The top pick. It's the one perk of having a horrible season the previous year. Find out some of the best players chosen with the pick in the NFL Draft.

‌The NFL draft, instituted in 1937, has served as the building block for franchises. It started as an attempt to ensure each team had a fair shot to land college talent, since college players were considered free agents before the draft began. ESPN began televising the draft in 1980 and it now has grown into a three-day affair.

In preparation for the NFL draft, scheduled for April 23 to 25, we are taking a closer look at the history of the top 10 picks, with plenty of help from pro-football-reference.com. From O.J. Simpson to Eli Manning, here’s a closer look at the history of the No. 1 pick.