Grading Every No. 1 Overall NFL Draft Pick

NFL teams are defined by what they do with the No. 1 overall pick. Here's who got it right and wrong.

Grading Every No. 1 Overall NFL Draft Pick

John Elway was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 NFL draft.

NFL teams are defined by what they do with the No. 1 overall draft pick. With the benefit of hindsight, we can evaluate whether teams made the right choice.

What’s more difficult is determining which player teams should have picked instead, if they made the wrong choice and the selection did not work out.

Here’s a look at every NFL draft since 1936 — the first year the NFL starting holding the annual event — with grades for every player taken first overall and who would be the No. 1 overall pick if the draft was held today.

1936: Jay Berwanger, Halfback

Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles

College: University of Chicago

NFL career: DNP

Teams: None

Stats: None

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: Joe Stydahar, offensive tackle (No. 6 overall, Chicago Bears)

1936: Bottom Line

Jay Berwanger, the winner of the first Heisman Trophy and the first pick in NFL draft history, never played in the NFL because teams balked at his request for $1,000 per game.

Joe Stydahar, who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967, helped lead the Chicago Bears to four NFL championships and was a five-time NFL All-Pro.

1937: Sam Francis, Fullback

Drafted by: Philadelphelphia Eagles

College: University of Nebraska

NFL career: 4 seasons (1937-40)

Teams: Chicago Bears (1937-38), Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers (1939), Brooklyn Dodgers (1939-40)

Stats: 40 games, 873 rushing yards, 5 TD

Grade: D-

New No. 1 pick: Sammy Baugh, quarterback (No. 6 overall, Washington Redskins)

1937: Bottom Line

Sam Francis never played a game for the Philadelphia Eagles after his rights were traded to the Chicago Bears for Bill Hewitt and $4,000.

Francis played for three different teams in four seasons and didn’t crack the 1,000-yard mark for career rushing.

Sammy Baugh was a two-time NFL Player of the Year, nine-time NFL All-Pro, led the Redskins to two NFL championships and is credited as the first quarterback to use the forward pass effectively.

Jay-Z also famously wore Baugh's jersey in the "Girls, Girls, Girls" video in 1999.

1938: Corbett Davis, Fullback

Drafted by: Cleveland Rams

College: University of Indiana

NFL career: 4 seasons (1938-39, 1941-42)

Teams: Cleveland Rams

Stats: 515 yards total offense, 4 TD

Grade: D

New No. 1 pick: Alex Wojciechowicz, center/linebacker (No. 6 overall, Detroit Lions)

1938: Bottom Line

Corbett Davis left the Cleveland Rams to fight in World War II after the 1942 season. He was injured in action in 1944 and never returned to football.

Alex Wojciechowicz was a "60-minute player" for the Detroit Lions, playing the entire game on both sides of the ball.

He also won a pair of NFL championships with the Philadelphia Eagles and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.

1939: Ki Aldrich, Center/Linebacker

Drafted by: Chicago Cardinals

College: TCU

NFL career: 7 seasons (1939-42, 1945-47)

Teams: Chicago Cardinals (1939-40), Washington Redskins (1941-42, 1945-47)

Stats: 73 games, 8 INT, 2 TD

Grade: B+

New No. 1 pick: Sid Luckman, quarterback (No. 2 overall, Chicago Bears)

1939: Bottom Line

Ki Aldrich was solid in seven NFL seasons. He played both ways, won an NFL championship with the Redskins in 1942 and made two Pro Bowls.

Unfortunately for the Chicago Cardinals, the No. 2 pick in the draft was quarterback Sid Luckman, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who won four titles with the Chicago Bears, was a six-time NFL All-Pro and the 1943 NFL Most Valuable Player.

1940: George Cafego, Quarterback/Halfback

Drafted by: Chicago Cardinals

College: University of Tennessee

NFL career: 4 seasons (1940, 1943-45)

Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers (1940, 1943), Washington Redskins (1943), Boston Yanks (1944-45)

Stats: 35 games, 966 yards, 5 TD, 16 INT

Grade: D-

New No. 1 pick: George McAfee, athlete (No. 2 overall, Philadelphia Eagles)

1940: Bottom Line

George Cafego’s career was interrupted after his rookie season for two years in the military. He returned to play three lackluster seasons for three teams.

George "One Play" McAfee was the No. 2 pick, helped lead the Chicago Bears to three NFL championships, still holds the NFL record for punt return average and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966.

1941: Tom Harmon, Halfback

Drafted by: Chicago Bears

College: University of Michigan

NFL career: 2 seasons (1946-47)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams

Stats: 830 yards total offense, 6 TD

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: Tony Canadeo, running back (No. 77 overall, Green Bay Packers)

1941: Bottom Line

Tom Harmon never played a game for the Chicago Bears, instead opting to star in movies, then becoming a war hero and millionaire sports broadcaster after a brief stint with the Rams.

Green Bay running back Tony Canadeo was the only 1941 draftee to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was a three-time NFL All-Pro.

1942: Bill Dudley, ATH

Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers

College: University of Virginia

NFL career: 9 seasons (1942, 1945-51, 1953)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1942, 1945-46), Detroit Lions (1947-49), Washington Redskins (1950-51, 1953)

Stats: 8,683 all-purpose yards, 46 TD, 23 INT, 33 FGM, 66 FGA

Grade: A

New No. 1 pick: Dudley

1942: Bottom Line

Bill "Bullet' Dudley was the first player in NFL history to go from No. 1 overall pick to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

There was nothing Dudley, a six-time NFL All-Pro, couldn’t do on the football field.

He was named NFL Most Valuable Player in 1946 after he led the league in rushing yards and interceptions.

1943: Frank Sinkwich, Halfback/Quarterback

Drafted by: Detroit Lions

College: University of Georgia

NFL career: 7 seasons (1940-44, 1946-47)

Teams: Detroit Lions (1940-44), New York Yankees (1946-47), Baltimore Colts (1947)

Stats: 1,913 passing yards, 19 TD, 42 INT, 1,090 rushing yards, 7 TD

Grade: B-

New No. 1 pick: Sinkwich

1943: Bottom Line

There wasn’t a lot of premium put on the NFL draft in 1943, in the midst of World War II.

But the Lions did the best with what was available, and Frankie Sinkwich was as good of a pick as they could have made that year.

The 1942 Heisman Trophy winner was a two-time NFL All-Pro and the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1944.

1944: Angelo Bertelli, Quarterback

Drafted by: Boston Yanks

College: University of Notre Dame

NFL career: DNP

Teams: NA

Stats: NA

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: Otto Graham, quarterback (No. 4 overall, Detroit Lions)

1944: Bottom Line

The Boston Yanks wasted a No. 1 pick on Angelo Bertelli, who was put on active duty in the fall of 1943 and was seriously injured in the beginning of 1945 at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Bertelli never played in the NFL.

No. 4 pick Otto Graham was a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player, won three NFL championships and played his entire career with the Cleveland Browns.

1945: Charley Trippi, Halfback

Drafted by: Chicago Cardinals

College: University of Georgia

NFL career: 9 seasons (1947-55)

Teams: Chicago Cardinals

Stats: 3,506 rushing yards, 23 TD, 2,547 passing yards, 16 TD, 31 INT

Grade: A

New No. 1 pick: Trippi

1945: Bottom Line

Charley Trippi appeared headed for a career in Major League Baseball before the Chicago Cardinals shocked the football world, signing him to the most lucrative contract in NFL history at $100,000 for four years, with a $25,000 signing bonus.

Trippi’s military service delayed his NFL debut for two years, but he had a Hall of Fame career and led the Cardinals to an NFL championship in 1947.

1946: Frank Dancewicz, Quarterback

Drafted by: Boston Yankees

College: University of Notre Dame

NFL career: 3 seasons (1946-1948)

Teams: Boston Yanks

Stats: 23 games, 1,551 passing yards, 12 TD, 29 INT

Grade: D

New No. 1 pick: George Connor, linebacker/defensive end (No. 5 overall, New York Giants)

1946: Bottom Line

Frank Dancewicz was the second quarterback in three years from Notre Dame to go No. 1 overall and see his pro career fizzle out. He only played in 23 games.

