List of first overall NFL draft picks

File:2025 Tennessee Titans Post-draft Press Conference Cam Ward (cropped).png

Cam Ward was selected first overall by the Tennessee Titans in 2025

The NFL draft is an annual sports draft in which National Football League (NFL) teams select newly eligible players for their rosters.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> To be eligible for the NFL draft, a player must be at least three years removed from high school. While the regulations do not explicitly require collegiate attendance, players must either exhaust their college eligibility or seek a special exemption from the league.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Each NFL franchise seeks to add new players through the draft as it is the league's most common source of player recruitment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Each team is assigned a position in the drafting order based on the reverse of its record from the previous year. The team with the worst record selects first, followed by the team with the second-worst record, and so forth. 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 (wild card, division, conference, and Super Bowl).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="2009DraftRules">Template:Cite news</ref>

From Template:Nfly through Template:Nfly, the first selection in the NFL draft was awarded by a random draw known as the "bonus pick." The team that received the bonus pick forfeited its selection in the final round of the draft, and once a team won, it was excluded from future draws. By the 1958 draft, all twelve league teams had received a bonus pick, leading to the system’s abolition. Following this, the NFL faced competition from the American Football League (AFL), which held a separate draft prior to the merger agreements in 1966. This rivalry resulted in both leagues often drafting the same players, sparking bidding wars for top prospects. As part of the merger agreement on June 8, 1966, the two leagues adopted a unified "common draft" system. After the AFL-NFL merger was finalized in 1970, the common draft became the modern NFL Draft.<ref name=2013Record&FactBook>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="AFLLegacy">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="NFLHistory">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="TimeChanges">Template:Cite news</ref>

Through the 2025 NFL draft, 90 players have been selected first overall, with the first being Jay Berwanger and the most recent being Cam Ward. The Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Rams have each made the most first overall selections in history with seven, while the Baltimore Ravens (the franchise had the first pick in 1954 when they were the Cleveland Browns), the Seattle Seahawks, and the Denver Broncos have never selected a player first overall.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The University of Southern California is the college with the most selections with 6, followed by the University of Notre Dame, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Georgia with 5.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Quarterbacks are most commonly selected position with 40, followed by running backs with 23.<ref name=2024Record&FactBook>Template:Cite book</ref> Of the first overall draft picks, 43 have been selected to a Pro Bowl and 14 have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

List of first overall picks

Key

K	Kicker	NT	Nose tackle	C	Center
LB	Linebacker	FB	Fullback	DB	Defensive back
P	Punter	HB	Halfback	DE	Defensive end
QB	Quarterback	WR/E	Wide receiver/End	DT	Defensive tackle
G	Guard	T	Offensive tackle	TE	Tight end

*	Selected to a Pro Bowl/All-Star Game
‡	Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (all were also selected to a Pro Bowl)
§	Denotes an expansion team

