The 2021 NFL draft is the 55th since the league became
a single venture in 1967. The National Football League (NFL) and the American
Football League (AFL) merged in 1967, prior to which, the two leagues employed
their own draft. This continued until bidding wars, expectedly, became too
expensive to go on any longer.
Over the years, there have been many first overall draft
picks in the integrated NFL draft:
1.
Bubba Smith (1967): At the age of 23 years, Defensive
End Smith, from Michigan Tech, was drafted to Baltimore Colts. In his junior
year, Smith stood at a solid 6 feet 7 inches and 265 pounds, a perfect
defensive addition.
2.
Ron Yary (1968): Yary, an Offensive Tackle, was
drafted to Minnesota Vikings from the University of Southern California.
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3.
O.J Simpson (1969): Simpson, too, hailed from
USC, and was drafted to the Buffalo Bills.
4.
Terry Bradshaw (1970): Drafted from Louisiana
Tech to the Pitsburgh Stelelers, Bradshaw was the first Quarterback to be the first
overall draft pick since the beginning of the integrated NFL.
5.
Jim Plunkett (1971): New England Patriots
drafted Plunkett in 1972 from Stanford in his senior year to play in the
Quarterback position.
6.
Walt Patulski (1972): Patulski was drafted by
Buffalo Bills from Notre Dame in his Junior Year.
7.
John Matuszak (1973): From Tampa, Matuszak was
drafted by Houston Oilers in his Senior year.
8.
Ed Jones (1974): Ed Jones was drafted to the Dallas
Cowboys from Tennessee State.
9.
Steve Bartkowski (1975):
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10.
Lee Roy Selmon (1976): Atlanta Falcons picked up
Oklahoma Defensive End Lee Roy Selmon.
11.
Ricky Bell (1977): Running Back Bell was drafted
to Tampa Bay Buccaneers from USC.
12.
Earl Campbell (1978): From Texas, Campbell was
drafted to Houston Oilers in his senior year.
13.
Tom Cosineau (1979): Ohio State Linebacker Cosineau
was drafted to the Buffalo Bills
14.
Billy Sims (1980): From Oklahoma, Billy Sims was
drafted to the Detroit Lions
15.
George Rogers (1981): South Carolina Running
Back Rogers was drafted to the New Orleans Saints.
16.
Kenneth Sims (1982): Sims, from Texas, was drafted
to the New England Patriots.
17.
John Elway (1983): Elway was drafted to the
Baltimore Colts from Stanford in his senior year.
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18.
Erving Fryar (1984): Nebraskan Fryar was a Wide
Receiver drafted to New England Patriots.
19.
Bruce Smith (1985): From Virginia Tech, Defensive
End Bruce Smith was drafted to the Buffalo Bills.
20.
Bo Jackson (1986): Auburn Running Back Jackson
was drafted to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
21.
Vinny Testaverde (1987): From Miami, Vinny
Testaverde was drafted to the Buccaneers.
22.
Aundray Bruce (1988): Auburn Outside Linebacker
Bruce was drafted to the Atlanta Falcons.
23.
Troy Aikman (1989): UCLA Quarterback Aikman was
drafted to Dallas Cowboys.
24.
Jeff George (1990): From Illinois, Jeff George was
picked up by Indianapolis Colts.
25.
Russell Maryland (1991): Maryland, the Defensive
Tackle from Miami, was drafted to the Dallas Cowboys
26.
Steve Emtman (1992): From Washington, Emtman was
drafted to the Indianapolis Colts.
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27.
Drew Bledsoe (1993): Washington State Quarterback
Bledsoe was drafted to New England Patriots.
28.
Dan Wilkinson (1994): Cincinnati Bengals picked
up Ohio State Defensive Tackle Wilkinson.
1.
Ki Jana Carter (1995): Carter was drafted to
Cincinnati Bengals from Penn State in his junior year.
2.
Keyshawn Johnson (1996): USC Senior Johnson was
drafted to the New York Jets
3.
Orlando Pace (1997): From Ohio State, Pace was drafted
to the St Louis Rams
4.
Peyton Manning (1998): Tennessee Quarterback
Manning was drafted to Indianapolis Colts.
5.
Tim Couch (1999): Tim Couch, from Kentucky, was
drafted to the Cleveland Browns.
6.
Courtney Brown (2000): Brown, in the senior year,
was drafted to the Browns from Penn State.
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7.
Michael Vik (2001): In his sophomore year, Vik was
drafted to Atlanta Falcons from Virginia Tech.
8.
David Carr (2002): Fresno State quarterback
David Carr was drafted to Houston Texans.
9.
Carson Palmer (2003): Cincinnati Bengals picked
up USC quarterback Palmer in his senior year.
10.
Eli Manning (2004): From Ole Miss, Manning was
drafted to San Diego Chargers.
11.
Alex Smith (2005): Utah quarterback Smith was
drafted to the San Francisco 49ers.
12.
Mario Williams (2006): Williams was drafted to
Houston Texans from North Carolina State.
13.
JaMarcus Russell (2007): LSU quarterback JaMarcus
Russell was drafted to Oakland Riders.
14.
Jake Long (2008): In his senior year in Michigan,
Long was drafted to the Miami Dolphins.
15.
Matthew Stafford (2009): Georgia quarterback
Matthew Stafford was picked up by the Detroit Lions.
16.
Sam Bradford (2010): From Oklahoma, Bradford was
drafted to the St Louis Rams.
17.
Cam Newton (2011): Auburn quarterback Newton was
drafted to the Carolina Panthers in his junior year.
18.
Andrew Luck (2012): From Stanford, Luck got
drafted to Indianapolis Colts.
19.
Eric Fisher (2013): Central Michigan Offensive
Tackle Fisher
20.
Jadeveon Clowney (2014): Clowney was drafted to
Houston Texans.
21.
Jameis Winston (2015): Florida State sophomore
Winston was drafted to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
22.
Jared Goff (2016): California quarterback Goff
was drafted to the Los Angeles Rams.
23.
Myles Garrett (2017): Texas A&M Junior Garrett
was drafted to Cleveland Browns.
24.
Baker Mayfield (2018): Mayfield, from Oklahoma,
was also picked up by the Browns.
25.
Kyler Murray (2019): Yet again an Oklahoma
quarterback, Murray was drafted to the Arizona Cardinals.
26.
Joe Burrow (2020): LSU quarterback Burrow was
drafted to the Cincinnati Bengals.
27.
Trevor Lawrence (2021): Lawrence, this year’s
top pick, was drafted to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
