The Greatest Top 5 NFL Draft Picks of The Super Bowl Era

Teams often find greatness through executing an entire NFL draft, but often most of the drama that draws everybody takes place in the top five.

History is replete with so many all-time players who were drafted with a pick in that range. Every since one has produced multiple Hall of Famers over the many decades. However, like any competition it’s fair to ask the question. Who was the greatest #1 pick? Who was the greatest #2 pick? Make no mistake it might not be so easy to find an answer. Remember this is just the top five. Imagine trying to tackle the full first round in its long history.

So here is a breakdown. Each pick with the player who can be safely proclaimed as the best ever selected with it.

#1 Pick:  Peyton Manning (QB, Tennessee)

This was probably the easiest choice, ironically. Though Manning got some good competition from the likes of John Elway and Bruce Smith, neither could match him in terms of career accomplishments. He had way better stats and the same number of rings as Elway. Smith failed to win a Super Bowl. Manning accomplished so many incredible things from the broken passing records to the five MVPs and reaching four championship games with four different head coaches. He was a pillar of the sport that upheld what being the #1 pick is all about.

#2 Pick:  Lawrence Taylor (OLB, North Carolina)

History shows that the #2 spot is dominated by defense. Specifically great pass rushers. Though Julius Peppers, Randy White and Von Miller also went at that spot, none of them can or will ever match the sheer aura cast over the league by Lawrence Taylor. The New York Giants icon changed how the entire game of football was played thanks to his freakish ability. Not only a Hall of Fame pass rusher with 141 career sacks and two rings, but insanely athletic for his size. People forget he also had 10 interceptions. It’s scary to think how good he would’ve been without the drug issues.

#3 Pick:  Anthony Munoz (OT, USC)

This was probably the toughest one. It was so hard not to put Barry Sanders and Dick Butkus at this spot. So why did Munoz beat them out? He was just as dominant as they were at his position, but for a longer period of time. His career spanned 13 seasons. Neither Butkus nor Sayers made it past 10. Munoz was the greatest left tackle of the 1980s and arguably the greatest of all-time. He was a primary reason the Cincinnati Bengals reached two Super Bowls during the decade. A feeling neither of them ever experienced.

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#4 Pick:  Walter Payton (RB, Jackson State)

Another slot that was absolutely stacked. Joe Greene seemed like the obvious favorite. So why didn’t he make it? Great as he was, it’s hard to know how much of his career success was due to him and how much was due to the team around him. Walter Payton had no such luxuries. The indomitable running back played most of his games in the NFL for some very average Chicago Bears teams in the 1970s and early 1980s. Yet that didn’t stop him from smashing the career rushing record and going down as maybe the most complete player in history.

#5 Pick:  Junior Seau (ILB, USC)

One can’t let the tragic end of his life dampen his incredible football legacy. Others like Deion Sanders and Len Dawson may have won titles as #5 picks, but none of them played harder, longer or better than Seau. He played 268 games, made over 1,800 tackles, delivered 58.5 sacks, and snagged 19 interceptions. Not fancy or elegant. Just excellent. Week after week, month after month and year after year. That is the best thing a person can say about a football player.