First overall draft picks

Year	Name	Position	College	Team	Notes	Template:Tooltip
1936	Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn-ua	HB	Chicago	Philadelphia Eagles	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1935)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1937	Template:Sortname	FB	Nebraska	Philadelphia Eagles	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1938	Template:Sortname	FB	Indiana	Cleveland Rams	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1939	Template:Sortname*	C	TCU	Chicago Cardinals	Template:NtshNFL All-Star Game (1939, 1942)<ref name="Aldrich"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1940	Template:Sortname	HB	Tennessee	Chicago Cardinals	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1941	Template:Sortname	HB	Michigan	Chicago Bears	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1940)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
1942	Template:Sortname‡	HB	Virginia	Pittsburgh Steelers	Template:NtshNFL All-Star Game (1950, 1951)<ref name="Dudley"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (1966)<ref name="Dudley"/> NFL MVP (1946)<ref name="Dudley"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1943	Template:Sortname	HB	Georgia	Detroit Lions	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1942)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> NFL MVP (1944)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
1944	Template:Sortname	QB	Notre Dame	Boston Yanks	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1943)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
1945	Template:Sortname‡	HB	Georgia	Chicago Cardinals	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1952, 1953)<ref name="Trippi"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (1968)<ref name="Trippi"/> NFL Champion (1947)<ref name="1947 Chicago Cardinals Roster"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1946	Template:Sortname	QB	Notre Dame	Boston Yanks	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1947	Template:Sortname	HB	Oklahoma A&M	Chicago Bears	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1948	Template:Sortname*	HB, WR	Alabama	Washington Redskins	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1950, 1952)<ref name="Gilmer"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1949	Template:Sortname‡	C, LB	Penn	Philadelphia Eagles	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1960)<ref name="Bednarik"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (1967)<ref name="Bednarik"/> NFL Champion (1949, 1960)<ref name="1949 Philadelphia Eagles Roster"/><ref name="1960 Philadelphia Eagles Roster"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1950	Template:Sortname*	E	Notre Dame	Detroit Lions	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1949)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (1951)<ref name="Hart"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1951	Template:Sortname*	HB	SMU	New York Giants	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1953, 1954, 1955, 1956)<ref name="Rote"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1952	Template:Sortname*	QB	Vanderbilt	Los Angeles Rams	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1958, 1963)<ref name="Wade"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1953	Template:Sortname	E	Georgia	San Francisco 49ers	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1954	Template:Sortname	QB	Stanford	Cleveland Browns	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1955	Template:Sortname	QB	Oregon	Baltimore Colts	Template:NtshNFL Champion (1958)<ref name="1958 Baltimore Colts Roster"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1956	Template:Sortname	DB	Colorado A&M	Pittsburgh Steelers	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1957	Template:Sortname‡	HB	Notre Dame	Green Bay Packers	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1956)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (1959, 1960)<ref name="Hornung"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (1986)<ref name="Hornung"/> NFL Champion (1961, 1962, 1965)<ref name="1961 Green Bay Packers Roster"/><ref name="1962 Green Bay Packers Roster"/><ref name="1965 Green Bay Packers Roster"/> Super Bowl champion (I)<ref name="1966 Green Bay Packers Roster"/> NFL MVP (1961)<ref name="Hornung"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1958	Template:Sortname	QB	Rice	Chicago Cardinals	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1959	Template:Sortname	QB	Iowa	Green Bay Packers	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1960	Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn-ua	HB	LSU	Los Angeles Rams	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1959)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> AFL Champion (1960, 1961, 1967) AFL All Star (1961, 1969)	<ref name=":0" />
