The problem with having the first pick in any NFL draft is that it means you were the worst team in football and need a lot of work. Not just one player. The reality of it is your really going off potential. And most times this back fires. Which is why we see so many #1 picks not live up to all the expectations put in front of them. Some get close and that's not close enough for a team that just made you the franchise. The person everyone puts there hopes into. Because of this it is importantyou get "your guy." In a lot of cases teams just don't do that and the players taken under them excel making it look worse. I'll go over the past 10 years f the draft and show you a not of what I'm saying.
In 2001 Mike Vick was the first pick. The pick originally belonged to the Chargers and was traded to Atlanta. It got them Vick but cost them the 5th and 32nd picks. The players taken with them, Ladanian Tomlinson and Drew Brees. In hindsight it probably wasn't worth it to a Falcons team that's still battling to get over a playoff hump left by Vick after the dog fighting charges. Both Brees and LT will be Hall of Famers. Sorry Atlanta. Also taken in this draft was Reggie Wayne at 30. Adrian Wilson at 64 and speedy WR Steve Smith at 74. All better choices than Vick considering how things turned out.
In 02 my Texans took David Carr number 1. He never did love up to what was expected of him. No O line didn't help as he set the sack record and became gun shy in the pocket over years to come. Taken in that draft were Julius Peppers at #2. Sure we knew he'd be a beast but its got to be mentioned considering what he's done compared to Carr. Ed Reed was the 24th pick of this draft. Crazy he slipped to 24. Dwight Freeney was the 11th pick and continued to terrorize the AFC all the way until now. This is the perfect example of why the value of a #1 pick is so high.
03 saw Carson Palmer go first followed by a group of excellent players. Andre Johnson at 3. Terrell Suggs at 11. And get this Troy Polamalu was the 14th pick. Looking now you'd think both him and Ed Reed would have been #1 picks. Also taken in the late first was CB Nnamdi Asomugah. He was regarded as the best man corner in football till last season with the Eagles. He was almost the last pick of the first round.
In 04 the Chargers took Eli Manning #1. Then traded him straight across for Phillips Rivers. Eli 2 rings Phillip 0. That's the count. Bet the Chargers aren't to stoked about that outcome. All because they let Archie Manning talk them into a trade so his son wouldn't have to endure through a rebuilding process. They could have just traded down and got one of these players. Vince Wilford went at #21. RB Steven Jackson was the 24th pick. The man responsible for protecting Eli as well as his coaches daughter Chris Snee was the 34th pick. And this will sound crazy because of the talent he's developed into but Darnell Dockett was the 64tg pick that year.
Alex Smith wad the top pick in 05. He has finally shown what the Niner faithful expected from him this whole time. To win, consistently, and without turning the ball over. This draft was loaded in the back end though. Toddy White went to Atlanta with the 27th pick. Logan Mankins of the Patriots was the 32nd pick. Derrick Johnson MLB for the Chiefs went at 15. And the beast that is Demarcus Ware went 11th. He's worth any pick he's already over 100 career sacks and is the only person with a legit shot at the all time title right now.
2007 was loaded with talent too. Mario Williams went at 1. Talented and newly acquired Texan Jonathan Joseph was the 24th pick. Pro Bowler Demeco Ryan's was the 33rd pick. And the beat return man in the history of football Devin Hester was the 57th pick. Really weird because he did exactly what he does now at Miami. He broke every return record in college and couldn't be kicked to then so why he went so late is beyond me. Besides not having a natural position besides returner.
In 07 many of the at least a few players we consider dominant at there own positions now wee taken after #1 pick Jemarcus Russell. Patrick Willis was the 11th pick. Mr. "Revision Island" as many call him was the 14th pick my the Jets. And OLB Lamarr Woodley was the 56th pick out of Michigan. Every one of these players have already been to at least a Conference Championship and Russell hasn't even thrown for 50 TD's and won't.
Jake Long an O lineman went 1 to the Dolphins in 08. Again followed by players who've already accomplished a lot since they've entered the league. Jerod Mayo of the Patriots went 10th and is now a beast. Chris Johnson or CJ2K went to the Titans at 24. CB Brandon Flowers is one of the top flight corners in football and KC got him at 35 with a steal. And WR Desean Jackson of the Eagles went at number 49.
Matthew Stafford was the first pick in 09. He's been a bit injury prone but showed if given 16 games he could put up this season. But players were taken after him have performed since there entry. Clay Matthews was the 26th pick. CB Sean Smith was the 61st pick be Miami. He's been awesome paired with Vontae Davis. MLB Rey Maualuga was taken by the Bengals at 38. They have built there defense off late first and second round picks.and now have a great defensive unit.
2010 we knew Sam Bradford was the smart choice right? Since his entry into pro football he hasn't shown that he can get it done much like Stafford he's injured too much to make a difference. Jason Pierre Paul is now a super bowl champ. He was the 15th pick in this draft. Pat Angerer of the Colts led the league in tackling this arson. He was the 63rd pick of this draft. They should remember this as they now have the top pick and are already on the clock. Sensational TE Rob Gronkowski of New England was the 42nd pick of this draft. To say the least they got a steal.
I'm not going to go over the picks from last years draft. Its just to hard to judge talent after only one year of playing. But I have given you plenty of examples of why the first pick can be both a blessing and a burden. If not used wisely you can be put in a hole. How Indy handles this will determine there future and the future of the league for a long time. Knowing this do you just take Andrew Luck or do you do more homework before you commit?
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