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NFL Draft: 25 best first overall picks of all-time

By Gabe Encinas

18 Apr 1998: First overall pick Peyton Manning shows off his jersey after being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York. Mandatory Credit: Ezra C. Shaw /Allsport
18 Apr 1998: First overall pick Peyton Manning shows off his jersey after being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York. Mandatory Credit: Ezra C. Shaw /Allsport /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 29: Former Tennesse quarterback Peyton Manning and current quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts is honored alongside his former college coach Phillip Fulmer before the start of the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on October 29, 2005 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 29: Former Tennesse quarterback Peyton Manning and current quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts is honored alongside his former college coach Phillip Fulmer before the start of the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on October 29, 2005 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Four Hall of Fame quarterbacks rank among the 25 best first overall NFL Draft picks of all-time.

There have been 85 No. 1 overall picks in the NFL Draft to date,  some according to plan, some never quite panning out and getting labeled as a bust. But throughout the history of the NFL Draft, there have been some extremely well-accomplished No. 1 overall picks.

The talent at the college level doesn’t exactly translate at the professional level quite the same, leaving a lot of question marks when it comes to taking players with the first pick.

A lot goes into the drafting strategy for an NFL team. Do they go with the best available? Which player should we take at this position? Who is the safest pick for our organization? There are many questions to be answered in the draft room.

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But for these 25 No. 1 overall picks, these guys had their game translate over to the NFL extremely well, making them some of the most memorable picks in the draft history, etching their names in the record books.

Some guys didn’t find their success right away, but eventually they went on to find success, whether that might have been through Pro Bowls, All-Pro selections, MVP’s or Super Bowl rings.

These guys were able to sustain a successful career, entering a franchise that was likely in the dumps after receiving the No. 1 overall pick. From there, these guys were able to turn things around and right the ship, leading their team to victory.

After reading through the list, please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments to continue the conversation.

Without further delay, here are the 25 best first overall picks in NFL Draft history.

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