1961	Template:Sortname*	HB	Tulane	Minnesota Vikings§	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1962, 1963, 1964)<ref name="Mason"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1962	Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn-ua	HB	Syracuse	Washington Redskins	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1961)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
1963	Template:Sortname	QB	Oregon State	Los Angeles Rams	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1962)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
1964	Template:Sortname*	WR	Texas Tech	San Francisco 49ers	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1964, 1965, 1966)<ref name="Parks"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1965	Template:Sortname*	HB	Auburn	New York Giants	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1965)<ref name="Frederickson"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1966	Template:Sortname*	LB	Texas	Atlanta Falcons§	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972)<ref name="Nobis"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1967Template:Efn-ua	Template:Sortname*	DE	Michigan State	Baltimore ColtsTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1970, 1971)<ref name="Smith"/> Super Bowl champion (V)<ref name="1970 Baltimore Colts Roster"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1968Template:Efn-ua	Template:Sortname‡	T	USC	Minnesota VikingsTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977)<ref name="Yary"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (2001)<ref name="Yary"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1969Template:Efn-ua	Template:Sortname‡	HB	USC	Buffalo Bills	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1968)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976)<ref name="Simpson"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (1985)<ref name="Simpson"/> NFL MVP (1973)<ref name="Simpson"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1970	Template:Sortname‡	QB	Louisiana Tech	Pittsburgh Steelers	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1975, 1978, 1979)<ref name="Bradshaw"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (1989)<ref name="Bradshaw"/> Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)<ref name="1974 Pittsburgh Steelers Roster"/><ref name="1975 Pittsburgh Steelers Roster"/><ref name="1978 Pittsburgh Steelers Roster"/><ref name="1979 Pittsburgh Steelers Roster"/> Super Bowl MVP (XIII, XIV)<ref name="Bradshaw"/> NFL MVP (1978)<ref name="Bradshaw"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1971	Template:Sortname	QB	Stanford	New England Patriots	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1970)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Super Bowl champion (XV, XVIII)<ref name="1980 Oakland Raiders Roster"/><ref name="1983 Los Angeles Raiders Roster"/> Super Bowl MVP (XV)<ref name="Plunkett"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1972	Template:Sortname	DE	Notre Dame	Buffalo Bills	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1973	Template:Sortname	DE	Tampa	Houston Oilers	Template:NtshSuper Bowl champion (XI, XV)<ref name="1980 Oakland Raiders Roster"/><ref name="1976 Oakland Raiders Roster"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1974	Template:Sortname*	DE	Tennessee State	Dallas CowboysTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1981, 1982, 1983)<ref name="Jones"/> Super Bowl champion (XII)<ref name="1977 Dallas Cowboys Roster"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1975	Template:Sortname*	QB	California	Atlanta FalconsTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1980, 1981)<ref name="Bartkowski"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1976	Template:Sortname‡	DE	Oklahoma	Tampa Bay Buccaneers§	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984)<ref name="Selmon"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (1995)<ref name="Selmon"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1977	Template:Sortname	HB	USC	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1978	Template:Sortname‡	HB	Texas	Houston OilersTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1977)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983)<ref name="Campbell"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (1991)<ref name="Campbell"/> NFL MVP (1979)<ref name="Campbell"/> Offensive Rookie of the Year (1978)<ref name="Campbell" />	<ref name=":0" />
1979	Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn-ua	LB	Ohio State	Buffalo Bills	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1980	Template:Sortname*	HB	Oklahoma	Detroit Lions	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1978)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (1980, 1981, 1982)<ref name="Sims"/> Offensive Rookie of the Year (1980)<ref name="Sims" />	<ref name=":0" />
