Drafting is one of the most important pieces to building a successful NFL roster. The pressure is on for every franchise to get the right talent in the building coming out of college, but there’s one franchise that has to get it right better than any other — that is the team with the first pick. The first pick, and remaining draft order, are determined by the team’s success during the previous year’s regular season. Teams closer to 0-17 are sure to get the coveted first selection to raise the franchise from disrepair. That requires nailing down your guy, however. For some, drafting first overall is a home run hit. For others, it’s a disaster that can set your franchise back a decade. This is how every number one overall pick ranks since the year 2000.
23. JaMarcus Russell – QB, Oakland Raiders
Russell is not only one of the biggest busts for the number one overall pick but is also one of the biggest draft busts ever period. Russell spent three seasons with the Raiders before he was cut for inconsistent play and questions over his work ethic. While he made several attempts at a comeback, there was not one to be found for Russell. His fall from grace was a hard one as the former LSU standout made a name for himself in college, winning the Manning Award as a junior en route to becoming MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl.
22. Courtney Brown – DE, Cleveland Browns
Brown played seven seasons in Cleveland and was extremely underwhelming for a first-overall pick, especially considering he was taken over by the likes of Brian Urlacher, Shaun Alexander and Dante Hall. Brown is the only one of the top three taken in the 2000 draft to never make a Pro Bowl and is just one of the top seven to never do the same. Brown played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, earning consensus All-American honors in 1999, but is now considered a bust.
21. David Carr – QB, Houston Texans
The former Fresno State signal caller and older brother to the New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr was selected first overall by the Houston Texans. Carr was not only the year’s first pick, but he was also the franchise’s first pick as the Texans were formed in an expansion just months before. Carr did end up winning a Super Bowl, but not as the starter. He rode the bench behind Eli Manning en route to a Super Bowl XLVI win over the New England Patriots. After a less than successful career in the league, Carr hoped in the booth as an analyst where he works today.
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20. Bryce Young – QB, Carolina Panthers
The jury’s still out on Young, who the Carolina Panthers traded two first-round picks (including the 2024 number one overall pick) and star receiver D.J. Moore to acquire. At 5’10 with a slight frame, Young has had a rocky start to his career. In one season, Young has dealt with receivers who can’t create separation, two head coaches and a terrible owner in the front office. The former Alabama signal caller’s best days are ahead of him, but if things don’t change in Carolina, he may not live up to the expectations.
19. Sam Bradford – QB, St. Louis Rams
Bradford was what he needed to be in the league, a decent, reliable quarterback. The former Oklahoma Sooner set the record for most completions by a rookie in NFL history, which helped earn him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Trades saw Bradford bounce around the league, including stints with the Vikings, Eagles and Cardinals. The Heisman-winning quarterback never really lived up to expectations, which is why he ended up here.
18. Travon Walker – DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Like Young, the jury’s still out on Walker. The former Georgia Bulldog signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $37.4 million fully guaranteed, on May 12, 2022. In his debut, Walker recorded a sack and interception in a 28–22 loss against the Washington Commanders. He also started in 14 of the 15 games he appeared in that season. Unfortunately for Walker, that’s about where he peaked. Since then, he’s been a solid, yet underwhelming piece of the Jacksonville defensive line. Time will tell if this pick pans out.
17. Eric Fisher – OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Spending a number one overall pick on a tackle feels illegal, but it’s exactly what Kansas City did in 2013 when the team selected Eric Fisher to play for the Chiefs. Fisher played at Central Michigan before making his way to the league for a nine-year career. Fisher won a championship when the Chiefs took down the Niners at Super Bowl LIV. As only a two-time Pro Bowler, Fisher has been solid, but never a standout guy.