College teammate George Connor is credited as being the first modern NFL linebacker, was named a five-time NFL All-Pro and elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

1947: Bob Fenimore, Halfback

Drafted by: Chicago Bears

College: Oklahoma State University

NFL career: 1 season (1947)

Teams: Chicago Bears

Stats: 10 games, 408 yards total offense, 3 TD

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: Art Donovan, defensive tackle (No. 204 overall, Baltimore Colts)

1947: Bottom Line

Bob Fenimore suffered a serious injury and barely played in 1946 as a senior at Oklahoma State, but the Bears still picked him, and he didn’t make it one full season in the NFL.

Hall of Famer Art Donovan was the dominant defensive tackle of his generation and teamed with quarterback Johnny Unitas to lead the Baltimore Colts to NFL championships in 1958 and 1959.

1948: Harry Gilmer, Quarterback

Drafted by: Washington Redskins

College: University of Alabama

NFL career: 9 seasons (1948-56)

Teams: Washington Redskins (1948-54), Detroit Lions (1955-56)

Stats: 76 games, 3,786 passing yards, 23 TD, 45 INT

Grade: C-

New No. 1 pick: Bobby Layne, quarterback (No. 3 overall, Chicago Bears)

1948: Bottom Line

Harry Gilmer had a respectable career, making two Pro Bowls.

But if the Redskins wanted a quarterback, they could have had their pick of two Hall of Famers selected after Gilmer in the first round: Bobby Layne or Y.A. Tittle.

Layne, who also was a highly coveted baseball prospect, won three NFL championships with the Detroit Lions.

1949: Chuck Bednarik, Linebacker

Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles

College: University of Pennsylvania

NFL career: 14 seasons (1949-62)

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles

Stats: 169 games, 20 INT, 21 fumble recoveries

Grade: A+

New No. 1 pick: Bednarik

1949: Bottom Line

Chuck Bednarik is one of the most iconic players in NFL history. He was a 10-time NFL All-Pro and won a pair of NFL championships with the Eagles.

Bednarik, who played both ways, made arguably the most brutal hit in NFL history when he leveled New York Giants star Frank Gifford early in the 1960 season.

Gifford did not return to football until 1962.

1950: Leon Hart, End

Drafted by: Detroit Lions

College: University of Notre Dame

NFL career: 8 seasons (1950-1957)

Teams: Detroit Lions

Stats: 174 receptions, 2,499 receiving yards, 26 TD

Grade: B

New No. 1 pick: Hart

1950: Bottom Line

There were several Hall of Famers picked after Leon Hart, but you wouldn’t swap him out for any of them.

Modern fans know the 1990s Dallas Cowboys dynasty’s "triplets" — Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin.

In the 1950s that was Detroit’s Bobby Layne, Doak Walker and Hart, who won three NFL championships in that decade.

1951: Kyle Rote, Halfback

Drafted by: New York Giants

College: Southern Methodist University

NFL career: 11 seasons (1951-1961)

Teams: New York Giants

Stats: 121 games, 300 receptions, 4,797 passing yards, 48 TD

Grade: B-

New No. 1 pick: Y.A .Tittle, quarterback (No. 6 overall, Detroit Lions)

1951: Bottom Line

Kyle Rote made the transition to wide receiver from running back after a knee injury and ended up one of the best Giants to ever play the position. But if the G-Men could do it all over again, Hall of Fame quarterback Y.A. Tittle would be the better choice.

Tittle originally was drafted by the Lions in 1948 but chose to play in the rival All-American Football Conference for three years. Then, he became eligible to be drafted again in 1951, at 26 years old, and was taken by the 49ers.

He eventually found his way to the Giants at the end of his career.

1952: Bill Wade, Quarterback

Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams

College: Vanderbilt University

NFL career: 13 seasons (1954-66)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1954-60), Chicago Bears (1961-66)

Stats: 18,530 passing yards, 124 TD, 134 INT

Grade: B

New No. 1 pick: Dick Lane, cornerback (Undrafted, signed as free agent by Detroit Lions)

1952: Bottom Line

Bill Wade made two Pro Bowls and helped lead the Chicago Bears to the 1963 NFL championship.

Hall of Famer Dick "Night Train' Lane played one year of junior college football and on a club team in the Army before he aced an open tryout with the Los Angeles Rams.

He still holds the single-season NFL record with 14 interceptions and is one of the most feared tacklers of all time.

1953: Harry Babcock, End

Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers

College: University of Georgia

NFL career: 3 seasons (1953-55)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers

Stats: 30 games, 16 catches, 181 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: Jim Ringo, center (No. 79 overall, Green Bay Packers)

1953: Bottom Line

Harry Babcock is one of the worst No. 1 picks in NFL history. He flamed out after three seasons and never even scored a touchdown.

Hall of Fame center Jim Ringo was a nine-time NFL All-Pro and won two NFL championships with the Green Bay Packers and legendary coach Vince Lombardi.

1954: Bobby Garrett, Quarterback

Drafted by: Cleveland Browns

College: Stanford University

NFL career: 1 season (1954)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Stats: 9 games, 150 passing yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Grade: D-

New No. 1 pick: Raymond Berry, wide receiver (No. 232 overall, Baltimore Colts)

1954: Bottom Line

The Browns thought they had their quarterback of the future after drafting Bobby Garrett, but in a different day and age, the team never actually spoke with Garrett before picking him.

Garrett had a severe stutter, which made communication in the huddle difficult. He was traded to the Packers and out of the league after one season.

Hall of Fame wide receiver Raymond Berry won two titles with the Baltimore Colts and retired with NFL career records in receptions and receiving yards.

1955: George Shaw, Quarterback

Drafted by: Baltimore Colts

College: University of Oregon

NFL career: 8 seasons (1955-62)

Teams: Baltimore Colts (1955-58), New York Giants (1959-60), Minnesota Vikings (1961), Denver Broncos (1962)

Stats: 71 games, 5,829 passing yards, 41 TD, 63 INT

Grade: C-

New No. 1 pick: Johnny Unitas, quarterback (No. 102 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers)

1955: Bottom Line

The irony of the Colts taking quarterback George Shaw with the No. 1 overall pick was that the franchise’s greatest player, Johnny Unitas, was taken in the ninth round of the same draft.

Unitas was cut by the Steelers, made the Colts the next year and took over for Shaw after an injury.

Unitas led the team to three NFL championships and one Super Bowl win.

1956: Gary Glick, Defensive Back

Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers

College: Colorado A&M University

NFL career: 7 seasons (1956-61, 1963)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1956-59), Washington Redskins (1959-60), Baltimore Colts (1961), San Diego Chargers (1963)

Stats: 71 games,

Grade: C-

New No. 1 pick: Forrest Gregg, offensive lineman (No. 20 overall, Green Bay Packers)

1956: Bottom Line

Gary Glick is still the only defensive back taken with the No. 1 overall pick, but he never made a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team in seven seasons.

The Green Bay Packers built their offensive line during the Vince Lombardi dynasty around Forrest Gregg, a Hall of Famer who won three NFL championships and two Super Bowls with the Packers.

He then closed out his career by winning a Super Bowl with the Cowboys.

1957: Paul Hornung, Halfback

College: University of Notre Dame

NFL career: 11 seasons (1957-67)

Teams: Green Bay Packers (1957-66), New Orleans Saints (1967)

Stats: 104 games, 5,191 yards total offense, 62 TD

Grade: A-

New No. 1 pick: Jim Brown, running back (No. 6, Cleveland Browns)

1957: Bottom Line

Paul Hornung was a superstar on three NFL championship teams and one Super Bowl-winning team for the Green Bay Packers.

The Hall of Famer is one of the more electric, versatile players to ever step on a football field.

But Hornung was drafted in the same year as Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player and perhaps the greatest player of all time.

