What if a single NFL draft resulted in pick after pick of future Hall of Famers and career legends? That's what we're attempting to compile with our look at the best players selected at each draft slot in the first round — the Perfect First Round of the NFL Draft.
[divider]2018 NFL DRAFT:
Draft Home | Compare Draft Prospects | Prospect Rankings
Compare NFL Teams | Compare NFL Players[divider]
Using Sports Reference's Career AV statistic — which attempts to put a single number to determine the value of a player's career on a season-by-season basis — we've assembled a list of the most successful first-round draft picks in NFL history, the players who've accumulated the highest total Career AV.
MORE: Highest NFL Draft Pick in the History of Each FBS Team
A couple of notes:
1. This lists the player at each pick from 1-32 who has the highest Career AV, per Sports Reference. I did not take any liberties and elevate a player who wasn't the No. 1 Career AV total from that draft slot. Don't @ me when you see who's on this list instead of Walter Payton at pick No. 4.
2. Because the NFL Draft has changed over time based on the number of teams in the league, we're simply looking at which pick the player was drafted and applying that to today's standards. That means this list will include a few second-round picks and even a third-round selection, but they were drafted within the first 32 picks of their respective drafts.
3. Career AV is a cumulative stat that adds up after every season. That's why this list favors players who have finished their careers and only features a few current players. A few draft slots are vulnerable to new players earning their way onto this list in the near future.
4. We only looked at the NFL Draft. That means if a player was selected in both the NFL and AFL Drafts, their NFL Draft slot was used, even if their AFL Draft slot was higher. It also means no supplementary picks are used (Sorry Reggie White, who was the 4th pick in the 1984 Supplementary Draft and has the sixth-best Career AV in NFL history).
So that's the methodology!
The perfect first round includes eight quarterbacks, six defensive linemen, five linebackers, four defensive backs, four wide receivers, three offensive linemen and a pair of running backs. It features four current players and 21 Hall of Famers (with a few more who are locks to make it),
Here's a look at the most successful player selected at each draft pick from No. 1 to No. 32 over the course of NFL Draft history.
MORE: Perfect NFL Draft: Best Player Drafted with Each 7-Round NFL Draft Selection
[divider]
1. Peyton Manning, QB — 1998
[credit]
Julie Jacobson/AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Indianapolis
College: Tennessee
Career AV: 177
The No. 1 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft went on to have one of the best careers of any player in NFL history. He won two Super Bowls, five MVP awards, was selected to 14 Pro Bowls, was a first-team All-Pro 7 times and retired with his name all over the NFL record book.
Manning is not only the best 1st overall pick of all time, he has the best Career AV of any player in NFL history. He might not hold that for long (Tom Brady has a career AV of 171 and will likely pass him this season for that honor), but Peyton has a healthy lead on his brother, Eli, the closest active No. 1 overall draft pick in terms af career AV (112).
Next best: Plenty of No. 1 overall picks accumulated a ton of Career AV, as you'd expect. Here's the next 7, who all accumulated a Career AV of at least 100: Bruce Smith (HOF), John Elway (HOF), Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, Terry Bradshaw (HOF), Orlando Pace (HOF) and Drew Bledsoe.
[divider]
2. Lawrence Taylor, LB — 1981
[credit]
Al Messerschmidt/AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: N.Y. Giants
College: North Carolina
Career AV: 137
In the conversation as the best defensive player in NFL history, Taylor played his entire career with the Giants and won two Super Bowls, an NFL MVP award and three Defensive Player of the Year awards among numerous other accolades. He amassed 132.5 sacks and more than 1,000 tackles in his career.
The closest active player to unseating him from his claim to the best No. 2 overall pick is Julius Peppers (128 Career AV), who would pass Taylor with a 2018 season similar to what he did in 2017.
Next best: Marshall Faulk (HOF), Julius Peppers, Randy White (HOF), Tony Dorsett (HOF) and Donovan McNabb.
