With Tampa Bay's selection of Jameis Winston this past April, there now have been 21 quarterbacks drafted No. 1 overall in the Super Bowl era, including 13 in the last 18 years.
|
|||||||||||||||||||
That streak, of course, includes Eli Manning, the top pick in 2004 who is entering his 12th season with the Giants.
While the NFL world watches how Winston starts his career -- the Giants will get a firsthand look when they play the Buccaneers in Week 9 -- NFL.com recently ranked the careers of the previous 20 and put Manning at No. 5, one place ahead of Jim Plunkett, the first pick in 1971 by the Patriots.
"Like Plunkett before him, Manning is a two-time Super Bowl winner," NFL Media editor Jim Reineking wrote.
"And, like Plunkett, Manning's two Super Bowl wins will make him an interesting case study once it is time for Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration. Manning was game MVP in both of his Super Bowl wins, including a shocking upset win over the then-unbeaten New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII."
Originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers and then acquired by the Giants shortly after, Manning trailed only his older brother Peyton among active quarterbacks on the list. The Denver Broncos quarterback, who was the first pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998, came in at No. 2 overall.
As for No. 1 of the No. 1 club, NFL.com gave the nod to another Broncos quarterback, John Elway, who was the first player taken in 1983 out of Stanford.
"Elway came of age with 'The Drive,' which led to the first of five Super Bowl appearances delivered by Elway," Reineking wrote. "He finally [won] the big one following the 1997 season. He then led the Broncos on a Super Bowl triumph repeat the following season."
