(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The Syracuse football team has a storied history with the NFL Draft. So ITLH decided to rank every first round pick in SU history!
My favorite time of the year is the NFL Draft. Players who have dedicated their entire lives to the game get an opportunity to see their NFL dreams realized. There has only been a few football programs with a storied history like the one built at Syracuse.
If you can believe it, 20 players (technically 21 more on that later) in the illustrious history of this program have heard their name called in the first round of the NFL Draft. With it being NFL Draft season, we decided to do the impossible task of ranking every first rounder in Orange history.
We’ll be crossing multiple generations and not everyone will be happy, but that’s why we do these lists. Every single first round pick will be ranked based on several key factors:
- The majority of the ranking will be based on how they played during their Syracuse Football career, not NFL. While the pro game will be considered, it won’t be as important.
- Positional value.
- Impact on team.
There hasn’t been an Orange first rounder in years, but hopefully by looking back at history we can spark a fuse for future first rounders at Syracuse University. So let’s get our scuba gear on and take a deep dive into this list.
- 7th overall pick in the 1960 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.
- Played for Syracuse from 1957 through 1959.
Most fans won’t remember who Roger Davis is. But to know his importance, all you have to do is look at the year. 1959? Why is that so important. Well that was the year that the Syracuse Football program went 11-0 and won the National Championship (Cotton Bowl).
Of course they did that on the back of Ernie Davis aka the Elmira Express. Roger Davis was the leading blocker for Davis and helped him get over 780 yards from scrimmage. Davis was later recognized as a member of the Syracuse All-Century team back in 1999.
Roger had multiple opportunities after his time at Syracuse. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the seventh overall pick in the NFL draft. But he was also selected in the AFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
Despite being drafted in the AFL, Davis decided to play his entire career on the NFL side of things for the Bears, Los Angeles Rams, and the New York Giants. Davis just missed out on the AFL-NFL merger which created the Super Bowl. Offensive linemen never get enough love on lists and despite being ranked last on this ranking, I hope fans can respect his role in Ernie Davis’s legacy.
- 19th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
- Played for Syracuse from 2009 through 2012.
Justin Pugh holds the honorary distinction of being the last Syracuse football player drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. It’s fair to say that the dome dudes have been in a bit of a slump lately as it pertains to the NFL Draft factory.
Although with Pugh, the Orange have nothing to be ashamed about. He was a top-20 draft pick and was supposed to protect Eli Manning’s blindside. But because of a rash of injuries, we were forced to see Pugh’s versatility with Big Blue at the next level over the last several years.
Pugh has played every position outside of center for the Giants and played so well that he just got paid by the Arizona Cardinals. But it all started back in the good ole Big East days at Syracuse. Pugh paid his dues and earned all conference honors in every season he was with the Orange.
As time passes Pugh has an opportunity to work his way even higher on this list, but as it stands he’s the 20th best first round draft pick in SU history. That’s no slight, it just speaks to the incredible history this program has had over the years.
- 26th overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
- Played for Syracuse from 1985 through 1987.
This is one I really struggled with. Some people will lose their minds that Gregory is all the way back here at No. 19, but it’s hard to look at the lack of the NFL career and go wow what could’ve been.
On one hand Ted Gregory was Aaron Donald, before Aaron Donald. He was a little tea pot short and stout at 6-foot-1 (maybe on a slanted hill) and 260 pounds. Not typical by any means for the position, but he played with tremendous heart.
While he is widely considered the biggest draft bust in Denver Broncos history and quite frankly has been discussed as one of the biggest busts in NFL history as well. That has to affect the ranking and it did.
Although I give a lot of credit for what he did at Syracuse. He was the key cog in that 1987 11-0-1 season. In 1986 Gregory missed most of the season due to a broken leg and SU was terrible against the run (105th in the country), when he returned for that magical 1987 year SU was ranked No. 1 vs the run. Coincidence? I think not.
- 10th overall pick in the 1973 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts.
- Played for Syracuse from 1969 through 1972.
People in today’s world can’t truly appreciate what Joe Ehrmann meant to the Syracuse program, the closest you can get is by watching the tape. He was a former All-American who played primarily defensive tackle for the Cuse.
One of the most prestigious honors is getting recognized by the All-Century team, check that one off the bucket list for Joe. He served 10 years in the NFL before migrating over to the USFL for a few years because he still had that competitive fire.
