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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Bubba Smith #77 (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Getty Images) /

NFL Draft: 30 best No. 1 overall picks in league history: number 27, RB Bubba Smith

Stats:

7,176 rushing yards
54 rushing touchdowns

Awards:

2 time Pro Bowler
1 time All-Pro
1 time Super Bowl champ

On most occasions, the stats can aid in a major way. Though they can sometimes be misleading, they often point to a player’s dominance or lack thereof. For defensive end Bubba Smith, while the tape may scream and shout to his high level of play, the numbers aren’t there to support it.

Known for their tenacity on the defensive side of the ball, the Baltimore Colts picked up another huge piece in Bubba Smith with the first overall pick in the 1967 draft.

For the overwhelming majority, number one overall picks are expected to play and make an immediate impact from the very beginning. For Smith, on the other hand, the Colts wanted to break him in slowly as he watched from the bench for the entirety of his rookie season.

The following year, Smith would get his chance but would have a small impact. That is, until the 1970 and 1971 seasons. Smith would be named to the only two Pro Bowls of his career and one All-Pro team. Although his career wouldn’t last long, ultimately bowing out in 1976, Smith will always be remembered for being on the wrong side of history.

Despite being heavy underdogs heading into Super Bowl III against the Colts, New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed that he would pick up the win against them. He would later prove to be Nostradamus as the Jets rolled to the win. Smith would eventually take home a Super Bowl ring of his own in 1970, however, before leaving the game altogether due to injuries several years later.

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