Perhaps all you need to know about this "best of" list is that Ryan Leaf is on it and Peyton Manning is not.
The list of the top NFL Draft picks from each state, based on where that athlete played his high school football, includes famous athletes like Troy Aikman and John Elway. It also includes the relatively obscure, like Fritz Barzilauskas and Joe Sabasteanski. There's even a spot for a guy like Leaf, who, regardless of his shortcomings as an NFL quarterback, is still the highest draft pick ever to play his high school ball in the state of Montana.
And that's what this list attempts to discover: who is the all-time top draft pick from each state. First, a few guidelines. The players are chosen by how high they were chosen in the draft. So even though Barry Sanders is clearly the greatest player ever to come out of the state of Kansas, he was only chosen third in the 1989 draft. Sam Francis, meanwhile, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1937 draft and thus gets the nod on this list.
If two players from a state each went No. 1 overall in the draft, then we try to determine the better overall pick.
So why isn't Peyton Manning on the list? Well, he certainly was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft back in 1998 and his on-field credentials certainly make him a worthy candidate. But there's another Louisiana native who edges out Manning as the top choice from the Bayou State.
Here's a look at the top draft picks from each state.
Alabama - Aundray Bruce, LB
George Washington, Montgomery, Atlanta Falcons, No. 1, 1988
The No. 1 overall pick in the 1988 draft by Atlanta out of the University of Auburn, Bruce didn't quite pan out as the defensive savior the Falcons were hoping for. Although Bruce did not make a Pro Bowl, he did have a serviceable 11-year career and finished with 32 career sacks.
Alaska - Darryn Colledge, OG
North Pole, Green Bay Packers, No. 47, 2006
Colledge was the No. 47 overall pick in the 2006 draft and is in his fourth year with the Green Bay Packers as the team's starting left guard.
Arizona - Fred Carr, LB
Phoenix, Green Bay Packers, No. 5, 1968
Fred Carr was an all-pro linebacker for the Green Back Packers during the 1960s.
Arkansas - Lamar McHan, QB
Lakeside (Lake Village, Ark.), Chicago Cardinals, No. 2, 1954
McHan is one of two players on this list who have a direct tie to the career of Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr. When Vince Lombardi took over the Packers in 1959, he felt he needed to strengthen the quarterback position and traded with the Cardinals for the veteran McHan. He battled Starr for the starting spot and was the team's starter for most of Lombardi's first season. Starr gained control of the starting spot by McHan's second season in Green Bay and McHan was shipped to Baltimore in 1961. He was out of the league by the end of the 1963 season.
Elway coaching at Cherry Creek HS in 2007.
Photo by Patrick Miller
California - John Elway, QB
Granada Hills (Granada Hills, Calif.), Baltimore Colts, 1983, No. 1
Perhaps another ironic pick here, considering that Elway never actually played for the Baltimore Colts following his selection as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 draft. Threatening to play baseball for the New York Yankees rather than play for the Colts, Elway was able to force a trade to the Denver Broncos, where he went on to fashion one of the great careers for a quarterback in NFL history. Despite not playing for the team that drafted him, Elway easily edges out O.J. Simpson, Jim Plunkett, et al., for the best all-time draft pick from California.
Colorado - Gary Glick, QB/DB
LaPorte, Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 1, 1956
One of two players on this list with ties to the career of Johnny Unitas. The Steelers had selected hometown boy Unitas in the ninth round of the 1955 draft, but he was unable to beat out either Jim Finks, who went on to a career as an executive with the Chicago Bears, or Ted Marchibroda, who ended up one of the NFL's top coaches in the 1970s and '80s. Unitas was famously cut and ended up playing sandlot football before signing with the Colts in 1956. The Steelers, still trying to find a starting quarterback, drafted Glick No. 1 in 1956, but that didn't quite work out either. Glick turned out to be a better defensive player, playing seven years in the league as a defensive back.
Connecticut - Francis "Fritz" Barzilauskas, G
Crosby (Waterbury, Conn.), Boston Yanks, No. 3, 1947
The Boston Yanks used the No. 3 overall pick in the 1947 draft to select the 6-foot-1, 230-pound guard out of Yale. Barzilauskas played four years in the NFL before calling it a career in 1951. Strangely, Francis is not the best NFL player named Barzilauskas. That honor goes to his nephew Carl, who played six season as defensive tackle, mostly for the New York Jets in the 1970s, and was the No. 6 overall pick in the 1974 draft.
