The best NFL draft pick ever at every slot from No. 1 to 262

[RiotAct]

AP is a good choice at 7 overall right now, but I think in a decade people will be singing a different tune…

 

[BADOLBILZ]

2 hours ago, T.E. said:

Sanders is maybe the best pound-for-pound back ever, but it's wild how much more favorably he's remembered than Thurman, when the latter had far, far more signature playoff performances.

 

 

People most remember Thurman in the playoffs for losing his helmet in SB XXVI.   Random fans were still making jokes about that 20+ years later.

 

Not so much the big games in the XXV or the Chiefs AFCCG or even the crippling fumble and his pouting on the bench in SB XXVIII.

 

His last 3 SB's he rushed 37 times for a pitiful 69 yards and had 4 fumbles.    Brutal.  The OL didn't show up for those games either and that kinda' illustrates my point about RB's.

[Snappysnackcakes]

17 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Im embarrassed to learn that Moulds was traded. I missed that entirely. I had no idea he was with Texans and then the Titans for final two years of career. 

We traded him for the 5th round pick that we used to select Kyle Williams. I think it worked out for us pretty well. 

[Bill from NYC]

20 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45597769/picking-best-nfl-draft-picks-ever-every-slot-common-era-1967-2024

 

Interesting article.   The highlighted are my added notes to the ESPN story.........so here are the Bills and some Bills related one's with 3 McBeane related all-time picks mentioned right in round 1 and some actual McBeane greatest picks later in the draft:

 

7. Adrian Peterson, RB (2007)

The last non-quarterback to win the MVP award, Peterson led the league in rushing yardage three times in his career: 2008, 2012 and 2015. "All Day" was my pick over Champ Bailey, but watch out for Josh Allen. He and Peterson have the same number of MVP trophies and Super Bowl appearances ... for now.  (Allen will own this spot soon and probably deserves it already IMO).

 

 

10. Patrick Mahomes, QB (2017)

Our first active player is Mahomes, who somehow easily clears Rod Woodson, Terrell Suggs and Marcus Allen despite being maybe halfway through his career. A two-time MVP, three-time Super Bowl champ and three-time Super Bowl MVP, Mahomes will likely build a compelling argument for being the greatest quarterback ever by the time his career is done.  (McDermott dealt this pick to KC and ended up with Tre White and the 1st round pick they then traded up from to select Tremaine Edmunds)

 

22. Justin Jefferson, WR (2020)

Thank goodness there were no Hall of Famers to snub with the 22nd pick, making Jefferson an even easier selection for me. Never forget that Jefferson holds the record for most receiving yards through two seasons of a player's career (3,016) -- as well as through three seasons (4,825), four seasons (5,899) and five seasons (7,432). Guess which record he'll hold at the end of this year? (acquired pick as part of the exchange with McBeane for Stefon Diggs)

 

42. Rob Gronkowski, TE (2010)

Four Super Bowl rings. Four first-team All-Pro appearances.   A uniquely dominant prime as a pass-catching tight end with elite blocking ability.   (The Buddy Nix Bills selected the Troupacabra instead of the local product)

 

 

70. Fred Warner, LB (2018)

Easy pick here, as Warner will go down as the best linebacker of this decade and one of the best linebackers ever.  (unfortunate that Warner ended up being so much better than Edmunds and the Bills traded a second rounder to move UP to get Edmunds)

 

 

73. Jason Taylor, DE (1997)

Another Hall of Famer was also selected at pick No. 73 in Bears DT Steve McMichael, but it's tough to hold a candle to Taylor. A winner of Defensive Player of the Year (2006) and Walter Payton Man of the Year (2007), Taylor had both a dominant prime and a long stretch of viable play.  (This one hurt me to my core during that 1997 draft......the Bills picked Marcellus Wiley over him.  Wiley was a nice player but Taylor was the HR pass rushing OLB they desperately needed for that defense.   It was a frustrating stretch in the 1990's where John Butler did not take advantage of the abundance of quality 2nd and 3rd round pass rushers available to 3-4 teams.  This one hurt double because Taylor became a Bills killer.)

