The 2020 NFL Draft is right around the corner and teams will look for their next wave of superstars. There are 32 teams that hope they will find a player who will one day end up on a list like this one. Based off success in the league and draft position, these are the 32 best NFL Draft picks in league history.
32. Marcus Allen, RB, Los Angeles Raiders
1982: Rd. 1, Pick 10
Allen burst onto the scene as a rookie and saw success in Los Angeles. He was a six-time Pro Bowler who was named league MVP in 1985. Allen was the first player in history to eclipse 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards.
31. Shannon Sharpe, TE, Denver Broncos
1990: Rd. 7, Pick 192
Sharpe was apart of two Super Bowl-winning teams in Denver and one with the Baltimore Ravens. At the time of his retirement, Sharpe was the all-time leader in catches, yards, and touchdowns by a tight end.
30. Raymond Berry, WR, Baltimore Colts
1954: Rd. 20, Pick 232
Berry was apart of two championship teams during his time with the Colts. The six-time Pro Bowler is considered one of the best players of all-time.
29. Richard Dent, DE, Chicago Bears
1983: Rd. 8, Pick 203
The Bears found a staple on their defensive line in the late rounds in 1983. Dent was a huge part of the 1985 Bears' who were considered the best defense of all-time. Dent was named the MVP of Super Bowl XX.
28. Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
1969: Rd. 1, Pick 4
Nicknamed “Mean” Joe Greene, the North Texas product was the centerpiece to the “Steel Curtain” defense in Pittsburgh. Greene helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls in a six-year span.
27. Ray Nitschke, MLB, Green Bay Packers
1958: Rd. 3, Pick 36
Nitschke paved the way for all future middle linebackers. He won five NFL championships, including two Super Bowls in Green Bay. Nitschke was named First Team All-Pro three times.
26. Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota Vikings
1998: Rd. 1, Pick 23
Moss burst onto the scene in college while at Marshall and did not miss a beat in the NFL. The seven-time Pro Bowler still holds the record for receiving touchdowns in a season with 23. Moss is considered one of the best receivers of all-time.
25. Mike Singletary, LB, Chicago Bears
1981: Rd. 2, Pick 38
Singletary is viewed as the heart of the defense for the “Monsters of the Midway” in the 80's. He was named to the Pro Bowl 10 times and captained the defense during the Bears' Super Bowl run in 1985.
24. Mel Blount, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
1970: Rd. 3, Pick 53
Blount is one of many Steelers' Hall of Famers on this list. The third round product was named to the All-Time team during the NFL's 75th Anniversary celebration.
23. Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Lewis was a top linebacker in football throughout his 17 years in the league. He was named to the Pro Bowl 10 times and won two Super Bowls. Lewis was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXV.
22. Troy Aikman, QB, Dallas Cowboys
1989: Rd. 1, Pick 1
Aikman is the poster boy for Cowboys' football in the 90's. He led the team to three Super Bowls in four years from 1992-1996. Aikman was named MVP of Super Bowl XXVII.
21. Michael Strahan, DE, New York Giants
1993: Rd. 2, Pick 40
The Giants took a chance on a defensive end out of Texas Southern in the second round and he turned out to be a Hall of Famer. Strahan was apart of a Super Bowl winning team in New York and still holds the single-season sack record of 22.5.
20. Deion Sanders, CB, Atlanta Falcons
1989: Rd. 1, Pick 5
It is only right that the Falcons drafted a complete ball hawk like Sanders. Prime Time is one of the top cornerbacks to ever play the game. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler who won two Super Bowls, one with San Francisco and one with Dallas.
19. Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
1970: Rd. 1, Pick 1
The Steelers hoped to find their franchise quarterback with the first pick in 1970 and they nailed it. Bradshaw did nothing but win during his career. He led Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl victories and was named MVP after two of them.
18. Gale Sayers, RB, Chicago Bears
1965: Rd. 1, Pick 4
Sayers tore up defenses during his time in the league. He led the league in rushing twice and was a four-time First Team All-Pro member. The four-time Pro Bowler was named to the All-Decade team in the 60's.