In this new age of skipping out on school so you can get to the pros, academics are often lost in the shuffle. That wasn’t the case for Ehrmann who received the highest honor in that regard with the George Arents Pioneers Medal.
After his playing career, his lord and savior Jesus Christ sent him on a new mission to help out those in need. He now works as a minster and is one of the most charitable men I’ve ever read about.
- 22nd overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
- Played for Syracuse from 1994 through 1997.
The first half of the dynamic duo at safety the Orange had in the mid to late 1990’s appears on our countdown. Tebucky Jones was so talented he was able to play both sides of the ball. He showed his prowess with eight rushing touchdowns in his career and four interceptions in his senior season. That kind of versatility screams Patriots, so it’s no wonder that they took him in the 1998 NFL Draft.
While this comprehensive list includes both college and NFL resumes, Tebucky is most famous for his role in the New England Patriots first Super Bowl victory of the Tom Brady era. It was one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history with the greatest show on turf expected to rout New England, but as we all know that didn’t happen.
The Rams were down 17-3 in the fourth quarter when Kurt Warner fumbled on fourth and three at the goal line and Tebucky scooped it and brought it back to the house. Sadly thanks to Willie McGinest the play was called back, but the turnover is what was most important and critical in the Patriots winning that first Lombardi.
Currently Jones is the head coach of his former high school team and is living comfortably in Farmington, Conneticut.
- 30th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
- Played for Syracuse from 1996 through 1999.
Certainly one of the most underrated Syracuse football first round picks of all time. When I polled a few people prior to making this list on who were some of the first round picks from Syracuse they could name, not one person remembered Keith Bulluck. Sad, because he was a special talent not only with the Orange but in the pros as well.
Bulluck was a coverage linebacker. He had at least one interception every year of his NFL career outside of one, that’s impressive. Bulluck finished his career with 21 interceptions, that’s more than most defensive backs.
Most first round picks are expected to be impact players right away. When I looked up NFL Draft analytics, linebackers average over 10 starts per season, per Cleveland.com. Bulluck had a different journey. Despite being a first rounder, Bulluck didn’t even become a starter until 2002.
He grinded his way into his position after serving as a backup and a special teams player for the Titans. He had a similar rise at Syracuse paving his way as a safety and a linebacker . The year people remember most is 1999 where Bulluck was voted SU’s MVP (aka the Bill Horr award).
- 22nd overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.
- Played for Syracuse from 1966 through 1968.
Sometimes in life you’re just in the right place at the right time. That seemed to be the case for Art Thoms during his collegiate career at Syracuse and quite honestly also with the Oakland Raiders at the next level.
When DJ Khaled came up with the song ‘All I do is Win’ back in 2010, he was likely thinking of Art Thoms at Syracuse although I can’t confirm that report. In his SU career he only ever lost nine games. While in the win column he garnered 22 wins and several bowl victories under his belt.
If only the accolades stopped there, but they don’t, he was also a member of the All-Century team AND the All-Millennium team (wait that’s a thing). He also won a Super Bowl with the Raiders back in 1976 just for fun.
Overall he played in 98 career games and that includes a pit stop in Philadelphia to put a bow on his NFL career. He currently is giving back to sports as a girls basketball coach in Campolindo. Certainly another player who gets lost in the shuffle due to the switching of generations.
- 22nd overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
- Played for Syracuse from 1996 through 2000.
If you ever get asked who is the fastest player in Syracuse football history at trivia night, the answer is Will Allen. Allen ran a 4.29 40 which is one of the fastest 40 yard dash times ever and that blazing speed helped him at every level of his football career.
Allen is actually a local boy born and raised, he went to Corcoran high school in Syracuse and when it came to selecting a college he wanted to stay where he felt most comfortable and SU couldn’t have been happier with that decision.
After registering 17 interceptions in high school, expectations were high heading into college. Spoiler alert, he didn’t disappoint. Allen ended up being a first round pick, went on to the pros and played 12 seasons, recorded 15 interceptions, over 500 tackles, five sacks, and seven forced fumbles.
Sadly it hasn’t been a happy ending since the conclusion of his NFL career. In 2015, Allen pleaded guilty to federal fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering after his involvement in a $35 million ponzi scheme. He was sentenced to six years in prison and has to pay back over $16 million in restitution.
- 14th overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Played for Syracuse from 1958 through 1960.
If the name rings a bell, it should. Art Baker shared the same backfield as SU legend Ernie Davis. They were both featured in the 2008 film, The Elmira Express, talking Syracuse football and the Ernie Davis story.