 

 

75. Russell Wilson, QB (2012)

Tough break for OT Terron Armstead, who is one of the best third-round picks ever but isn't better than this Super Bowl-winning, Walter Payton Man of the Year-winning quarterback.  (Russ is kind of a joke now but he was one of the best in the league for a long time.  Buddy Nix famously traded up to take the awful TJ Graham at 69 thinking he could get Wilson in the 4th round.  What an a$$clown of a strategist he was. https://billswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bills/2020/07/22/buffalo-bills-david-lee-claims-wanted-draft-russell-wilson-dak-prescott/79402255007/)

 

 

86. Andre Reed, WR (1985)

Another odd density of Hall of Famers, as pick No. 86 carries Reed, Rams OT Jackie Slater and Saints kicker Morten Andersen. Reed is an easy selection for his seven straight Pro Bowls and 16-year NFL career, 15 of which were in Buffalo. Don't worry -- my kicker picks come later.  (Finally the Bills have a winner.  The best 86th overall ever.   I gotta agree.  Jackie Slater is tough to beat though he was also great).

 

111. Terrence McGee, CB (2003).   (A win for team Donahoe.  We are at the stage of the draft now where there are some not-great all-timers mixed in with HoF types).

 

134. Kyle Williams, DT (2006)  (Levy/Modrak struck gold with the pick traded to Houston for Eric Moulds).

 

148. Khalil Shakir, WR (2022)  ( Khalil may never live up to the @Alphadawg7  hype but what he's done is good enough to be the best 148 ever.   McBeane's 1st official win but Allen will eventually be the best #7 overall.)

 

171. Gary Anderson, K (1982)  (I guess this win for Buffalo would be Norm Pollam and the rest of the strong but largely forgotten group of scouts that Chuck Knox brought to Buffalo from his Rams days.  Greatest kicker pick ever according to article and foreshadowed in the Andre Reed pick write up.  This one sticks hard in the craw of one @BUFFALOBART who still holds Anderson in great disdain for intentionally failing his way off of the Bills roster)

 

185. Christian Benford, CB (2022)  ( That's 2 all-timer day 3 draft picks for McBeane.  Fingers crossed his brains aren't scrambled from those concussions and can have a long career.)

 

253. Roland Hooks, RB (1975)  (The pickings were slim at 253 apparently.  Certainly the most unlikely Bill to find on this list.)

 

255. Don Majkowski, QB (1987)   (The Buffalo born Magic Man looked like the real deal there for a brief time.)

 

Thank you for yet another great post! It amazes me how so many great players were drafted so late. 

 

I noticed that they chose Jake Scott on pick 159 over Bryce Paup. I was very young when Scott played but remember thinking that he was great. Bryce's career being cut short had to affect this ranking, but some of my favorite Bills memories consist of watching Bryce rush the passer at RWS. He was brutal and great at using his long, strong arms to fend off blockers.

 

Really, that was a great link!

[BADOLBILZ]

1 hour ago, Bill from NYC said:

Thank you for yet another great post! It amazes me how so many great players were drafted so late. 

 

I noticed that they chose Jake Scott on pick 159 over Bryce Paup. I was very young when Scott played but remember thinking that he was great. Bryce's career being cut short had to affect this ranking, but some of my favorite Bills memories consist of watching Bryce rush the passer at RWS. He was brutal and great at using his long, strong arms to fend off blockers.

 

Really, that was a great link!

 

 

Yeah if Paup hadn't suffered that severe groin injury he would probably have put up several more seasons like his first in Buffalo.   That takes me back to Butler passing on Jason Taylor in 1997.   That would have been a great transition from Paup because after the injury Bryce was never the same.

[mannc]

20 hours ago, folz said:

Just noting some positions where the Bills had great players, and who the writer selected over them (Obviously, the Bills didn't draft every player on the list below---Bennett, Poyer, Hyde, etc.---just wanted to see why some very good Bills players didn't make the list). The writer also noted that he didn't want to overweigh QBs just based on the importance of the position.

 

[NOTE: None of the 64/65 AFL Champ team players were eligible for the list. The list begins at the 1967 (common era) draft.]