[divider]
3. Anthony Munoz, OT — 1980
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Cincinnati
College: USC
Career AV: 133
Munoz has the second-best career AV among all offensive linemen. He played his entire career in Cincinnati, where he earned a spot on 11 Pro Bowl rosters and nine All-Pro teams.
Another few good seasons out of Matt Ryan (120 Career AV) will push him into this slot.
Next best: Barry Sanders (HOF), Matt Ryan, Merlin Olsen (HOF), Steve McNair, John Brodie, Cortez Kennedy (HOF) and Charley Taylor (HOF).
[divider]
4. Philip Rivers, QB — 2004
[credit]
Eric Christian Smith/AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: N.Y. Giants
College: NC State
Career AV: 134
Rivers has the third-best Career AV among active players behind only Tom Brady and Drew Brees. He's a seven-time Pro Bowler, but is just 4-5 in the playoffs, the biggest blemish on his career resume.
COMPARE: Philip Rivers to any player
Rivers will likely hold this spot for a long time to come — the closest active player in Career AV is A.J. Green (64).
Next best: The No. 4 draft slot has been incredibly productive: Walter Payton (HOF), Chris Doleman (HOF), Edgerrin James, John Hannah (HOF), Derrick Thomas (HOF), Charles Woodson, Bob Griese (HOF), Joe Greene (HOF), Dan Hampton (HOF), Justin Smith and Jonathan Ogden (HOF).
[divider]
5. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB — 2001
[credit]
Chris Carlson/AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: San Diego
College: TCU
Career AV: 128
Tomlinson retired from the NFL with more than 13,500 yards, 145 rushing touchdowns and an MVP award to his name, among many other accolades. He set record after record, arguably the most impressive are his five consecutive seasons with 16 or more touchdowns and becoming the fastest player to gain 15,000 yards from scrimmage (121 games).
It will be awhile before someone knocks Tomlinson out of this spot. The only active player in spitting distance is Patrick Peterson (Career AV: 77).
Next best: Junior Seau (HOF), Deion Sanders (HOF), Len Dawson (HOF) and Mike Haynes (HOF).
[divider]
6. Carl Eller, DE — 1964
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Minnesota
College: Minnesota
Career AV: 123
One of the "Purple People Eaters," Eller was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1971 and was a six-time Pro Bowler and a five-time first team All-NFL pick. He's a member of the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.
Julio Jones is the closest active player (77 Career AV) to Eller among 6th overall draft picks.
Next best: The sixth pick of the draft has been a hotbed of Hall of Famers and All-Pros: Tim Brown (HOF), James Lofton (HOF), Jimmy Johnson (HOF), Torry Holt, Walter Jones (HOF) and John Riggins (HOF).
[divider]
7. Champ Bailey, DB — 1999
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Washington
College: Georgia
Career AV: 111
Bailey played 15 NFL seasons and holds the honor of being selected to more Pro Bowls (12) than any other cornerback in NFL history. He totaled more than 900 career tackles, 52 interceptions and seven forced fumbles.
Adrian Peterson is the closest active player in terms of Career AV (91), but he'll need a few good seasons to make unseat Bailey, which seems unlikely.
Next best: Chuck Howley, Phil Simms, Adrian Peterson and Troy Vincent.
[divider]
8. Ronnie Lott, DB — 1981
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: San Francisco
College: USC
Career AV: 118
Arguably one of the best defensive backs in NFL history, Lott was a four-time Super Bowl winner, a 10-time Pro Bowler, an 8-time NFL All-Pro and was twice the NFL interception leader.
He finished his career with more than 1,100 tackles and 63 interceptions. He's a member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, 1980s All-Decade Team and 1990s All-Decade Team.
No active player is even close to touching Lott's spot on this list.
Next best: Willie Roaf (HOF), Lance Alworth (HOF), James Farrior and Mike Munchak (HOF).
