In case you haven’t heard the 2023 NFL Draft is just around the corner with the first round taking place on Thursday, April 27. With insider reports and mock drafts galore dominating the headlines over the next few weeks, all eyes will be on who the Carolina Panthers select with the first overall pick.
In the spirit of anticipating the first name called in this year’s NFL Draft, 247Sports recently compiled a list of the top 10 No. 1 overall picks dating back to 2000.
Unsurprisingly, the list is heavily dominated by signal-callers with Eli Manning (Ole Miss), Matthew Stafford (Georgia), Cam Newton (Auburn), Michael Vick (Virginia Tech), and Joe Burrow (LSU) claiming the top five spots, in that order.
Coming in at No. 6 and the first non-quarterback in this top 10 list? None other than former Texas A&M Aggie Myles Garrett, who was selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2017.
Not every No. 1 overall NFL draft pick is created equal.
Below we rank the top 10 No. 1 overall picks since 2000. 👇 pic.twitter.com/tzUBhiVwvH
— 247Sports (@247Sports) April 13, 2023
Garrett is just one of two non-QBs on this list, with the other in offensive lineman Jake Long (Michigan). It’s not surprising to see this list dominated by signal-callers as it is arguably the most important position in the NFL. But the fact that Garrett is among these names speaks volumes in the impact he’s made as an edge rusher, which has increasingly become the x-factor to an NFL defense.
The former Aggie has been named to the Pro Bowl four times in his NFL career and was selected as First-Team AP All-Pro in back-to-back seasons (2020 and 2021). Garrett is riding a streak of five straight seasons with double-digit sacks, which includes 32 over his last two alone.
His NFL career is far from over and yet he’s already regarded as one of the top-tier pass rushers in the league.
When looking at the other No. 1 picks ranked ahead of him, what most notably stands between him and the others is either a Super Bowl championship or at the very least a Super Bowl appearance. Garrett has plenty of time to add that chapter to his storybook career, and we’ll all be rooting for him to experience that triumph in the future.
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