Baker was an All-American sharing the work load with Davis, not that Ernie needed many breaks. If you just look at the stats you wouldn’t understand Baker’s impact at Syracuse. He ‘only’ accumulated 1,200 rushing yards in his three year career, but he also helped lead the way as a key blocker.
Baker did something that Davis, Jim Brown, and not even Floyd Little accomplished. He was the only college athlete to ever win division one titles in two different sports in the same year (1959). Obviously SU won the National Championship that year plus Baker was a champion in wrestling.
That wrestling background helped him have a prolific career beyond Syracuse. He played in the AFL for a couple of years with the Buffalo Bills and apparently loved the cold so much that he went north of the border to spend another four years in the CFL. Regardless of the success in the pros, Baker will forever be remembered as being a key cog of the 1959 National Championship team.
- 25th overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Played for Syracuse from 1994 through 1997.
Double D made you think twice about coming over the middle. One of the best safeties in the history of the Orange program, Donovin Darius was both feared and respected. Sadly in today’s game, Darius’s physicality would probably be frowned upon.
Darius set the bar with 379 tackles as a defensive back (still a record at Syracuse). But the thing of it is, Darius wasn’t just a one trick pony, he also was a dangerous ball hawk. In his senior season he snagged seven interceptions, which put his career totals at 12 picks. Some serious stat padding for mama in his final campaign.
You can understand why he was a first round pick. But that continued in the pros as well, most know Darius for his nine-year career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. I have a theory that if a player is always around the football, it’s not a coincidence.
That isn’t luck, that shows great film study. Darius always seemed to be in the right place at the right time and that resulted in more turnovers and timely tackles. The fact that we saw a Syracuse safety duo both get selected in the first round of the same draft is pretty incredible (Tebucky to the Patriots and Donovin to the Jaguars).
- First round draft pick in the 1990 Supplemental NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
- Played for Syracuse from 1987 through 1989.
The first and only member of this list via the supplemental NFL Draft Rob Moore was still a first round pick. For those who don’t remember, Moore graduated from college with one year of eligibility remaining, but he didn’t declare in time, so he had to go through the 1990 supplemental NFL Draft.
Despite a different right of passage to the pros, Rob Moore lit it up in the NFL. His best year in the pros came in 1997 when he was a member of the Arizona Cardinals, he earned All-Pro honors for his 97 reception, 1,584 yards, and eight touchdown season.
But back to Syracuse, in his three years in Orange, Moore exponentially increased nearly every major wide receiver stat each year. The year people remember most is 1987 (11-0-1) of course and technically Moore was a part of that team, but had a minimal impact in his freshman campaign.
Moore is often overshadowed by some other big time wide receivers on this list, but he more than earned his way into the top-10! Today Moore continues to give back to the game as a Wide Receivers Coach for the Tennessee Titans.
- 8th overall pick in the 1968 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
- Played for Syracuse from 1965 through 1967.
There have been many legendary running backs at Syracuse University. Quite frankly it’s the pride and joy of Central New York. But did you know that Csonka became a running back by accident?
It’s true. He was a defensive lineman in high school but he randomly caught a kick return one day by accident and just ran with it and everyone saw the potential he had.
Heck he was recruited to play for the Orange as a middle linebacker, but after his freshman year he converted to fullback and the rest is history as they say. He would go on to win a Super Bowl on the only truly undefeated team in NFL history (he ended up with two Super Bowls)Csonka is a former Super Bowl MVP, five-time Pro Bowler, and of course Pro Football Hall of Famer. It’s funny how life works sometimes. Who knows what would’ve happened if he stayed on the defensive line.
Despite never getting credit, Csonka is one of the best running backs to ever step foot at Syracuse. He beat some of the records that were set by Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, and yes even Floyd Little. Just goes to show if you work hard, good things usually happen.
- 17th overall pick in the 1986 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
- Played for Syracuse from 1982 through 1985.
A lot of records don’t stand the test of time, yet Tim Green’s all-time sack record (45.5 sacks) at Syracuse stands unmatched. Putting his freshman season aside, his final three years he led SU in sacks each year: 14.5 sacks, 15 sacks, and 13.5 sacks.
His shining moment in an Orange uniform came on September 29th, 1984. The No. 1 Nebraska Cornhuskers came into the Carrier Dome and the Orange did the impossible and knocked them off thanks to Green’s two sacks and a fumble recovery winning 17-9.