Delaware - Randy White, DT
McKean (Wilmington, Del.), Dallas Cowboys, No. 2, 1975
Drafted No. 2 in the 1975 draft behind quarterback Steve Bartkowski, White played 14 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and had a Hall of Fame career that included nine Pro Bowls and seven first-team all-pro selections.
Florida - Tucker Frederickson, RB
South Broward (Hollywood, Fla.), New York Giants, No. 1, 1965
While the state of Florida has sent countless outstanding players to the NFL, only one has been chosen as the No. 1 overall pick. Tucker Frederickson went to the New York Giants in the 1965 draft after a career at Auburn that saw him finish second to Notre Dame's John Huarte in the 1964 Heisman Trophy voting. Frederickson is in the College Football Hall of Fame and is a member of the Florida High School All-Century Team, but a knee injury in his sixth season with the Giants ended his career.
Georgia - George Rogers, RB
Duluth (Duluth, Ga.), New Orleans Saints, No. 1, 1981
The 1980 Heisman trophy winner went No. 1 overall in the 1981 draft to the New Orleans Saints and had a solid career that included two Pro Bowl selections, the Offensive Rookie of the Year honor and a Super Bowl ring with the Washington Redskins in 1988. Rushed for 7,176 career yards.
Hawaii - Herm Wedemeyer, RB
St. Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii), Los Angeles Rams, No. 9, 1947
Could easily go with former Chicago Bear defensive lineman Al Harris in this spot, but Wedemeyer is the more interesting pick. A standout at St. Mary's College, he finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting and was known as "The Hula-Hipped Hawaiian," among other colorful nicknames. Drafted No. 9 overall by the Los Angeles Rams, Wedemeyer only played two years of professional football. He went on to become an actor, playing the role of Sergeant Duke Lukela' on Hawaii Five-O. Politics called in the 1970s and Wedemeyer served as a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives. He is also the brother of former Los Gatos coach Charlie Wedemeyer, who coached the Wildcats despite suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease.
Idaho - Jordan Gross, T
Fruitland (Fruitland, Idaho), Carolina Panthers, No. 8, 2003
Gross has become one of the top tackles in the league since going to the Panthers with the No. 8 overall pick in 2003. He earned All-NFL first-team honors in 2008.
Illinois - Russell Maryland, DT
Whitney Young (Chicago), Dallas Cowboys, No. 1, 1991
The No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 1991 thanks to a trade with the New England Patriots, Maryland went on to become a member of the Cowboys' three Super Bowl teams and played 10 years in the league.
Indiana - Jeff George, QB
Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.), Indianapolis Colts, No. 1, 1990
While George had a fairly stormy career in the NFL with seven teams over 17 seasons, he was the clear-cut choice as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 draft thanks to an outstanding workout just prior to the draft. The Colts did not have the No. 1 overall pick at the time, but traded with the Atlanta Falcons for a shot at the Indiana native.
Iowa - Randy Duncan, QB
Roosevelt (Des Moines, Iowa), Green Bay Packers, No. 1, 1959
The other quarterback on the list with a link to Bart Starr (McHan was the other), Duncan was selected with the No. 1 pick by Vince Lombardi because he was not convinced that Starr was the answer as the quarterback for the Packers. Duncan finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1958 after leading Iowa to the Rose Bowl. Duncan never played for the Packers, however, as he signed with the British Columbia Lions. Duncan played only two seasons with the Lions and one season in the AFL with the Dallas Texans before retiring.
Kansas - Sam Francis, RB
Decatur Community (Oberlin, Kan.), Philadelphia Eagles, No. 1, 1937
The runner-up in the Heisman Trophy race in 1936, Francis went No. 1 overall to the Eagles after a stellar career at Nebraska. He only played four seasons in the NFL, but he was an outstanding track and field competitor, finishing fourth in the shot put in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
Kentucky - Paul Hornung, RB
Flaget, Louisville, Green Bay Packers, No. 1, 1957
The Golden Boy was a Heisman Trophy winner at Notre Dame and was expected to be the Packers' quarterback when he was drafted No. 1 overall in 1957. He ended up playing halfback and excelled once Lombardi made him the focus of the Packer offensive attack in 1959. Set the NFL record for scoring with 176 points in 1961 when he was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player. 
