Sports
NFL Draft #1 Overall Picks (All)
A complete chronological record and ranking of every first overall selection in NFL Draft history, from inaugural 1936 pick Jay Berwanger and legends like Terry Bradshaw and Peyton Manning to modern franchise quarterbacks.
World Ranking
▲ Top 5
#1
1998: Peyton Manning (QB, Tennessee) – Indianapolis Colts
Five-time NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion who revolutionized the quarterback position at the line of scrimmage.
+53
#2
1983: John Elway (QB, Stanford) – Baltimore Colts
Refused to play for Baltimore and was traded to Denver, leading the Broncos to five Super Bowls and two rings.
+36
#3
1989: Troy Aikman (QB, UCLA) – Dallas Cowboys
Hall of Fame field general piloted Jimmy Johnson's Cowboys to three Super Bowl championships in four years.
+23
#4
1970: Terry Bradshaw (QB, Louisiana Tech) – Pittsburgh Steelers
Guided Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl victories and won two Super Bowl MVPs with his cannon arm.
+21
#5
1985: Bruce Smith (DE, Virginia Tech) – Buffalo Bills
The NFL's all-time sack king (200.0 sacks) led Buffalo to four straight AFC titles as a two-time DPOY.
+18
▼ Bottom 5
#1
2007: JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU) – Oakland Raiders
Legendary arm strength never translated to the pros; lasted just three seasons in Oakland in a famous draft bust.
-55
#2
1995: Ki-Jana Carter (RB, Penn State) – Cincinnati Bengals
Blistering speed back suffered an ACL tear in his first preseason game, battling knee injuries throughout his career.
-43
#3
1999: Tim Couch (QB, Kentucky) – Cleveland Browns
The resurrected Browns' first draft pick led Cleveland to the 2002 playoffs despite playing behind an expansion offensive line.
-32
#4
2002: David Carr (QB, Fresno State) – Houston Texans
Expansion Texans quarterback endured a record 76 sacks as a rookie, playing 11 seasons and winning a ring as a Giants backup.
-19
#5
2000: Courtney Brown (DE, Penn State) – Cleveland Browns
Dominant college pass rusher whose promising professional career was cut short by chronic injuries.
-8
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All Items (90)
1998: Peyton Manning (QB, Tennessee) – Indianapolis Colts+53
1983: John Elway (QB, Stanford) – Baltimore Colts+36
1989: Troy Aikman (QB, UCLA) – Dallas Cowboys+23
1970: Terry Bradshaw (QB, Louisiana Tech) – Pittsburgh Steelers+21
1985: Bruce Smith (DE, Virginia Tech) – Buffalo Bills+18
1978: Earl Campbell (RB, Texas) – Houston Oilers+4
2017: Myles Garrett (DE, Texas A&M) – Cleveland Browns+4
1949: Chuck Bednarik (C/LB, Penn) – Philadelphia Eagles+3
1997: Orlando Pace (OT, Ohio State) – St. Louis Rams+3
1936: Jay Berwanger (HB, Chicago) – Philadelphia Eagles—
1937: Sam Francis (FB, Nebraska) – Philadelphia Eagles—
1938: Corbett Davis (FB, Indiana) – Cleveland Rams—
1939: Ki Aldrich (C, TCU) – Chicago Cardinals—
1940: George Cafego (HB, Tennessee) – Chicago Cardinals—
1941: Tom Harmon (HB, Michigan) – Chicago Bears—
1942: Bill Dudley (HB, Virginia) – Pittsburgh Steelers—
1943: Frank Sinkwich (HB, Georgia) – Detroit Lions—
1944: Angelo Bertelli (QB, Notre Dame) – Boston Yanks—
1945: Charley Trippi (HB, Georgia) – Chicago Cardinals—
1946: Frank Dancewicz (QB, Notre Dame) – Boston Yanks—
1947: Bob Fenimore (HB, Oklahoma A&M) – Chicago Bears—
1948: Harry Gilmer (QB, Alabama) – Washington Redskins—
1950: Leon Hart (E, Notre Dame) – Detroit Lions—
1951: Kyle Rote (HB/WR, SMU) – New York Giants—
1952: Bill Wade (QB, Vanderbilt) – Los Angeles Rams—
1953: Harry Babcock (E, Georgia) – San Francisco 49ers—
1954: Bobby Garrett (QB, Stanford) – Cleveland Browns—
1955: George Shaw (QB, Oregon) – Baltimore Colts—