1958: King Hill, Quarterback

Drafted by: Chicago Cardinals

College: Rice University

NFL career: 12 seasons (1958-69)

Teams: Chicago Cardinals (1958-59), St. Louis Cardinals (1960), Philadelphia Eagles (1961-68), Minnesota Vikings (1968), St. Louis Cardinals (1969)

Stats: 123 games, 5,553 passing yards, 37 TD, 71 INT

Grade: D

New No. 1 pick: Ray Nitschke, linebacker (No. 36 overall, Green Bay Packers)

1958: Bottom Line

The Cardinals had seen enough by Hill’s third season, when he’d thrown eight touchdown passes against 20 interceptions, so they traded him to the Eagles.

Hill’s interception problems never fixed themself, and he never made a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team.

Linebacker Ray Nitschke was the defensive leader on five NFL championship teams and two Super Bowl wins for the Green Bay Packers.

1959: Randy Duncan, Quarterback

Drafted by: Green Bay Packers

College: University of Iowa

NFL career: DNP

Teams: None

Stats: None

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: Dick Bass, running back (No. 2 overall, Los Angeles Rams)

1959: Bottom Line

Randy Duncan decided to go play in the Canadian Football League "for a lot more dough" instead of going to the Packers.

Running back Dick Bass was a three-time Pro Bowler who could do more than just run the ball.

Bass also was great at catching the ball and a stalwart in the return game for the Rams.

1960: Billy Cannon, Running Back

Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams

College: Louisiana State University

NFL career: 11 seasons (1960-70)

Teams: Houston Oilers (1960-63), Oakland Raiders (1964-69), Kansas City Chiefs (1970)

Stats: 133 games, 2,455 rushing yards, 17 TD, 3,656 receiving yards, 47 TD

Grade: D

New No. 1 pick: Cannon

1960: Bottom Line

Billy Cannon, reportedly the basis for the film "Everybody’s All-American" was one of the more coveted draft picks of all time and turned his back on the NFL for the AFL and never played for the Rams.

Even with hindsight, it’s hard to see the Rams not making this pick, and they actually signed Cannon to a contract. But the deal was voided in one of the stranger legal rulings in the history of pro sports, and his rights were awarded to the Houston Oilers.

1961: Tommy Mason, Running Back

Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings

College: Tulane University

NFL career: 11 seasons (1961-71)

Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1961-66), Los Angeles Rams (1967-70), Washington Redskins (1971)

Stats: 124 games, 4,203 rushing yards, 32 TD

Grade: D

New No. 1 pick: Deacon Jones, defensive end (No. 186 overall, Los Angeles Rams)

1961: Bottom Line

The Vikings blew it at the beginning of the 1961 NFL draft — whiffing on four Hall of Famers picked in the first round.

Seven Hall of Famers were picked in 1961, including Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton, a third-round pick.

No one’s career shined brighter than Rams defensive end Deacon Jones, who might be the greatest defensive player in NFL history.

1962: Ernie Davis, Running Back

Drafted by: Washington Redskins

College: Syracuse University

NFL career: DNP

Teams: None

Stats: None

Grade: A+

New No. 1 pick: Davis

1962: Bottom Line

There were two Hall of Famers picked in the 1962 draft, Merlin Olsen and Lance Alworth, and it’s not far-fetched to think Ernie Davis would have joined them if his life hadn’t been tragically cut short when he died of leukemia in 1963.

Davis, the 1961 Heisman Trophy winner, refused to play for the Redskins and owner George Preston Marshall, an avowed racist.

Davis forced a trade to the Browns and signed a record $200,000 contract but never played a down before he got sick.

1963: Terry Baker, Quarterback

Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams

College: Oregon State University

NFL career: 3 seasons (1963-1965)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams

Stats: 18 games, 154 passing yards, 0 TD, 4 INT

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: John Mackey, tight end No. 18 overall (Baltimore Colts)

1963: Bottom Line

Nine of the 14 first-round picks in 1963 made multiple Pro Bowls or All-Pro teams. Terry Baker was not one of them.

The 1962 Heisman Trophy winner flamed out after three seasons in the NFL and never even threw a touchdown pass.

Second-round pick John Mackey became just the second tight end ever inducted into the Hall of Fame and was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary Team.

1964: Dave Parks, Wide Receiver

Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers

College: Texas Tech University

NFL career: 10 seasons (1964-73)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1964-67), New Orleans Saints (1968-72), Houston Oilers (1973)

Stats: 118 games, 5,619 receiving yards, 44 TD

Grade: B

New No. 1 pick: Roger Staubach, quarterback (No. 129 overall, Dallas Cowboys)

1964: Bottom Line

Dave Parks had an outstanding career with the 49ers. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL All-Pro.

But he wasn’t one of the record 10 Hall of Fame selections made in the draft, and Parks actually played alongside one of them in third-round pick Dave Wilcox.

Roger Staubach, a 10th-round selection, led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl wins and was a seven-time Pro Bowler.

1965: Tucker Frederickson, Running Back

Drafted by: New York Giants

College: Auburn University

NFL career: 6 seasons (1965-71)

Teams: New York Giants

Stats: 66 games, 2,209 rushing yards, 9 TD

Grade: D

New No. 1 pick: Dick Butkus, linebacker (No. 3 Chicago Bears)

1965: Bottom Line

The stunning thing about the Giants taking Tucker Frederickson is not just that they passed on three Hall of Famers in the first round.

But if they were intent on picking a running back, they should have taken Gale Sayers, who went No. 4 overall to the Bears.

Sayers was part of back-to-back Hall of Fame picks by the Bears, who took Dick Butkus at No. 3.

Butkus defined the middle linebacker position and could be the most feared player in NFL history.

1966: Tommy Nobis, LInebacker

Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons

College: University of Texas

NFL career: 11 seasons (1966-76)

Teams: Atlanta Falcons

Stats: 133 games, 12 INT, 2 TD

Grade: A-

New No. 1 pick: Nobis

1966: Bottom Line

One of the greater Pro Football Hall of Fame injustices is the exclusion of Tommy Nobis.

Nobis was the first pick of the expansion Atlanta Falcons and went No. 1 in both the AFL and NFL drafts in 1966.

Nobis played away from the limelight on some truly awful teams, but he holds the unofficial NFL record for most tackles in a season with 294 in 1966.

1967: Bubba Smith, Defensive End

Drafted by: Baltimore Colts

College: Michigan State University

NFL career: 10 seasons (1967-76)

Teams: Baltimore Colts (1967-72), Oakland Raiders (1973-74), Houston Oilers (1975-76)

Stats: 111 games, 83 games started, 4 fumble recoveries

Grade: B

New No. 1 pick: Alan Page, defensive lineman (No. 15 overall, Minnesota Vikings)

1967: Bottom Line

The problem with the Colts taking Bubba Smith wasn’t that they missed on four Hall of Famers drafted in the first round.

It’s that they missed on a Hall of Fame defensive lineman in Alan Page, the 1971 NFL Most Valuable Player, two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and nine-time NFL All-Pro.

1968: Ron Yary, Offensive Tackle

Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings

College: University of Southern California

NFL career: 15 seasons (1968-82)

Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1968-81), Los Angeles Rams (1982)

Stats: 207 games, 183 games started

Grade: A

New No. 1 pick: Yary

1968: Bottom Line

USC players were picked No. 1 overall in consecutive years, with Yary going first and teammate O.J. Simpson going No. 1 overall in 1969.

Yary missed only two games in 14 years and was the cornerstone of the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive line that played in four Super Bowls from 1969 through 1976.

Yary, an eight-time NFL All-Pro, was named NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year three times.

1969: O.J. Simpson, Running Back

Drafted by: Buffalo Bills

College: University of Southern California

NFL career: 11 seasons (1969-79)

Teams: Buffalo Bills (1969-77), San Francisco 49ers (1978-79)

Stats: 135 games, 11,236 rushing yards, 61 TD

Grade: A-

New No. 1 pick: Simpson

1969: Bottom Line

Even with the 1990s Buffalo Bills dynasty that made four consecutive Super Bowls, you can still make an argument for O.J. Simpson being the greatest player in franchise history.

