Best Picks at each Slot

[The Gipper]

Here, by one measurement, are the best 5 draft picks at each slot since the common draft began in 1962. That measurement is the pfr career production average. For what that's worth. I will start with the first 16 slots:

 

Best #1 overall picks: Peyton Manning, Bruce Smith, John Elway, Orlando Pace, Terry Bradshaw

 

#2: Lawrence Taylor, Marshall Faulk, Julius Peppers, Randy White, Tony Dorsett

 

#3: Anthony Munoz, Barry Sanders, Steve McNair, Cortez Kennedy, Matt Ryan

 

#4: Walter Payton, Phillip Rivers, Edgerinn James, Chris Doleman, John Hannah

 

#5: Junior Seau, LaDanian Tomlinson, Deion Sanders, Mike Haynes, Kerry Collins

 

#6: Tim Brown, James Lofton, Tori Holt, Walter Jones, Lomas Brown

 

#7: Champ Bailey, Phil Simms, Bryant Young, Troy Vincent, Adrian Peterson

 

#8: Ronnie Lott, Willie Roaf, James Farrior, Mike Munchak, Leslie O'Neal

 

#9: Bruce Matthews, Brian Urlacher, Richmond Webb, Kevin Williams, Fred Taylor

 

#10 Rod Woodson, Marcus Allen, Isaia Robertson, Terrell Suggs, Willie Anderson

 

#11: Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Irvin, Demarcus Ware, Wilber Marshall, Patrick Willis

 

#12: Warren Sapp, Haloti Ngata, Warrick Dunn, Clay Matthews II, Chuck Foreman

 

#13: Franco Harris, Tony Gonzales, Mike Kenn, John Abraham, Takeo Spikes

 

#14: Jim Kelly, Randy Gradishar, Darrelle Revis, Doug Wilkerson, Ruben Brown

 

#15: Alan Page, Derrick Johnson, Anthony Miller, Dennis Smith, Wayne Grady

 

#16: Jerry Rice, Troy Polamalu, Chester McGlockton, Raymond Claborne, Julian Peterson

 

17-32 to come.

[The Gipper]

Here are Picks 17-32:

 

#17: Emmitt Smith, Gene Upshaw, Steve Hutchinson, Louis Wright, Chad Greenway

 

#18: Art Monk, Joe Flacco, Calvin Pace, Eddie Kennison, DeWayne Washington

 

#19: Marvin Harrison, Randall McDaniel, Tarik Glenn, Roger Wehrli, Todd Steussie

 

#20: Jack Youngblood, Steve Atwater, Tamba Hali, Will Wilford, Dale Carter

 

#21: Randy Moss, Vince Wilfork, Jerry Robinson, Johnny Martin, John Alt

 

#22: Jack Reynolds, Harris Barton, Andre Rison, Hanford Dixon, Gil Byrd

 

#23: Ty Law, Bruce Armstrong, Jeff Hartings, Antoine Winfield, Ozzie Newsome

 

#24: Aaron Rodgers, Ed Reed, James Brooks, Eric Moulds, Steven Jackson

 

#25: Ted Washington, Stanley Morgan, Chris Hovan, Jon Beason, Steve Riley

 

#26: Ray Lewis, Alan Faneca, Joe Delammelleure, Jim Harbaugh, Dana Stubblefield

 

#27: Dan Marino, Roddy White, Tommy Kramer, Reggie McKenzie, William Roberts

 

#28: Derrick Brooks, Darrel Green, Trevor Pryce, Joe Staley, Guy Morris

 

#29: Steve Wisniewski, Chris Spielman, Nick Mangold, Nick Barnett, Ryan Pickett

 

#30: Reggie Wayne, Eric Allen, Keith Bulluck, Greg Pruitt, Patrick Kerney

 

#31: Bill Bergey, Curley Culp, Al Wilson, Roman Phifer, Nolan Cromwell

 

#32: Drew Brees, Logan Mankins, Henry Ellard, Fred Smerlas, Ray Donaldson