Ranking The 10 Greatest NFL Draft 1st Rounds of All-Time

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Dec 24, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino (left) and former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly on the field before the game at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /

#1: 1983

Total draft slots: 28

Pro Bowlers: 15

As expected the quarterback favoritism takes the best 1st round all the way to the finish line. The 1983 draft was carried by what remains the richest assortment of arm talent in NFL history. No fewer than three future Hall of Famers went in those first 28 picks. It started with John Elway, a two-time Super Bowl champion. Then came Jim Kelly who didn’t even play his entire career in the NFL but still made his mark by reaching four-straight Super Bowls. Finally there was Dan Marino who rewrote every passing record in the books.

Amazingly those three were just the tip of the iceberg. Bruce Matthews, Darrell Green and Eric Dickerson were all destined for Canton out of that round. Six Hall of Fame players in 28 draft slots. That unheard of. To say nothing of the other great Pro Bowl talents that sprinkled around them. Especially on the offensive line with guys like Chris Hinton, Jimbo Covert and Don Mosebar. Forget the rest of the draft and how great it was. This round alone built a multitude of future champions.

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