Being selected No. 1 overall in a draft is an honor and tribute to talent. Sometimes it works out and other times it doesn’t. A look at 14 players who were the top pick in the draft and went on to earn a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. One comes with an asterisk: He was an AFL selection.
Bill Dudley
Bill Dudley played three seasons each with the Steelers (1942, ’45-46), Detroit Lions (’47-49), and Washington Redskins (’50-51-53). His career was interrupted in 1943 and ’44 when he served with the Army Air Corp during World War II. He returned to the Steelers during the 1945 campaign. The 1946 season was, for Dudley, one for the record book; as he led the league in rushing, punt returns, interceptions, and “lateral passes” attempted. He was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player that year. The following season, Dudley scored 11 touchdowns for the Lions on one punt return, one interception return, seven pass receptions, and two rushes. Six times Dudley was named first- or second-team All-NFL.