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

By Hans Themistode

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 12: Jadeveon Clowney #99 of the Tennessee Titans talks with teammates during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Colts defeated the Titans 34-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 12: Jadeveon Clowney #99 of the Tennessee Titans talks with teammates during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Colts defeated the Titans 34-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Bubba Smith #77
Bubba Smith #77 (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Getty Images) /

30 worst No. 1 overall picks in NFL Draft history: 28. DE, Bubba Smith

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Bubba Smith, like most of the early entrants on this list, didn’t have a terrible career. It was merely one that didn’t quite live up to number one overall pick status.

While lining up at Michigan State University in the mid-1960s, Smith was a terrific player. Twice was he named a consensus All-American and in 1966, Smith was voted the as the Lineman of the Year. His domination ultimately led to his number 95 jersey getting retired by his alma mater and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

The manner in which he handled the competition made Smith an easy choice as the number one overall pick in the 1967 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts. Although Smith played during a time where sacks weren’t an official stat yet, he was a solid player for a number of years. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion.

The Colts decided to move on from him following a serious knee injury that forced him to miss the entire 1972 season. After a few more decent years, Smith decided to hang it up at only the age of 31. With only two Pro Bowls under his belt, it’s pretty difficult to leave Smith off this list.

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