List Of All Number 1 NFL Draft Picks By Year

Last Modified Apr 24, 2025 11:15 GMT
NFL Draft Picks: Number One Overall Draft Picks Over The Years
Caleb Williams was 1st overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft

The NFL draft takes place on the last Thursday-Saturday of April of every year. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings. There are seven rounds in the NFL draft as of 2025. Each round has 32 picks and at least 224 players are selected in each NFL Draft as per Pro Football Network. The 2024 NFL draft has 257 picks as reported by Pro Football Network.

At the draft venue, each team's representative is present, who communicates with their executive at the draft room before giving out a card to an NFL staff member known as a runner. On that card, the player's (one that the team wants to draft) name, position, and school are written. Until the card is handed to the runner, the selection is not official (via NFL Operations).

Who are the Number 1 overall draft picks over the years?

The No.1 overall draft picks since 1936 (when the draft was first introduced) are as below:

YearPlayerSelected byPositionCollege
1936Jay BerwangerPhiladelphia EaglesHalfbackChicago
1937Sam FrancisPhiladelphia EaglesFullbackNebraska
1938Corbett DavisCleveland RamsFullbackIndiana
1939Ki AldrichChicago CardinalsCenterTCU
1940George CafegoChicago CardinalsHalfbackTennessee
1941Tom HarmonChicago BearsHalfbackMichigan
1942Bill DudleyPittsburgh SteelersHalfbackVirginia
1943Frank SinkwichDetroit LionsHalfbackGeorgia
1944Angelo BertelliBoston YanksQuarterbackNotre Dame
1945Charley TrippiChicago CardinalsHalfbackGeorgia
1946Frank DancewiczBoston YanksQuarterbackNotre Dame
1947Bob FenimoreChicago BearsHalfbackOklahoma A&M
1948Harry GilmerWashington RedskinsQuarterbackAlabama
1949Chuck BednarikPhiladelphia EaglesCenter/LinebackerPenn
1950Leon HartDetroit LionsEnd/FullbackNotre Dame
1951Kyle RoteNew York GiantsHalfbackSMU
1952Bill WadeLos Angeles RamsQuarterbackVanderbilt
1953Harry BabcockSan Francisco 49ersEnd/Wide ReceiverGeorgia
1954Bobby GarrettCleveland BrownsQuarterbackStanford
1955George ShawBaltimore ColtsQuarterbackOregon
1956Gary GlickPittsburgh SteelersDefensive BackColorado A&M
1957Paul HornungGreen Bay PackersHalfbackNotre Dame
1958King HillChicago CardinalsQuarterbackRice
1959Randy DuncanGreen Bay PackersQuarterbackIowa
1960Billy CannonLos Angeles RamsRunning BackLSU
1961Tommy MasonMinnesota VikingsRunning BackTulane
1962Ernie DavisWashington RedskinsRunning BackSyracuse
1963Terry BakerLos Angeles RamsQuarterbackOregon State
1964Dave ParksSan Francisco 49ersWide ReceiverTexas Tech
1965Tucker FredericksonNew York GiantsRunning BackAuburn
1966Tommy NobisAtlanta FalconsLinebackerTexas
1967Bubba SmithBaltimore ColtsDefensive EndMichigan State
1968Ron YaryMinnesota VikingsOffensive TackleUSC
1969O. J. SimpsonBuffalo BillsRunning BackUSC
1970Terry BradshawPittsburgh SteelersQuarterbackLouisiana Tech
1971Jim PlunkettNew England PatriotsQuarterbackStanford
1972Walt PatulskiBuffalo BillsDefensive EndNotre Dame
1973John MatuszakHouston OilersDefensive EndTampa
1974Ed JonesDallas CowboysDefensive EndTennessee State
1975Steve BartkowskiAtlanta FalconsQuarterbackCalifornia
1976Lee Roy SelmonTampa Bay BuccaneersDefensive EndOklahoma
1977Ricky BellTampa Bay BuccaneersRunning BackUSC
1978Earl CampbellHouston OilersRunning BackTexas
1979Tom CousineauBuffalo BillsLinebackerOhio State
