NFL Draft: 25 best first overall picks of all-time
By Gabe Encinas
Another massive human being playing defensive end was taken first overall in the 1974 NFL Draft in Ed “Too Tall” Jones. How’d he get that nickname “Too Tall”? He stood at 6’9” 271-pounds, making him a terror on the edge for any poor offensive tackle.
The Dallas Cowboys took the man out of Tennessee State, another smaller school that might worry scouts about production at the NFL level. But once again, there were no regrets with this pick.
During his 15 year career in Dallas, he was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro three times, from 1981-1983. During that span was also when he helped lead the Cowboys to Super Bowl XII.
Statistics weren’t as prominent back then, which explains his skewed numbers. Officially, Ed “Too Tall” Jones recorded 57.5 sacks throughout his career, but unofficially, he recorded 106 sacks.
How there’s that much parody, we’ll never know. But still, all you need to know was that he was closer to seven feet than he was six feet and was a terror at defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys.
Next: 21. George Rogers