1981	Template:Sortname*	HB	South Carolina	New Orleans Saints	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1980)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (1981, 1982)<ref name="Rogers"/> Super Bowl champion (XXII)<ref name="1987 Washington Redskins Roster"/> Offensive Rookie of the Year (1981)<ref name="1987 Washington Redskins Roster" />	<ref name=":0" />
1982	Template:Sortname	DE	Texas	New England Patriots	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1983	Template:Sortname‡Template:Efn-ua	QB	Stanford	Baltimore Colts	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998)<ref name="Elway"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (2004)<ref name="Elway"/> Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)<ref name="1997 Denver Broncos Roster"/><ref name="1998 Denver Broncos Roster"/> Super Bowl MVP (XXXIII)<ref name="Elway"/> NFL MVP (1987)<ref name="Elway"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1984Template:Efn-uaTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:Sortname*	WR	Nebraska	New England Patriots	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1985, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997)<ref name="Fryar"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1985	Template:Sortname‡	DE	Virginia Tech	Buffalo Bills	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)<ref name="B Smith"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (2009)<ref name="B Smith"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1986	Template:Sortname*Template:Efn-ua	HB	Auburn	Tampa Bay BuccaneersTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1985)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (1990)<ref name="Jackson"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1987	Template:Sortname*	QB	Miami (FL)	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (1986)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (1996, 1998)<ref name="Testaverde"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1988	Template:Sortname	LB	Auburn	Atlanta Falcons	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1989	Template:Sortname‡	QB	UCLA	Dallas Cowboys	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)<ref name="Aikman"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (2006)<ref name="Aikman"/> Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)<ref name="1992 Dallas Cowboys Roster"/><ref name="1993 Dallas Cowboys Roster"/><ref name="1995 Dallas Cowboys Roster"/> Super Bowl MVP (XXVII)<ref name="Aikman"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1990	Template:Sortname	QB	Illinois	Indianapolis ColtsTemplate:Efn-uaTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1991	Template:Sortname*	DT	Miami (FL)	Dallas CowboysTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1993)<ref name="Maryland"/> Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)<ref name="1992 Dallas Cowboys Roster"/><ref name="1993 Dallas Cowboys Roster"/><ref name="1995 Dallas Cowboys Roster"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1992	Template:Sortname	DE	Washington	Indianapolis Colts	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1993	Template:Sortname*	QB	Washington State	New England Patriots	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1994, 1996, 1997, 2002)<ref name="Bledsoe"/> Super Bowl champion (XXXVI)<ref name="2001 New England Patriots Roster"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1994	Template:Sortname	DT	Ohio State	Cincinnati Bengals	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1995	Template:Sortname	HB	Penn State	Cincinnati BengalsTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
1996	Template:Sortname*	WR	USC	New York Jets	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1998, 1999, 2001)<ref name="Johnson"/> Super Bowl champion (XXXVII)<ref name="2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Roster"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1997	Template:Sortname‡	T	Ohio State	St. Louis RamsTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)<ref name="Pace"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (2016)<ref name="Pace"/> Super Bowl champion (XXXIV)<ref name="1999 St. Louis Rams Roster"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1998	Template:Sortname‡	QB	Tennessee	Indianapolis Colts	Template:NtshPro Bowl (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014)<ref name="P Manning"/> Pro Football Hall of Fame (2021) Super Bowl champion (XLI, 50)<ref name="2006 Indianapolis Colts Roster"/> Super Bowl MVP (XLI)<ref name="P Manning"/> NFL MVP (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013)<ref name="P Manning"/>	<ref name=":0" />
