All-time ultimate mock draft, pick No. 27

Every day or so leading up to the NFL Draft on April 26-27, "Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff" will go from pick No. 32 to pick No. 1, recalling the greatest players ever selected in those spots.

The pick is in and the commish is stepping up to the microphone for the No. 27 overall pick in the all-time ultimate mock draft ...

Dan Marino, QB, Miami Dolphins (1983, Pittsburgh)



The first round of the 1983 draft has gone down as one of the best ever, and for good reason. Talk about nice back-to-back picks; we've already included the No. 28 overall pick from that draft in the all-time ultimate mock draft, Darrell Green, and now we have Marino, who went a pick earlier to the Dolphins in one of the great steals in draft history. That 1983 draft is famous for the number of quarterbacks taken, as John Elway (No. 1), Todd Blackledge (No. 7), Jim Kelly (No. 14), Tony Eason (No. 15) and Ken O'Brien (No. 24) all went before Marino.

Despite playing, and coming up short, in just one Super Bowl appearance, Marino went on to set a number of passing records, many of those career marks were recently broken by Brett Favre.

Marino's 1984 season is the stuff of legend. His 5,084 yards passing remains an NFL record, while his record of 48 touchdown passes took 20 years to break (by Peyton Manning, who saw his record broken this past season by Tom Brady). Marino's records of four games of 400 or more passing yards and six games with four or more touchdown passes still stand.

The San Diego Chargers hold the No. 27 pick in this year's draft. This would be quite the noodle scratcher for the Bolts, given that they've already invested in Philip Rivers to be their franchise quarterback. Hmm ... stick with Rivers, or get one of the greatest passers to ever put on a pair of pads?

Other notable players selected at No. 27 include ...

Tommy Kramer, QB, Minnesota Vikings (1977), who was a one-time Pro Bowler who earned the nickname "Two Minute Tommy" for many late game come-from-behind victories.

Reggie McKenzie, G, Buffalo Bills (1972), who was a member of the Buffalo Bills' famous "Electric Company" offensive line that helped pave the way for O.J. Simpson's 2,000-yard rushing season in 1973.

Current NFL players selected at No. 27: Robert Meachem, WR, New Orleans Saints (2007, Tennessee); DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers (2006, Memphis); Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons (2005, Alabama-Birmingham); Jason Babin, LB, Houston Texans (2004, Western Michigan); Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (2003, Penn State); Mike Rumph, CB, San Francisco 49ers (2002, Miami, Fla.); Michael Bennett, RB, Minnesota Vikings (2001, Wisconsin); Anthony Becht, TE, New York Jets (2000, West Virginia); Mark Bruener, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers (1995, Washington).