Ultimate First Round: Best and worst picks

White, Dorsett, Tony Boselli and Eric Dickerson were all worthy and Donovan McNabb deserves a bit of consideration, but L.T. is the obvious choice. There have been some tremendous busts at number two over the years and there's certainly an argument for Johnny "Lam" Jones, Blair Thomas and Rick Mirer, but Ryan Leaf is the only real challenger to Mandarich. The whiny brat from Washington State set San Diego back years after Bobby Beathard traded away a ton to get him. However, Mandarich gets the nod because of the players taken after him. The next three picks after steroid boy? Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, Deion Sanders. Oops 

If there could be a tie, there would be one here between Munoz and Sanders. Do you take the greatest offensive tackle in NFL history over, perhaps, the greatest running back? No argument if you say yes. Surprisingly, the third pick has been a traditional dud as players like Nebraska CB Bruce Pickens, Miami RB Alonzo Highsmith, Florida State DE Andre Wadsworth and Tennessee QB Heath Shuler were just a few of the busts. Michigan State LB Carl Banks in 1988 and Penn State RB Curt Warner in 1983 are some of the main notables, and they weren't that great. Akili Smith finished his Cincinnati career with five touchdown passes and 13 interceptions forcing Carson Palmer to be the first overall pick in 2003. The next four picks after Smith? Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Torry Holt, Champ Bailey. Daunte Culpepper went 11th. Ouch. 

Payton isn't the lock you might think he considering how good Hannah was. It could also be argued that as the cornerstone of the Steel Curtain, Greene was a more important player than Sweetness. McCants was Tampa Bay's worst draft pick ever, which is saying a lot. He set the standard for looking like Tarzan, but playing like Jane. It also hurts that he was taken one pick ahead of Junior Seau. Auburn RB Brent Fullwood, Ohio State QB Art Schlichter and Michigan WR Desmond Howard were also in the running for worst pick.

Mark it down; every ten years San Diego should get the fifth pick. Deion Sanders would be the slam-dunk choice for the greatest No. 5 pick if he didn't have his Hall-of-Fame years with San Francisco and Dallas instead of Atlanta. Even though Seau is a certain Hall-of-Famer, when all is said and done Tomlinson will be better. (Has there ever been a player that danced more after making a tackle nine yards down the field than Seau?)  Penn State RB Curtis Enis, Nebraska LB Trev Alberts and Oklahoma LB Cedric Jones didn't work out at the five, but Junkin was a legendarily bad pick. Cleveland traded draft positions with San Diego for two rounds and gave away LB Chip Banks to get the five taking Junkin at least two rounds too early. Penn State LB Shane Conlan went two picks later.

Brown is the pick for his Hall-of-Fame-to-be career scoring points for so many years of solid play. However, Covert probably still deserves the all-time slot. Campbell beat out Houston QB David Klingler and Nebraska RB Lawrence Phillips for the worst pick, but it's close. Campbell's career in Green Bay? Three years, 386 yards, three touchdowns and nine interceptions. Brett who?

Like the third pick, the seventh has been a historic graveyard of mediocre selections. Simms is the choice almost by default after winning a Super Bowl and taking the Giants to another. There are some fantastic, legendary dogs with the seven from Boston College DE Mike Mamula to Tennessee OL Charles McRae to Penn State QB Todd Blackledge, but Ware is the biggest bust of the bunch throwing for 1,112 yards and five touchdowns with eight interceptions in his four years.

Obvious no doubter on the greatest No. 8 of all-time. For the worst player, there's a bunch of old-timers in the hunt. Mississippi State RB Michael Haddix had a mediocre career with Philadelphia, but his biggest problem was being taken one pick ahead of Bruce Matthews. Larry Stegent's career? One catch for 12 yards before getting hurt.

Matthews was one of the NFL's all-time rocks on the offensive line. Kevin Allen was the opposite holding the unofficial distinction of being Buddy Ryan's least favorite player of all-time in his total bust of a career. He was later arrested and sent to prison on sexual assault charges. 

How do you possibly choose between Allen and Woodson? Had Al Davis actually used Allen for his whole career, it wouldn't be a debate. Woodson was one of the all-time greats for the Steelers making the NFL's All-Time team. Florida WR Travis Taylor can thank his lucky stars for David Verser who caught 23 passes for 454 yards and three touchdowns in his four year career taken one pick ahead of Keith Van Horne.

The Playmaker had a huge career for the Cowboys catching 750 passes for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns. Alcorn State LB John Thierry was in the running for the worst pick, but Tagge blows him away. In three years, the former Husker quarterback threw three touchdown passes and 17 interceptions for the Packers.

Drug rumors dropped Sapp from being a sure-thing top five pick down to 12. He was the cornerstone of one of the NFL's most dominant defenses. Where would Minnesota had been if Dennis Green had taken Sapp instead of Florida State's Derrick Alexander? McNown was thrown to the wolves too early in Chicago and got eaten alive throwing 16 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions.

Tight ends turned out to be the value picks over the years, but Harris and his 12,120 career rushing yards and 100 total touchdowns makes him the pick. Burns gave the Chargers 223 yards and one touchdown.

