 |
| Getty Images |
| Who is the best No. 1 draft pick of all time? Our crack Instant Debaters try to answer that question. |
The Lions have the first overall selection in this month's NFL draft. So, will Matthew Stafford or Jason Smith (or whomever the Lions draft) join some of the great all-time No. 1 draft picks, which include Chuck Bednarik, Paul Hornung, Buck Buchanan, O.J. Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, Earl Campbell, John Elway, Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning?
While a panel of NFL.com voters selected John Elway as the all-time No. 1 pick, who do you think is the No. 1 all-time top draft pick? NFL.com editors Andy Nesbitt, Jason Feller, Jim Reineking and Justin Hathaway join Instant Debate master of ceremonies Adam Rank to answer that question.
 Adam Rank (11:01:41 AM): Some great names were mentioned above, and there are more. Rhino, are you looking forward to this? |
 Jim Reineking (11:02:46 AM): I couldn't sleep last night thinking about how awesome this debate was going to be. So happy the moment is finally here! |
| Adam Rank (11:04:23 AM): First question: Should John Elway even be discussed after what he did to the Colts? |
| Jim Reineking (11:04:36 AM): For the record, John Elway was the winner in NFL.com's vote for the greatest No. 1 draft pick of all time. |
 Jason Feller (11:06:46 AM): In a word: NO! |
 Justin Hathaway (11:07:47 AM): John Elway would be a great No. 1 pick, but what he pulled on the Colts knocks him off the perch. He forced a trade and left a franchise in turmoil. Elway might as well have driven a Mayflower truck over Colts fans. |
| Jim Reineking (11:09:49 AM): I don't even want to get into what Baltimore did to Cleveland Browns fans, but that's for another discussion. What we might touch on is what John Elway did to Browns fans, which is administer complete and utter anguish. |
| Jason Feller (11:10:25 AM): Enough on John Elway -- great player, but in order to be the best overall No. 1 pick, you have to have contributed to the team that picked you. |
| Adam Rank (11:10:48 AM): Fair enough. If we look at the quarterbacks, who do you like between Manning, Aikman and Bradshaw? |
| Jason Feller (11:11:06 AM): Manning is the most talented of the three, but it comes down to championships, and Bradshaw's four match Aikman and Manning combined. |
| Jim Reineking (11:11:58 AM): None of the above can compare to Elway. But if I had to pick one, it'd be Manning. I think a lot of the success of Aikman and Bradshaw was a product of their supporting cast. |
| Justin Hathaway (11:12:30 AM): Aikman might not receive the respect he deserves out of the three because he was on such great Cowboys teams. But he steered Dallas to three Super Bowl titles after taking a beating in that 1-15 season. |
 Andy Nesbitt (11:13:34 AM): Let's be honest: Bradshaw was the 1970s version of Trent Dilfer. |
| Adam Rank (11:13:40 AM): Was Trent Dilfer in Cannonball Run? You also might want to check out some NFL Films regarding the Steelers. |
| Jason Feller (11:14:19 AM): Just ask Bradshaw's Steelers teammates. They weren't winning four titles without him under center. He called his own plays. |
| Andy Nesbitt (11:14:38 AM): While quarterbacks are neat, my dad once told me that defense wins championships. So, I think Bruce Smith, the NFL's all-time sacks leader, is the best No. 1 pick. Nobody won more AFC titles in a row than Big Bruce. |
| Justin Hathaway (11:15:56 AM): Bradshaw calling his own plays is clutch, but Manning does the same. The Super Bowl win three seasons ago validates Manning as the best No. 1. He was on the Dan Marino route -- NFL records, no titles -- but now he has that championship. |
| Jim Reineking (11:16:34 AM): Elway is at or near the top of all the key career passing statistical categories -- and he has two titles. Please keep that in mind. |
| Adam Rank (11:16:55 AM): Manning out-dueled Rex Grossman! Awesome. |
| Justin Hathaway (11:17:55 AM): Manning beat the Bears' defense, which was pretty stout, I recall. Grossman sure helped, though. |
| Jason Feller (11:18:08 AM): One title for Manning, compared to four for Bradshaw. Plus, Bradshaw owned his biggest rival, the Dallas Cowboys, while Manning has generally been beat down by his biggest rival, the Patriots. |
| Adam Rank (11:19:13 AM): The Steelers' biggest rival in the 1970s was the Raiders. Hence, Bradshaw is in the Hall of Fame, and Ken Stabler is not. |
