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NFL Draft: Best first-round draft pick in each slot in history

By Brad Weiss

IRVING, UNITED STATES: Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys rushes as Atlanta Falcons defenders pursue during the fourth quarter at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas 20 September. Smith rushed for two touchdowns and passed Tony Dorsett to become the NFL's fourth all-time leading rusher in the Cowboys 24-7 win. AFP PHOTO Paul BUCK (Photo credit should read PAUL BUCK/AFP/Getty Images)
IRVING, UNITED STATES: Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys rushes as Atlanta Falcons defenders pursue during the fourth quarter at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas 20 September. Smith rushed for two touchdowns and passed Tony Dorsett to become the NFL's fourth all-time leading rusher in the Cowboys 24-7 win. AFP PHOTO Paul BUCK (Photo credit should read PAUL BUCK/AFP/Getty Images) /
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(Original Caption) Sporting great big smiles following the Cleveland Browns 38-14 victory over the Los Angeles Rams are Otto Graham (l) and coach Paul Brown. Graham, who is retiring from professional football after 10 years with the Browns and coach Paul Brown, was outstanding in his final performance as a professional player.
(Original Caption) Sporting great big smiles following the Cleveland Browns 38-14 victory over the Los Angeles Rams are Otto Graham (l) and coach Paul Brown. Graham, who is retiring from professional football after 10 years with the Browns and coach Paul Brown, was outstanding in his final performance as a professional player. /

50. . QB. 1944- Northwestern. Otto Graham. 4. player

The helmet above states that Otto Graham was selected by the Detroit Lions with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1944 NFL Draft, and that would be a true statement. However, while he is the best player drafted at this draft slot, he never actually played for the Lions, but instead would play his entire Pro Football career with the Cleveland Browns.

During his time at Northwestern, Browns owner Paul Brown saw enough of his play that he offered him a monthly stipend during his time in the war. When Graham was finally ready to play for the Browns, it was not until the 1946 NFL season, but he made an instant impact for the franchise, becoming one of the better players the game had ever seen.

A three-time NFL Most Valuable Player, Graham also led the Browns to three NFL Championships, and seven in total if you include the four he won for the team in the AAFC. Graham led the Browns to a title in his final season in the NFL, giving the franchise back-to-back championships. They would win one more in 1964, and have not won since.

Graham was a special player during his era, and during his time as the starting quarterback, his Browns went an incredible 114-20-4, giving him the highest winning percentage in NFL history. In his ten season with the Browns, Cleveland went to the championship game every year, winning seven times, which is a dynasty that has been hard to match since.

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