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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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This is now Virginia Tech’s second product to make this list, the third from the state of Virginia as a whole. Taken No. 1 overall in the 1985 draft by the Buffalo Bills, Bruce Smith will go down as one of the greatest defensive linemen to ever play the game. The 6’4″ 265-pound defensive end was a terror for opposing offenses, mastering power moves to get to the backfield.

He is the NFL’s all-time leading sacker with 200, two more than Reggie White and 40 more than Kevin Green. He also added 1,225 tackles, the most of any defensive linemen in league history.

He served in the league for 18 seasons and was just as effective in his first year as he was in his last year, named to both the 1980’s and 1990’s All-Decade Team. His list of accolades also includes 11 Pro Bowls, nine First-team All-Pro selections, four AFC Championships and two Defensive Player of the Year Awards.

He has since been inducted into both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Next: 4. O.J. Simpson

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