Chicago Bears: 15 Greatest First Round Picks of All-Time
1. player. 57. . RB. Jackson State Tigers, 1975 (No. 4). Walter Payton
“Sweetness” tops the list of the greatest number one draft picks in Bears history and why wouldn’t he? Walter Payton has been called by some the greatest player in NFL history, but even his toughest critics will place him in the top-5.
Payton was the NFL’s all-time leading rusher for two decades until Emmitt Smith knocked him off his perch. Payton was an incredible pass catcher and served as the team’s emergency quarterback for several years.
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Payton could juke a defender, blow by him with speed or simply run over him with power. He was fearless and ran with the kind of authority rarely seen in today’s NFL.
Payton was never afraid of contact and even ran towards it. He would single-handedly wear out a defense leading to dominant second half performances.
Most impressively, Payton’s prime years were lost on horrible Bears’ teams. The Bears had porous offensive lines and rarely had any talent other than Payton.
Defenses knew Payton was getting the ball and still couldn’t stop him. It wasn’t until later in Payton’s career where the Bears put together a strong offensive line and a solid offense that he could lead.
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Payton is the greatest Bear to ever lace up cleats and arguably the greatest running back in the history of the sport. The fact that the Bears selected him fourth overall in 1975 means he’s a no-brainer as the greatest first-round pick in Bears history.