The Draft is the headline event of the NFL offseason and provides franchises with the opportunity to go from pretenders to contenders almost overnight.
Every year thousands of players in the US collegiate system become eligible for the Draft, but with only 32 franchises featuring in the league, the total number of selections is limited to around the 250 mark.
With roughly 1.6 per cent of NCAA-level players being selected, achieving a lifelong dream of reaching the NFL is a remarkable accomplishment in itself, but being named the first pick of an NFL Draft brings with it a whole different level of scrutiny and attention.
As the team with the worst record from the previous season has possession of the first pick, being selected first carries significant expectation as the selected individual is tasked with helping to transform a struggling franchise.
Several number one overall picks have gone on to have storied careers and etch their names into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, whereas others have wilted in the spotlight and failed to reach the heights anticipated.
In 1936, Jay Berwanger was the first-ever pick in the NFL Draft when he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles, and another 89 players have been selected first overall since.
14 of the 90 have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Peyton Manning (1998), Troy Aikman (1989) and John Elway (1983).
Quarterback has been the most popular position for number one overall draft selections (40), ahead of running backs (23) and defensive linemen (15).
The Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Rams have each held the first overall pick a total of seven times, the most of any NFL franchise.
NFL No. 1 overall Draft picks
Year | Name | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
1936 | Jay Berwanger | HB | Philadelphia Eagles |
1937 | Sam Francis | FB | Philadelphia Eagles |
1938 | Corbett Davis | FB | Cleveland Rams |
1939 | Ki Aldrich | C | Chicago Cardinals |
1940 | George Cafego | HB | Chicago Cardinals |
1941 | Tom Harmon | HB | Chicago Bears |
1942 | Bill Dudley | HB | Pittsburgh Steelers |
1943 | Frank Sinkwich | HB | Detroit Lions |
1944 | Angelo Bertelli | QB | Boston Yanks |
1945 | Charley Trippi | HB | Chicago Cardinals |
1946 | Frank Dancewicz | QB | Boston Yanks |
1947 | Bob Fenimore | HB | Chicago Bears |
1948 | Harry Gilmer | HB, WR | Washington Redskins |
1949 | Chuck Bednarik | C, LB | Philadelphia Eagles |
1950 | Leon Hart | E | Detroit Lions |
1951 | Kyle Rote | HB | New York Giants |
1952 | Bill Wade | QB | Los Angeles Rams |
1953 | Harry Babcock | E | San Francisco 49ers |
1954 | Bobby Garrett | QB | Cleveland Browns |
1955 | George Shaw | QB | Baltimore Colts |
1956 | Gary Glick | DB | Pittsburgh Steelers |
1957 | Paul Hornung | HB | Green Bay Packers |
1958 | King Hill | QB | Chicago Cardinals |
1959 | Randy Duncan | QB | Green Bay Packers |
1960 | Billy Cannon | HB | Los Angeles Rams |
1961 | Tommy Mason | HB | Minnesota Vikings |
1962 | Ernie Davis | HB | Washington Redskins |
1963 | Terry Baker | QB | Los Angeles Rams |
1964 | Dave Parks | WR | San Francisco 49ers |
1965 | Tucker Frederickson | HB | New York Giants |
1966 | Tommy Nobis | LB | Atlanta Falcons |
1967 | Bubba Smith | DE | Baltimore Colts |
1968 | Ron Yary | T | Minnesota Vikings |
1969 | O. J. Simpson | HB | Buffalo Bills |
1970 | Terry Bradshaw | QB | Pittsburgh Steelers |
1971 | Jim Plunkett | QB | New England Patriots |
1972 | Walt Patulski | DE | Buffalo Bills |
1973 | John Matuszak | DE | Houston Oilers |
1974 | Ed Jones | DE | Dallas Cowboys |
1975 | Steve Bartkowski | QB | Atlanta Falcons |
1976 | Lee Roy Selmon | DE | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
1977 | Ricky Bell | HB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
1978 | Earl Campbell | HB | Houston Oilers |
1979 | Tom Cousineau | LB | Buffalo Bills |
1980 | Billy Sims | HB | Detroit Lions |
1981 | George Rogers | HB | New Orleans Saints |
1982 | Kenneth Sims | DE | New England Patriots |
1983 | John Elway | QB | Baltimore Colts |
1984 | Irving Fryar | WR | New England Patriots |
1985 | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo Bills |
1986 | Bo Jackson | HB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
1987 | Vinny Testaverde | QB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
1988 | Aundray Bruce | LB | Atlanta Falcons |
1989 | Troy Aikman | QB | Dallas Cowboys |
1990 | Jeff George | QB | Indianapolis Colts |
1991 | Russell Maryland | DT | Dallas Cowboys |
1992 | Steve Emtman | DE | Indianapolis Colts |
1993 | Drew Bledsoe | QB | New England Patriots |
1994 | Dan Wilkinson | DT | Cincinnati Bengals |
1995 | Ki-Jana Carter | HB | Cincinnati Bengals |
1996 | Keyshawn Johnson | WR | New York Jets |
1997 | Orlando Pace | T | St. Louis Rams |
1998 | Peyton Manning | QB | Indianapolis Colts |
1999 | Tim Couch | QB | Cleveland Browns |
2000 | Courtney Brown | DE | Cleveland Browns |
2001 | Michael Vick | QB | Atlanta Falcons |
2002 | David Carr | QB | Houston Texans |
2003 | Carson Palmer | QB | Cincinnati Bengals |
2004 | Eli Manning | QB | San Diego Chargers |
2005 | Alex Smith | QB | San Francisco 49ers |
2006 | Mario Williams | DE | Houston Texans |
2007 | JaMarcus Russell | QB | Oakland Raiders |
2008 | Jake Long | T | Miami Dolphins |
2009 | Matthew Stafford | QB | Detroit Lions |
2010 | Sam Bradford | QB | St. Louis Rams |
2011 | Cam Newton | QB | Carolina Panthers |
2012 | Andrew Luck | QB | Indianapolis Colts |
2013 | Eric Fisher | T | Kansas City Chiefs |
2014 | Jadeveon Clowney | DE | Houston Texans |
2015 | Jameis Winston | QB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
2016 | Jared Goff | QB | Los Angeles Rams |
2017 | Myles Garrett | DE | Cleveland Browns |
2018 | Baker Mayfield | QB | Cleveland Browns |
2019 | Kyler Murray | QB | Arizona Cardinals |
2020 | Joe Burrow | QB | Cincinnati Bengals |
2021 | Trevor Lawrence | QB | Jacksonville Jaguars |
2022 | Travon Walker | DE | Jacksonville Jaguars |
2023 | Bryce Young | QB | Carolina Panthers |
2024 | Caleb Williams | QB | Chicago Bears |
2025 | Cam Ward | QB | Tennessee Titans |
