Interesting look at historical picks … For those that didn’t see it over the long weekend, ESPN has a neat piece in which they choose the best choice ever at every draft pick from Peyton Manning at #1 to Brock Purdy at #262. Note though that it only includes the so-called modern draft era beginning in 1967 so someone like Jim Brown, the 6th pick overall in 1957 who is arguably THE best player ever in the NFL, isn’t included. However, while Brown isn’t included, three other RBs – Barry Sanders at #3, Walter Payton at #4 and Adrian Peterson at #7 – do make the top 10, the most of any position which is a little surprising given the supposed decline of the position. In contrast, there are only 2 QBs – Manning and Patrick Mahomes at #10 – along with a couple of OTs – Walter Jones at #6 and Bruce Matthews at #9, while three defensive players – ER Lawrence Taylor at #2, CB Deion Sanders at #5 and S Ronnie Lott at #8 – rounding out the top 10.
