Buffalo Bills: Top 10 First Round Draft Picks of All Time

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Nov 9, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills fans celebrate after a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /

8) Jim Ritcher

Selected: 16th overall in 1980

Played: 16 seasons, including 14 with the Bills

Career highlights: 2-time Pro Bowler, started on all four Bills Super Bowl teams

The chances are a lot of fans around the league will be unfamiliar with Jim Ritcher. However, as an unspectacular, tough-as-nails offensive lineman, he fit in perfectly with the blue-collar mentality of the Buffalo area.

To be fair to Ritcher, he did enter the NFL with an excellent reputation, after winning the Outland Trophy in 1979. This paved the way for the Bills to take him 16th overall in the 1980 draft.

In many ways the Berea, Ohio native’s career is a a tale of perseverance. Certainly, he deserved some success due to his longevity, ranking third in franchise history with 203 appearances.

Ritcher played on some truly terrible Bills teams through the majority of the first half of his career, but then went on to be a part of four Super Bowl teams. This success was highlighted personally, by finally getting recognition and being voted to two Pro Bowls, after the 1991 and 1992 seasons.

One final indication of the 58-year old’s importance is his ranking in 10th place among Bills players past and present for approximate value. Not bad for an offensive lineman.

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