First Overall Picks by Position in NFL Draft History

Last Modified Apr 24, 2025 09:50 GMT
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The first overall pick in the NFL Draft has been very important since its start in 1936. In college football, it is frequently used to select the most promising players. Teams have used the first pick to fill a variety of positional needs over the years, with quarterbacks emerging as the most frequently selected position. The significance of the position is demonstrated by the fact that quarterbacks will be selected with more than 30 of the 87 first-round picks as of 2025.

Another popular option is defensive linemen, particularly edge rushers and tackles. This reflects the importance of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Although their selections have decreased recently due to shifting league priorities, offensive tackles and running backs have also seen significant representation. This breakdown by position provides a detailed look at how team strategies and league dynamics have evolved, showcasing the trends and values that shape NFL draft decisions at the highest level.

List of Players First Drafted By Position in NFL History

The NFL draft began in 1936, and as of 2025, 88 drafts have taken place. The Philadelphia Eagles' Jay Berwanger was the first pick in the 1936 draft. He also won the Heisman Trophy in 1935. Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears was selected first in the 2024 NFL draft. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner played for the USC Trojans Football team at the collegiate level.

YearNamePositionCollege Team
1936Jay BerwangerHBChicagoPhiladelphia Eagles
1937Sam FrancisFBNebraskaPhiladelphia Eagles
1938Corbett DavisFBIndianaCleveland Rams
1939Ki AldrichCTCUChicago Cardinals
1940George CafegoHBTennesseeChicago Cardinals
1941Tom HarmonHBMichiganChicago Bears
1942Bill DudleyHBVirginiaPittsburgh Steelers
1943Frank SinkwichHBGeorgiaDetroit Lions
1944Angelo BertelliQBNotre DameBoston Yanks
1945Charley TrippiHBGeorgiaChicago Cardinals
1946Frank DancewiczQBNotre DameBoston Yanks
1947Bob FenimoreHBOklahoma A&MChicago Bears
1948Harry GilmerHB, WRAlabamaWashington Redskins
1949Chuck BednariC, LBPennPhiladelphia Eagles
1950Leon HartENotre DameDetroit Lions
1951Kyle RoteHBSMUNew York Giants
1952Bill WadeQBVanderbiltLos Angeles Rams
1953Harry BabcockEGeorgiaSan Francisco 49ers
1954Bobby GarrettQBStanfordCleveland Browns
1955George ShawQBOregonBaltimore Colts
1956Gary GlickDBColorado A&MPittsburgh Steelers
1957Paul HornungHBNotre DameGreen Bay Packers
1958King HillQBRiceChicago Cardinals
1959Randy DuncanQBIowaGreen Bay Packers
1960Billy CannonHBLSULos Angeles Rams
1961Tommy MasonHBTulaneMinnesota Vikings
1962Ernie DavisHBSyracuseWashington Redskins
1963Terry BakerQBOregon StateLos Angeles Rams
1964Dave ParksWRTexas TechSan Francisco 49ers
1965Tucker FredericksonHBAuburnNew York Giants
1966Tommy NobisLBTexasAtlanta Falcons
1967Bubba SmithDEMichigan StateBaltimore Colts
1968Ron YaryTUSCMinnesota Vikings
1969O. J. SimpsonHBUSCBuffalo Bills
1970Terry BradshawQBLouisiana TechPittsburgh Steelers
1971Jim PlunkettQBStanfordNew England Patriots
1972Walt PatulskiDENotre DameBuffalo Bills
1973John MatuszakDETampaHouston Oilers
1974Ed JonesDETennessee StateDallas Cowboys
1975Steve BartkowskiQBCaliforniaAtlanta Falcons
1976Lee Roy SelmonDEOklahomaTampa Bay Buccaneers
1977Ricky BellHBUSCTampa Bay Buccaneers
1978Earl CampbellHBTexasHouston Oilers
1979Tom CousineauLBOhio StateBuffalo Bills
1980Billy SimsHBOklahomaDetroit Lions
1981George RogersHBSouth CarolinaNew Orleans Saints
1982Kenneth SimsDETexasNew England Patriots
1983John ElwayQBStanfordBaltimore Colts
1984Irving FryarWRNebraskaNew England Patriots
1985Bruce SmithDEVirginia TechBuffalo Bills
1986Bo JacksonHBAuburnTampa Bay Buccaneers
1987Vinny TestaverdeQBMiami (FL)Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1988Aundray BruceLBAuburnAtlanta Falcons
1989Troy AikmanQBUCLADallas Cowboys
1990Jeff GeorgeQBIllinoisIndianapolis Colts
1991Russell MarylandDTMiami (FL)Dallas Cowboys
1992Steve EmtmanDEWashingtonIndianapolis Colts
1993Drew BledsoeQBWashington StateNew England Patriots
1994Dan WilkinsonDTOhio StateCincinnati Bengals
1995Ki-Jana CarterHBPenn StateCincinnati Bengals
1996Keyshawn JohnsonWRUSCNew York Jets
1997Orlando PaceTOhio StateSt. Louis Rams
1998Peyton ManningQBTennesseeIndianapolis Colts
1999Tim CouchQBKentuckyCleveland Browns
2000Courtney BrownDEPenn StateCleveland Browns
2001Michael VickQBVirginia TechAtlanta Falcons
2002David CarrQBFresno StateHouston Texans
2003Carson PalmerQBUSCCincinnati Bengals
2004Eli ManningQBOle MissSan Diego Chargers
2005Alex SmithQBUtahSan Francisco 49ers
2006Mario WilliamsDENorth Carolina StateHouston Texans
2007JaMarcus RussellQBLSUOakland Raiders
2008Jake LongTMichiganMiami Dolphins
2009Matthew Stafford*QBGeorgiaDetroit Lions
2010Sam BradfordQBOklahomaSt. Louis Rams
2011Cam NewtonQBAuburnCarolina Panthers
2012Andrew LuckQBStanfordIndianapolis Colts
2013Eric FisherTCentral MichiganKansas City Chiefs
2014Jadeveon ClowneyDESouth CarolinaHouston Texans
2015Jameis WinstonQBFlorida StateTampa Bay Buccaneers
2016Jared GoffQBCaliforniaLos Angeles Rams
2017Myles GarrettDETexas A&MCleveland Browns
2018Baker MayfieldQBOklahomaCleveland Browns
2019Kyler MurrayQBOklahomaArizona Cardinals
2020Joe BurrowQBLSUCincinnati Bengals
2021Trevor LawrenceQBClemsonJacksonville Jaguars
2022Travon WalkerDEGeorgiaJacksonville Jaguars
2023Bryce YoungQBAlabamaCarolina Panthers
2024Caleb WilliamsQBUSCChicago Bears

FAQs on the NFL Draft

A. The Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Rams have the most first overall picks in NFL history. 


A. Quarterback is the most commonly drafted position in the NFL, as per reports.

A. The Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, and Denver Broncos are the NFL teams that have never had a first overall draft pick, via BetMGM.

A. No, there were no tight ends drafted first overall as of April 2025. 


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