 

Bills on the list (played more than one season for the Bills---so not counting guys like Gore, Owens, Anderson): #86 Andre Reed, #134 Kyle Williams, #148 Khalil Shakir, #185 Christian Benford, #250 Ryan Fitzpatrick, #253 Roland Hooks. 

 

A few great Bills that missed the list and who was selected over them (according to the writer of the article):

#1: Peyton Manning (over Bruce Smith and O.J. Simpson)

 

#2: Lawrence Taylor (and many others: Faulk, Peppers, C. Johnson, Von Miller, Barkley, Bosa---all over Cornelius Bennett).

 

#6: Walter Jones (then Tim Brown, then Julio Jones...and then James Lofton)

 

#14: Darrelle Revis over Jim Kelly (reason: Revis had more All-Pros and won one Super Bowl).

 

#24: Ed Reed (+Aaron Rodgers)---at least those two are over Eric Moulds.

 

#26: Ray Lewis over Joe DeLamielleure.

 

#32: Drew Brees (+Lamar Jackson)---at least those two over Fred Smerlas.

 

#39: Ed White (Chargers Guard) over Darryl Talley. (Reason: White had two more Pro Bowls than Talley)

 

#40: Michaels Strahan [over Thurman Thomas]. Picked Strahan because of the single-season sack record and one Super Bowl win.

 

#146: George Kittle over Stefon Diggs

 

#159: Miami Safety Jake Scott (over Micah Hyde)

 

#218: Tom Nalen, Denver center [over Jordan Poyer]

 

#226: Picked KC Guard Trey Smith (drafted 2021) over Steve Tasker [No explanation for guys this low on the list.] Strange that a 4-year lineman was higher than any players picked here who already finished a full career (looks like the writer heavily weighted SB wins and Smith has two already being drafted by K.C). And granted its a low pick, so may not be a lot of choices...but at least Tasker was there as another option.

 

 

 

You forgot Larry Centers (115) who had two very good seasons for the Bills during the darkest years of the drought.

Edited Sunday at 07:22 PM by mannc

[mannc]

23 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45597769/picking-best-nfl-draft-picks-ever-every-slot-common-era-1967-2024

 

Interesting article.   The highlighted are my added notes to the ESPN story.........so here are the Bills and some Bills related one's with 3 McBeane related all-time picks mentioned right in round 1 and some actual McBeane greatest picks later in the draft:

 

7. Adrian Peterson, RB (2007)

The last non-quarterback to win the MVP award, Peterson led the league in rushing yardage three times in his career: 2008, 2012 and 2015. "All Day" was my pick over Champ Bailey, but watch out for Josh Allen. He and Peterson have the same number of MVP trophies and Super Bowl appearances ... for now.  (Allen will own this spot soon and probably deserves it already IMO).

 

 

10. Patrick Mahomes, QB (2017)

Our first active player is Mahomes, who somehow easily clears Rod Woodson, Terrell Suggs and Marcus Allen despite being maybe halfway through his career. A two-time MVP, three-time Super Bowl champ and three-time Super Bowl MVP, Mahomes will likely build a compelling argument for being the greatest quarterback ever by the time his career is done.  (McDermott dealt this pick to KC and ended up with Tre White and the 1st round pick they then traded up from to select Tremaine Edmunds)

 

22. Justin Jefferson, WR (2020)

Thank goodness there were no Hall of Famers to snub with the 22nd pick, making Jefferson an even easier selection for me. Never forget that Jefferson holds the record for most receiving yards through two seasons of a player's career (3,016) -- as well as through three seasons (4,825), four seasons (5,899) and five seasons (7,432). Guess which record he'll hold at the end of this year? (acquired pick as part of the exchange with McBeane for Stefon Diggs)

 

42. Rob Gronkowski, TE (2010)

Four Super Bowl rings. Four first-team All-Pro appearances.   A uniquely dominant prime as a pass-catching tight end with elite blocking ability.   (The Buddy Nix Bills selected the Troupacabra instead of the local product)

 

 

70. Fred Warner, LB (2018)

Easy pick here, as Warner will go down as the best linebacker of this decade and one of the best linebackers ever.  (unfortunate that Warner ended up being so much better than Edmunds and the Bills traded a second rounder to move UP to get Edmunds)

