Each NFL team’s best ever 1st-round draft pick

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QB. Miami. Jim Kelly. '83. player. 16. <p>The Class of 1983 is still the standard for which every NFL draft class that comes along is measured. It was an all-around solid class but the quarterback position is what defines this draft class. And the Buffalo Bills were one of the big-time beneficiaries of the best quarterback class in history.</p> <p>At No. 14 overall, in 1983, the Bills got their franchise quarterback when they selected Jim Kelly. And built around Kelly, the Bills went on an incredible run of four trips to the Super Bowl in a row. They lost all four of those Super Bowls but going to four in a row, especially losing them, is extremely difficult to do.</p><div class=

Before Kelly got to Buffalo, they were perennial losers and looked upon as a joke of a franchise. And as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, he lifted it to highs is hasn’t seen since he’s been gone. In 11 years, Kelly threw for 35,467 yards for No. 23 all time and 237 touchdowns for No. 26 all time.

Also in his 11 years, he went to five Pro Bowls and made the All-Pro team once. And his pot of gold at the end of this amazing rainbow came in the form of a gold jacket, representing the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Bills missed out on a few years because of the USFL but got enough out of their best 1st-round pick.

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'83

Jim Kelly

QB, Miami

Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills /

The Class of 1983 is still the standard for which every NFL draft class that comes along is measured. It was an all-around solid class but the quarterback position is what defines this draft class. And the Buffalo Bills were one of the big-time beneficiaries of the best quarterback class in history.

At No. 14 overall, in 1983, the Bills got their franchise quarterback when they selected Jim Kelly. And built around Kelly, the Bills went on an incredible run of four trips to the Super Bowl in a row. They lost all four of those Super Bowls but going to four in a row, especially losing them, is extremely difficult to do.

Before Kelly got to Buffalo, they were perennial losers and looked upon as a joke of a franchise. And as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, he lifted it to highs is hasn’t seen since he’s been gone. In 11 years, Kelly threw for 35,467 yards for No. 23 all time and 237 touchdowns for No. 26 all time.

Also in his 11 years, he went to five Pro Bowls and made the All-Pro team once. And his pot of gold at the end of this amazing rainbow came in the form of a gold jacket, representing the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Bills missed out on a few years because of the USFL but got enough out of their best 1st-round pick.

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