NFL Draft: The Greatest 1st Overall Picks Ever

Virginia Tech. Bruce Smith . 3. player. 16. It wasn’t until the 1980s that pass rushers became sort of the rock stars of defenses in football. That was due in large part to the establishing of the now iconic “sack” stat. For fans, nothing determines the greatness or failure of a defensive lineman than how many times he was able to put the quarterback on the ground. If that is the case, than Bruce Smith must go down as the best to ever play since he holds the record with 214.5 sacks across an 18-year career. Yet that doesn’t tell the entire story. Smith was dominant in every facet of the game. <p> </p> <p>Without him, there is no way the Buffalo Bills would become the AFC dynasty it was in the early 1990s, winning four consecutive conference championship games. It’s amazing to think that at one point in time there was a debate going into the 1985 draft whether he should be the first overall pick. Questions lingering about his attitude and work ethic. Still, Buffalo believed players of his immense talent were rare and was worth the gamble. They were right in every way imaginable.</p>. DE