Where Top NFL Players Were Drafted
Jimmy Boyd wants to take you on a stroll down memory lane with a look back at NFL Draft history to see what year some of the all-time greats were drafted and with what pick they were selected. With no further ado, here is Jimmy’s look back at the rich history of the NFL Draft.
QB Brett Favre – Atlanta Falcons (1991) 2nd round, 33rd overall pick (Southern Miss)
Brett Favre certainly made his mark on the NFL like few players have before him, but would he have made the same impact had he squatted under center for the Falcons, the team that originally drafted him, all these years. You never know, but Brett Favre being associated with anything but the Packers just doesn’t seem right.
RB Walter Payton – Chicago Bears (1975) 1st round, 4th overall pick (Jackson State)
Perhaps the best running back to ever step on the football field came from a school that most of us have never heard of. Bears’ scouts did their homework and 10 years later it would finally pay off as the Bears won their first and only Super Bowl title.
WR Jerry Rice – San Francisco 49ers (1985) 1st round, 16th overall pick (Mississippi Valley State)
The greatest receiver to ever play the game was yet another guy which came out of a very reclusive school. No player before or after him has made the position look like an art form. Rice had an unmatched set of hands and ran precision routes. It never hurts to have a Hall of Fame QB to throw you the ball either.
QB Joe Montana – San Francisco 49ers (1979) 3rd round, 82nd overall pick (Notre Dame)
Some experts consider Joe Montana the greatest draft pick of all time as no QB in the history of the game has been as clutch a player and as proven of a winner. Let Mr. Montana be an example to all weak-armed QBs everywhere.
DT “Mean” Joe Green – Pittsburgh Steelers (1969) 1st round, 4th overall pick (North Texas)
There was little doubt that “Mean” Joe Greene was going to be a force in the NFL. Throughout the early part of the 1970′s, he was arguably the best defensive lineman in the NFL. Now, he is considered one of the best defensive lineman to ever play the game.
DB Darrell Green – Washington Red Skins (1983) 1st round, 28th overall pick (Texas A&M Kingsville)
The Red Skins discovered a gem from a little known division II program in Darrell Green. He is highly regarded as one of the best defensive backs in football and also one of its fastest players.
OG Jerry Kramer – Green Bay Packers (1958) 4th round (Idaho)
Kramer was a 5-time All-Pro for the Packers in 11 NFL seasons. He was an integral part of a Packers team which won five NFL titles and the first two Super Bowls. Kramer also served as the Packers’ kicker several seasons.
RB Emmit Smith – Dallas Cowboys (1990) 1st round, 17th overall pick (Florida)
Smith is the back that broke Walter Payton’s rushing record. More so than speed or power, Smith used intelligence and durability to become one of the game’s best backs.
QB Dan Marino – Miami Dolphins (1983) 1st round, 27th overall pick (Pitt)
Some would still consider Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino the best ever at his position, but the fact that he was never able to win Super Bowl hangs over his head in terms of this discussion. He shouldn’t have worn unlucky 13 on his jersey.
While many of the great NFL players of all-time were taken in the first round, as you can see above, there have been some fantastic sleepers that have slipped into the late rounds. Make sure you check out Jimmy Boyd’s NFL picks this fall to help you win more with your football betting.