His numbers are deceiving as he was criminally misused in his first three seasons by head coach John Rauch.

Today, the sad story of Simpson’s personal life understandably overshadows his myriad football accomplishments.

1970: Terry Bradshaw, Quarterback

Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers

College: Louisiana Tech University

NFL career: 14 seasons (1970-83)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers

Stats: 168 games, 27,989 passing yards, 212 TD, 210 INT

Grade: A+

New No. 1 pick: Bradshaw

1970: Bottom Line

There may have never been a player better suited for a time, era and team than Terry Bradshaw when he was taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the Steelers.

Bradshaw’s struggles early on — he threw an incredible amount of interceptions — were offset by his absolute bravura in big games, winning four Super Bowls.

He was also named NFL Most Valuable Player in 1978.

1971: Jim Plunkett, Quarterback

Drafted by: New England Patriots

College: Stanford University

NFL career: 16 seasons (1971-86)

Teams: New England Patriots (1971-75), San Francisco 49ers (1976-77), Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1978-86)

Stats: 157 games, 25,882 passing yards, 164 TD, 198 INT

Grade: B+

New No. 1 pick: Plunkett

1971: Bottom Line

There were five Hall of Famers selected behind Jim Plunkett in the 1971 NFL draft. It’s a travesty that Plunkett hasn’t joined them yet.

He’s the only quarterback with two Super Bowl wins not in the Hall of Fame, and his detractors point to high interception totals and a 72-72 career record in the regular season.

Plunkett was a trailblazer for Hispanic athletes in the U.S., and his role in that regard can’t be overstated.

1972: Walt Patulski, Defensive End

Drafted by: Buffalo Bills

College: University of Notre Dame

NFL career: 6 seasons (1972-77)

Teams: Buffalo Bills (1972-75), St. Louis Cardinals (1976-77)

Stats: 70 games, 49 starts, 3 fumble recoveries

Grade: D+

New No. 1 pick: Franco Harris, running back (No. 13, Pittsburgh Steelers)

1972: Bottom Line

The Bills were underwhelmed by Walt Patulski to the point where they parted ways with him after four seasons, and he was out of the league after six years.

Franco Harris won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was a nine-time Pro Bowl pick and elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

1973: John Matuszak, Defensive End

Drafted by: Houston Oilers

College: University of Tampa

NFL career: 10 seasons (1973-82)

Teams: Houston Oilers (1973), Kansas City Chiefs (1974-75), Washington Redskins (1976), Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1976-82)

Stats: 173 games, 103 starts, 7 fumble recoveries

Grade: C-

New No. 1 pick: Dan Fouts, quarterback (No. 64 overall, San Diego Chargers)

1973: Bottom Line

John Matuszak’s career was overshadowed by his wild lifestyle off the field, and he gained more fame as an actor than as a football player before dying of a drug overdose in 1989.

Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1982, a five-time All-Pro and made six Pro Bowls.

1974: Ed Jones, Defensive End

Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys

College: Tennessee State University

NFL career: 15 seasons (1974-78, 1980-89)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys

Stats: 224 games, 57.5 sacks, 19 fumble recoveries

Grade: B-

New No. 1 pick: Jack Lambert, linebacker (No. 46 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers)

1974: Bottom Line

Ed "Too Tall" Jones was a dominant player for parts of his career and won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys, but at one point, he left the team for two years to pursue a pro boxing career.

Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert was the centerpiece of the Steelers' famed "Steel Curtain" defense, won four Super Bowls and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1976.

1975: Steve Bartkowski, Quarterback

College: University of California-Berkeley

NFL career: 12 seasons (1975-86)

Teams: Atlanta Falcons (1975-86), Los Angeles Rams (1986)

Stats: 129 games, 24,124 passing yards, 156 TD, 144 INT

Grade: D+

New No. 1 pick: Walter Payton, running back (No. 4 overall, Chicago Bears)

1975: Bottom Line

Steve Bartkowski was a really good quarterback who played on some truly terrible teams and still managed to make two Pro Bowls.

Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton retired from football holding NFL career records for rushing yards, touchdowns, all-purpose yards and carries.

He’s considered not just one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, but one of the greatest players.

1976: Lee Roy Selmon, Defensive End

Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

College: University of Oklahoma

NFL career: 9 seasons (1976-84)

Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stats: 121 games, 23 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries

Grade: A

New No. 1 pick: Selmon

1976: Bottom Line

Lee Roy Selmon played on some truly horrendous Tampa Bay Buccaneers teams in the late 1970s and early 1980s and had his career cut short by a back injury.

For the nine seasons he played in the NFL, no defensive player dominated like Selmon, who was the 1979 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time NFL All-Pro.

1977: Ricky Bell, Running Back

Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

College: University of Southern California

NFL career: 6 seasons (1977-82)

Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1977-81), San Diego Chargers (1982)

Stats: 64 games, 3,063 rushing yards, 16 TD

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: Tony Dorsett, running back (No. 2 overall, Dallas Cowboys)

1977: Bottom Line

What’s so jarring about the mistake the Buccaneers made by picking running back Ricky Bell at No. 1 overall is that Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett was taken with the next pick.

Bell averaged approximately 500 rushing yards per season for his career, while Dorsett helped lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl win as a rookie.

1978: Earl Campbell, Running Back

Drafted by: Houston Oilers

College: University of Texas

NFL career: 8 seasons (1978-85)

Teams: Houston Oilers (1978-84), New Orleans Saints (1984-85)

Stats: 115 games, 9,407 rushing yards, 74 TD

Grade: B-

New No. 1 pick: Warren Moon, quarterback (undrafted, signed with Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos)

1978: Bottom Line

Earl Campbell is still the Paul Bunyan of football players, essentially, with tales of his exploits still almost too crazy to believe.

Campbell’s brutal running style destroyed his body, however, and he only lasted eight seasons.

Quarterback Warren Moon, despite winning Rose Bowl Most Valuable Player, went undrafted, then became a nine-time Pro Bowl pick.

1979: Tom Cousineau, Linebacker

Drafted by: Buffalo Bills

College: Ohio State University

NFL career: 6 seasons (1982-87)

Teams: Cleveland Browns (1982-85), San Francisco 49ers (1986-87)

Stats: 66 games, 10 INT, 5 fumble recoveries

Grade: D-

New No. 1 pick: Joe Montana, quarterback (No. 82 overall, San Francisco 49ers)

1979: Bottom Line

The Bills would eventually get a good haul of draft picks from the Cleveland Browns for Tom Cousineau, who opted to play in the Canadian Football League for more money than play for the Bills.

Quarterback Joe Montana, the final pick of the third round, went on to win four Super Bowls and was named NFL Most Valuable Player twice.

1980: Billy Sims, Running Back

Drafted by: Detroit Lions

College: University of Oklahoma

NFL career: 5 seasons (1980-84)

Teams: Detroit Lions

Stats: 60 games, 5,106 rushing yards, 42 TD

Grade: C

New No. 1 pick: Anthony Munoz, offensive tackle (No. 3 overall, Cincinnati Bengals)

1980: Bottom Line

Billy Sims’ suffered a catastrophic knee injury that ended his career after just five seasons. It was bad enough that he tried to rehab the knee for two years to no avail.

Anthony Munoz is arguably the greatest offensive lineman to ever play in the NFL. Munoz was an 11-time NFL All-Pro, 11-time NFL All-Pro and helped the Bengals win two AFC titles.

1981: George Rogers, Running Back

Drafted by: New Orleans Saints

College: University of South Carolina

NFL career: 7 seasons (1981-87)

Teams: New Orleans Saints (1981-84), Washington Redskins (1985-87)

Stats: 92 games, 7,176 rushing yards, 54 TD

Grade: C-

New No. 1 pick: Lawrence Taylor, linebacker (No. 2 overall, New York Giants)

1981: Bottom Line

George Rogers had a pretty respectable career in the NFL, leading the league in rushing as a rookie and was a two-time NFL All-Pro.