Bradshaw during the 1981 season.
Photo by Getty Images
Louisiana - Terry Bradshaw, QB
Woodlawn (Shreveport, La.), Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 1, 1970
This spot could easily go to either Peyton or Eli Manning, both of whom prepped in Louisiana, were chosen No. 1 overall and went on to win a Super Bowl. But Bradshaw also accomplished those first two feats and piled up four Super Bowl rings. While the beginning of the Steelers' dynasty is often noted as the drafting of Joe Greene in 1969, the selection Bradshaw with the No. 1 overall pick in 1970 also played an important role. Bradshaw was twice named Super Bowl MVP and is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.
Maine - Joe Sabasteanski, C
Portland (Portland, Maine), Brooklyn Dodgers, No. 94, 1943
The guard out of Fordham University played three seasons in the NFL.
Maryland - Bob Williams, QB
Loyola Blakefield (Towson, Md.), Chicago Bears, No. 2, 1951
One of two players named Bob Williams to quarterback the Fighting Irish during the 1950s, Robert Allen Williams led Notre Dame to the national championship in 1949 and was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1951 draft. He played three seasons for the Bears before retiring in 1955.
Massachusetts - Angelo Bertelli, RB
Cathedral (Springfield, Mass.), Boston Yanks, No. 1, 1944
The Heisman Trophy winner in 1943 for Notre Dame, Bertelli was drafted No. 1 overall by the Boston Yanks, but he served in the Marines in World War II before finally playing in the NFL in 1946 with the Los Angeles Dons. Bertelli only played three seasons in the NFL.
Michigan - Jake Long, T
Lapeer East (Lapeer, Mich.), Miami Dolphins, No. 1, 2008
Long became the Wolverine State's top overall draft pick when he went No. 1 overall in the 2008 draft to the Miami Dolphins. Just entering his third season in the NFL, Long is already a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a second-team all-pro pick.
Minnesota - Larry Fitzgerald, WR
Holy Angels, Minneapolis, Arizona Cardinals, No. 3, 2004
Fitzgerald has emerged as the league's premier receiver after going to the Cardinals with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 draft. He led the league in TD receptions the past two seasons and led the NFL in catches in 2005.
Mississippi - Riley Smith, QB
Columbus (Columbus, Miss.), Boston Redskins, No. 2, 1936
Smith has the distinction of being the first draft pick to ever play in the NFL. The draft first held its annual selections in 1936 and Heisman trophy winner Jay Berwanger was the No. 1 overall choice. However, Berwanger decided to go into business rather than pursue a career in the NFL, thus leaving Smith, who was chosen No. 2 overall by the Boston Redskins, as the first pick to play in the NFL. He played three seasons before retiring due to injury.
Missouri - Grant Wistrom, DE
Webb City (Webb City, Mo.), St. Louis Rams, No. 6, 1998
A Lombardi Award winner in college with Nebraska, Wistrom went No .6 overall in the 1998 draft by the Rams in his home state of Missouri. Wistrom was a member of the Rams' Super Bowl champion team. Retired in 2006.
Montana - Ryan Leaf, QB
Russell (Great Falls, Mont.), San Diego Chargers, No. 2, 1998
One of the more notorious busts in draft history, Leaf is nonetheless the highest player ever chosen from Montana after going No. 2 in the 1998 draft behind Peyton Manning. Leaf lasted just five seasons with four teams before retiring in 2002.
Nebraska - Dean Steinkuhler, T
Sterling (Sterling, Neb.), Houston Oilers, No. 2, 1984
One of the top offensive linemen in college history, Steinkuhler played 8-man football at Sterling in Nebraska. He was a consensus All-American with the Cornhuskers and played seven seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers after his selection as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1984 draft.
