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

By Hans Themistode

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)
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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John Elway
John Elway (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

NFL Draft: 30 best No. 1 overall picks in league history: number 2, QB John Elway

Stats:

  • 51,475 passing yards
  • 300 touchdowns
  • 56.9 completion percentage

Awards:

  • 1 time MVP
  • 9 time Pro Bowler
  • 2 time Super Bowl champ

John Elway was always going to be great but it was whether or not that greatness was going to take place on the football field or the baseball diamond.

With Elway getting drafted by the New York Yankees, he threatened to take his talents to baseball if the Baltimore Colts didn’t move him. They, of course, acquiesced, shipping him off to the Denver Broncos. From there, all the Colts could do is grind their teeth as Elway went on to have one of the most iconic careers ever.

At first, things didn’t look so good. For all of the bellyaching that Elway did, he underperformed in a huge way, throwing for roughly 1,600 yards with only seven touchdowns and twice as many interceptions. The dreaded B word was levied in his direction but he quickly put an end to it with a string of success and longevity seldom seen at the quarterback position.

Elway didn’t just pile up a laundry list of accolades, he built his name on winning, carrying those Broncos teams to six NFC Championship games, five Super Bowl appearances and two wins in the big game.

Even with over two decades on the sidelines, Elways numbers have withstood the test of time. He currently ranks in the top ten in passing yards with 51,475, pass attempts with 7,250 and he also has the seventh most comebacks of all-time with 31.

Simply put, he’s not only one of the greatest number one overall picks ever but one of the best players to ever play the game.

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