Every NFL team's best draft pick of all-time

Every NFL team’s best draft pick of all-time

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots gestures after a play in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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Mar 18, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts retired quarterback Peyton Manning speaks after he has his jersey is retired and a announcement is made that a statue will be built in his honor during in a press conference at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Indianapolis Colts – Peyton Manning (No. 1 pick, 1998)

There are other candidates, and they should be recognized. With that said, come on.

Peyton Manning has a laundry list of playoff-related issues when examining his full of body of work, but no one (and I mean, no one) will argue against him on the short list of greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. Manning retires as a 14-time Pro Bowl selection with seven first team All-Pro nods and five (!) NFL MVP awards. If that is not enough for you, Manning is also the all-time NFL leader in passing yards (71,940) and passing touchdowns (539) while falling in the top five in basically every worthwhile passing category.

In retrospect, it seems “easy” that the Colts would have selected Manning with the number one overall pick. After all, he had a fantastic college career and brought everything to the table as a quarterback that you could ever imagine. However, Indy had a real decision to make with Manning and Ryan Leaf and they clearly made the correct call.

Peyton Manning’s value is real, even if it came as the top pick, and sometimes, the best player in the organization’s history is also the best draft pick.

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