Nevada - Steven Jackson, RB
Eldorado (Las Vegas, Nev.), St. Louis Rams, No. 24, 2004
Jackson has emerged as one of the top running backs in the league, making two Pro Bowls and currently standing with 6,707 career rushing yards.
New Hampshire - Sherman White, DT
Manchester Central (Manchester, N.H.), Cincinnati Bengals, No. 2, 1972
White was drafted No. 2 overall in the 1972 draft behind Walt Patulski, but ended up playing more than twice as many games as the Notre Dame grad. White played 158 games as a defensive end for Cincinnati and Buffalo.
New Jersey - Irving Fryar, WR
Rancocas Valley (Mt. Holly, N.J.), New England Patriots, No. 1, 1984
A member of the great Nebraska team that just missed winning the national championship after falling to Miami 31-30 in the Orange Bowl, Fryar was one of two Cornhuskers taken with the top two picks (Steinkuhler was the other). Fryar played 17 seasons in the NFL and made five Pro Bowls while catching 851 passes for 12,785 yards and 84 touchdowns.
New Mexico - Brian Urlacher, LB
Lovington (Lovington, N.M.), Chicago Bears, No. 9, 2000
The ninth overall pick in the 2000 draft has become one of the all-time great linebackers in the long tradition of great linebackers for the Chicago Bears.
New York - Vinnie Testaverde, QB
Sewanhaka (Floral Park, N.Y.), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, No. 1, 1987
Testaverde has one of the longest careers in NFL history, playing for seven teams over the course of 21 seasons. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1986 and was the No. 1 overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He never quite led the Buccaneers to the promised land, but he did make two Pro Bowls and has thrown for 46,233 yards in his career.
North Carolina - Mario Williams, DE
Richlands (Richlands, N.C.), Houston Texans, No. 1, 2006
The surprise pick of the 2006 draft when he was chosen No. 1 overall by the Houston Texans ahead of USC's Reggie Bush, Williams has played in two Pro Bowls and has 39.5 sacks in four seasons.
North Dakota - Bob Wiese, FB
Jamestown, Detroit Lions, No. 39, 1945
Played only two seasons in the NFL as a cornerback for the Lions after being picked with the 39th overall pick in the 1945 draft.
Ohio - Orlando Pace, T
Sandusky (Sandusky, Ohio), St. Louis Rams, No. 1, 1997
Ohio has had a number of top picks in the draft, including Dan Wilkinson and Ki'Jana Carter, but Pace outdoes them all thanks to 12-year career that saw him attend seven Pro Bowls and earn all-pro selections five times. 
Aikman in 2000 with the Cowboys.
Photo by Getty Images
Oklahoma - Troy Aikman, QB
Henryetta (Henryetta, Okla.), Dallas Cowboys, 1989
A man among boys at tiny Henryetta High School, Aikman traveled West to play college football at UCLA and was the No. 1 overall pick by new head coach Jimmy Johnson of the Dallas Cowboys in 1989. The rest is history for Aikman and the Cowboys, as he led Dallas to three Super Bowl Championships and landed in the Hall of Fame.
Oregon - George Shaw, QB
Grant (Portland, Ore.), Baltimore Colts, No. 1, 1955
The other quarterback with ties to Unitas, Shaw was chosen No. 1 overall by the Colts in 1955, the same year Unitas went in the ninth round to the Pittsburgh Steelers. A starter as a rookie, Shaw broke his leg during the 1956 season and Unitas took over as the starter en route to a legendary career. Shaw played three seasons with the Colts and then faced them in the 1959 NFL championship game as a member of the New York Giants. He retired following the 1962 season.
Pennsylvania - Chuck Bednarik, LB/C
Liberty (Bethlehem, Pa.), Philadelphia Eagles, No. 1, 1949
Considered one of the final true two-way players in the NFL, Bednarik ranks among the greatest centers and linebackers in the history of the game. Taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1949 draft out of Pennsylvania, he was a 10-time all-pro player and made the Pro Bowl eight times.
Rhode Island - Gerry Philbin, DE
Tolman (Pawtucket, R.I.), New York Jets, No. 33/19, 1964
Drafted by both the NFL and the AFL, Philbin was chosen 19th overall by the New York Jets, where he played nine seasons, including when the Jets won Super Bowl III.