But he wasn’t one of three Hall of Famers who went in the first eight picks, including safety Ronnie Lott and linebacker Lawrence Taylor.

Taylor won two Super Bowls with the Giants and is only one of two defensive players to win NFL Most Valuable Player honors.

1982: Kenneth Sims, Defensive End

Drafted by: New England Patriots

College: University of Texas

NFL career: 8 seasons (1982-89)

Teams: New England Patriots

Stats: 74 games, 17 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries

Grade: D

New No. 1 pick: Marcus Allen, running back (No. 10, Los Angeles Raiders)

1982: Bottom Line

Kenneth Sims had the talent to become one of the better players at his position in the NFL, but drug problems derailed his career.

Hall of Famer Marcus Allen was one of the more electric running backs in the NFL for over a decade, won a Super Bowl and was named NFL Most Valuable Player in 1985.

1983: John Elway, Quarterback

Drafted by: Baltimore Colts

College: Stanford University

NFL career: 16 seasons (1983-98)

Teams: Denver Broncos

Stats: 234 games, 51,545 passing yards, 300 TD, 226 INT

Grade: D-

New No. 1 pick: Dan Marino, quarterback (No. 27, Miami Dolphins)

1983: Bottom Line

Jack Elway, John Elway’s father, made it very clear to the Colts that his son would never play for the franchise ahead of the draft.

They drafted him anyway, Elway never played a down for the team and they got peanuts in trade value in return.

Had they drafted another Hall of Famer, Dan Marino, who knows what would have happened to the franchise?

1984: Irving Fryar, Wide Receiver

College: University of Nebraska

NFL career: 17 seasons (1984-2000)

Teams: New England Patriots (1984-92), Miami Dolphins (1993-95), Philadelphia Eagles (1996-98), Washington Redskins (1999-2000)

Stats: 255 games, 12,785 receiving yards, 84 TD

Grade: B

New No. 1 pick: Boomer Esiason, quarterback (No. 38 overall, Cincinnati Bengals)

1984: Bottom Line

The consensus best player available and obvious choice for the No. 1 pick in 1984 was Brigham Young quarterback Steve Young. When Young signed a mega-deal with the L.A. Express of the USFL, teams had to pivot.

Fryar had a lengthy career that was marred by off-field incidents. Boomer Esiason, the 1988 NFL Most Valuable Player, was the closest thing to a franchise quarterback.

1985: Bruce Smith, Defensive End

Drafted by: Buffalo Bills

College: Virginia Tech University

NFL career: 19 seasons (1985-2003)

Teams: Buffalo Bills (1985-99), Washington Redskins (2000-03)

Stats: 279 games, 200 sacks, 1,224 tackles, 43 forced fumbles

Grade: A+

New No. 1 pick: Smith

1985: Bottom Line

There’s probably an argument for Jerry Rice being the new No. 1 pick, but who knows how he would’ve fared with a different quarterback ... even if it was Jim Kelly?

Smith’s dominance can’t be overstated. The Hall of Famer led the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls, was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and is the NFL’s career sacks leader with 200.

1986: Bo Jackson, Running Back

Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

College: Auburn University

NFL career: 4 seasons (1987-90)

Teams: Los Angeles Raiders

Stats: 38 games, 2,724 rushing yards, 16 TD

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: Charles Haley, defensive end (No. 96 overall, San Francisco 49ers)

1986: Bottom Line

Hall of Fame defensive end Charles Haley as the No. 1 overall pick is in no way saying he was a better player than Bo Jackson. It’s more of an indictment of the way the Buccaneers were run in the 1980s.

Jackson blamed the Bucs for costing him his final year of college baseball eligibility, vowed never to play for them, and they drafted him in spite of this. Turns out, he was serious. Defensive end Charles

Haley was a dominant player on five Super Bowl-winning teams.

1987: Vinny Testaverde, Quarterback

Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

College: University of Miami

NFL career: 21 seasons (1987-2007)

Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987-92), Cleveland Browns (1993-95), Baltimore Ravens (1996-97), New York Jets (1998-2003, 2005), Dallas Cowboys (2004), New England Patriots (2006), Carolina Panthers (2007)

Stats: 233 games, 46,233 passing yards, 275 TD, 267 INT

Grade: C

New No. 1 pick: Rod Woodson, defensive back (No. 10 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers)

1987: Bottom Line

With just two Hall of Famers, the 1987 draft didn’t exactly light the world on fire. It was much like No. 1 overall pick Vinny Testaverde’s 21 seasons in the league. Testaverde was a serviceable quarterback in his career, but never a star.

Rod Woodson was one of the more versatile defensive backs ever, won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009.

1988: Aundray Bruce, Linebacker

Aundray Brruce — Aundray Bruce started just 42 games in 11 seasons.

Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons

College: University of Auburn

NFL career: 11 seasons (1988-98)

Teams: Atlanta Falcons (1988-91), L.A./Oakland Raiders (1992-98)

Stats: 154 games, 32 sacks, 9 forced fumbles, 275 tackles

Grade: D

New No. 1 pick: Michael Irvin, wide receiver (No. 11 overall, Dallas Cowboys)

1988: Bottom Line

There were five Hall of Famers taken in the first two rounds of the 1988 NFL draft, and the Falcons whiffed on all of them.

Aundray Bruce remains the only linebacker ever taken with the No. 1 overall pick, but started just 42 games in 11 seasons.

Michael Irvin helped lead the Cowboys to three Super Bowl wins and is considered one of the greatest receivers to ever play the game.

1989: Troy Aikman, Quarterback

Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys

College: UCLA

NFL career: 12 seasons (1989-2000)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys

Stats: 165 games, 32,942 receiving yards, 165 TD, 141 INT

Grade: A

New No. 1 pick: Aikman

1989: Bottom Line

The start of the 1989 NFL draft was something to behold as four Hall of Famers were taken with the first five picks – Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders and Derrick Thomas.

Aikman led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl wins, including one where he teamed up with Deion Sanders in 1996.

1990: Jeff George, Quarterback

Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts

College: University of Illinois

NFL career: 15 seasons (1990-2004)

Teams: Indianapolis Colts (1990-93), Atlanta Falcons (1994-96), Oakland Raiders (1997-98), Minnesota Vikings (1999), Washington Redskins (2000-01), Seattle Seahawks (2002), Chicago Bears (2004)

Stats: 131 games, 27,603 passing yards, 154 TD, 113 INT

Grade: D-

New No. 1 pick: Emmitt Smith, running back (No. 17 overall, Dallas Cowboys)

1990: Bottom Line

It wasn’t talent that kept Jeff George from living up to his promise at the No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 NFL draft — it was his attitude. Perhaps no player in NFL history was hated by his teammates more than George.

The Colts missed on three Hall of Famers in the first round, including NFL career leading rusher Emmitt Smith.

1991: Russell Maryland, Defensive Tackle

Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys

College: University of Miami

NFL career: 10 seasons (1991-2000)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1991-95), Oakland Raiders (1996-99), Green Bay Packers (2000)

Stats: 154 games, 24.5 sacks, 466 tackles

Grade: C+

New No. 1 pick: Brett Favre, quarterback (No. 33 overall, Atlanta Falcons)

1991: Bottom Line

Russell Maryland had an outstanding career with the Dallas Cowboys and was a standout on three Super Bowl-winning teams in the 1990s.

In the second round, the Atlanta Falcons drafted quarterback Brett Favre and traded him to the Packers one year later.

Favre was a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player, won a Super Bowl and has the NFL record for most consecutive starts.