After a stint with the Houston Gamblers, Kelly turned in a Hall of Fame career leading Buffalo to four Super Bowls. (Would Kelly be any better a quarterback if Scott Norwood had pushed his kick two feet the other way?) Derek Brown gave New York 11 catches for 87 yards for their 14th pick investment.

Possibly the worst of all the first round draft slots, the 15th pick is littered with various take-a-flier picks that didn't come close to working out. Alan Page was the obvious exception.  It took something special to be the worst 15th pick of all-time and Ethan Horton was up the challenge. Converted to tight end, he ended up being a Pro Bowl player ... for the hated Raiders. He caught 28 passes for 185 yards and one touchdown for the Chiefs. That's significantly less production than the player taken with the 16th pick in the 1985 draft: Jerry Rice.

The gap in production and talent between Rice and the second best receiver of all-time is possibly greater than any position in any sport. Dan McGwire threw for 745 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions for the Seahawks.

Smith is the NFL's all-time leading rusher. The pick before him? Fresno State DB James Williams to Buffalo, and don't forget that Blair Thomas went second overall to the Jets. Clyde Duncan gave St. Louis four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown in his two years. Used as a kickoff returner, he lost three fumbles.

Another total wasteland of picks, Monk and his 12,721 receiving yards and 68 touchdowns makes this the easiest pick on the board. It took something out of the ordinary to be the biggest bust at the 18, and Don Rogers did it dying of a cocaine overdose in 1986.

Harrison should probably be the pick over Tatum. Southern Miss RB Tony Smith should've been a lock, but Missouri QB Steve Pisarkiewicz made this a no-brainer throwing for 785 yards, three touchdowns and seven interceptions in his career.

There haven't been many superstars selected with the 20th pick, but over the years it has been among the most consistently solid slots. Youngblood's Hall-of-Fame nod gave him a slight edge over May and the very underrated Atwater. Darryl Sims came to Pittsburgh, stunk for two years, and that was it.

Yes, you take Randy Moss over Lynn Swann in a non-debatable heartbeat. Over his nine year career, Swann caught 336 passes for 5,461 yards and 51 touchdowns. Moss caught 525 passes for 8,375 yards and 77 touchdowns over his first six seasons. Dunbar ran for 574 yards and three touchdowns for the Saints. 

Welcome to another traditionally lean draft slot. Barton was a yearly Pro Bowl player but if he's your best choice, you know the 22nd pick has stunk. Several players gave it a good run to be the worst No. 22 of all-time, but Stan Thomas takes the prize. Mike Ditka bitched and moaned about the pick, and then Thomas banged up his shoulder. The Bears were planning on him taking over for the aging veterans. Instead, this pick set the Chicago line back a few years.

Do you take the greatest punter of all-time over, perhaps, the greatest tight end of all-time? Schad played seven games for the Rams.

Now this is a lost pick. Craig Heyward? Yup, the pickins are slim. Hampton never got his just due for a solid eight-year career rushing for 6,897 yards and 49 touchdowns. Leonard Renfro was a major-league bust for an Eagle D hoping to replenish the defensive line.

Are you getting this yet? Louis Oliver? Late first round draft picks just don't become stars. Save your money and go after proven free agents. Stanley Morgan caught 68 touchdown passes for the Patriots. Tommy Maddox was worthy of worst No. 25 pick status proving to be used as a power play between Dan Reeves and John Elway while only throwing for 758 yards, six touchdown passes and nine interceptions in his Bronco career. Flagler was even worse rushing for 145 yards and one touchdown for the Niners.

Thank you. Finally, a worthwhile late first round pick. Lewis might be the greatest linebacker of all-time. Reggie Dupard ran for 574 yards and four touchdowns for the Patriots. Chicago took Neal Anderson with the next pick.

Marino is the all-time first round value pick as bizarre and unfounded drug rumors caused him to slip. Just when San Francisco needed to boost up the defense in the arms race with Dallas, Todd Kelly came in and provided two mediocre years of service.

Green is the gold standard for cornerback consistency. He'll always be considered among the fastest defensive backs to ever play. Katzenmoyer was considered a bit of a risk going in the first round. After a few years of undistinguished play, a neck injury knocked him out of football.

Remembering that there haven't always been No. 29 picks, there aren't many great players to choose from. Barnett had a strong rookie season proving to be better than Derrick Alexander and the rest of the 29ers. USC WR R. Jay Soward would be a lock as the worst 29 of all-time if it weren't for the bizarre and sad case of Dimitrius Underwood. Considered a flier at best in the mid-rounds. Minnesota head coach Dennis Green and staff didn't do their research to realize Underwood was battling depression, among other things, and wasn't going to be a productive pro.

Bulluck is the pick by default with only a few 30s to choose from. Detroit RB Kevin Jones will get the honor in a few years. Marcus Nash caught four passes for 76 yards for the Broncos.

Trained well by Ozzie Newsome and Shannon Sharpe, Heap has potential Hall of Famer written all over him. Trezelle Jenkins stunk from day one getting cut in 1997 after two years of service.