First Overall Draft Picks

The other day I got to thinking about how many quarterbacks in the NFL were drafted with the first overall pick and decided to do a little research.  Here are some random tidbits about the first overall picks from each of the big three sports:

NBA

• In the past 15 years, 9 centers, 4 forwards, and 3 point guards (all of those in the past four drafts) have been taken first overall.
• This group has won 5 MVP Awards (Tim Duncan x 2 and LeBron James x 3)
• 8 of those picks have made it to an All-Star Game.
• The first picks in the NBA has been a mixed bag.  There were a lot of great picks, a couple of terrible picks, and quite of few good contributors.  For the most part, only a couple of them have been complete failures.
• Best Pick - most would say it was LeBron James in 2003, but I'm going with Tim Duncan in 1997.  First off, Tim has won 4 championships to LeBron's 1, plus Tim never stabbed the team that drafted him in the back on national television.
• Worst Pick - this was a tough one because there were a lot of terrible picks like Michael Olowakandi and Kwame Brown, but I'm going with Greg Oden.  He was drafted first 5 years ago and has only played in roughly 80 games or one full season in his five year career.  Also, Kevin Durant was taken 2nd and he has already won two scoring titles and taken his team to the Finals.

MLB

• In the past 21 seasons, 13 everyday players and 8 pitchers have been taken first overall.
• Of the 8 pitchers taken first overall, 6 either didn't work out or were busts (Brien Taylor, Paul Wilson, Kris Benson, Matt Anderson, Bryan Bullington, and Luke Hochevar) and of the 13 everyday players taken first, you could only say one was a bust (Matt Bush).
• These guys have won 6 MVP Awards (A-Rod x 3, Joe Mauer, Josh Hamilton, and Chipper Jones)
• 11 of the first overall picks made an All-Star game.
• While Pat Burrell was taken first overall and never made an All-Star Game, he did hit a lot of homers and win two World Series.
• Best Pick - really tough choice because there were actually a lot of really good players chosen first overall, like A-Rod, Josh Hamilton, Adrian Gonzalez, Joe Mauer, Justin Upton, David Price, Stephen Strasburg, and Bryce Harper.  But I'm going to go with a heavily biased pick and chose Chipper Jones.  He was drafted first in 1990 and has been to 8 All-Star Games, won 2 Silver Sluggers, an NL MVP Award (1999), and a World Series (1995).  He is considered one of the greatest 3rd Basemen and Switch Hitters of All-Time and most importantly, he has only played for one team his entire career, something A-Rod cannot say (plus he is a choker and used steroids).
• Worst Pick - Brien Taylor was taken first by the Yankees in 1991 and never threw a single pitch in the majors.  Suck it Yankees.

NFL

• In the last 15 years, 12 QB's, 1 OT, and 2 DE's were taken first overall.
• Of those 12 QB's, only three can be considered flops (Tim Couch, David Carr, and JaMarcus Russell) and of the other three non-QB picks, only one can be considered a flop (Courtney Brown).
• Only Peyton Manning has won an NFL MVP Award out of this group, but he has won it 4 times.
• 7 of these picks have made a Pro-Bowl and 9 of the 12 QB's are still starting today.
• Best Pick - it has to be Peyton Manning, he has won a Super Bowl and 4 MVP Awards on top of all of the ridiculous stats he has accumulated (3rd all-time in both passing yards and TD's).
• Worst Pick - too easy, it's JaMarcus Russell.  No need to explain, he was terrible from the first day he stepped onto an NFL field.  Plus it allowed the white community to find out what the hell Purple Drank is.

"Oh yeah, and there was one dog killer selected first overall."