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Notre Dame Football: Top 10 1st Round NFL Draft Picks of The Super Bowl Era

By J.P. Scott

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 01: Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis addresses fans at Heinz Field during a ceremony for the presentation of his Hall of Fame ring during halftime of the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on October 1, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 01: Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis addresses fans at Heinz Field during a ceremony for the presentation of his Hall of Fame ring during halftime of the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on October 1, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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The Notre Dame football program is expected to have two more players chosen in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

When you have as much history and prestige as the Notre Dame football program, you also probably have a long list of players who were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft over the years.

We went back through the history of the NFL Draft during the Super Bowl Era and ranked the top ten Notre Dame players selected in the first round of their respective drafts, according to how their professional careers turned out (or are turning out).

Here is what we came up with:

10. Aaron Taylor, OG, 1994, Pick 16, Green Bay Backers

Taylor’s career was cut short by injury, but he still managed to be an intrumental part of the Green Bay Packers offensive line during back-to-back Super Bowl runs in the late 1990s.

9. Greg Bell, RB, 1984, Pick 26, Buffalo Bills

Bell played in the league for 7 seasons. He made the Pro Bowl during his rookie season and was the 1988 Comback Player of the Year. He led the league in touchdown runs twice and finished his career with 51 total scores on the ground.

8. George Kunz, OT, 1969, Pick 2, Atlanta Falcons

Kunz was an 8-time Pro Bowler and a 4-time All-Pro during his 12-year NFL career.

7. Todd Lyght, CB, 1991, Pick 5, L.A. Rams

Lyght — Notre Dame’s current defensive backs coach — was the Rams Rookie of the Year in 1991. He went to one Pro Bowl, was a 3-time All-Pro and helped the then St. Louis Rams win Super bowl XXXIV.

6. Harrison Smith, S, 2012, Pick 29, Minnesota Vikings

Smith has developed into one of the best safeties in the NFL. He’s a 3-time Pro Bowler, a First Team All-Pro in 2017 and was on the All-Rookie team in 2012. He still has a couple of good years left to add accolades to his career.

5. Zack Martin, OG, 2014, Pick 16, Dallas Cowboys

Martin is regarded by many as the top guard and one of the best offensive lineman in the NFL. He’s a 4-time Pro Bowler, 4-time All-Pro and was a member of the 2014 All-Rookie team.

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4. Bryant Young, DT, 1994, Pick 7, San Francisco 49ers

Young was a 4-time Pro Bowler, 4-time All-Pro and NFC Rookie of the Year. He was the AP Comeback Player of the Year in 1999 and a member of the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade team. He helped the 49ers win Super Bowl XXIX. He is currently the defensive line coach for the Atlanta Falcons.

3. Jerome Bettis, RB, 1993, Pick 10, L.A. Rams

“The Bus” was a 6-time Pro Bowler, 3-time All-Pro, Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1993, Comeback Player of the Year in 1996, Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2001 and the spark behind the Super Bowl XL championship run for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

2. Tim Brown, WR, 1988, Pick 6, L.A. Raiders

Brown was a 9-time Pro Bowler, 3-time All-Pro and a member of the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade team. He is tied for third All-time in touchdown receptions with 100 and is second all-time in receiving yardage with 14,934. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

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1. Alan Page, DT, 1967, Pick 15, Minnesota Vikings

Page is an absolute legend in the NFL. He is a 9-time Pro Bowler, 9-time All-Pro, 2-time Defensive Player of the year, 1971 NFC Player of the Year and NFL MVP and a member of the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade team. He was a member of Minnesota’s famed “Purple People Eater” defensive line. Page was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1988.

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