16. Baker Mayfield – QB, Cleveland Browns
When the Browns took Baker with the first pick in 2018, Cleveland fans thought they finally got the second coming of Johnny Manziel, the way he should’ve panned out, on their roster. Baker’s Oklahoma days were legendary, including the highest of highest in a Heisman (no pun intended) trophy as well as the lowest of lows with an embarrassing arrest video following a DUI. Entering into the league, Mayfield impressed, breaking rookie records while leading the Browns to their first playoff berth in years. Since then, however, injuries had the signal caller bouncing around the league before he landed on his feet in Tampa Bay.
15. Jameis Winston – QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Famous Jameis is a man who will one day have a well-produced documentary made about his life. The walking 30-for-30 has a wrap sheet from college through today that many would envy. From a leadership role at Florida State to the crab legs incident to his iconic 30 touchdown, 30 interception season, Jameis Winston is a personality larger than life. While his play on the field is carefree, that has resulted in costly turnovers and he never really led the Buccs (or Saints) on any kind of playoff push.
14. Jadaveon Clowney – DE, Houston Texans
Nearly a decade after he was drafted, Jadaveon Clowney is still one of the league’s premiere talents at the defensive end/outside linebacker spot. Another player who’s never stuck around one team for too long, Clowney has been consistent in producing 20 or more tackles since his rookie year. In his biggest year, 2017, Clowney created 59 tackles and 9.5 sacks. Since then, he’s bounced from the Seahawks to the Titans, Browns and Ravens. After matching his career-high sacks in 2023, it’s likely he’s still got more left in the tank.
13. Trevor Lawrence – QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence was one of the most highly anticipated quarterbacks coming out of college at Clemson. After winning a national championship with Tee Higgins and Travis Etienne Jr., Lawrence entered the draft with all the tools to be a capable starter and potential star in the league. While he has lived up to most expectations, Lawrence has yet to take that next step to go from great to elite. With the ball literally in his hands, it’s up to him to live up to the moment.
12. Andrew Luck – QB, Indianapolis Colts
Luck was one of the most celebrated quarterbacks of all time coming out of Stanford. Many regarded the signal caller to be the most sure bet a prospect could ever be. The four-time Pro Bowler and Comeback Player of the Year winner was an electric talent but had a hard time staying on the field. Injury after injury cut Luck’s time short with an early retirement. Still, he’s regarded as one of the NFL’s big “what ifs?” and we will never know.
11. Carson Palmer – QB, Cincinnati Bengals
For comparison’s sake, Palmer is to Bradford what Prescott is to Romo. The former USC frontman spent a number of years in Cincinnati where things never quite fell together the way they should’ve. Palmer played with electric talent and All-Diva First Team representative Chad Johnson for the better portion of their primes. After leaving Cincinnati, Palmer landed in Arizona where he rode off into the sunset as a three-time Pro Bowler who was never able to put it all together but started year in and year out no less.
10. Jake Long – OT, Miami Dolphins
Tackles are rarely the first ones off the board. When they are, they have to be homerun talents. Long was a physical, athletic type in his position. His 37 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press tied Vernon Gholston for the highest total at the 2008 NFL Combine and paid off big time on his rookie deal. Long agreed to a five-year, $57.75 million deal with the Dolphins, including $30 million in guaranteed money to make him the highest-paid lineman in league history up to that point. Two ACL tears, a back injury and a torn Achilles led to early retirement for the big-body lineman.
9. Jared Goff – QB, Los Angeles Rams
Goff is a pick that aged like fine wine. Unfortunately for the Rams, they haven’t gotten to see the fruits of his maturity in action. The former California quarterback entered the league as a fresh-faced Ryan Gosling clone and slowly but surely worked his way into leading a stacked Rams roster to the most disappointing Super Bowl of all time. After losing 10-3 to the Patriots in the sport’s biggest game, the Rams felt they had to move on from the still-maturing Goff to win now.
In Detroit, Goff has made a name for himself as one of the league’s premiere passers. Goff, along with head coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator mastermind Ben Johnson, took the team to an NFC Championship appearance in the Lions’ first playoff berth of the 21st century. As he is entering his prime, Goff seems to only be able to trend upwards from here.