1999	Template:Sortname	QB	Kentucky	Cleveland Browns§	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
2000	Template:Sortname	DE	Penn State	Cleveland Browns	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
2001	Template:Sortname*	QB	Virginia Tech	Atlanta FalconsTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:NtshPro Bowl (2002, 2004, 2005, 2010)<ref name="Vick"/>	<ref name=":0" />
2002	Template:Sortname	QB	Fresno State	Houston Texans§	Template:NtshSuper Bowl champion (XLVI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2003	Template:Sortname*	QB	USC	Cincinnati Bengals	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (2002)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (2005, 2006, 2015)<ref name="Palmer"/>	<ref name=":0" />
2004	Template:Sortname*Template:Efn-ua	QB	Ole Miss	San Diego Chargers	Template:NtshPro Bowl (2008, 2011, 2012, 2015)<ref name="E Manning"/> Super Bowl champion (XLII, XLVI)<ref name="2011 New York Giants Roster"/><ref name="2007 New York Giants Roster"/> Super Bowl MVP (XLII, XLVI)<ref name="E Manning"/>	<ref name=":0" />
2005	Template:Sortname*	QB	Utah	San Francisco 49ers	Template:Ntsh Pro Bowl (2013, 2016, 2017)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2006	Template:Sortname*	DE	North Carolina State	Houston Texans	Template:NtshPro Bowl (2008, 2009, 2013, 2014)<ref name="Williams"/>	<ref name=":0" />
2007	Template:Sortname	QB	LSU	Oakland Raiders	Template:Ntsh—	<ref name=":0" />
2008	Template:Sortname*	T	Michigan	Miami Dolphins	Template:NtshPro Bowl (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)<ref name="Long"/>	<ref name=":0" />
2009	Template:Sortname*	QB	Georgia	Detroit Lions	Template:NtshPro Bowl (2014, 2023)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Super Bowl champion (LVI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2010	Template:Sortname	QB	Oklahoma	St. Louis Rams	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (2008)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Offensive Rookie of the Year (2010)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2011	Template:Sortname*	QB	Auburn	Carolina Panthers	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (2010)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (2011, 2013, 2015)<ref name="Newton"/> Offensive Rookie of the Year (2011)<ref name="Newton" /> NFL MVP (2015)<ref name="Newton" />	<ref name=":0" />
2012	Template:Sortname*	QB	Stanford	Indianapolis Colts	Template:NtshPro Bowl (2012, 2013, 2014, 2018)<ref name="Luck"/>	<ref name=":0" />
2013	Template:Sortname*	T	Central Michigan	Kansas City Chiefs	Template:NtshPro Bowl (2018, 2020)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Super Bowl champion (LIV)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2014	Template:Sortname*	DE	South Carolina	Houston Texans	Template:NtshPro Bowl (2016, 2017, 2018)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2015	Template:Sortname*	QB	Florida State	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (2013)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:NtshPro Bowl (2015)	<ref name=":0" />
2016	Template:Sortname*	QB	California	Los Angeles RamsTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:NtshPro Bowl (2017, 2018, 2022, 2024)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2017	Template:Sortname*	DE	Texas A&M	Cleveland Browns	Template:NtshPro Bowl (2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2018	Template:Sortname*	QB	Oklahoma	Cleveland Browns	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (2017)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (2023, 2024)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2019	Template:Sortname*	QB	Oklahoma	Arizona Cardinals	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (2018)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Offensive Rookie of the Year (2019)<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (2020, 2021)<ref name=":1" />	<ref name=":0" />
2020	Template:Sortname*	QB	LSU	Cincinnati Bengals	Template:NtshHeisman Trophy (2019)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pro Bowl (2022, 2024)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2021	Template:Sortname*	QB	Clemson	Jacksonville Jaguars	Template:NtshPro Bowl (2022)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2022	Template:Sortname	DE	Georgia	Jacksonville Jaguars	—	<ref name=":0" />
2023	Template:Sortname	QB	Alabama	Carolina PanthersTemplate:Efn-ua	Heisman Trophy (2021)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2024	Template:Sortname	QB	USC	Chicago BearsTemplate:Efn-ua	Heisman Trophy (2022)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	<ref name=":0" />
2025	Cam Ward	QB	Miami (FL)	Tennessee Titans	—	<ref name=":0" />