[divider]
9. Bruce Matthews, OG — 1983
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Houston
College: USC
Career AV: 134
Matthews has the highest Career AV of any offensive linemen. A true ironman, Matthews never missed a game in his 292-game career, and played every position on the offensive line — 99 games as a left guard, 87 as a center, 67 as a right guard, 22 as a right tackle, and 17 as a left tackle.
He's a part of one of the greatest football families of all-time, too, and you'll see his brother (Clay Matthews, Jr.) and nephew (Clay Matthews III) listed in the "next best" section at their respective first-round draft slots.
Luke Kuechly is the closest active player to Matthews in terms of Career AV (73) but he has a long way to go to pass the great offensive lineman.
Next best: Brian Urlacher (HOF), Richmond Webb, Kevin Williams and Fred Taylor.
[divider]
10. Rod Woodson, DB — 1987
[credit]
Gene J Puskar/AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Pittsburgh
College: Purdue
Career AV: 140
Woodson put together a stellar career, winning a Super Bowl and a Defensive Player of the Year Award with the Steelers. He went to 11 Pro Bowls and was a first team All-Pro five times. He had 71 interceptions and more than 1,150 tackles in his career.
Terrell Suggs is next in line behind Woodson in terms of Career AV (105), but it's unlikely he'll play long enough to pass Woodson on this list.
Next best: Terrell Suggs, John Hadl and Marcus Allen (HOF).
[divider]
11. Ben Roethlisberger, QB — 2004
[credit]
Mark Tenally/AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Pittsburgh
College: Miami (OH)
Career AV: 120
Roethlesbirger is fifth among active quarterbacks in Career AV, behind only Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan. He has a pair of Super Bowl rings and is a six-time Pro Bowler.
COMPARE: Ben Roethlisberger to any player
J.J. Watt is probably the only active player with a shot at passing Roethlisberger on this list, but his injury history makes that seem unlikely.
Next best: Paul Warfield (HOF), Michael Irvin (HOF), DeMarcus Ware, Wilber Marshall, Patrick Willis, Jay Cutler, Daunte Culpepper and J.J. Watt.
[divider]
12. Warren Sapp, DT — 1995
[credit]
Steve Nesius/AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Tampa Bay
College: Miami (FL)
Career AV: 117
Sapp, a Super Bowl Champion and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, came close to 100 sacks in his NFL career and wreaked havoc on his way to seven Pro Bowl selections and 4 first team All-Pro nods.
The closest active player in terms of Career AV to Sapp is Haloti Ngata (101) who could pass him if he's got a few more strong seasons left in the tank.
Next best: Herb Adderley (HOF), Haloti Ngata, Warrick Dunn, Joe Namath (HOF) and Clay Matthews Jr.
[divider]
13. Bob Lilly, DT — 1967
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Dallas
College: TCU
Career AV: 108
Lilly helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl VI and led a storied career that included 11 Pro Bowl selections, 7 first-team All-Pro nods and a spot on the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, 1970s All-Decade Team and 1960s All Decade Team.
Aaron Donald would be the likeliest active player to surpass Lilly's Career AV, but he's got a long way to go (57).
Next best: Franco Harris (HOF), Tony Gonzalez, Mike Kenn, John Abraham and Takeo Spikes.
[divider]
14. Jim Kelly, QB — 1961
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Buffalo
College: Miami (FL)
Career AV: 103
Though a Super Bowl victory evaded Kelly in four tries, he's still easily the best 14th overall pick of all time. He threw for more than 35,000 yards and 237 touchdowns in his career.
Thomas Davis and Earl Thomas are the closest active players in terms of Career AV (72, and 71 respectively).
Next best: Darrelle Revis, Randy Gradishar, Doug Wilkerson and Dave Robinson (HOF).
[divider]
15. Alan Page, DT — 1967
[credit]
Phil Sandlin/AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Minnesota
College: Notre Dame
Career AV: 103
The 1971 NFL MVP, Page was the Defensive Player of the Year twice, went to nine Pro Bowls and was a six-time first-team All-Pro. He's a member of the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.
He's unlikely to lose his spot on this list any time soon, as he has a healthy lead on any active players in terms of Career AV.
