The No. 1 Pick In The NFL Draft
The Chicago Bears currently hold the first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. If they use the pick, it would be the third time that they made the first pick in the draft. The first two didn’t go so well. Tom Harmon never played for them. Bob Fenimore never played all that well. With seven times each, the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland/Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams have picked first the most. The Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, and Seattle Seahawks have never picked first. Here are the No. 1 Picks ranked by the teams that have made the pick the most.
The No. 1 Pick In The NFL Draft
1. Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts (7)
1955: George Shaw, QB, Oregon
1967: Bubba Smith, DE, Michigan State
1983: John Elway, QB, Stanford
1990: Jeff George, QB, Illinois
1992: Steve Emtman, DE, Washington
1998: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee
2012: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
1. Cleveland/Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (7)
1938: Corbett Davis, FB, Indiana
1952: Bill Wade, QB, Vanderbilt
1960: Billy Cannon, HB, LSU
1963: Terry Baker, QB, Oregon St.
1997: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State
2010: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2016: Jared Goff, QB, California
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5)
1976: Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Oklahoma
1977: Ricky Bell, HB, USC
1986: Bo Jackson, HB, Auburn
1987: Vinny Testeverde, QB, Miami
2015: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
3. Cleveland Browns (5)
1954: Bobby Garrett, QB, Stanford
1999: Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky
2000: Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State
2017: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
2018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
3. Chicago/St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals (5)
1939: Ki Aldrich, C, TCU
1940: George Cafego, HB, Tennessee
1945: Charley Trippi, HB, Georgia
1958: King Hill, QB, Rice
2019: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
6. Detroit Lions (4)
1943: Frank Sinkwich, HB, Georgia
1950: Leon Hart, E, Notre Dame
1980: Billy Sims, HB, Oklahoma
2009: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
6. Atlanta Falcons (4)
1966: Tommy Nobis, LB, Texas
1975: Steve Bartkowski, QB, California
1988: Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn
2001: Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech
6. Buffalo Bills (4)
1969: O.J. Simpson, HB, USC
1972: Walt Patulski, DE, Notre Dame
1979: Tom Cousineau, LB, Ohio State
1985: Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech
6. Cincinnati Bengals (4)
1994: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State
1995: Ki-Jana Carter, HB, Penn State
2003: Carson Palmer, QB, USC
2020: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
6. New England Patriots (4)
1971: Jim Plunkett, QB, Stanford
1982: Kenneth Sims, DE, Texas
1984: Irving Fryar, WR, Nebraska
1993: Drew Bledsoe, QB, Washington State
11. Philadelphia Eagles (3)
1936: Jay Berwanger, HB, Chicago
1937: Sam Francis, FB, Nebraska
1949: Chuck Bednarik, LB, Penn
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (3)
1942: Bill Dudley, HB, Virginia
1956: Gary Glick, DB, Colorado A&M
1970: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Louisiana Tech
11. Dallas Cowboys (3)
1974: Ed Jones, DE, Tennessee State
1989: Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA
1991: Russell Maryland, DT, Miami
11. San Francisco 49ers (3)
1953: Harry Babcock, E, Georgia
1964: Dave Parks, WR, Texas Tech
2005: Alex Smith, QB, Utah
11. Houston Texans (3)
2002: Dave Carr, QB, Fresno State
2006: Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina State
2014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
16. Minnesota Vikings (2)
1961: Tommy Mason, HB, Tulane
1968: Ron Yary, OT, USC
The Minnesota Vikings were awarded the first pick in the 1961 NFL Draft as a way to help an expansion team. I believe that the Vikings were the first expansion team to receive such treatment. The year before, the Dallas Cowboys were awarded their franchise at such a late date that they didn’t even take part in the 1960 NFL Draft. The league was in a rush to get the Cowboys going so that they could compete for control of the city of Dallas and the state of Texas with the AFL’s Dallas Texans. It’s wild that the first pick in Cowboys franchise history preceded their second season. They made that first pick count when they selected defensive tackle Bob Lilly. Anyway, this isn’t about the Cowboys. It’s about the Vikings and their two opportunities with the first pick in the NFL Draft. They gained the first pick in the 1968 NFL Draft from the New York Giants as part of the Fran Tarkenton trade. The Vikings did well with both of their opportunities to draft first overall. Along with Tarkenton, Tommy Mason was one of the franchise’s early stars. He went to the Pro Bowl from 1962-64 and was named first-team All-Pro in 1963. If injuries hadn’t whittled away at his talents, he’d be better remembered. Ron Yary is honored in Canton for the career that he had in Minnesota. Simply put, he’s the best offensive tackle of his era and one of the best to ever play.
