If you look back at the NFL draft boards that year, about half of them had Peyton Manning as #1 on their board while the other half rated Ryan Leaf as #1 on their draft board. I remember the draft talk that year, and people were saying that Peyton Manning was the safer choice but Ryan Leaf had the bigger upside. In comparison, only the Oakland Raiders and possibly the Cleavland Browns had Jamarcus Russell rated #1 on their draft board.
