List of first overall National Football League draft picks


The National Football League Draft is an annual sports draft in which NFL teams select newly eligible players for their rosters. To be eligible, a player must be out of high school at least three years. Each NFL franchise seeks to add new players through the annual NFL draft. The draft rules were last updated in 2009. The team with the worst record the previous year picks first, the next-worst team second, and so on. Teams also have the option to trade with another team to move up to a better draft position. Teams that did not make the playoffs are ordered by their regular-season record, with any remaining ties broken by strength of schedule. Playoff participants are sequenced after non-playoff teams, based on their round of elimination.
From through the first selection was awarded by a random draw. The team which received this "bonus" pick forfeited its selection in the final round of the draft. The winner of the "bonus pick" was eliminated from the draw in future years. By 1958 all twelve clubs in the league at the time had received a bonus choice and the system was abolished.
Before the merger agreements in 1966, the American Football League operated in direct competition with the NFL and held a separate draft. This led to a massive bidding war over top prospects between the two leagues, along with the subsequent drafting of the same player in each draft. As part of the merger agreement on June 8, 1966, the two leagues held a multiple round "common draft". Once the AFL officially merged with the NFL in 1970, the "common draft" simply became the NFL draft. The draft is one of the most notable events in American sports, with live broadcasts of it produced by ESPN, Fox and ABC.
Through the 2020 NFL Draft, 85 players have been selected first overall, with the most recent being Joe Burrow from Louisiana State University. The Indianapolis Colts – formerly the Baltimore Colts – have made the most first overall selections in history with seven. Of the first overall draft picks, 43 have been selected to a Pro Bowl and of those 43, twelve have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While the Heisman Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in U.S. college football, only 21 of those Heisman winners have been selected first overall in the NFL draft. Only six first overall draft pick players have been selected the NFL Rookie of the Year: Earl Campbell ; Billy Sims ; George Rogers ; Sam Bradford ; Cam Newton ; and Kyler Murray.

