Elway to Eli: A look back at trading the 1st overall pick

There has been plenty of speculation about what the Tennessee Titans will do with the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

"In the end we just want to make the best decision for the club," Titans general manager Jon Robinson told NFL Network at the Ole Miss Pro Day on Monday. "If that's stick and pick at one, because a trade doesn't work out and we don't think the value is there, then that's what we're going to do.

"If we can move down and acquire some picks to add a couple more guys that are going to embody Titan football, then we'll do that as well."

The Titans are reportedly looking for a "king's ransom" to deal the first overall pick and many Titans fans are urging the team to move down in the draft so they can fill more holes in the roster.

But what type of haul could the Titans expect back?

The first overall pick has been traded 10 times since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, with some transactions working out much better than others.

Let's take a look:

1983: Broncos trade for John Elway

John Elway had no interest in playing for the Baltimore Colts and requested the team either trade the pick or not select the top prospect. When the Colts refused and selected Elway out of Stanford, he stuck to his guns and threatened to leave football altogether for baseball forcing the Colts to move him.

Considering Elway's NFL career, and the fact he was named by many scouts as one of the greatest college prospects ever, the Colts really missed the boat with this one. In today's NFL, it's basically unheard of for a prospect to refuse going to any team, but it worked out for Elway. It's considered one of the worst trades in NFL history.

2004: Giants trade for Eli Manning

San Diego actually drafted Eli Manning before trading him to New York, but a trade was rumored between the two teams with the Chargers asking for more than the Giants were willing to give. Once Manning was actually standing on stage with a Chargers jersey, both teams put their cards on the table and executed a trade.

The Manning-Philip Rivers debate is a topic of conversation every time these two play each other. The Chargers can't complain when they compare Rivers' regular-season numbers to Manning's, or when they remember all the Shawn Merriman sack dances. Despite the Giants sacrificing multiple first-rounders, the two Super Bowls brought to town by Manning make up for any what-ifs.

2001: Falcons trade up for Michael Vick

It's hard to fault the Atlanta Falcons for Michael Vick's off-field problems, but, given those issues, the Chargers won this one. Vick was a once-in-a-generation player coming out of Virginia Tech, but his NFL career never met expectations. Before 2001, NFL teams hadn't seen a quarterback as good as Vick with his arm and legs in a long time.

The Chargers were smart to look ahead and trust their scouts. LaDainian Tomlinson is the franchise's all-time best running back, setting multiple NFL records. Looking back, San Diego may have stolen the show with its second-round foresight, drafting quarterback Drew Brees out of Purdue. Although he left San Diego in 2006, Brees has arguably had the best career of any player drafted in 2001.

Tay Cody and Reche Caldwell didn't end up being anything special in the NFL, but considering the value of Tomlinson and Brees, plus dodging the future issues of a tempting player in Vick, this was a smart trade by the Bolts.

1997: Rams trade up for Orlando Pace

1995: Bengals trade up for Ki-Jana Carter

1991: Cowboys trade up for Russell Maryland

1990: Colts trade up for Jeff George

1984: Patriots trade up for Irving Fryar

1978: Oilers trade up for Earl Campbell

1975: Falcons trade up for Steve Bartkowski