Gerald Herbert/Associated Press
When a team owns the No. 1 pick in the draft, it possesses the potential to change the course of the franchise. For that change to be positive, though, a team has to make the right choice with that No. 1 pick.
For every Cam Newton, Peyton Manning, Orlando Pace or Bruce Smith taken at No. 1, there has been a JaMarcus Russell, a Courtney Brown or a Ki-Jana Carter. Whiffing on a No. 1 pick can be disastrous. Even when the first pick is a sound one, the long-term results can be discouraging.