Best #1 Pick 1980 through 1999?

[Yappi]

Since we did the 2000 to present, curious what people would think of the #1 picks from the 80s/90s?

1999 Tim Couch (QB) Kentucky (Cleveland Browns)
1998 Peyton Manning (QB) Tennessee (Indianapolis Colts)
1997 Orlando Pace (OT) Ohio State (St. Louis Rams)
1996 Keyshawn Johnson (WR) Southern Cal. (New York Jets)
1995 Ki-Jana Carter (RB) Penn State (Cincinnati Bengals)
1994 Dan Wilkinson (DT) Ohio State (Cincinnati Bengals)
1993 Drew Bledsoe (QB) Washington State (New England Patriots)
1992 Steve Emtman (DT) Washington (Indianapolis Colts)
1991 Russell Maryland (DT) Miami, (Fla.) (Dallas Cowboys)
1990 Jeff George (QB) Illinois (Indianapolis Colts)
1989 Troy Aikman (QB) UCLA (Dallas Cowboys)
1988 Aundray Bruce (LB) Auburn (Atlanta Falcons)
1987 Vinny Testaverde (QB) Miami, (Fla.) (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
1986 Bo Jackson (RB) Auburn (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
1985 Bruce Smith (DE) Virginia Tech (Buffalo Bills)
1984 Irving Fryar (WR) Nebraska (New England Patriots)
1983 John Elway (QB) Stanford (Baltimore Colts)
1982 Kenneth Sims (DT) Texas (New England Patriots)
1981 George Rogers (RB) South Carolina (New Orleans Saints)
1980 Bill Sims (RB) Oklahoma (Detroit Lions)

 

[nwwarrior09]

Peyton Manning, although I think there are a handful of other acceptable answers.

 

[GoArrowsGo]

Peyton. Although Aikman, Bo, and Pace would be good options as well

 

[cjb56]

Manning, Pace and Bruce Smith.

 

[clarkgriswold]

Wow, that's a much better list than the 2000-2019 list. I'd say Manning but there are some fantastic players in that group.

 

[LaSalle2016]

Manning imo bc he is a top 3 QB ever. It’s interesting to see how much better these number 1 picks are than the 2000s.

 

[Raider6309]

Solid list. I’d say Manning

 

[wolves82]

No mentions for Elway? Granted, he was #1 for the Colts and never played for them. My ranked list:
1 - Manning
2 - Elway
3 - Smith
4 - Pace

 

[cjb56]

No mentions for Elway? Granted, he was #1 for the Colts and never played for them. My ranked list:
1 - Manning
2 - Elway
3 - Smith
4 - Pace

That would be the top four.

 

[SayMyName]

Has to be Manning over Aikman. He has him in almost every category.