| Justin Hathaway (11:19:24 AM): I just can't vote for Elway because the man can't step foot in two cities -- Baltimore and Cleveland. |
| Adam Rank (11:19:48 AM): When it comes to rings, it's Bradshaw. When it comes to famous daddies, it's Manning. What about the running backs? There were some good ones, O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell, Paul Hornung. |
| Jim Reineking (11:19:51 AM): The "Golden Boy," Paul Hornung, was the No. 1 overall pick in a draft in which Jim Brown went No. 6 overall, FYI, FWIW. |
| Adam Rank (11:20:04 AM): Notorious post-NFL career aside, O.J. Simpson might be the greatest running back in NFL history. He rushed for 2,003 yards in a 14-game season. |
| Justin Hathaway (11:20:36 AM): Earl Campbell has the sweetest clip, though, running for a TD while having his jersey torn off him. What a sweet play. |
| Jim Reineking (11:21:35 AM): Or, how about that play when Campbell bulled over Jack Tatum, perhaps the nastiest SOB to ever play the game? |
| Justin Hathaway (11:22:46 AM): I like Campbell over the Juice, but I'm always drawn to QBs as No. 1s because of their importance to the game and the team. Running backs can't compare. |
| Jason Feller (11:22:52 AM): It's the difference between power and finesse: Did you prefer the smooth moves of O.J. or the punishing, straight-ahead style of Campbell? I go O.J. |
| Justin Hathaway (11:23:03 AM): Any man who can truck you while wearing baby blue is cool, though. |
| Adam Rank (11:23:45 AM): Mr. Nesbitt made a call for DE Bruce Smith. Are there any other position players who jump out at you? |
| Justin Hathaway (11:24:51 AM): If we're going DEs, how about Lee Roy Selmon? Just an awesome player on terrible Bucs teams. |
| Jim Reineking (11:25:59 AM): How about the versatility of Paul Hornung? He could play quarterback, running back, split out wide as a receiver, and he even did some kicking. He owned the single-season scoring record for more than 40 years. |
| Jason Feller (11:26:33 AM): The original Wildcat guy! |
| Jim Reineking (11:27:07 AM): Chuck Bednarik was the No. 1 overall pick in 1949 out of Penn. His career is the stuff of legend. Any thoughts on him being the greatest No. 1 overall pick? |
| Adam Rank (11:27:47 AM): Call me when any of these other guys either, a.) fly combat missions over Germany in WWII, b.) play the full 60 minutes or c.) knock out Frank Gifford. |
| Jason Feller (11:28:55 AM): Should there be any consideration to a guy like Orlando Pace? The man who protected Kurt Warner's blind side in the Rams' Greatest Show on Turf? |
| Adam Rank (11:28:59 AM): No. |
| Adam Rank (11:29:55 AM): All right, here's the deal. Give me your top three, make your case for No. 1, and we'll turn it over to the fans. |
| Jim Reineking (11:30:36 AM): My vote for best No. 1 overall pick is still for John Elway. The sum of his career -- the happy confluence of great career statistics, as well as success on the field with five Super Bowl appearances and two Super Bowl wins. Following Elway, I'd have to go old school with the 60-Minute Man, Chuck Bednarik, and the "Golden Boy," Paul Hornung. |
| Justin Hathaway (11:30:56 AM): 1) Peyton Manning (sorry, Eli, no consideration for you after pulling an Elway on the Chargers in 2004). 2) Bradshaw. 3) Bruce Smith. Peyton Manning is my No. 1 because he has the stats and the one title. Bradshaw isn't impressive statistically, although he has the four titles because of an awesome defense and some nice offensive weapons (Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Franco Harris). |
| Andy Nesbitt (11:31:30 AM): Bruce Smith is No. 1 for being the greatest defensive player to ever lace up some cleats and play football. 2. Jay Berwanger, the first-ever No. 1 pick in 1936 for getting things started ... and then opting not to play pro ball; have to love that arrogance. 3. Earl Campbell, because he hurt people when he ran with the ball. |
| Jason Feller (11:32:10 AM): The Juice and Bednarik deserve serious consideration, but the Blonde Bomber, Terry Bradshaw, gets the nod. Four championships (a record for QBs, held with Joe Montana). Enough said. |
| Adam Rank (11:32:14 AM): Concrete Charlie is No. 1. His retirement marked the end of when football was played by men. Behind him, O.J. Simpson and Charlie Trippi -- for leading the Cardinals to a title. |
View all comments >>