South Carolina - Courtney Brown, DE
Macedonia, Cleveland Browns, No. 1, 2000
Brown was the second No. 1 overall pick in the draft in a row for the Browns, who chose Tim Couch in 1999 during their inaugural season. Brown, a defensive end out of Penn State, played six seasons in the NFL before retiring in 2005.
South Dakota - John Dutton, DT
Rapid City (Rapid City, S.D.), Baltimore Colts, No. 5, 1974
A three-time Pro Bowler for the Colts, Dutton played 14 seasons in the NFL, the last nine with the Dallas Cowboys.
Tennessee - Ed Jones, DE
Central-Merry, Jackson, Dallas Cowboys, No. 1, 1975
Nicknamed "Too Tall," the 6-9 defensive end was the No. 1 pick in the 1975 draft and played 15 seasons in the NFL, all of them with the Dallas Cowboys. He had 57.5 career sacks, although sacks were not an official NFL statistic for nearly half of his NFL career.
Texas - Earl Campbell, RB
Tyler (Tyler, Texas), Houston Oilers, No. 1, 1978
A Hall of Fame running back out of Tyler, Campbell was the No. 1 overall pick by the Houston Oilers and immediately made an impact on the NFL by leading the league in rushing in each of his first three seasons. Campbell wore down after carrying the ball over 1,300 times in his first four seasons and thus played just eight seasons. He made the Hall of Fame and finished his career with 9,407 yards rushing.
Utah - Merlin Olsen, DT
Logan (Logan, Utah), Los Angeles Rams, No. 3, 1960
The recently deceased Olsen was one of the great defensive lineman in league history, earning Pro Bowl honors for 14 of his 15 NFL seasons. The No. 3 overall pick in the 1962 draft by the Los Angeles Rams, Olsen went on to a career in television as both an NFL color commentator and an actor on shows like Little House on the Prairie.
Vermont - Richard Kevin Hunt, DT
Burlington (Burlington, Vt.), Green Bay Packers, No. 246, 1971
Hunt played seven years in the NFL after being selected in the 10th round by the Packers. His best season came in 1977 when he had 12 sacks with Houston.
Virginia - Bruce Smith, DE
Washington (Norfolk, Va.), Buffalo Bills, No. 1, 1985
Smith helped lead the Bills to four straight Super Bowl appearances in the early 1990s. He made the Pro Bowl 11 times and finished his career with 200 career sacks.
Washington - Drew Bledsoe, QB
Walla Walla (Walla Walla, Wash.), New England Patriots, No. 1, 1993
One year after Washington native Steve Emtman was chosen No. 1 overall by the Indianapolis Colts, Walla Walla product Drew Bledsoe went No. 1 to the New England Patriots in 1993. Bledsoe played 14 seasons in the NFL and was a four-time Pro Bowl pick.
West Virginia - George Cafego, RB
Oak Hill (Oak Hill, W. Va.), Brooklyn Dodgers, No. 1, 1940
Nicknamed "Bad News", Cafego was drafted No. 1 overall by the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played only four seasons, serving most of three seasons between 1940 and 1943 in the Army during World War II. He retired in 1945 and went on to a long coaching career at the University of Tennessee.
Wisconsin - John Matuszak, DT
Oak Creek (Oak Creek, Wis.), Houston Oilers, No. 1, 1973
Matuszak didn't truly find a home until his fourth season when he joined the Oakland Raiders. He became a mainstay on the defensive line for coach John Madden, and later Tom Flores, helping the Raiders win a pair of Super Bowl championships.
Wyoming - Boyd Dowler, WR
Cheyenne, Green Bay Packers, No. 25, 1959
Vince Lombardi drafted 31 players in his first draft with the Packers in 1959 and only three of his selections stuck around for very long. His best pick in that initial draft was a tall receiver out of Wyoming named Boyd Dowler. He became a familiar target for Bart Starr, playing 11 seasons in Green Bay and catching 474 passes for 7,270 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Correction: Made to Fred Carr's bio. He is eronneously listed in Wikipedia as the father of David Carr of the San Francisco 49ers. David Carr's father is Roger Carr.
