NFL Draft: The Greatest 1st Overall Picks Ever

OT. Ohio State. Orlando Pace . 4. player. 51. When talking about the “Greatest Show on Turf” offense the St. Louis Rams put together in the late 1990s and early 2000s, most of the conversation always goes to guys like quarterback Kurt Warner, running backs Marshall Faulk or star receivers Isaac Bruce and Tory Holt. So often the experts forget to mention arguably the most critical piece to that puzzle in left tackle Orlando Pace. Without his rock solid pass protection, there is no way Warner and those receivers would’ve been able to do what they did. <p> </p> <p>For the first couple years of his career, people weren’t sure what to make of him. He showed plenty of promise, but the dominance wasn’t there. Not until offensive coordinator Mike Martz arrived in 1999 did things take off. Pace went to seven-straight Pro Bowls, reached two Super Bowls, got a ring and was summarily inducted into the Hall of Fame. It’s impossible to mention an era of NFL football without his name coming up, and that is all the respect a man can get in this sport.</p>