‘With the first pick in the NFL draft…’
A look back at former number one picks (part 1)
With the NFL draft only a couple of months away we wanted to just take a minute and look back on some of the players that were drafted number one overall. As we all know, sometimes those picks pan out and they become great players but sometimes they are flops and our teams miss out on the picks they could have had. A man once said ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ and for many teams that number one pick signifies a great deal of responsibility. For teams with that pick, the fans think that it should be a turn around pick, a player that can change the face of the franchise and make the team that much better in a short amount of time. Fact is, those are few and far between and as we look back you will see there are only a few teams that have received that game changing player, so let’s look back and see some of the number ones and also some players that they could have had:
In the year 2009:
Drafted #1 overall was quarterback Matthew Stafford from Georgia. Now I know it is yet to be seen and it looks as though this kid is going to be a really good QB in the league, but there is another QB that was drafted 5 th that could have Lions fans saying should we have taken this guy? Mark Sanchez was drafted just 4 picks below Stafford and he led the Jets to the AFC championship but we must also look at the talent around both of these guys Jets are most defiantly more talented on both sides of the ball. Just give Stafford time this pick will pay off.
In the year 2008:
Drafted #1 overall was Offensive Tackle Jake Long from Michigan. He has been a good pick for the Dolphins at the offensive tackle position, but think of what they could have had with the 24 th pick in the first round the Titans took 2,000 yard rusher Chris Johnson, most definitely a solid find for them.
In the year 2007:
Drafted #1 overall was the big quarterback from LSU, Jamarcus Russell, who has had his struggles in Raider Nation. He has been lack luster and has the Nation probably second guessing themselves with that pick but with a turnaround it could improve. Just imagine the silver and black on the 14 th pick in that same draft, that’s right Darrelle Revis, he could be making plays in that secondary.
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In the year 2006:
With the #1 pick the Houston Texans were ridiculed for taking Mario Williams the Defensive End rather than Reggie Bush. Mario has most definitely paid big dividends for the Texans and Bush has a championship in New Orleans, the Texans have yet to find that running game that is effective what if they would have chosen the 27 th pick, Deangelo Williams that would have brought an explosive presence to that hollow running game.
In the year 2005:
San Francisco is still scratching their head about drafting Alex Smith, he has yet to fulfill his promise as a number one pick, just imagine if they would have taken the number 24 pick in that year’s draft, Aaron Rodgers could have been making plays for the 49ers.
In the year 2004:
One Eli Manning was drafted and then traded to the Giants, ultimately he brought a Super Bowl title to New York but his play has been average at beat. In that same draft with the 24 th pick the Rams found themselves striking it rich drafting Steven Jackson the hard nose runner has been the face of that franchise for many years and will be for many more.
There you have it just a few from years past that have been drafted #1 overall, some were worth the pick and others the teams are scratching their heads asking ‘what were we thinking’. Of course that would never be said out loud because you stick with your picks, and that has been the down fall of many NFL teams. Check back here to see us run down more of the past years’ number 1 draft picks, and those who could have been number one overall.
By: Sam Adams
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer