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.

β€ŒThe 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.