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NFL Draft: Greatest pick from each franchise’s history

By Hans Themistode

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 22: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals catches a pass prior to the NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at State Farm Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 22: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals catches a pass prior to the NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at State Farm Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /
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Steve McNair
Steve McNair (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

NFL Draft: Greatest pick from each franchise’s history: Tennessee Titans, QB Steve McNair

Pick: 1995 NFL Draft, 1st round number 3 overall

Stats:

  • 31,304 passing yards
  • 174 touchdowns
  • 60.1 completion percentage

Awards:

  • 3 time Pro Bowler
  • Former league MVP

When taking a look at the names that have thrown on a Tennessee Titans uniform, Steve McNair automatically catches your attention.

Then known as the Houston Oilers, McNair was taken with the third pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. While it wasn’t completely out of the ordinary, quarterbacks were more likely to sit in the pocket and wait for a receiver to get open. For McNair, while he was certainly capable of doing the same, he wasn’t a sitting duck.

Instead of chucking the ball into the 15th row when the play broke down to avoid a sack, McNair extended the play with his legs. On five separate occasions, McNair ran for over 400 yards, including a career-high 674 in 1997. Those who believe he was a run-first player were sadly mistaken as he put together five seasons of over 3,000 passing yards, not an easy feat in the late 90s and early 2000s.

Currently, McNair ranks second all-time in passing yards in Titans history with a shade over 27,000. With the Titans failing to draft a true franchise quarterback since then, it’ll be quite some time until they see another player who made multiple Pro Bowls and won a league MVP. Until then, he’ll always be considered the best player ever drafted in Saints history.

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