Next best: Jim Taylor (HOF), Derrick Johnson, Anthony Miller, Dennis Smith and Lawrence Timmons.
[divider]
16. Jerry Rice, WR — 1985
[credit]
JOE PUGLI/AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: San Francisco
College: Mississippi Valley State
Career AV: 159
The greatest wide receiver in NFL history was selected with the 16th pick in the 1985 NFL Draft. He won three Super Bowls and two Offensive Player of the Year Awards, went to 13 Pro Bowls and was a 10-time first team All-Pro, among many other accolades. He caught 1,549 passes for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns.
It's hard to imagine anyone outside of a franchise quarterback ever unseating Rice from this spot on the list.
Next best: Bobby Bell (HOF), Troy Polamalu, Chester McGlockton and Raymond Clayborn.
[divider]
17. Emmitt Smith, RB — Dallas
[credit]
Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Dallas
College: Florida
Career AV: 129
Smith helped the Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories and was an eight time Pro-Bowler. He rushed for more than 18,000 yards and 164 touchdowns, and he's the only running back in history to win a Super Bowl, NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP and the rushing title in the same season.
Smith has a steady hold on this spot in the perfect NFL draft.
Next best: Gene Upshaw (HOF), Mel Renfro (HOF), Steve Hutchinson and Louis Wright.
[divider]
18. Paul Krause, DB — 1964
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Washington
College: Iowa
Career AV: 113
Krause recorded 81 career interceptions and was the NFL's interceptions leader in 1964. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler and a four-time first-team All-Pro.
Joe Flacco is the closest active player in terms of Career AV (86).
Next best: Art Monk (HOF), Joe Flacco, Roy Jefferson, Calvin Pace and Eddie Kennison.
[divider]
19. Marvin Harrison, WR — 1996
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Indianapolis
College: Syracuse
Career AV: 124
The Colts drafted Harrison with a pick they received for Jeff George, and the move paid off as he totaled 1,102 receptions for 14,580 yards and 128 touchdowns in hi s career. He went to eight Pro Bowls and is a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.
Harrison has no challengers from current NFL players for this spot on the list.
Next best: Randall McDaniel (HOF), Tarik Glenn, Roger Wehrli (HOF), Todd Steussie and Casey Hampton.
[divider]
20. Jack Youngblood, DE — 1971
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: L.A. Rams
College: Florida
Career AV: 105
Youngblood recorded 151.5 sacks in 202 career NFL games, earning a spot in seven Pro Bowls and on five first-team All-Pro lists. He was twice the NFC Defensive Player of the Year.
Aqib Talib is the closest active player to Youngblood's Career AV (63) but he's got a long way to go to pass him on this list.
Next best: Forrest Gregg (HOF), Maxie Baughan, Steve Atwater and Tamba Hali.
[divider]
21. Randy Moss, WR — 1998
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Minnesota
College: Marshall
Career AV: 123
One of the most prolific wide receivers in NFL history, Moss caught 982 passes for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns, and had some of the best single seasons in NFL history.
Alex Mack is the closest active player in Career AV (65), but he'd need to play for a long time to pass Moss.
Next best: Vince Wilfork, Richie Petitbon, Jerry Robinson and Johnnie Morton.
[divider]
22. Jack Reynolds, LB — 1970
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: L.A. Rams
College: Tennessee
Career AV: 79
By Career AV, the 22nd pick in the draft has been the weakest. Jack Reynolds holds this spot after helping the 49ers win two Super Bowls and earning a spot in two Pro Bowls.
With a few more strong seasons, Demaryius Thomas (Career AV 64) could easily work his way into this draft slot.
Next best: Harris Barton, Andre Rison, Hanford Dixon and Demaryius Thomas.
[divider]
23. Dick Schafrath, OT — 1959
[credit]
AP Photo[/credit]
Draft Team: Cleveland
College: <a href="https://herosports.com/colleges/teams/ohio-state-me