17. Dick Butkus, LB, Chicago Bears
1965: Rd. 1, Pick 3
Butkus is viewed as one of the toughest tacklers ever. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler who ended his career with 27 fumble recoveries and 22 interceptions.
16. Jack Lambert, MLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
1974: Rd. 2, Pick 46
It is hard to argue against Lambert as the best linebacker of his time. He was named as a First Team All-Pro member six times including five seasons in a row from 1979-1984. Lambert was named to the All-Decade team for the 70's and 80's.
15. Deacon Jones, DE, Los Angeles Rams
1961: Rd. 14, Pick 186
Jones was a staple for the Rams playing in and starting 112 straight games from 1962-1969. He was named First Team All-Pro five times.
14. Barry Sanders, RB, Detroit Lions
1989: Rd. 1, Pick 2
Sanders was a Pro Bowler in all of his 10 seasons in the league. He was a four-time rushing champion including 2,053 yards in 1997. Sanders is considered by many to be the best running back ever, but the jury is still out.
13. Walter Payton, RB, Chicago Bears
1975: Rd. 1, Pick 4
Payton burst onto the scene for the Bears immediately. The Jackson State product led the league in carries four times and was named to the Pro Bowl nine times. Payton is currently second on the league's all-time rushing list.
12. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts
2998: Rd. 1, Pick 1
Manning was a lock to go No. 1 overall. It paid off for Indy as he played 13 years for the Colts and won a Super Bowl. The five-time league MVP would go onto win another in Denver and set the single-season passing touchdown record with 55.
11. Emmitt Smith, RB, Dallas Cowboys
1990: Rd. 1, Pick 17
Smith was apart of three Super Bowl teams in Dallas along with Aikman. The eight-time Pro Bowler is the league's all time rushing leader with 18,355 yards.
10. Dan Marino, QB, Miami Dolphins
1983: Rd. 1, Pick 27
Marino is one of the best passers ever. He is a nine-time Pro Bowler with an MVP award from 1984. He is often linked to the fact that he never won a Super Bowl, but that should not diminish his greatness.
9. Jerry Rice, WR, San Francisco 49ers
1985: Rd. 1, Pick 16
Known as the best wide receiver to ever play the game, Rice has 207 total touchdowns, 32 more than any other skill position player.
8. Lawrence Taylor, LB, New York Giants
1981: Rd. 1, Pick 2
The Giants selected Taylor second overall and they still got great value from the linebacker. The 10-time Pro Bowler won two Super Bowls in New York and is considered the best defensive player of all-time.
7. Bart Starr, QB, Green Bay Packers
1956: Rd. 17, Pick 200
Before there were Super Bowls, Starr was leading the Packers to NFL Championships. He was under center when Green Bay took home five championships.
6. Johnny Unitas, QB, Baltimore Colts
1955: Rd. 9, Pick 102
Unitas is often forgotten when discussing the all-time great quarterbacks. He was named MVP three times and led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns three times.
5. Brett Favre, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Favre is known as a Packer but he was originally drafted by the Falcons. He ended up winning three MVP awards, one Super Bowl, and being named a Pro Bowler 11 times.
4. Jim Brown, RB, Cleveland Browns
1957: Rd. 1, Pick 6
Brown is the No. 1 running back of all-time. He was a three-time league MVP and led the league in rushing eight times in the nine years he played.
3. Roger Staubach, QB, Dallas Cowboys
1964: Rd. 10, Pick 129
The value of Staubach at pick No. 129 is incredible. The six-time Pro Bowler led Dallas to two Super Bowls during his playing days.
2. Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers
1979: Rd. 3, Pick 82
The top two on this list are obvious. It begins with Montana who went 4-0 in the Super Bowl and was named MVP in three of them.
1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
2000: Rd. 6, Pick 199
Was there any doubt? The Patriots drafted a quarterback in the sixth round out of Michigan with no thought. He turned out to be arguably the best quarterback of all-time. Brady brought six Super Bowls to New England and helped build a dynasty that will never be duplicated.
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