Buffalo Bills: 15 best first-round draft picks of all-time
By John Buhler
Now that we’ve cracked the top-five in the best first-round drafts picks of the Bills all-time, we’ve reached arguably the best former Bill that is not yet in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That would be former Pro Bowl left guard Ruben Brown. He was drafted No. 14 overall by Buffalo in the 1995 NFL Draft.
Though he missed the peak of the franchise’s history by a few short years, Brown would prove to be an elite offensive lineman throughout most of his 13-year NFL career with two teams. Brown would spend his first nine NFL seasons with the Bills, where he would make eight straight trips to the Pro Bowl from 1996 to 2003.
After being released by the Bills after the 2003 NFL season, he would sign in free agency with the Chicago Bears. Brown would make his ninth and final Pro Bowl as a part of the 2006 NFC Championship Bears team. He would retire after the 2007 NFL season with the Bears.
In nine seasons in Buffalo, Brown made 136 starts with the Bills, all at left guard. He would make an additional 45 starts at left guard for the Bears from 2004 to 2007. Brown made the Bills 50th Anniversary Team. While he only made the NFL playoffs four times in his 13-year career, Brown’s case for Canton enshrinement is a compelling one. Hopefully he gets there one day. It may take some time.