{{#invoke:Gallery|gallery}}

First overall picks by NFL team

The Indianapolis Colts and 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. The Boston Yanks are the only defunct franchise to have held a first overall pick.<ref name=BostonYanksDraftHistory>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks are the only teams that have never had the first overall pick.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Team	Picks	Year(s)	Notes	Template:Ref.
Indianapolis Colts	7	1955, 1967, 1983, 1990, 1992 1998, 2012	3 as the Baltimore Colts 4 as the Indianapolis Colts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Los Angeles Rams	7	1938, 1952, 1960, 1963, 1997 2010, 2016	1 as the Cleveland Rams 2 as the St. Louis Rams 4 as the Los Angeles Rams	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	5	1976, 1977, 1986, 1987, 2015	Also had first selection in the 1984 NFL supplemental draft of USFL and CFL players.	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Cleveland Browns	5	1954, 1999, 2000, 2017, 2018		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Arizona Cardinals	5	1939, 1940, 1945, 1958, 2019	4 as the Chicago Cardinals	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Detroit Lions	4	1943, 1950, 1980, 2009		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Atlanta Falcons	4	1966, 1975, 1988, 2001		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Buffalo Bills	4	1969, 1972, 1979, 1985	Also had first selection in the 1961 AFL draft	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Cincinnati Bengals	4	1994, 1995, 2003, 2020		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
New England Patriots	4	1971, 1982, 1984, 1993	Also had first selection in the 1964 AFL draft (as the Boston Patriots)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Philadelphia Eagles	3	1936, 1937, 1949		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Chicago Bears	3	1941, 1947, 2024		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Pittsburgh Steelers	3	1942, 1956, 1970		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
San Francisco 49ers	3	1953, 1964, 2005		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dallas Cowboys	3	1974, 1989, 1991		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Houston Texans	3	2002, 2006, 2014		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tennessee Titans	3	1973, 1978, 2025	2 as the Houston Oilers	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Boston Yanks	2	1944, 1946		<ref name=BostonYanksDraftHistory />
Washington Commanders	2	1948, 1962	2 as the Washington Redskins	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
New York Giants	2	1951, 1965		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Green Bay Packers	2	1957, 1959		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Minnesota Vikings	2	1961*, 1968		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Carolina Panthers	2	2011, 2023		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Jacksonville Jaguars	2	2021, 2022		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
New Orleans Saints	1	1981		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
New York Jets	1	1996	Also had first selection in the 1965 AFL draft	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Los Angeles Chargers	1	2004	1 as the San Diego Chargers	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Las Vegas Raiders	1	2007	1 as the Oakland Raiders Also had first selection in the 1962 AFL draft	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Miami Dolphins	1	2008	Also had first selection in the 1966 AFL draft	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Kansas City Chiefs	1	2013	Also had first selection in the 1963 AFL draft	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

First overall picks by school

USC has the most first overall picks with 6. Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Georgia are tied for second-most first overall picks with 5 each. Only two schools have had first overall picks in consecutive years: USC, with Ron Yary (1968) and O. J. Simpson (1969), and Oklahoma, with Baker Mayfield (2018) and Kyler Murray (2019).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

School<ref name = "colleges">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Total<ref name="colleges"/>	Year(s)<ref name="colleges"/>
USC	6	1968, 1969, 1977, 1996, 2003, 2024
Notre Dame	5	1944, 1946, 1950, 1957, 1972
Oklahoma	5	1976, 1980, 2010, 2018, 2019
Georgia	5	1943, 1945, 1953, 2009, 2022
Auburn	4	1965, 1986, 1988, 2011
Stanford	4	1954, 1971, 1983, 2012
LSU	3	1960, 2007, 2020
Texas	3	1966, 1978, 1982
Ohio State	3	1979, 1994, 1997
Miami (FL)	3	1987, 1991, 2025
Alabama	2	1948, 2023
Nebraska	2	1937, 1984
Tennessee	2	1940, 1998
Penn State	2	1995, 2000
Virginia Tech	2	1985, 2001
Michigan	2	1941, 2008
South Carolina	2	1981, 2014
California	2	1975, 2016
Chicago	1	1936
Indiana	1	1938
TCU	1	1939
Virginia	1	1942
Oklahoma State	1	1947
Penn	1	1949
SMU	1	1951
Vanderbilt	1	1952
Oregon	1	1955
Colorado State	1	1956
Rice	1	1958
Iowa	1	1959
Tulane	1	1961
Syracuse	1	1962
Oregon State	1	1963
Texas Tech	1	1964
Michigan State	1	1967
Louisiana Tech	1	1970
Tampa	1	1973
Tennessee State	1	1974
UCLA	1	1989
Illinois	1	1990
Washington	1	1992
Washington State	1	1993
Kentucky	1	1999
Fresno State	1	2002
Ole Miss	1	2004
Utah	1	2005
North Carolina State	1	2006
Central Michigan	1	2013
Florida State	1	2015
Texas A&M	1	2017
Clemson	1	2021

First overall picks by position

First overall selections by position played<ref name=2024Record&FactBook/>Template:Rp

Position	Number of selections	Last year selected
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See also

• List of second overall NFL draft picks
• Mr. Irrelevant – title given to the final pick in the draft
• List of first overall CFL draft picks

Further reading

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