8. Alex Smith – QB, San Francisco 49ers
Smith was a dependable signal caller in his day. Drafted out of Utah, Smith was taken ahead of future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers but still remains one of the top talents from a stacked 2005 quarterback class. After seven seasons with the Niners and five years with the Chiefs, Smith wrapped up his career in Washington where a traumatic leg break and infection after the fact nearly cost the quarterback his leg. Smith’s best year came in 2017 when he was eventually replaced by the team’s heir apparent, Patrick Mahomes II. Still, in a 15-year career, Smith created 199 touchdowns to 109 interceptions while passing for exactly 35,650 yards.
7. Mario Williams – DE, Houston Texans
The former Wolfpack legend Mario Williams was the defensive anchor the budding Texans franchise needed. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, he has also played for the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. Williams was a leader on and off the field, impacting the defensive side of the ball by creating 399 career tackles, 97.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 21 pass deflections and a touchdown.
6. Joe Burrow – QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow transformed in college from a third-string signal caller for the Ohio State Buckeyes into the legend of Joey Ice at LSU. Playing beside elite receiver talent in Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, Burrow created 60 touchdowns to six interceptions and 5,671 offensive yards on 76.3% completion his senior season en route to a national championship. Since then, Burrow has led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance and has cemented himself as one of the top five signal callers in the league.
5. Myles Garrett – DE, Cleveland Browns
In a draft surrounded by so much talent, it would’ve been hard for the Browns to miss on their first pick, but Garrett was as big of a home run hit as the team would have hoped for. While, yes, the team did whiff on missing out on Patrick Mahomes, Garrett is a defensive anchor and a dog that will lead the Browns defense for a decade. At only 27 years old, the Texas A&M alum has created 305 tackles, 88.5 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 16 pass deflections. His talent has already paid off at his draft position, but with lots of gas still in the tank, Garrett could finish as the best first-overall pick of the 21st century.
4. Cam Newton – QB, Carolina Panthers
Newton revolutionized what a quarterback could be for Carolina. The former Auburn tiger was one of the most electric personalities in all of football during his peak from 2014-2016. After a crushing Super Bowl 50 loss and a number of foot injuries that saw him lose his job in Carolina, Newton went to New England where he was still injured and not great. After a brief return to Carolina, Newton is now sidelined and maybe retired as a free agent. Still, “Superman Cam” had an electric prime that jump-started the heart of Carolina enough for fans to keep pounding through the David Tepper era.
3. Matthew Stafford – QB, Detroit Lions
Stafford was Detroit’s hero until he was shipped away to win a ring in Los Angeles. Since 2009, Stafford has accounted for over 56,000 passing yards, 357 touchdowns and 180 interceptions, but has also been sacked a whopping 474 times. Were he placed in a better situation sooner, Stafford may have been remembered as an all-time talent, but he is still one of the best in the league even after a series of injuries set the quarterback back for the Rams.
2. Michael Vick – QB, Atlanta Falcons
Vick was an electric player and revolutionized what a quarterback could be, do and look like. For six seasons in Atlanta, Vick was as electric and dynamic on the ground as he was through the air. After his prison stint halted his career, Vick got a shaky second chance in Philly where he spent five seasons. While the pick may not have totally paid off for Atlanta, Vick had no ceiling as a player with his best seasons coming as a member of the Eagles. The Virginia Tech alum also had stints with the Jets and Steelers before calling it a career in 2016.
1. Eli Manning – QB, New York Giants
Manning, a.k.a. the Brady Killer, defied all the odds in leading New York to not one, but two Super Bowl wins over the dynasty New England Patriots. Peyton’s younger brother was a franchise cornerstone for the Giants and created a legacy that rivaled his older brother’s. While not often considered an all-time talent, Manning holds a special place in the hearts of many and has numbers that would lend his name to the NFL Hall of Fame should he be nominated for induction. In his 15-year career, Manning threw for over 57,000 yards and 366 touchdowns to 244 interceptions. Whether he’s remembered as an all-time talent or not, his place in league history is marked.
