By definition, the team that holds the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft finished with the league’s worst record in the previous season. But the first pick also gives clubs the chance to add a franchise cornerstone to their roster. Here is every No. 1 NFL draft pick in league history, dating back to 1936.

Full List of No. 1 Overall Picks in the NFL Draft

• 2023: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama | Carolina Panthers
• 2022: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia | Jacksonville Jaguars
• 2021: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson | Jacksonville Jaguars
• 2020: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU | Cincinnati Bengals
• 2019: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma | Arizona Cardinals
• 2018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma | Cleveland Browns
• 2017: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M | Cleveland Browns
• 2016: Jared Goff, QB, California | Los Angeles Rams
• 2015: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina | Houston Texans
• 2013: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Kansas City Chiefs
• 2012: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford | Indianapolis Colts
• 2011: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn | Carolina Panthers
• 2010: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma | St. Louis Rams
• 2009: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia | Detroit Lions
• 2008: Jake Long, OT, Michigan | Miami Dolphins
• 2007: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU | Oakland Raiders
• 2006: Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina State | Houston Texans
• 2005: Alex Smith, QB, Utah | San Francisco 49ers
• 2004: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss | San Diego Chargers
• 2003: Carson Palmer, QB, USC | Cincinnati Bengals
• 2002: David Carr, QB, Fresno State | Houston Texans
• 2001: Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech | Atlanta Falcons
• 2000: Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State | Cleveland Browns
• 1999: Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky | Cleveland Browns
• 1998: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee | Indianapolis Colts
• 1997: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State | St. Louis Rams
• 1996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC | New York Jets
• 1995: Ki-Jana Carter, HB, Penn State | Cincinnati Bengals
• 1994: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State | Cincinnati Bengals
• 1993: Drew Bledsoe, QB, Washington State | New England Patriots
• 1992: Steve Emtman, DE, Washington | Indianapolis Colts
• 1991: Russell Maryland, DT, Miami (FL) | Dallas Cowboys
• 1990: Jeff George, QB, Illinois | Indianapolis Colts
• 1989: Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA | Dallas Cowboys
• 1988: Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn | Atlanta Falcons
• 1987: Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami (FL) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 1986: Bo Jackson, HB, Auburn | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 1985: Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech | Buffalo Bills
• 1984: Irving Fryar, WR, Nebraska | New England Patriots
• 1983: John Elway, QB, Stanford | Baltimore Colts
• 1982: Kenneth Sims, DE, Texas | New England Patriots
• 1981: George Rogers, HB, South Carolina | New Orleans Saints
• 1980: Billy Sims, HB, Oklahoma | Detroit Lions
• 1979: Tom Cousineau, LB, Ohio State | Buffalo Bills
• 1978: Earl Campbell, HB, Texas | Houston Oilers
• 1977: Ricky Bell, HB, USC | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 1976: Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Oklahoma | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 1975: Steve Bartkowski, QB, Cal | Atlanta Falcons
• 1974: Ed Jones, DE, Tennessee State | Dallas Cowboys
• 1973: John Matuszak, DE, Tampa | Houston Oilers
• 1972: Walt Patulski, DE, Notre Dame | Buffalo Bills
• 1971: Jim Plunkett, QB, Stanford | New England Patriots
• 1970: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Louisiana Tech | Pittsburgh Steelers
• 1969: O.J. Simpson, HB, USC | Buffalo Bills
• 1968: Ron Yary, OT, USC | Minnesota Vikings
• 1967: Bubba Smith, DE, Michigan State | Baltimore Colts
• 1966: Tommy Nobis, LB, Texas | Atlanta Falcons
• 1965: Tucker Frederickson, HB, Auburn | New York Giants
• 1964: Dave Parks, WR, Texas Tech | San Francisco 49ers
• 1963: Terry Baker, QB, Oregon State | Los Angeles Rams
• 1962: Ernie Davis, HB, Syracuse | Washington Commanders
• 1961: Tommy Mason, HB, Tulane | Minnesota Vikings
• 1960: Billy Cannon, HB, LSU | Los Angeles Rams
• 1959: Randy Duncan, QB, Iowa | Green Bay Packers
• 1958: King Hill, QB, Rice | Chicago Cardinals
• 1957: Paul Hornung, HB, Notre Dame | Green Bay Packers
• 1956: Gary Glick, DB, Colorado A&M | Pittsburgh Steelers
• 1955: George Shaw, QB, Oregon | Baltimore Colts
• 1954: Bobby Garrett, QB, Stanford | Cleveland Browns
• 1953: Harry Babcock, E, Georgia | San Francisco 49ers
• 1952: Bill Wade, QB, Vanderbilt | Los Angeles Rams
• 1951: Kyle Rote, HB, SMU | New York Giants
• 1950: Leon Hart, E, Notre Dame | Detroit Lions
• 1949: Chuck Bednarik, C/LB, Penn | Philadelphia Eagles
• 1948: Harry Gilmer, HB/WR, Alabama | Washington Commanders
• 1947: Bob Fenimore, HB, Oklahoma A&M | Chicago Bears
• 1946: Frank Dancewicz, QB, Notre Dame | Boston Yanks
• 1945: Charley Trippi, HB, Georgia | Chicago Cardinals
• 1944: Angelo Bertelli, QB, Notre Dame | Boston Yanks
• 1943: Frank Sinkwich, HB, Georgia | Detroit Lions
• 1942: Bill Dudley, HB, Virginia | Pittsburgh Steelers
• 1941: Tom Harmon, HB, Michigan | Chicago Bears
• 1940: George Cafego, HB, Tennessee | Chicago Cardinals
• 1939: Ki Aldrich, C, TCU | Chicago Cardinals
• 1938: Corbett Davis, FB, Indiana | Cleveland Rams
• 1937: Sam Francis, FB, Nebraska | Philadelphia Eagles
• 1936: Jay Berwanger, HB, Chicago | Philadelphia Eagles

Which NFL Team Has Had the Most No. 1 Overall Picks?

The Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Rams have both held the No. 1 overall pick seven times. The Rams traded up to acquire the No. 1 selection in 2016 before drafting California quarterback Jared Goff. In 2012, the Colts drafted Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck as the heir apparent to Peyton Manning.

Which NFL Teams Have Never Had the First Pick?

Only three teams have never held the first pick in the draft: the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks.

Which Position Is Most Often Picked No. 1?

Unsurprisingly, quarterback is the most frequently selected position at No. 1 overall. Thirty-four QBs have been drafted first overall since 1936. A quarterback has been the first pick in four of the last five drafts and six of the last 10.

Running backs (23) rank second, while defensive linemen (15) come in third.