How well NFL teams with two Top 5 picks have performed during the Super Bowl era

In the NFL, there are 6 teams with a 1-5 record or worse. Of course, the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers are two of them. The draft picks for those two teams are in the possession of Ryan Poles.

Even though the 2023 season has only had six games played, the Bears and Panthers are both having poor seasons. Only six teams appear to be “competing” for the first choice in the draught as of this moment. That most definitely indicates that the Bears will have two picks in the top five for the upcoming season.

Even though it hardly ever occurs, this is not an unusual occurrence. How did teams fare in certain situations? In the Super Bowl era, let’s look at how frequently it has occurred. The Chicago Bears, who chose Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers with the third and fourth picks, were the only team to succeed in doing so before the Super Bowl era. Despite the fact that they are both Hall of Famers, it never really aided the Bears in the win column. If the Bears do find themselves in this situation, hopefully 2024 will offer different outcomes in terms of wins and losses.

Buffalo Bills in 1979

The Buffalo Bills were the first team in the Super Bowl era to get this chance, and it first didn’t seem to go well for them. They chose Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau with the first overall pick. Cousineau, though, made the decision to join with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL rather than the NFL. Before he made the decision to join the NFL again, Cousineau dominated the CFL for three years. Still holding onto his rights, the Bills dealt them to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 1983 first-round pick that they used to choose Jim Kelly (who later left for the USFL before joining Buffalo in 1986).

The Bills selected Clemson wide receiver Jerry Butler with the fifth overall choice. Butler’s career got off to a good start, but he lost the remainder of that season and the next one in 1984 due to a knee injury sustained in the 1983 season. Butler made his return in 1985, but he never fully recovered, and by 1986, he had left the league.

Baltimore Colts in 1982

Thanks to the Bert Jones deal to the LA Rams, the Colts acquired the second and fourth picks in the 1982 draft. Johnie Cooks of Mississippi State was chosen by the Colts with the second overall pick. Cooks’ career was respectable, but it never lived up to the fact that he was selected second overall. In 1988, he switched from the Colts to the NY Giants, where he won a Super Bowl as a backup in 1990. In 1991, Cleveland became the place where he finished his playing days.

They selected Art Schlichter, an Ohio State quarterback, with the fourth overall pick. If you are unfamiliar with Schlichter’s tale, it is a fascinating one. He struggled with gambling throughout college and into the NFL. He accrued hundreds of thousands of dollars in gambling debts, which resulted in a season-long suspension for him in 1983. The Colts used the first overall pick in 1983 to select John Elway, who resisted playing for the team and forced his way to the Denver Broncos, knowing at that point that his career was dead.

Indianapolis Colts in 1992

You can see why Peyton Manning was regarded as the franchise saviour when the Colts selected him in 1998 when you consider that they were twice on this list and how things turned out for them both. Due to the trade of Chris Chandler to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a first-round pick the previous season, the Colts not only had two picks in the top five in 1992, but they also held the first and second overall picks.

They selected defensive end Steve Emtman from Washington with the first overall choice. Emtman, a defensive lineman who placed fourth in the Heisman and virtually every other collegiate award, was regarded as a special prospect. Emtman was a failure, shocking many. He played in the NFL for 6 years (3 with the Colts), recording a total of 8 sacks.

The Colts selected linebacker Quentin Coryatt from Texas A&M with the second overall pick. Coryatt was a reliable player for the Colts but was never particularly outstanding. His career came to an end due to injuries, and he retired following the 1999 season.

Indianapolis Colts in 1994

Hey, there they are—the Colts once more! Talk about a franchise that has struggled for almost 20 years to overcome their own obstacles. The Colts held the second and fifth overall picks in this draft. They picked Marshall Faulk, a running back from San Diego State, at number two overall. Hey, a significant choice has arrived at last! While playing for the Colts, Faulk had an excellent career, but in 1998, he refused to sign a deal because it was too small. Faulk was an important member of the Greatest Show on Turf, which won a Super Bowl, but Bill Polian would have none of it and dealt him to the St. Louis Rams for second and fifth round picks.

They chose Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts with the fifth overall pick. Albert’s professional life was completely insignificant. After three seasons, he left the league and entered the world of college administration. At his alma mater, he is currently the athletic director.

2000 Washington Football Team now known as the Commanders

With the help of the Ricky Williams deal that Mike Ditka made earlier and a trade up with the San Francisco 49ers, Washington was able to acquire the second and third overall picks in this draft.

Washington selected Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington with the second pick. With three Pro Bowl appearances and two second-team All-Pro selections in his first four seasons, Arrington’s career got off to a tremendous start. Because of the way his agent handled his contract, Arrington had legal problems that caused him to fall out with Washington. Additionally, he suffered knee ailments that decreased his output, and after the 2006 season, a devastating motorcycle accident put an end to his career.

Washington selected Alabama tackle Chris Samuels with the third overall choice. Samuels spent ten years playing for Washington and made six Pro Bowls. Samuels is a member of the Commanders Ring of Fame and had a great career.

Cleveland Browns of 2018

The Houston Texans’ trade up for Deshaun Watson in the 2017 draught gave the Browns the first and fourth picks in the 2022 draught.

Baker Mayfield, an Oklahoma quarterback whose career never took off in Cleveland and who is presently starting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are already the fourth team he has played for in his career, was chosen by the Browns with the first pick.

They selected Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward with their fourth pick. With the Browns, Ward has excelled. He has been selected to two Pro Bowls and has 65 passes intercepted in his career. The Browns extended Ward’s deal by $100 million with him 18 months ago.

Houston Texans 2023

The Texans had the second and third picks in the draft this past year. Due to Lovie Smith’s victory in the final week of the season, they were awarded the second pick. In exchange for Arizona trading up from position 12, they were awarded the third pick.

They chose Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud with the second choice. Stroud is off to a terrific start and is destined to be the top quarterback in the 2023 class.

They selected Alabama edge Will Anderson with the third round. Through the first five games of the season, Anderson has only recorded one sack, but he is still performing effectively. He’s already engaged 24 pressures, made 20 tackles, and is doing a good job of stopping the run as well.

Although it’s way too soon to declare it a success, the Texans’ draft picks in 2023 may end up being the best top-five picks in the whole Super Bowl era.