1992: Steve Emtman, Defensive End

Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts

College: University of Washington

NFL career: 6 seasons (1992-97)

Teams: Indianapolis Colts (1992-94), Miami Dolphins (1995-96), Washington Redskins (1997)

Stats: 50 games, 134 tackles, 8 sacks

Grade: D-

New No. 1 pick: Desmond Howard, wide receiver (No. 4 overall, Washington Redskins)

1992: Bottom Line

The 1992 NFL draft is perhaps the worst in NFL history and was the first draft since 1960 to produce zero Hall of Famers. No pick was worse than the Colts taking Steve Emtman at No. 1 overall.

Emtman, who finished his career with just eight sacks, played less than 10 games four out of six seasons.

Desmond Howard was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXI.

1993: Drew Bledsoe, Quarterback

Drafted by: New England Patriots

College: Washington State University

NFL career: 14 seasons (1993-2006)

Teams: New England Patriots (1993-2001), Buffalo Bills (2002-04), Dallas Cowboys (2005-06)

Stats: 194 games, 44,611 passing yards, 251 TD, 206 INT

Grade: C-

New No. 1 pick: Michael Strahan, defensive end (No. 40 overall, New York Giants)

1993: Bottom Line

Drew Bledsoe was as good of a quarterback prospect as the NFL had seen in a decade, and he led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in just his third season.

Bledsoe almost died after a hit in the 2001 season sheared a blood vessel in his chest, and he was never the same player.

Michael Strahan led the Giants to two Super Bowl wins and set the NFL single-season record with 22.5 sacks in 2001.

1994: Dan Wilkinson, Defensive Tackle

Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals

College: Ohio State University

NFL career: 13 seasons (1994-2006)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1994-97), Washington Redskins (1998-2002), Detroit Lions (2003-05), Miami Dolphins (2006)

Stats: 194 games, 390 tackles, 54.5 sacks

Grade: D+

New No. 1 pick: Marshall Faulk, running back (No. 2 overall, Indianapolis Colts)

1994: Bottom Line

Dan Wilkinson had a pretty respectable career. It just was not one worthy of a No. 1 overall pick in the same year four Hall of Famers were picked in the first two rounds and another, Kurt Warner, went undrafted.

One of those Hall of Famers was Marshall Faulk, the 2000 NFL Most Valuable Player and a six-time NFL All-Pro.

1995: Ki-Jana Carter, Running Back

Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals

College: Penn State University

NFL career: 10 seasons (1995-2004)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1995-99), Washington Redskins (2001), Green Bay Packers (2002), New Orleans Saints (2003-04)

Stats: 59 games, 1,144 rushing yards, 20 TD

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: Derrick Brooks, linebacker (No. 28 overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

1995: Bottom Line

Ki-Jana Carter tore his anterior cruciate ligament on the third carry of the first preseason game of his rookie year and barely cracked 1,000 rushing yards for his career.

Linebacker Derrick Brooks, the 2002 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl win and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

1996: Keyshawn Johnson, Wide Receiver

Drafted by: New York Jets

College: University of Southern California

NFL career: 11 seasons (1996-2006)

Teams: New York Jets (1996-99), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000-03), Dallas Cowboys (2004-06), Carolina Panthers (2006)

Stats: 167 games, 10,571 receiving yards, 64 TD

Grade: C-

New No. 1 pick: Ray Lewis, linebacker (No. 26 overall, Baltimore Ravens)

1996: Bottom Line

To explain the Jets' decades of incompetence, simply point to the 1996 draft.

In probably the greatest year to ever take a linebacker, the Jets picked wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who talked his way out of town after four seasons.

Ray Lewis led the Ravens to two Super Bowl wins and is considered one of the greatest middle linebackers in NFL history.

1997: Orlando Pace, Offensive Tackle

Drafted by: St. Louis Rams

College: Ohio State University

NFL career: 13 seasons (1997-2009)

Teams: St. Louis Rams (1997-2008), Chicago Bears (2009)

Stats: 169 games, 165 starts

Grade: A-

New No. 1 pick: Pace

1997: Bottom Line

There’s certainly a debate to be had as to whether Orlando Pace or Walter Jones, the No. 6 overall pick by the Seahawks, was the better offensive lineman.

Both are Hall of Famers, but without Pace, there’s no way the St. Louis Rams would have been able to win one Super Bowl and make it to another.

1998: Peyton Manning, Quarterback

Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts

College: University of Tennessee

NFL career: 18 seasons (1998-2015)

Teams: Indianapolis Colts (1998-2011), Denver Broncos (2012-15)

Stats: 266 games, 71,940 passing yards, 539 TD, 251 INT

Grade: A+

New No. 1 pick: Manning

1998: Bottom Line

Peyton Manning is the only player to be named NFL Most Valuable Player five times and won two Super Bowls in his career.

The most interesting part about any discussion of Manning and the 1998 NFL draft is that there was a heated debate leading up to the draft about whether Manning or Washington State’s Ryan Leaf should be the first pick.

1999: Tim Couch, Quarterback

Drafted by: Cleveland Browns

College: University of Kentucky

NFL career: 5 seasons (1999-2003)

Teams: Cleveland Browns

Stats: 62 games, 11,131 passing yards, 64 TD, 67 INT

Grade: D

New No. 1 pick: Edgerrin James, running back (No. 4 overall, Indianapolis Colts)

1999: Bottom Line

Tim Couch was definitely a bust. It wasn’t as dramatic as it’s often portrayed.

Couch led the Browns to the playoffs in 2002, but had his starting job handed to Kelly Holcomb the next year after an injury.

Edgerrin James led the NFL in rushing twice, was a four-time NFL All-Pro and elected to the Hall of Fame in 2020.

2000: Courtney Brown, Defensive End

Drafted by: Cleveland Browns

College: Penn State University

NFL career: 7 seasons (2000-06)

Teams: Cleveland Browns (2000-04), Denver Broncos (2005-06)

Stats: 61 games, 19 sacks, 196 tackles

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: Tom Brady, quarterback (No. 199 overall, New England Patriots)

2000: Bottom Line

There are a lot of draft busts in Browns history, but the back-to-back No. 1 overall picks of Tim Couch and Courtney Brown take the cake.

Brown never played a full season after his rookie year and never had a double-digit sack season.

Sixth-round pick Tom Brady led the Patriots to nine Super Bowls, winning six times and is widely regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time.

2001: Michael Vick, Quarterback

Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons

College: Virginia Tech University

NFL career: 16 seasons (2001-15)

Teams: Atlanta Falcons (2001-08), Philadelphia Eagles (2009-13), New York Jets (2014), Pittsburgh Steelers (2015)

Stats: 143 games, 22,464 passing yards, 133 TD, 88 INT, 6,109 rushing yards, 36 TD

Grade: B-

New No. 1 pick: Drew Brees, quarterback (No. 32 overall, San Diego Chargers)

2001: Bottom Line

Michael Vick was capable of leading the Falcons to the Super Bowl, but his career was upended when he was convicted on charges of running a dogfighting ring and spent two years in federal prison.

Drew Brees won a Super Bowl for the Saints and holds NFL career records for passing yardage, completions, touchdown passes and is a lock to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

2002: David Carr, Quarterback

College: Fresno State University

Drafted by: Houston Texans

NFL career: 11 seasons (2002-12)

Teams: Houston Texans (2002-06), Carolina Panthers (2007), New York Giants (2008-09, 2011-12), San Francisco 49ers (2010)

Stats: 94 games, 14,452 passing yards, 65 TD, 71 INT

Grade: D+

New No. 1 pick: Ed Reed, safety (No. 24 overall, Baltimore Ravens)

2002: Bottom Line

While David Carr is considered, rightfully, one of the biggest busts in NFL draft history, it should be pointed out that the Texans set the NFL record in Carr’s rookie system by allowing him to be sacked 76 times.

Ravens safety Ed Reed led the NFL in receptions three times, was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

2003: Carson Palmer, Quarterback

Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals

College: University of Southern California

NFL career: 15 seasons (2003-17)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (2003-10), Oakland Raiders (2011-12), Arizona Cardinals (2013-17)

Stats: 182 games, 46,247 passing yards, 294 TD, 187 INT

Grade: C

New No. 1 pick: Troy Polamalu, safety (No. 16 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers)

2003: Bottom Line

Carson Palmer was good and somtimes great for most of his career, but went 1-3 in four career playoff games.

