The NFL draft began in 1936 with team owners gathered in Philadelphia to make their picks off names written on a giant chalkboard. Those humble beginnings gave little evidence to the juggernaut the draft would become.
But even then, someone had to go No. 1.
For better or worse, in over 80 years of No. 1 picks, it's not always bright lights and big paychecks for players in the top spot. That’s because if they don’t deliver on the field — or in some cases, even make it to the field — the spotlight can start to feel more like a heat lamp in an interrogation room.
When this happens, careers go bust, and teams are left to wonder what could have been.
These are the worst No. 1 overall picks in NFL history.