Draft Time: Best Picks Ever?

This is by far one of the most exciting days on the NFL calendar. From the time your team loses their 7th or 8th game, or when the final second ticks off the Super Bowl clock, this is what we wait for. Sure there is the Combine, Free Agency and small off-season moves....but this is what football fans love the most.

It's a new beginning, where that one or two players can make a huge impact. Kids can determine what new jersey they want to for their birthday or Christmas. Your QB and Middle LB can see what new players will be added to their team and start planning out with the coaches how they'll be used. Owners can start thinking about marketing around them, stadiums put up the new posters of them...and so much more than just adding a player to the payroll. Dreams are made, tears are shed, families from rough pasts become immediately jolted to social elite status. It's an amazing time and though it's more commercialized than ever, and 80% of us hate that it's now spread over 3 days in May...we accept it, and will turn in to follow like our wives addicted to "The Voice" or "The Bachelor."

In keeping with the Draft's mystique and all the aura around it, I've come up with the Top 5 BEST EVER selections for each round, in the history of the NFL. I've taken into account value (where they were selected in that round), their career in stats & production, meaning to that team, and their impact on the NFL. (Remember to take into effect the Draft used to be 25 rounds, then 12, and only went to 7 rounds in 1994). These are the best 5 picks by round, no particular stacking order.

1st Round: Dan Marino (27th pick-1983); Jack Youngblood-DE (20th pick-1971); E.Smith-RB (17th pick-1990, All Time Leading Rusher); Jerry Rice-WR (16th pick-1985; nothing else to say about him); and then take your pick between Ronnie Lott, John Elway, Peyton or Aikman or even Deion Sanders-arguably the best at their positions EVER.

2nd Round: Jack Lambert-LB (46th pick); Singletary-LB (38th pick-1981); Larry Allen-G/T (46th pick-1994; BEAST); Favre-QB (33rd pick-1991; ya, he was pretty good); Howie Long-DE (48th-1981)

3rd Round: this is where Super Bowls are won. I know the 1st round has the "sexy" picks and that is where all the pub goes, and the players who bring the media power in; however, the 3rd-5th rounds is where you cand find not only very important depth, but hidden gem superstars. The list: Joe Montana-QB (you may have heard of him, 82nd pick-1979); F.Tarkenton-QB (actually drafted as a WR but became HOFer for the Vikings, 29th pick in 1961); T.O.-WR (yes, he makes the list. He learned how to keep his mouth shut & be a team player, he's the greatest of all time; 89th pick-1996); Ray Nitschke-LB (36th pick-1958); Mel Blount-CB (53rd pick-1970)

4th Round: Charles Haley-DE (96th pick-1986; only player to win 5 SB's); Steve Largent-WR (117th-1976); Charlie Joiner-WR (93rd-1969; one of the most durable & successful WR's in history); Harry Carson-LB (105th-1976); Jared Allen-DE (126th-2004; 128 sacks and counting in 10 season, not bad for a "too small DE" out of college).

5th Round: Larry Centers-FB (115th-1990, best catching FB in history of the game); Rodney Harrison-S (145th-1994); Herschel Walker-RB (114th-1985; changed the Cowboys history by being part of the largest & most lopsided trade in history in 1989); Mike Webster-C (125th-1974; 4 time SB Champ; this is where you find your Center for a decade, not in the 1st Rd); Zach Thomas-LB (154th-1996; true leader of the Dolphins, All Decade Team 2000's); Hardy Nickerson-LB (122nd-1987; became the leader for the Bucs and led them out of purgatory; All Decade of the 90's).

6th Round: It gets a little harder in the 6th and 7th. Most teams now are happy with their drafts and let off a bit. But this is where you can set your teams up to have flexibility in free agency. Finding low round gems who can blossom and low cap hits for 2-5 years. Greatest ever 6th Round pick? It's not even close, Tom Brady-QB (199th-2000; resume speaks for itself, a Top 10 QB ever); Terrelle Davis-RB (Broncos took a flyer on him in '95 and he rushed them & Elway to Back to Back SB's; 2K yard season as well in '98); Jay Novacek-TE (1985 selection and helped Dallas win big in the 90's); Cato June-LB (2003).

7th Round: The best ever in the 7th round? Pretty easy choice to take Shannon Sharpe-TE (#192-1990; helped the Broncos dominate in the 90's and then moved on to the 'new' Ravens and ended up with 3 SB's and 10K+ yards; Gary Anderson-K (171st-1982; made two All Decade Teams; this is where you draft a K to develop, not in the 3rd-5th rounds); M.Colston-WR (#252 in '06; 600+ recs, 8300+ yds in 8 yrs); Donald Driver-WR (#213 in '99; very solid career, and possible HOF due to numbers-743 recs and 10K+ yds in 14 seasons); Tom Nalen-C (#218 in '94; another solid argument about finding your decade long Center in late rounds; anchored the Broncos for 15 yrs).

So there you have it folks, the best picks in each round. There are some arguments to have for sure, as the game has changed and my thoughts are a bit different in that regard:

-I wouldn't want to take a WR in the 1st round unless a Megatron is there; you can find value in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and develop stars (Vikings, Cowboys, Lions)

-I wouldn't take a QB unless Peyton is there in the 1st round, IF you are a team coming off a 10-16 LOSS season; they may get you 2-3 wins, but you have too many holes to fill (Browns, Jags, Texans)

-I'm not a big fan of taking a LT or RT in the Top 15 picks, unless you can be sure you are getting your franchise blind side protector for 12 years (Dolphins, Raiders) AND you have somebody worth protecting

-NEVER, and I repeat NEVER take a RB in the 1st round, unless the game changes. Too many good backs coming out of college where you can find value in the 2nd-4th rounds and find the next T.Davis or M.Turner or C.Portis.

Please visit my full website at: www.victorysportshuddle.com



*Thanks to www.BleacherReport.com and www.FoxSports.com for insight and good reads.