NFL Draft: 30 best No. 1 overall picks in league history

NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Quarterback Sam Bradford (R) from the Oklahoma Sooners poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as they hold up a St. Louis Rams jersey after the Rams selected Bradford numer 1 overall during the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 22, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /

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Terry Bradshaw (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

NFL Draft: 30 best No. 1 overall picks in league history: number 6, QB Terry Bradshaw

Stats:

27,989 passing yards
212 touchdowns
51.9 completion percentage

Awards:

3 time Pro Bowler
4 time Super Bowl champ

The 1970s were a bit of a weird time. Some of the league’s top quarterbacks were putting up the sort of numbers that would qualify them for an immediate bench role in today’s game. With that said, it was simply a different time.

The numbers of the former Steelers quarterback were flat-out awful. Never did he complete more than 60 percent of his passes during the regular season and while his 212 passing touchdowns are impressive, his 210 interceptions are disgusting.

Regardless of it all, Bradshaw took care of business when it mattered most. In both the mid 70s and late 70s, Bradshaw led those vaunted Steelers to four Super Bowl titles. Granted, he did play a lesser role on those teams, oftentimes throwing the ball in harm’s way. Still, he buckled down in the clutch, such as in his 1978 playoff run in which he threw for 790 yards to go along with eight touchdowns and only four interceptions.

Bradshaw was a borderline Hall of Famer but he safely sits amongst the league’s best in Canton. Simply look beyond the numbers and look at the impact he had on those Steelers squads and you’ll see why he sits so high on our list.

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