Key

List of first overall picks

YearNamePositionCollegeTeamNotes
1936HBChicagoPhiladelphia EaglesHeisman Trophy
1937FBNebraskaPhiladelphia Eagles—
1938FBIndianaCleveland Rams—
1939*CTCUChicago CardinalsNFL All-Star Game
1940HBTennesseeChicago Cardinals—
1941HBMichiganChicago BearsHeisman Trophy
1942‡HBVirginiaPittsburgh SteelersNFL All-Star Game
Pro Football Hall of Fame
NFL MVP
1943HBGeorgiaDetroit LionsHeisman Trophy
1944QBNotre DameBoston YanksHeisman Trophy
1945‡HBGeorgiaChicago CardinalsPro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
NFL Champion
1946QBNotre DameBoston Yanks—
1947HBOklahoma A&MChicago Bears—
1948*QBAlabamaWashington RedskinsPro Bowl
1949‡C, LBPennPhiladelphia EaglesPro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
NFL Champion
1950*ENotre DameDetroit LionsHeisman Trophy
Pro Bowl
1951*HBSMUNew York GiantsPro Bowl
1952*QBVanderbiltLos Angeles RamsPro Bowl
1953EGeorgiaSan Francisco 49ers—
1954QBStanfordCleveland Browns—
1955QBOregonBaltimore ColtsNFL Champion
1956DBColorado A&MPittsburgh Steelers—
1957‡HBNotre DameGreen Bay PackersHeisman Trophy
Pro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
NFL Champion
Super Bowl champion
NFL MVP
1958QBRiceChicago Cardinals—
1959QBIowaGreen Bay Packers—
1960RBLSULos Angeles RamsHeisman Trophy 3x AFL champ, 2x AFL All Star 1x AFL rushing leader
1961*RBTulaneMinnesota Vikings§Pro Bowl
1962RBSyracuseWashington RedskinsHeisman Trophy
1963QBOregon StateLos Angeles RamsHeisman Trophy
1964*WRTexas TechSan Francisco 49ersPro Bowl
1965*RBAuburnNew York GiantsPro Bowl
1966*LBTexasAtlanta Falcons§Pro Bowl
1967*DEMichigan StateBaltimore ColtsPro Bowl
Super Bowl champion
1968‡TUSCMinnesota VikingsPro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
1969‡RBUSCBuffalo BillsHeisman Trophy
Pro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
NFL MVP
1970‡QBLouisiana TechPittsburgh SteelersPro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Super Bowl champion
Super Bowl MVP
NFL MVP
1971QBStanfordNew England PatriotsHeisman Trophy
Super Bowl champion
Super Bowl MVP
1972DENotre DameBuffalo Bills—
1973DETampaHouston OilersSuper Bowl champion
1974*DETennessee StateDallas CowboysPro Bowl
Super Bowl champion
1975*QBCaliforniaAtlanta FalconsPro Bowl
1976‡DEOklahomaTampa Bay Buccaneers§Pro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
1977RBUSCTampa Bay Buccaneers—
1978‡RBTexasHouston OilersHeisman Trophy
Pro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
NFL MVP
Rookie of the Year
1979LBOhio StateBuffalo Bills—
1980*RBOklahomaDetroit LionsHeisman Trophy
Pro Bowl
Rookie of the Year
1981*RBSouth CarolinaNew Orleans SaintsHeisman Trophy
Pro Bowl
Super Bowl champion
Rookie of the Year
1982DETexasNew England Patriots—
1983‡QBStanfordBaltimore ColtsPro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Super Bowl champion
Super Bowl MVP
NFL MVP
1984*WRNebraskaNew England PatriotsPro Bowl
1985‡DEVirginia TechBuffalo BillsPro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
1986*RBAuburnTampa Bay BuccaneersHeisman Trophy
Pro Bowl
1987*QBMiami Tampa Bay BuccaneersHeisman Trophy
Pro Bowl
1988LBAuburnAtlanta Falcons—
1989‡QBUCLADallas CowboysPro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Super Bowl champion
Super Bowl MVP
1990QBIllinoisIndianapolis Colts—
1991*DTMiami Dallas CowboysPro Bowl
Super Bowl champion
1992DEWashingtonIndianapolis Colts—
1993*QBWashington StateNew England PatriotsPro Bowl
Super Bowl champion
1994DTOhio StateCincinnati Bengals—
1995RBPenn StateCincinnati Bengals—
1996*WRUSCNew York JetsPro Bowl
Super Bowl champion
1997‡TOhio StateSt. Louis RamsPro Bowl
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Super Bowl champion
1998*QBTennesseeIndianapolis ColtsPro Bowl
Super Bowl champion
Super Bowl MVP
NFL MVP
1999QBKentuckyCleveland Browns§—
2000DEPenn StateCleveland Browns—
2001*QBVirginia TechAtlanta FalconsPro Bowl
2002QBFresno StateHouston Texans§Super Bowl champion
2003*QBUSCCincinnati BengalsHeisman Trophy
Pro Bowl
2004*QBOle MissSan Diego ChargersPro Bowl
Super Bowl champion
Super Bowl MVP
2005*QBUtahSan Francisco 49ers Pro Bowl
2006*DENorth Carolina StateHouston TexansPro Bowl
2007QBLSUOakland Raiders—
2008*TMichiganMiami DolphinsPro Bowl
2009*QBGeorgiaDetroit LionsPro Bowl
2010QBOklahomaSt. Louis RamsHeisman Trophy
Rookie of the Year
2011*QBAuburnCarolina PanthersHeisman Trophy
Pro Bowl
Rookie of the Year
NFL MVP
2012*QBStanfordIndianapolis ColtsPro Bowl
2013*TCentral MichiganKansas City ChiefsPro Bowl
Super Bowl champion
2014*DESouth CarolinaHouston TexansPro Bowl
2015*QBFlorida StateTampa Bay BuccaneersHeisman Trophy
Pro Bowl
2016*QBCaliforniaLos Angeles RamsPro Bowl
2017*DETexas A&MCleveland BrownsPro Bowl
2018QBOklahomaCleveland BrownsHeisman Trophy
2019QBOklahomaArizona CardinalsHeisman Trophy
Rookie of the Year
2020QBLSUCincinnati BengalsHeisman Trophy