 

 

73. Jason Taylor, DE (1997)

Another Hall of Famer was also selected at pick No. 73 in Bears DT Steve McMichael, but it's tough to hold a candle to Taylor. A winner of Defensive Player of the Year (2006) and Walter Payton Man of the Year (2007), Taylor had both a dominant prime and a long stretch of viable play.  (This one hurt me to my core during that 1997 draft......the Bills picked Marcellus Wiley over him.  Wiley was a nice player but Taylor was the HR pass rushing OLB they desperately needed for that defense.   It was a frustrating stretch in the 1990's where John Butler did not take advantage of the abundance of quality 2nd and 3rd round pass rushers available to 3-4 teams.  This one hurt double because Taylor became a Bills killer.)

 

 

75. Russell Wilson, QB (2012)

Tough break for OT Terron Armstead, who is one of the best third-round picks ever but isn't better than this Super Bowl-winning, Walter Payton Man of the Year-winning quarterback.  (Russ is kind of a joke now but he was one of the best in the league for a long time.  Buddy Nix famously traded up to take the awful TJ Graham at 69 thinking he could get Wilson in the 4th round.  What an a$$clown of a strategist he was. https://billswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bills/2020/07/22/buffalo-bills-david-lee-claims-wanted-draft-russell-wilson-dak-prescott/79402255007/)

 

 

86. Andre Reed, WR (1985)

Another odd density of Hall of Famers, as pick No. 86 carries Reed, Rams OT Jackie Slater and Saints kicker Morten Andersen. Reed is an easy selection for his seven straight Pro Bowls and 16-year NFL career, 15 of which were in Buffalo. Don't worry -- my kicker picks come later.  (Finally the Bills have a winner.  The best 86th overall ever.   I gotta agree.  Jackie Slater is tough to beat though he was also great).

 

111. Terrence McGee, CB (2003).   (A win for team Donahoe.  We are at the stage of the draft now where there are some not-great all-timers mixed in with HoF types).

 

134. Kyle Williams, DT (2006)  (Levy/Modrak struck gold with the pick traded to Houston for Eric Moulds).

 

148. Khalil Shakir, WR (2022)  ( Khalil may never live up to the @Alphadawg7  hype but what he's done is good enough to be the best 148 ever.   McBeane's 1st official win but Allen will eventually be the best #7 overall.)

 

171. Gary Anderson, K (1982)  (I guess this win for Buffalo would be Norm Pollam and the rest of the strong but largely forgotten group of scouts that Chuck Knox brought to Buffalo from his Rams days.  Greatest kicker pick ever according to article and foreshadowed in the Andre Reed pick write up.  This one sticks hard in the craw of one @BUFFALOBART who still holds Anderson in great disdain for intentionally failing his way off of the Bills roster)

 

185. Christian Benford, CB (2022)  ( That's 2 all-timer day 3 draft picks for McBeane.  Fingers crossed his brains aren't scrambled from those concussions and can have a long career.)

 

253. Roland Hooks, RB (1975)  (The pickings were slim at 253 apparently.  Certainly the most unlikely Bill to find on this list.)

 

255. Don Majkowski, QB (1987)   (The Buffalo born Magic Man looked like the real deal there for a brief time.)

 

It’s amazing how many first round slots have generated only one or fewer hall of fame players after all these years (by my count, at least eight).

 

To my eye, the third round looks stronger than round two, but I didn’t do a close comparison.

 

One other Bills pick that should have made the list: Wyatt Teller (166) over Leroi Glover.  Teller picked by Beane the same year as Josh Allen…

9 minutes ago, mannc said:

 

 

Edited Sunday at 07:22 PM by mannc

[BADOLBILZ]

20 minutes ago, mannc said:

It’s amazing how many first round slots have generated only one or fewer hall of fame players after all these years (by my count, at least eight).

 

To my eye, the third round looks stronger than round two, but I didn’t do a close comparison.

 

One other Bills pick that should have made the list: Wyatt Teller (166) over Leroi Glover.  Teller picked by Beane the same year as Josh Allen…

 

 

 

Glover was pretty awesome for a long time.  At one time he was the best pass rushing DT in the NFL.   2000 NFC defensive player of the year.   Member of the 2000's NFL all decade team.  Teller had a very nice couple years but has been in decline.   I don't think that one is particularly close but Teller was definitely one of Beane's day 3 HR's.