His college teammate, free safety Troy Polamalu, became an NFL icon with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Polamalu, the 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, won two Super Bowls and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

2004: Eli Manning, Quarterback

Drafted by: San Diego Chargers

College: University of Mississippi

NFL career: 16 seasons (2004-19)

Teams: New York Giants

Stats: 236 games, 57,023 passing yards, 366 TD, 244 INT

Grade: B+

New No. 1 pick: Manning

2004: Bottom Line

Eli Manning and his father, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, both made it clear to the San Diego Chargers that he would refuse to play for the team if they picked him. The Chargers did so anyway, but traded Manning to the Giants within minutes.

Eli became the greatest quarterback in Giants history, winning two Super Bowls and two Super Bowl Most Valuable Player trophies.

2005: Alex Smith, Quarterback

Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers

College: University of Utah

NFL career: 14 seasons (2005-18)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers (2005-12), Kansas City Chiefs (2013-17), Washington Redskins (2018)

Stats: 166 games, 34,068 passing yards, 193 TD, 101 INT

Grade: C-

New No. 1 pick: Aaron Rodgers, quarterback (No. 24 overall, Green Bay Packers)

2005: Bottom Line

Alex Smith’s first six seasons as a pro were a struggle marked by injuries and inconsistency. He earned a reputation as a serviceable game manager before a gruesome, career-ending injury in 2018.

After suffering one of the more dramatic draft-day drops of all time, Aaron Rodgers became a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player and is a surefire, first-ballot Hall of Famer.

2006: Mario Williams, Defensive End

Drafted by: Houston Texans

College: North Carolina State University

NFL career: 11 seasons (2006-16)

Teams: Houston Texans (2006-11), Buffalo Bills (2012-15), Miami Dolphins (2016)

Stats: 158 games, 97.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, 399 tackles

Grade: B

New No. 1 pick: Williams

2006: Bottom Line

Mario Williams dominated opposing offensive tackles for the entirety of his career, but did it in relative obscurity.

Williams, who came up 2.5 sacks shy of 100 for his career, had double-digit sacks in five seasons but never played in a single playoff game in 11 seasons in the league.

He still made a staggering $120.4 million in career earnings.

2007: JaMarcus Russell, Quarterback

Drafted by: Oakland Raiders

College: Louisiana State University

NFL career: 3 seasons (2007-09)

Teams: Oakland Raiders

Stats: 31 games, 4,083 passing yards, 18 TD, 23 INT

Grade: F

New No. 1 pick: Adrian Peterson, running back (No. 7 overall, Minnesota Vikings)

2007: Bottom Line

JaMarcus Russell is perhaps the greatest draft bust of all time.

Russell made approximately $43 million in three seasons, started just 25 games and was drummed out of the league for good.

Adrian Peterson has led the NFL in rushing three times, holds the single-game rushing record with 296 yards and was the 2012 NFL Most Valuable Player.

2008: Jake Long, Offensive Tackle

Drafted by: Miami Dolphins

College: University of Michigan

NFL career: 9 seasons (2008-16)

Teams: Miami Dolphins (2008-12), St. Louis Rams (2013-14), Atlanta Falcons (2015), Minnesota Vikings (2016)

Stats: 104 games, 99 games started

Grade: D

New No. 1 pick: Matt Ryan, quarterback (No. 3 overall, Atlanta Falcons)

2008: Bottom Line

Jake Long dominated early in his career and was a four-time Pro Bowl pick, but his body fell apart after about five seasons, including three ACL tears and a torn Achilles tendon before retiring in 2017.

Matt Ryan was one of the more consistent quarterbacks in the NFL in the 2010s, won NFL Most Valuable Player honors in 2016 and is a four-time Pro Bowler.

2009: Matt Stafford, Quarterback

Matthew Stafford holds or shares 19 NFL records.

Drafted by: Detroit Lions

College: University of Georgia

NFL career: 14 seasons (2009-present)

Teams: Detroit Lions (2009-20), Los Angeles Rams (2021-present)

Stats: 191 games, 52,082 passing yards, 333 TD, 169 INT

Grade: B+

New No. 1 pick: Stafford

2009: Bottom Line

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford celebrates after winning Super Bowl 56.

In retrospect, there was no other pick the Lions could have made at No. 1 overall other than Matthew Stafford, who has been one of the more durable, productive quarterbacks of his generation while toiling away in relative obscurity.

Ready for a stat that will blow your mind? Stafford owns or shares 19 NFL records, including most fourth-quarter comebacks in a single season.

He was traded to the Los Angeles Rams following the 2020 season and led the Rams to a Super Bowl win in his first year as their starting quarterback.

2010: Sam Bradford, Quarterback

Drafted by: St. Louis Rams

College: University of Oklahoma

NFL career: 9 seasons (2010-18)

Teams: St. Louis Rams (2010-14), Philadelphia Eagles (2015), Minnesota Vikings (2016-17), Arizona Cardinals (2018)

Stats: 83 games, 19,449 passing yards, 103 TD, 61 INT

Grade: D-

New No. 1 pick: Rob Gronkowski, tight end (No. 42 overall, New England Patriots)

2010: Bottom Line

Sam Bradford, with $130 million in career earnings, never led a team to the playoffs or made a Pro Bowl and missed almost as many games as he played in because of injuries.

Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots' second-round pick, is a surefire Hall of Famer, three-time Super Bowl champion and in the conversation with the greatest tight ends of all time.

2011: Cam Newton, Quarterback

Drafted by: Carolina Panthers

College: University of Auburn

NFL career: 11 seasons (2011-21)

Teams: Carolina Panthers (2011-19, 2021), New England Patriots (2020)

Stats: 148 games, 32,382 passing yards, 194 TD, 123 INT

Grade: B-

New No. 1 pick: J.J. Watt, defensive end (No. 11 overall, Houston Texans)

2011: Bottom Line

Cam Newton likely still goes high in any 2011 re-draft, but he’s close to being out of the league after nine injury-filled seasons, and that’s in spite of being named 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player.

Defensive end J.J. Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is one of several likely Hall of Famers out of this amazing draft class.

2012: Andrew Luck, Quarterback

Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts

College: Stanford University

NFL career: 7 seasons (2012-18)

Teams: Indianapolis Colts

Stats: 86 games, 23,671 passing yards, 171 TD, 83 INT

Grade: C-

New No. 1 pick: Russell Wilson, quarterback (No. 75 overall, Seattle Seahawks)

2012: Bottom Line

Andrew Luck shocked the Colts by retiring after just seven seasons in the NFL because of injuries — Luck missed nine games in 2015 because of injury and the entire 2017 season.

The Seahawks struck gold in the third round with Russell Wilson, a seven-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champion and one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.

2013: Eric Fisher, Offensive Tackle

Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs

College: Central Michigan University

NFL career: 9 seasons (2013-21)

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (2013-20), Indianapolis Colts (2021)

Stats: 132 games, 128 games started

Grade: C

New No. 1 pick: Travis Kelce, tight end (No. 63 overall)

2013: Bottom Line

The player the Chiefs got with their third-round pick would be the same one who would likely go No. 1 overall today — tight end Travis Kelce, a six-time NFL All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler and member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s.

Actual No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher has been to one Pro Bowl and is more known for his struggles against elite pass rushers. He was out of the league following one season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021.

2014: Jadeveon Clowney, Defensive End

Drafted by: Houston Texans

College: University of South Carolina

NFL career: 9 seasons (2014-present)

Teams: Houston Texans (2014-18), Seattle Seahawks (2019), Tennessee Titans (2020), Cleveland Browns (2021-present)

Stats: 109 games, 320 tackles, 43 sacks, 13 forced fumbles

Grade: D

New No. 1 pick: Aaron Donald, DL, Pitt (No. 13 overall, St. Louis Rams)

2014: Bottom Line

Imagine if the Texans had have picked linebacker Khalil Mack No. 1 overall and paired him with defensive end J.J. Watt. Jadeveon Clowney played just one full season in his first six years and never had a double-digit sack season.