Statistics

The Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Rams have each held the first overall pick a total of seven times, the most of any NFL team. This includes the Colts' time in Baltimore and the Rams' time in Cleveland and St. Louis. Only four teams in the league have never held the first overall pick in the NFL draft: the Denver Broncos, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Baltimore Ravens. The Boston Yanks are the only defunct franchise to have held a first overall pick.
TeamTotal
number		YearNotesRef--
Indianapolis Colts71955, 1967, 1983, 1990, 1992
1998, 2012
  • 3 as the Baltimore Colts
  • 4 as the Indianapolis Colts
--
Los Angeles Rams71938, 1952, 1960, 1963, 1997 2010, 2016
  • 1 as the Cleveland Rams
  • 2 as the St. Louis Rams
  • 4 as the Los Angeles Rams
--
Tampa Bay Buccaneers51976, 1977, 1986, 1987, 2015
  • Also had first selection in the 1984 NFL supplemental draft of USFL and CFL players.
    		• --
    Cleveland Browns51954, 1999, 2000, 2017, 2018--
    Arizona Cardinals51939, 1940, 1945, 1958, 2019
  • 4 as the Chicago Cardinals
    		• --
    Detroit Lions41943, 1950, 1980, 2009--
    Atlanta Falcons41966, 1975, 1988, 2001--
    Buffalo Bills41969, 1972, 1979, 1985
  • Also had first selection in the 1961 AFL Draft
    		• --
    Cincinnati Bengals41994, 1995, 2003, 2020----
    New England Patriots41971, 1982, 1984, 1993
  • Also had first selection in the 1964 AFL Draft
    		• --
    Philadelphia Eagles31936, 1937, 1949--
    Pittsburgh Steelers31942, 1956, 1970--
    San Francisco 49ers31953, 1964, 2005--
    Dallas Cowboys31974, 1989, 1991
    Houston Texans32002, 2006, 2014--
    Chicago Bears21941, 1947--
    Boston Yanks21944, 1946--
    Washington Redskins21948, 1962--
    New York Giants21951, 1965--
    Green Bay Packers21957, 1959--
    Minnesota Vikings21961, 1968--
    Tennessee Titans21973, 1978
  • 2 as the Houston Oilers
    		• --
    New Orleans Saints11981--
    New York Jets11996
  • Also had first selection in the 1965 AFL Draft
    		• --
    San Diego Chargers12004--
    Las Vegas Raiders12007
  • 1 as the Oakland Raiders
  • Also had first selection in the 1962 AFL Draft
    		• --
    Miami Dolphins12008
  • Also had first selection in the 1966 AFL Draft
    		• --
    Carolina Panthers12011--
    Kansas City Chiefs12013
  • Also had first selection in the 1963 AFL Draft
    		• --

    First overall draft picks by school

    , USC, and Oklahoma are tied for most first overall picks with 5 each. Only two schools have had first overall picks in consecutive years: USC, with Ron Yary and O. J. Simpson, and Oklahoma, with Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.
    SchoolTotal
    number    		Year
    Notre Dame51944, 1946, 1950, 1957, 1972
    USC51968, 1969, 1977, 1996, 2003
    Oklahoma51976, 1980, 2010, 2018, 2019
    Georgia41943, 1945, 1953, 2009
    Auburn41965, 1986, 1988, 2011
    Stanford41954, 1971, 1983, 2012
    LSU31960, 2007, 2020
    Texas31966, 1978, 1982
    Ohio State31979, 1994, 1997
    Nebraska21937, 1984
    Miami 21987, 1991
    Tennessee21940, 1998
    Penn State21995, 2000
    Virginia Tech21985, 2001
    Michigan21941, 2008
    South Carolina21981, 2014
    California21975, 2016
    Chicago11936
    Indiana11938
    TCU11939
    Virginia11942
    Oklahoma State11947
    Alabama11948
    Penn11949
    SMU11951
    Vanderbilt11952
    Oregon11955
    Colorado State11956
    Rice11958
    Iowa11959
    Tulane11961
    Syracuse11962
    Oregon State11963
    Texas Tech11964
    Michigan State11967
    Louisiana Tech11970
    Tampa11973
    Tennessee State11974
    UCLA11989
    Illinois11990
    Washington11992
    Washington State11993
    Kentucky11999
    Fresno State12002
    Ole Miss12004
    Utah12005
    North Carolina State12006
    Central Michigan12013
    Florida State12015
    Texas A&M12017

    First overall draft picks by position

    PositionNumber of selectionsLast year selected
    Quarterbacks
    33
    2020
    Running backs
    23
    1995
    Defensive linemen
    15
    2017
    Offensive linemen
    7
    2013
    Wide receivers
    3
    1996
    Linebackers
    3
    1988
    Defensive backs
    1
    1956