I mean he gave you everything as a player. He was a dominant pass rusher, he showed that same relentless aggression vs the run, and he showed hustle (as you can see in his highlight reel above) covering backside runs and hustling down the field.
While in his NFL career he didn’t have nearly the same success, he used that as a launching pad to his future. Green is an accomplished author with multiple books appearing on the New York Times Best Seller’s list, has appeared as a NFL analyst, and even as a legal analyst. I think it may be easier to create a list of what he hasn’t done on planet Earth.
- 21st overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
- Played for Syracuse from 2009 through 2011.
Chandler Jones is the most prominent player representing Syracuse Football in the NFL today. Jones comes from one of the most talented families in sports history. His brother Jon Jones is widely considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. His other brother Arthur Jones won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens and just announced his retirement from the game.
While Chandler himself is a former Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots. Clearly some good genes from mama and papa Jones. But Chandler has been like a fine wine, getting better with age.
He’s coming off the best season of his career with the Arizona Cardinals (17 sacks) and continues his super-stardom rise. The strange thing is at Syracuse, Jones only mustered 10 sacks in his collegiate career. Although injuries certainly played a factor, it’s great to see that didn’t follow him to the pros.
The cool story about the two current former first rounders in the NFL in Jones and Pugh is that they’re reunited on the Cardinals! After playing together at Syracuse, they will now replicate that same magic in the desert. Everything happens for a reason and if Jones stays on the career trajectory he’s on, we could be talking top-five all-time at Syracuse, instead of top-10.
- 18th overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.
- Played for Syracuse from 1976 through 1979.
James Arthur Monk is one of the most accomplished players on this entire list. Much of that is headlined by his three Super Bowl championships he won as a member of the Washington Redskins, the team that drafted him.
In the history of the Syracuse program, two receivers have earned the honor of putting on a gold jacket in Canton, Ohio. Monk was the first man inducted and Marvin Harrison was just a few years later. Monk ended up spending 15 years in the pros for the Redskins, New York Jets, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
For just a split second (two weeks to be exact) Monk was the all-time receiving yardage leader in NFL History, of course some guy named Jerry Rice took that from him and still holds that distinction to this day.
Every receiver has their own trademark that made them special. Some have blazing speed, phenomenal hands, great footwork maybe, Monk was ole reliable. He converted nearly 66% of his 888 receptions with the Redskins for first down conversions, he was a chain mover. While at Syracuse he was a dual threat guy, as a sophomore he nearly ran for as many yards as he got through the air.
- 2nd overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Played for Syracuse from 1995 through 1998.
When people think back to the last truly great Syracuse Football quarterback, they’d be hard pressed to not pick Donovan McNabb. Only two schools even believed that he could be a quarterback at the next level, that was Syracuse and Nebraska. Luckily for SU fans he liked the broadcast-journalism program.
McNabb was dynamic, he had the arm talent to deliver from the pocket and the escapability to run if he needed to. He put up video game numbers during his time with the Orange. Here’s a did you know fun fact about McNabb at Syracuse: few remember he was a walk on for Jim Boeheim and the SU basketball program for two years, which includes that 1996 National Title game loss.
Of course McNabb would go on to be the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft and led the Philadelphia Eagles to five NFC title games, a Super Bowl appearance, and garnered a slew of accolades from the press. Although even now it doesn’t seem like the city of brotherly love fully embraces their former star. He’s one of those guys who always gets the blame, but never truly gets the credit he deserves.
He also holds the distinction of being the only quarterback in SU history to be drafted in the first round. Factoring that and everything else in made McNabb a shoo-in as a top-10 member of this prestigious list.
- 19th overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
- Played for Syracuse from 1992 through 1995.
It took long enough, but Marvin Harrison was finally enshrined into Canton, Ohio where he belongs as a Pro Football Hall of Famer. While folks here in Syracuse always knew how special Marvin Harrison was from the very beginning.
Marvin was a three year starter for the Orange and up until 2017, was the all-time yardage leader at Syracuse, Steve Ishmael broke that mark under Dino Babers. Harrison was All-Big-East and set the tone in those explosive orange offenses in the 1990’s.
Harrison spent 13 years in the pros. He had an eight year run where he got at least 1,000 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 80 receptions. That was the floor for Harrison and obviously the ceiling was the roof (as Michael Jordan would say) when Peyton Manning came to town and they shattered the NFL record books.