Mack is a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro and the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

2015: Jameis Winston, Quarterback

Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

College: Florida State University

NFL career: 8 seasons (2015-present)

Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2015-19), New Orleans Saints (2020-present)

Stats: 86 G, 21,840 passing yards, 139 TD, 96 INT

Grade: D-

New No. 1 pick: Stefon Diggs, No. 146 overall (Minnesota Vikings)

2015: Bottom Line

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs

The 2015 draft class may go down as one of the most lackluster in NFL history, and eight years later, it’s more known for its petulant stars than production. No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston ran out of chances with Tampa Bay after five seasons and has spent the last three years as a backup and part-time starter with the New Orleans Saints.

The real star of the 2015 NFL draft has ended up being a fifth-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings, who selected Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs at No. 146 overall. Diggs, who now plays for the Buffalo Bills, has five consecutive 1,000-yard+ receiving seasons through 2022 and is a two-time NFL All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler.

2016: Jared Goff, Quarterback

Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams

College: University of California-Berkeley

NFL career: 7 seasons (2016-present)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams (2016-20), Detroit Lions (2021-present)

Stats: 100 G, 25,884 passing yards, 153 TD, 70 INT

Grade: C

New No. 1 pick: Jalen Ramsey, cornerback (No. 5 overall, Jacksonville Jaguars)

2016: Bottom Line

Jared Goff’s struggles in 2019 were amplified after he signed a five-year contract with an NFL-record $110 million guaranteed.

But he threw for 10 fewer touchdowns and four more interceptions in 2019 than he did in 2018, so the criticism was warranted. Traded after the 2020 season to the Detroit Lions and essentially left for dead in terms of his career, Goff has somehow resurrected his career with the Lions following two solid seasons in 2021 and 2022.

All that being said, cornerback Jalen Ramsey has been the star player to come out of this draft. He's already a three-time NFL All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler and helped lead the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl following the 2021 season.

2017: Myles Garrett, Defensive End

Drafted by: Cleveland Browns

College: Texas A&M University

NFL career: 6 seasons (2017-present)

Teams: Cleveland Browns

Stats: 84 G, 277 tackles, 74.5 sacks, 13 FF

Grade: C+

New No. 1 pick: Patrick Mahomes, quarterback (No. 10, Kansas City Chiefs)

2017: Bottom Line

Myles Garrett could very well end up being one of the best defensive ends of his generation, but it’s impossible to deny that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the best player to come out of the 2017 draft.

Through his first six seasons in the NFL, including the last five as a starter, Mahomes has won two Super Bowls, two Super Bowl MVPs, two NFL MVPs and played in the AFC championship game five consecutive years, including a Super Bowl loss after the 2020 season.

2018: Baker Mayfield, Quarterback

Drafted by: Cleveland Browns

College: Oklahoma

NFL career: 5 seasons (2018-present)

Teams: Cleveland Browns (2018-21), Carolina Panthers (2022), Los Angeles Rams (2022), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2023-present)

Stats: 72 G, 16,288 passing yards, 102 TD, 64 INT

Grade: D-

New No. 1 pick: Lamar Jackson, quarterback (No. 32, Baltimore Ravens)

2018: Bottom Line

After Baker Mayfield’s disastrous 2019 season, the questions were already on the table: Can Mayfield be the franchise quarterback the Cleveland Browns want him to be? The answers was a resounding "No."

Mayfield is now on his third team in two seasons after the Browns traded him to the Panthers. He was released midway through the 2022 season and signed with the Los Angeles Rams and is now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Mayfield's failure is underlined by the performance of No. 32 overall pick Lamar Jackson, who was selected by the Baltimore Ravens, named 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player and is already considered to be one of the greatest running quarterbacks of all time.

2019: Kyler Murray, Quarterback

Drafted by: Arizona Cardinals

College: University of Oklahoma

NFL career: 4 seasons (2019-present)

Teams: Arizona Cardinals

Stats: 57 games, 13,848 passing yards, 84 TD, 41 INT

Grade: C-

New No. 1 pick: Nick Bosa, defensive end (No. 2 overall, San Francisco 49ers)

2019: Bottom Line

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa — Nick Bosa has made an impact with the 49ers.

Kyler Murray was the second straight quarterback picked No. 1 overall out of Oklahoma, and the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner was named 2019 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Murray was also the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft and received a $4.66 million signing bonus from the Oakland Athletics.

Things went sideways for Murray beginning with the end of the 2021 NFL season, when he set NFL records for futility in a playoff loss and continued through the signing of his five-year, $230.5 million contract extension before the 2022 season, which included a clause that required him to spend a certain amount of time studying game film and not excessively play video games or be online.

The Cardinals went 4-13 in 2022, head coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired and Murray tore his ACL in Week 14. Four years removed from Murray being picked No. 1 overall it's clear the San Francisco 49ers made the right pick at No. 2 with defensive end Nick Bosa and it's not even clear if Murray is still the top quarterback in the draft — that might be New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones.

2020: Joe Burrow, Quarterback

Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals

College: LSU

NFL career: 3 seasons (2020-present)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals

Stats: 42 G, 11,774 passing yards, 82 TD, 31 INT

Grade: A+

New No. 1 pick: Burrow

2020: Bottom Line

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow — Joe Burrow is nicknamed "Joe Cool" for his calm under pressure.

There was no other player the Bengals could have picked at No. 1 after the season LSU quarterback Joe Burrow had in 2019.

Burrow, who went to Athens(Ohio) High School, played his first two seasons of college football at Ohio State before he transferred to LSU, where he led the Tigers to an undefeated season and national title while becoming the runaway winner for the Heisman Trophy.

Burrow has turned the Bengals from the worst team in the NFL to one of the best teams in the NFL in just three short seasons. After a season-ending knee injury as a rookie in 2020, Burrow led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021 and back to the AFC championship game in 2022.

Burrow's next contract could make pro sports history. He' s likely to earn around $60 million per year.

2021: Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence — Trevor Lawrence has a bright future.

Drafted by: Jacksonville Jaguars

College: Clemson

NFL career: 2 seasons (2021-present)

Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars

Stats: 34 G, 7,754 passing yards, 37 TD, 25 INT

Grade: B+

New No. 1 pick: Lawrence

2021: Bottom Line

AFC Pro Bowl Quarterback Trevor Lawrence — Trevor Lawrence is a fan favorite.

Trevor Lawrence had one of the nightmare rookie seasons in NFL history in 2021 — through no fault of his own — as head coach Urban Meyer decided to unleash his personal demons on the Jacksonville Jaguars and ended up fired before the season even ended.

Lawrence bounced back and showed why he could be one of the NFL's best quarterbacks for years to come in 2022 as he led the Jacksonville Jaguars to the AFC playoffs and pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in NFL postseason history against the San Diego Chargers. After the Jaguars trailed 27-7 at halftime, they rallied for a 31-30 victory.

The future is bright for the Jags and Lawrence, who was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2022 as well.

2022: Travon Walker, Defensive End

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker — What were the Jaguars thinking taking Travon Walker No. 1?

Drafted by: Jacksonville Jaguars

College: Georgia

NFL career: 1 seasons (2022-present)

Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars

Stats: 15 G, 49 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 FF

Grade: B-

New No. 1 pick: Sauce Gardner, cornerback (No. 4 overall, New York Jets)

2022: Bottom Line

New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner — Sauce Gardner is a difference-maker on defense.

This one was a head-scratcher. Georgia's Travon Walker was picked No. 1 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars but might not even be the best defensive end taken in his own draft, much less the best defensive player.

Walker was solid but not spectacular in his rookie season with the Jaguars as he helped them make the NFL playoffs. But it's hard not to think of New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, the No. 4 overall pick, as the best player in the 2022 NFL draft.

Gardner was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned a Pro Bowl spot in his first season.