16. Chicago Bears (2)
1941: Tom Harmon, HB, Michigan
1947: Bob Fenimore, HB, Oklahoma A&M
16. Boston/Washington Braves/Redskins/Commanders (2)
1948: Harry Gilmer, HB, Alabama
1962: Ernie Davis, HB, Syracuse
16. New York Giants (2)
1951: Kyle Rote, HB, SMU
1965: Tucker Fredrickson, HB, Auburn
16. Green Bay Packers (2)
1957: Paul Hornung, HB, Notre Dame
1959: Randy Duncan, QB, Iowa
16. Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (2)
1973: John Matuszak, DE, Tampa
1978: Earl Campbell, HB, Texas
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2)
2021: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
2022: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
23. New Orleans Saints (1)
1981: George Rogers, HB, South Carolina
23. New York Jets (1)
1996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC
23. San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (1)
2004: Eli Manning, QB, Mississippi
23. Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders (1)
2007: Jamarcus Russell, QB, LSU
23. Miami Dolphins (1)
2008: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
23. Carolina Panthers (1)
2011: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
23. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
2013: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
The Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, and Baltimore Ravens have never picked first.
One team that is no longer with us made the first pick in the draft twice:
Boston Yanks (2)
1944: Angelo Bertelli, QB, Notre Dame
1946: Frank Dancewicz, QB, Notre Dame
The Yanks were fond of Notre Dame quarterbacks. Unfortunately, that fondness couldn’t save the franchise. They became the New York Bulldogs in 1949, the New York Yanks in 1950, and the Dallas Texans in 1952. The team folded after the 1952 season and many of the players were folded into the “new” Baltimore Colts.
The No. 1 Pick In The NFL Draft
1. Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts (7)
1955: George Shaw, QB, Oregon
1967: Bubba Smith, DE, Michigan State
1983: John Elway, QB, Stanford
1990: Jeff George, QB, Illinois
1992: Steve Emtman, DE, Washington
1998: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee
2012: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
1. Cleveland/Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (7)
1938: Corbett Davis, FB, Indiana
1952: Bill Wade, QB, Vanderbilt
1960: Billy Cannon, HB, LSU
1963: Terry Baker, QB, Oregon St.
1997: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State
2010: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2016: Jared Goff, QB, California
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5)
1976: Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Oklahoma
1977: Ricky Bell, HB, USC
1986: Bo Jackson, HB, Auburn
1987: Vinny Testeverde, QB, Miami
2015: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
3. Cleveland Browns (5)
1954: Bobby Garrett, QB, Stanford
1999: Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky
2000: Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State
2017: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
2018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
3. Chicago/St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals (5)
1939: Ki Aldrich, C, TCU
1940: George Cafego, HB, Tennessee
1945: Charley Trippi, HB, Georgia
1958: King Hill, QB, Rice
2019: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
6. Detroit Lions (4)
1943: Frank Sinkwich, HB, Georgia
1950: Leon Hart, E, Notre Dame
1980: Billy Sims, HB, Oklahoma
2009: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
6. Atlanta Falcons (4)
1966: Tommy Nobis, LB, Texas
1975: Steve Bartkowski, QB, California
1988: Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn
2001: Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech
6. Buffalo Bills (4)
1969: O.J. Simpson, HB, USC
1972: Walt Patulski, DE, Notre Dame
1979: Tom Cousineau, LB, Ohio State
1985: Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech
6. Cincinnati Bengals (4)
1994: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State
1995: Ki-Jana Carter, HB, Penn State
2003: Carson Palmer, QB, USC
2020: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
6. New England Patriots (4)