Harrison finished up with over 1,100 receptions (fifth all time), over 14,000 career receiving yards (ninth all time), and 128 touchdowns (fifth all time). The fact that he just barely cracked the top-five goes to show you how many talented players have come through Central New York.
- 11th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
- Played for Syracuse from 1998 through 2001.
This is the highest modern player in this ranking and for good reason. Dwight Freeney is one of the most feared pass rushers in the history of football. He possesses an array of moves that he could utilize on an opposing offensive tackle and they all worked great. Perhaps none better than his famous ‘spin move’ technique that has captivated offensive linemen for decades.
Freeney is tied for 17th on the all-time NFL sack list. 125 and a half sacks is a ridiculous amount over a Pro Football Hall of Fame career to be. The only reason he doesn’t have a bust in Canton right now is because he keeps dodging Father Time and stays in the game. But with him announcing his retirement in April of 2018, the clock is now ticking for his arrival in Canton.
Because of his dominance at the pro level, many forget how truly special he was at Syracuse. He set the school’s single seaason record (that still holds to this day) in his senior season with 17.5 sacks. There are several moments in his Orange career that come to mind including:
- He once had a 17 game streak of at least one sack in his career.
- That time that SU payed against Virginia Tech with Michael Vick under center, Freeney sacked him 4.5 times in one game.
- Sixth overall pick in the1967 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
- Played for Syracuse from 1964 through 1966.
I don’t think there’s much to argue about with the top three on this list. I mean Syracuse football history made it easy from that perspective. Floyd Little is the ONLY three-time All American running back to play for Syracuse (think about that for a minute).
Little is a College Football Hall of Famer and a Pro Football Hall of Famer and has more rushing yards at Syracuse than Jim Brown or Ernie Davis had. Also Little is second all-time in touchdowns, although when he set the record he was first in that category.
Little also holds the distinct honor of becoming the first-ever first round draft selection to sign with the AFL’s Denver Broncos, smart move. Little is often the forgotten about member of the big three, but when you look back at his impact both statistically and within the program, it’s hard to understand why.
If you haven’t seen the movie: The Elmira Express, you should definitely watch it as soon as possible. Throughout the film it shows how Jim Brown helped bring Ernie Davis to Syracuse and then eventually Davis helped bring Floyd Little to the Orange. Thus the legacy of No. 44.
- Sixth overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
- Played for Syracuse from 1954 through 1956.
Widely considered one of the greatest football players (not just running backs) of all-time. I could spend this entire time writing about every single accomplishment that Jim Brown achieved in his marvelous Syracuse Orange or Cleveland Browns career.
People nowadays look at Brown’s numbers and sometimes scoff without doing their due diligence. For example, Brown ran for 986 yards in his senior season (that was with SU only playing eight games).
Although for all the fantasy football fans out there, you probably have Jim Brown’s regular season finale against Colgate circled in your magazine. Brown rushed for nearly 200 yards and SIX touchdowns and kicked seven extra points for a school record 43 total points accumulated by one player. You can choose to remember Brown for a lot of things, but don’t forget about his versatility.
He excelled regardless of what the sport was: basketball (he averaged 15 points per game), earned a letter on the track team, second team All-American in lacrosse (was the second leading scorer nationally that year). I mean you can’t make this stuff up.
I know a lot of people are jumping off cliffs with this ranking, how could Jim FREAKING Brown not be No. 1 on your list? After you see who is No. 1 on this list, I think you’ll forgive me.
- First overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins (was immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns).
- Played for Syracuse from 1959 through 1961.
This ranking may surprise some people, but it shouldn’t. The Elmira Express was one of the best running backs in history, but because he never got to suit up in the NFL, his memory has been marginalized by the media.
While I think we can all agree that this list is 1A vs 1B with Jim Brown, Davis did something Brown never accomplished. That was of course becoming the first African American to win the coveted Heisman trophy back in 1961.
Davis accomplished this feat with nearly 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 14 combined touchdowns. But beyond the individual success that Davis achieved, his team only lost five games during his time at Syracuse. He led the team to a National Championship in 1959 capping an 11-0 season and taking out the Texas Longhorns in the process. He was named MVP of the Cotton Bowl.
Next: Syracuse Basketball: Grading the Orange in the NBA
While he never played in the pros due to a diagnosis of Leukemia, he will forever be remembered in Syracuse lore. But just imagine this, we almost could’ve seen Jim Brown and Ernie Davis in the same backfield in the pros with the Browns. Wouldn’t that have been something?