year career, he missed only three of 172 games. In the other 169 contests, Bednarik punished opponents from the center position and delivered bone crushing hits from his linebacker spot. When his career finally ended, Bednarik had helped the Eagles to two NFL championships, including the 1960 NFL Championship in which he secured the win with a game saving tackle against the Green Bay Packers. Bednarik was selected to eight pro bowls in his career and joined the hall of fame ranks as a first-ballot inductee in 1967.
#3: John Elway (Baltimore Colts - 1983)
John Elway has the distinction of not only being one of the most successful top picks in NFL draft history, but also being the worst; that is if you were a Baltimore Colts fan. Elway was drafted first overall by the Colts in 1983, but refused to play for the franchise, and threatened to pursue a baseball career if he wasn't traded. The Colts finally relented, but got little in return for what turned out to be a hall of fame quarterback. In 16 NFL seasons, Elway passed for over 51,000 yards and led the Denver Broncos to five Super Bowl appearances and two championships. Perhaps more than anything else, Elway established himself as a clutch performer with 47 fourth-quarter comebacks over his career. Elway was elected to nine pro bowl squads in his career and settled into his permanent place in Canton as a first-ballot hall of famer in 2004.
#2: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts - 1998)
Manning earns the second slot as the only current player still active in the NFL. When the Colts drafted Manning in 1998, they expected a great player, but hardly knew he would rewrite the record books for passing. In 13 seasons, Manning has earned pro bowl recognition 11 times, NFL MVP honors four times and elevated the Colts franchise from the 3-13 team he inherited in 1997 to Super Bowl champions. Manning's impact on the Colts was immediate, passing for over 8,100 yards in his first two seasons. Perhaps most impressive about Manning's career has been the consistency of his success. In the 13 years since he was drafted, the Colts have won double digit games on 11 occasions, and won 12 games or more eight different times. Although Manning doesn't have as many team accolades (e.g. championships) as personal ones, his achievements have been nothing short of extraordinary. With still a handful of seasons to play, it is a sure bet that Manning will someday enter the hallowed halls of Canton.
#1: Bruce Smith (Buffalo Bills - 1985)
Bruce Smith is unarguably one of the most prolific pass rushers and feared defensive ends that the game of football has ever seen. Smith, ironically, sits atop a list that measures the success of number one overall draft picks without ever having won a Super Bowl championship. In AFC title games, Smith and the Buffalo Bills were 4-0, but in each of the subsequent Super Bowls they suffered defeat. Yet, even failed team success cannot undermine the dominant career that Smith had over the course of his 19 seasons. From 1985 to 2003, he tallied 200 sacks in 279 games, registering double-digit sack totals in 13 seasons (NFL Record). It should also be mentioned that throughout the majority of those games, Smith fought through double and triple-team blocking assignments, but still managed to wreak havoc on the quarterback. Smith's dominance spanned two decades, for which he gained recognition as a member of both the NFL all-decade teams of the 1980s and 1990s. In 1999, Smith retired as the NFL's all-time sack leader, among other superlatives including 11-time pro bowler and all-pro. In 2009, Smith was an easy selection as a first ballot hall of famer, when he rightfully claimed his spot in Canton.
Honorable Mention
Terry Bradshaw (1970 - Pittsburgh Steelers): 4 Super Bowl Rings, Hall of Famer
Troy Aikman (1989 - Dallas Cowboys): 3 Super Bowl Rings, Hall of Famer
O.J. Simpson (1969 - Buffalo Bills): 6 Pro Bowls, 2000 yard season
Orlando Pace (1997 - St. Louis Rams): 7 Pro Bowls, 2000s all-decade team, 1 Super Bowl Ring
References:
All-Time Number Ones, No. 1 Draft Picks , NFL.com
NFL Hall of Famers, Alphabetical List , Profootballhof.com
Pro Football Reference, Player and Team Stats , Pro-football-reference.com
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