1980Billy SimsDetroit LionsRunning BackOklahoma
1981George RogersNew Orleans SaintsRunning BackSouth Carolina
1982Kenneth SimsNew England PatriotsDefensive EndTexas
1983John ElwayBaltimore ColtsQuarterbackStanford
1984Irving FryarNew England PatriotsWide ReceiverNebraska
1985Bruce SmithBuffalo BillsDefensive EndVirginia Tech
1986Bo JacksonTampa Bay BuccaneersRunning BackAuburn
1987Vinny TestaverdeTampa Bay BuccaneersQuarterbackMiami (FL)
1988Aundray BruceAtlanta FalconsLinebackerAuburn
1989Troy AikmanDallas CowboysQuarterbackUCLA
1990Jeff GeorgeIndianapolis ColtsQuarterbackIllinois
1991Russell MarylandDallas CowboysDefensive TackleMiami (FL)
1992Steve EmtmanIndianapolis ColtsDefensive EndWashington
1993Drew BledsoeNew England PatriotsQuarterbackWashington State
1994Dan WilkinsonCincinnati BengalsDefensive TackleOhio State
1995Ki-Jana CarterCincinnati BengalsRunning BackPenn State
1996Keyshawn JohnsonNew York JetsWide ReceiverUSC
1997Orlando PaceSt. Louis RamsOffensive TackleOhio State
1998Peyton ManningIndianapolis ColtsQuarterbackTennessee
1999Tim CouchCleveland BrownsQuarterbackKentucky
2000Courtney BrownCleveland BrownsDefensive EndPenn State
2001Michael VickAtlanta FalconsQuarterbackVirginia Tech
2002David CarrHouston TexansQuarterbackFresno State
2003Carson PalmerCincinnati BengalsQuarterbackUSC
2004Eli ManningSan Diego ChargersQuarterbackOle Miss
2005Alex SmithSan Francisco 49ersQuarterbackUtah
2006Mario WilliamsHouston TexansDefensive EndNorth Carolina State
2007JaMarcus RussellOakland RaidersQuarterbackLSU
2008Jake LongMiami DolphinsOffensive TackleMichigan
2009Matthew StaffordDetroit LionsQuarterbackGeorgia
2010Sam BradfordSt. Louis RamsQuarterbackOklahoma
2011Cam NewtonCarolina PanthersQuarterbackAuburn
2012Andrew LuckIndianapolis ColtsQuarterbackStanford
2013Eric FisherKansas City ChiefsOffensive TackleCentral Michigan
2014Jadeveon ClowneyHouston TexansDefensive EndSouth Carolina
2015Jameis WinstonTampa Bay BuccaneersQuarterbackFlorida State
2016Jared GoffLos Angeles RamsQuarterbackCalifornia
2017Myles GarrettCleveland BrownsDefensive EndTexas A&M
2018Baker MayfieldCleveland BrownsQuarterbackOklahoma
2019Kyler MurrayArizona CardinalsQuarterbackOklahoma
2020Joe BurrowCincinnati BengalsQuarterbackLSU
2021Trevor LawrenceJacksonville JaguarsQuarterbackClemson
2022Travon WalkerJacksonville JaguarsDefensive EndGeorgia
2023Bryce YoungCarolina PanthersQuarterbackAlabama
2024Caleb WilliamsChicago BearsQuarterbackUSC

While not all number-one overall picks have gone on to meet their potential, there are quite a few legends of the game as well as future Hall of Famer who were snapped up with this pick. Many of them have gone on to represent their sides in the Super Bowl while also winning multiple Vince Lombardi trophies. Peyton Manning, Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, and John Elway are prime examples of this.

Related:

NFL Draft Results 2017

NFL Draft Results 2018

NFL Draft Results 2019

NFL Draft Results 2020

NFL Draft Results 2021

NFL Draft Results 2022

NFL Draft Results 2023

NFL Draft Results 2024

FAQs on NFL Draft

A. The Jacksonville Jaguars have the most number of draft picks in the 2025 NFL draft as per CBS Sports. 

A. The 2025 NFL draft is gonna take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

A. The first NFL draft was held in 1936. 

A. The NFL draft has seven rounds. 

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