1971: Jim Plunkett, QB, Stanford
1982: Kenneth Sims, DE, Texas
1984: Irving Fryar, WR, Nebraska
1993: Drew Bledsoe, QB, Washington State
11. Philadelphia Eagles (3)
1936: Jay Berwanger, HB, Chicago
1937: Sam Francis, FB, Nebraska
1949: Chuck Bednarik, LB, Penn
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (3)
1942: Bill Dudley, HB, Virginia
1956: Gary Glick, DB, Colorado A&M
1970: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Louisiana Tech
11. Dallas Cowboys (3)
1974: Ed Jones, DE, Tennessee State
1989: Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA
1991: Russell Maryland, DT, Miami
11. San Francisco 49ers (3)
1953: Harry Babcock, E, Georgia
1964: Dave Parks, WR, Texas Tech
2005: Alex Smith, QB, Utah
11. Houston Texans (3)
2002: Dave Carr, QB, Fresno State
2006: Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina State
2014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
16. Minnesota Vikings (2)
1961: Tommy Mason, HB, Tulane
1968: Ron Yary, OT, USC
The Minnesota Vikings were awarded the first pick in the 1961 NFL Draft as a way to help an expansion team. I believe that the Vikings were the first expansion team to receive such treatment. The year before, the Dallas Cowboys were awarded their franchise at such a late date that they didn’t even take part in the 1960 NFL Draft. The league was in a rush to get the Cowboys going so that they could compete for control of the city of Dallas and the state of Texas with the AFL’s Dallas Texans. It’s wild that the first pick in Cowboys franchise history preceded their second season. They made that first pick count when they selected defensive tackle Bob Lilly. Anyway, this isn’t about the Cowboys. It’s about the Vikings and their two opportunities with the first pick in the NFL Draft. They gained the first pick in the 1968 NFL Draft from the New York Giants as part of the Fran Tarkenton trade. The Vikings did well with both of their opportunities to draft first overall. Along with Tarkenton, Tommy Mason was one of the franchise’s early stars. He went to the Pro Bowl from 1962-64 and was named first-team All-Pro in 1963. If injuries hadn’t whittled away at his talents, he’d be better remembered. Ron Yary is honored in Canton for the career that he had in Minnesota. Simply put, he’s the best offensive tackle of his era and one of the best to ever play.
16. Chicago Bears (2)
1941: Tom Harmon, HB, Michigan
1947: Bob Fenimore, HB, Oklahoma A&M
16. Boston/Washington Braves/Redskins/Commanders (2)
1948: Harry Gilmer, HB, Alabama
1962: Ernie Davis, HB, Syracuse
16. New York Giants (2)
1951: Kyle Rote, HB, SMU
1965: Tucker Fredrickson, HB, Auburn
16. Green Bay Packers (2)
1957: Paul Hornung, HB, Notre Dame
1959: Randy Duncan, QB, Iowa
16. Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (2)
1973: John Matuszak, DE, Tampa
1978: Earl Campbell, HB, Texas
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2)
2021: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
2022: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
23. New Orleans Saints (1)
1981: George Rogers, HB, South Carolina
23. New York Jets (1)
1996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC
23. San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (1)
2004: Eli Manning, QB, Mississippi
23. Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders (1)
2007: Jamarcus Russell, QB, LSU
23. Miami Dolphins (1)
2008: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
23. Carolina Panthers (1)
2011: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
23. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
2013: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
The Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, and Baltimore Ravens have never picked first.
One team that is no longer with us made the first pick in the draft twice:
Boston Yanks (2)
1944: Angelo Bertelli, QB, Notre Dame
1946: Frank Dancewicz, QB, Notre Dame
The Yanks were fond of Notre Dame quarterbacks. Unfortunately, that fondness couldn’t save the franchise. They became the New York Bulldogs in 1949, the New York Yanks in 1950, and the Dallas Texans in 1952. The team folded after the 1952 season and many of the players were folded into the “new” Baltimore Colts.
... and neither is this Chris guy.