[mannc]

1 minute ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Glover was pretty awesome for a long time.  At one time he was the best pass rushing DT in the NFL.   2000 NFC defensive player of the year.   Member of the 2000's NFL all decade team.  Teller had a very nice couple years but has been in decline.   I don't think that one is particularly close but Teller was definitely one of Beane's day 3 HR's.

Fair enough…Glover’s been gone for a while and my memory of him is faded…

[BUFFALOBART]

On 7/5/2025 at 3:52 PM, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

171. Gary Anderson, K (1982)  (I guess this win for Buffalo would be Norm Pollam and the rest of the strong but largely forgotten group of scouts that Chuck Knox brought to Buffalo from his Rams days.  Greatest kicker pick ever according to article and foreshadowed in the Andre Reed pick write up.  This one sticks hard in the craw of one @BUFFALOBART who still holds Anderson in great disdain for intentionally failing his way off of the Bills roster)

 

 

 

The 1998 NFC Championship game, was karma served up cold, for Gary Anderson! He was 1.000 for field goals, and PAT's in the regular season. -Kicks a clunker in the conference title game, and the Vikes folded. 

Think about Superbowl XXV, and imagine Anderson lining up, for that 47 yarder, with a few seconds left. 

Enough. You'll have to excuse me, as I have to go watch Buffalo '66, again....... 😅

[Mr. WEO]

AP had great #'s in Minny, then mediocre on 6 subsequent teams (barring 1 season over 1000 in WAS).  He became Frank Gore.

 

Vikings were 1-4 in the playoffs in his time with them.  4 winning seasons out of 10 there.   Not a game changer.  

 

Josh Allen is a far more valuable and therefore a much better pick than AP.  It's not even debatable really....

[MJS]

Surprised to not see Thurman Thomas over Strahan. Thomas won an MVP. I think he had the better career.

 

Also, Jim Kelly should get the nod over Revis. QB is just so much more important than any other position.

 

I'm actually fine with Peterson over Allen for now. Both won an MVP. And we know that Allen will surpass him when all is said and done. Let Peterson keep the seat warm for a bit.

[dave mcbride]

On 7/6/2025 at 9:19 PM, mannc said:

It’s amazing how many first round slots have generated only one or fewer hall of fame players after all these years (by my count, at least eight).

 

To my eye, the third round looks stronger than round two, but I didn’t do a close comparison.

 

One other Bills pick that should have made the list: Wyatt Teller (166) over Leroi Glover.  Teller picked by Beane the same year as Josh Allen…

 

??? - Glover was a four-time all pro and once led the NFL with 17 sacks. Teller has been good, but he’s a pale shadow of Glover, careeer-wise.

[Bray Wyatt]

Just chiming in to say Troupacabra is an excellent name!

[Southern McButterpants.]

On 7/5/2025 at 3:52 PM, BADOLBILZ said:

42. Rob Gronkowski, TE (2010)

Four Super Bowl rings. Four first-team All-Pro appearances.   A uniquely dominant prime as a pass-catching tight end with elite blocking ability.   (The Buddy Nix Bills selected the Troupacabra instead of the local product)

Can we please get off the Torell Troup gang up.  the guy broke his fricken back for crissakes...

[BADOLBILZ]

3 minutes ago, Southern McButterpants. said:

Can we please get off the Torell Troup gang up.  the guy broke his fricken back for crissakes...

 

 

As with MOST player criticism,  the criticism is ultimately directed at the people who selected or paid or kept playing that player when they failed etc..   He was a reach for need.   Day 3 talent but they needed a body at NT so Nix very carelessly used a borderline premium pick on him.   Even though the pick of an under-sized NT was likely to look incredibly stupid regardless in an NFL landscape where good NT's were signing 1 year $4M type FA deals.  Unburdened by the need to be proven right, the Bills then spoke in hushed tones about how good he would have been.  He became a mythical beast.   Hence, the nickname associated with the draft pick.