NFL Draft: The Greatest 1st Overall Picks Ever

50. It’s never fully appreciated the situation that Matthew Stafford was walking into in 2009 when the Detroit Lions drafted him. This was a team that had just finished the previous year with an 0-16 record. It was a roster almost completely barren of complimentary talent, which meant any quarterback, rookie or not was going to have  the toughest of times trying to survive. Never mind trying turn the team into a winner. Yet through his sheer talent and perseverance, Stafford did both. <p> </p> <p>With help from Calvin Johnson, he rewrote the Lions record book for passing yards. In 2011 he not only got them to the playoffs for the first time in 12 years, he also threw for over 5,000 yards. Three seasons later he went to the Pro Bowl and got Detroit to the postseason again. To top it off he is now the franchise passing leader by over 10,000 yards and he’s still just 28-years old. When it’s all said and done Stafford will be by far the best Lions quarterback since Bobby Layne, and maybe even better. His place on this list though may be determined by his postseason success.</p>. QB. Georgia. Matthew Stafford . 23. player