With the NFL Draft about a month away I thought it might be fun to go back the last 20 years and examine how #1 picks actually panned out for the teams that selected them. 

1988 - Atlanta Falcons - Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn

• College stud, only started 42 games in his 11 year NFL career - BUST
• Tim Brown was picked 6th, Sterling Sharpe 7th

1989 - Dallas Cowboys - Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA

• Hall of Fame, 3 Super Bowl wins - HOME RUN

1990 - Indianapolis Colts - Jeff George, QB, Illinois

• Didn't he end up flipping off the fans in Indy? - BUST
• Emmit Smith was picked 17th

1991 - Dallas Cowboys - Russell Maryland, DT, Miami

• Did make one Pro Bowl, not enough for a number one pick - BUST

1992 - Indianapolis Colts - Steve Emtman, DT, Washington

• Was supposed to be a defensive God, always injured - BUST
• Troy Vincent was selected 7th

1993 - New England Patriots - Drew Bledsoe, QB, Washington State

• Great career, got the Pats going in the rigth direction - HOME RUN

1994 - Cincinnati Bengals - Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State

• Started strong then out of town on a rail - BUST
• Willie McGinest picked 4th

1995 - Cincinnati Bengals - Ki Jana Carter, RB, Penn State

• This guy couldn't miss!  Torn ACL, buh bye - BUST

1996 - New York Jets - Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC

• Only 4 years with the Jets, but good ones - DOUBLE

1997 - St. Louis Rams - Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State

• 7 time Pro-Bowler, certain Hall of Famer - HOME RUN

1998 - Indianapolis Colts - Peyton Manning, QB, Tennesee

• Duh - HOME RUN

1999 - Clevelnd Browns - Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky

• Another Duh - BUST
• They passed on Donovan McNabb, LMAO

2000 - Cleveland Browns - Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State

• One good season, then.....- BUST
• As a side note, Shaun Alexander,19th pick

2001 - Atlanta Falcons - Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech

• Ahhh, Ron Mexico, where is he now? Oh, that's right - DOUBLE

2002 - Houston Texans - David Carr, QB, Fresno State

• Does he even have a job? - BUST

2003 - Cincinnati Bengals - Carson Palmer, QB, USC - TRIPLE

• Needs to get the Bengals consistemtly in the playoffs

2004 - San Diego Chargers - Eli Manning, QB, Mississippi

• Rivers trade, working out ok for both teams - TRIPLE

2005 - San Francisco 49ers - Alex Smith, QB, Utah

• Has looked clueless so far - BUST

2006 - Houston Texans - Mario Williams, DE, NC State

• Is going to be a super star - HOME RUN

2007 - Oakland Raders - Jamarcus Russell, QB, LSU

• Hell, he survived 07, too early to tell - DOUBLE

So what does that tell us?  In the last 20 Drafts, in my opinion there have been 10 guys who have to be classified as busts, 4 certain Hall of Famers, and 6 guys who have had decent careers or look like they might work out.  Since this year's number one pick would probably command at least $35 million in guaranteed money and only about half of the number one picks amount to anything, I'd trade that #1 pick for as many other choices I could get and laugh all the way to the bank!  Are you listening Bill Parcells???