Drafting in the NFL is a lot like investing on Wall Street. No matter how extensive the research, there’s no telling what will happen once the money is plunked down for a Terry Bradshaw or Lawrence Taylor. Or for a Lawrence Phillips or Tony Mandarich.
It never hurts to try learning from history.
With that in mind, The Associated Press looked back at every player taken at each spot in the first round of the NFL draft since the “common draft” began in 1967. This pick-by-pick approach compared all the No. 1s to each other, the No. 2s … all the way to the Nos. 32s.
What follows is a subjective list of the best pick made at each slot, with the reason they were chosen, and others who were considered. Picks were based on a player’s entire career. When it was close, the balance tipped toward the player who meant the most to the team that drafted him.
The research yielded some nuggets worth keeping in mind for this year’s draft.
The best news is for the Cincinnati Bengals, who pick fourth. History says that’s a juicy spot. Only No. 1 has produced more Hall of Famers. The eighth and 19th spots also have
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