1956: Gary Glick (DB, Colorado A&M) – Pittsburgh Steelers—
1957: Paul Hornung (HB, Notre Dame) – Green Bay Packers—
1958: King Hill (QB, Rice) – Chicago Cardinals—
1959: Randy Duncan (QB, Iowa) – Green Bay Packers—
1960: Billy Cannon (HB, LSU) – Los Angeles Rams—
1961: Tommy Mason (HB, Tulane) – Minnesota Vikings—
1962: Ernie Davis (HB, Syracuse) – Washington Redskins—
1963: Terry Baker (QB, Oregon State) – Los Angeles Rams—
1964: Dave Parks (WR, Texas Tech) – San Francisco 49ers—
1965: Tucker Frederickson (FB, Auburn) – New York Giants—
1966: Tommy Nobis (LB, Texas) – Atlanta Falcons—
1967: Bubba Smith (DE, Michigan State) – Baltimore Colts—
1968: Ron Yary (OT, USC) – Minnesota Vikings—
1969: O.J. Simpson (RB, USC) – Buffalo Bills—
1971: Jim Plunkett (QB, Stanford) – New England Patriots—
1972: Walt Patulski (DE, Notre Dame) – Buffalo Bills—
1973: John Matuszak (DE, Tampa) – Houston Oilers—
1974: Ed 'Too Tall' Jones (DE, Tennessee State) – Dallas Cowboys—
1975: Steve Bartkowski (QB, California) – Atlanta Falcons—
1976: Lee Roy Selmon (DE, Oklahoma) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers—
1977: Ricky Bell (RB, USC) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers—
1980: Billy Sims (RB, Oklahoma) – Detroit Lions—
1981: George Rogers (RB, South Carolina) – New Orleans Saints—
1982: Kenneth Sims (DE, Texas) – New England Patriots—
1984: Irving Fryar (WR, Nebraska) – New England Patriots—
1986: Bo Jackson (RB, Auburn) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers—
1987: Vinny Testaverde (QB, Miami) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers—
1988: Aundray Bruce (LB, Auburn) – Atlanta Falcons—
1990: Jeff George (QB, Illinois) – Indianapolis Colts—
1991: Russell Maryland (DT, Miami) – Dallas Cowboys—
1992: Steve Emtman (DT, Washington) – Indianapolis Colts—
1993: Drew Bledsoe (QB, Washington State) – New England Patriots—
1994: Dan Wilkinson (DT, Ohio State) – Cincinnati Bengals—
1996: Keyshawn Johnson (WR, USC) – New York Jets—
2001: Michael Vick (QB, Virginia Tech) – Atlanta Falcons—
2003: Carson Palmer (QB, USC) – Cincinnati Bengals—
2004: Eli Manning (QB, Ole Miss) – San Diego Chargers—
2005: Alex Smith (QB, Utah) – San Francisco 49ers—
2006: Mario Williams (DE, NC State) – Houston Texans—
2008: Jake Long (OT, Michigan) – Miami Dolphins—
2009: Matthew Stafford (QB, Georgia) – Detroit Lions—
2010: Sam Bradford (QB, Oklahoma) – St. Louis Rams—
2011: Cam Newton (QB, Auburn) – Carolina Panthers—
2012: Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford) – Indianapolis Colts—
2013: Eric Fisher (OT, Central Michigan) – Kansas City Chiefs—
2014: Jadeveon Clowney (DE, South Carolina) – Houston Texans—
2015: Jameis Winston (QB, Florida State) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers—
2016: Jared Goff (QB, California) – Los Angeles Rams—
2018: Baker Mayfield (QB, Oklahoma) – Cleveland Browns—
2019: Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma) – Arizona Cardinals—
2020: Joe Burrow (QB, LSU) – Cincinnati Bengals—
2021: Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson) – Jacksonville Jaguars—
2022: Travon Walker (DE, Georgia) – Jacksonville Jaguars—
2024: Caleb Williams (QB, USC) – Chicago Bears—
2025: Cam Ward (QB, Miami) – Tennessee Titans—
2023: Bryce Young (QB, Alabama) – Carolina Panthers-2
1979: Tom Cousineau (LB, Ohio State) – Buffalo Bills-6
2000: Courtney Brown (DE, Penn State) – Cleveland Browns-8
2002: David Carr (QB, Fresno State) – Houston Texans-19
1999: Tim Couch (QB, Kentucky) – Cleveland Browns-32
1995: Ki-Jana Carter (RB, Penn State) – Cincinnati Bengals-43
2007: JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU) – Oakland Raiders-55
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