Buffalo Bills: Top 10 First Round Draft Picks of All Time
By Paul Taylor
1) Bruce Smith
Selected: 1st overall in 1985
Played: 19 seasons, including 15 with the Bills
Career highlights: 11-time Pro Bowler, 9-time first team & 2-time second team All Pro, 2-time NFL defensive player of the year, NFL career record for sacks, Hall of Fame
Undoubtedly there will be a lot of debate in respect the order and/or who is and isn’t in this top 10 list. However, there should be no such issues in respect of Bruce Smith.
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As the first overall draft pick in 1985, big things were expected of Smith. However, even the Bills front office couldn’t have anticipated exactly how much of an impact he was going to have.
Simply put, the Norfolk, Virginia native achieved pretty much everything a player could ever want in a football career save for, unfortunately, a Super Bowl ring. He was the cornerstone of a Bills defense during the franchise’s most successful period.
Further, the 53-year old takes his place alongside the likes of Reggie White, Lawrence Taylor and Deacon Jones when it comes to discussing the top pass rushers of all time. Anyone who wants to make an argument for Smith as the best, need only point to his standing as the NFL career record holder for sacks.
When it came to the Hall of Fame, there was never any doubt Smith would be inducted on his first ballot. To this day, he stands as the Bills best ever first round draft pick, as well as the number one player in franchise history, unsurprisingly leading to his number being retired during the Bills’ 2016 home opener.
Next. A look at the Bills offense after free agency. dark
What do you think of our choices and order for the top 10? Do you agree with them or did we miss anyone out? Let us know in the comments section below.