No. 1 NFL Draft Picks of the Past 25 Years

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Apr 22, 2013

No. 1 NFL Draft Picks of the Past 25 Years

2012 - Andrew Luck

The Colts were lucky enough to replace Peyton Manning with Andrew Luck, the rookie out of Stanford who helped lead Indianapolis to one of the biggest one-season turnarounds in NFL history. The Colts went 2-14 in 2011, but had a memorable 11-5 campaign in 2012, good enough for a wild-card playoff berth.

2011 - Cam Newton

The first quarterback since 2003 to be drafted No. 1 overall the spring after he won the Heisman, Newton proved his many detractors wrong as a rookie. He set the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns by a QB in a season (14) and his 4,051 passing yards were the most by a rookie in a season. He had an up and down second season, overshadowed at times by his continued pouting after losses.

2010 -Sam Bradford

Bradford's six-year, $78-million contract, with $50 million guaranteed, is the largest ever for a rookie. The third sophomore to win a Heisman, he led the Rams to a 7-9 record in 2010 before regressing and winning only two games in 2011. He bounced back strong in 2012, having his best overall performance so far: 21 touchdowns, 3,702 yards, with just 13 interceptions and a 59.5 completion percentage.

2009 - Matthew Stafford

Stafford joined the Lions after forgoing his senior season at Georgia, and became the face of a franchise in need of a savior. The young QB was considered a bright spot on an otherwise desolate squad, leading Detroit to its first wins since the 2007 season, including a 38-37 victory over the Browns in which Stafford became the youngest player in NFL history to throw five touchdown passes. In 2011 he became the fourth quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season.

2008 - Jake Long

A unanimous All-America at left tackle during his senior season at Michigan in 2007, Long became just the third offensive tackle to be selected with the NFL's top overall draft pick. Miami made Long a starter from day one, and the 6-7, 317-pound lineman rewarded the Dolphins with four consecutive Pro Bowl selections in as many seasons. He left for St. Louis after the 2012 season.

2007 - JaMarcus Russell

After leading LSU to a dominating 41-14 victory over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl as a junior, Russell rode the wave of momentum into the NFL Draft and went to the Raiders with the first overall pick. But Russell's physical tools -- primarily his ridiculous arm strength -- didn't pan out the way the Raiders envisioned. He was released in May 2010 with a 7-18 record and hasn't been picked up by another NFL team.

2006 - Mario Williams

Houston passed over universally popular choice Reggie Bush with the first pick, selecting the freakishly athletic defensive end from N.C. State instead. The controversial selection didn't pay immediate dividends, with Williams logging a modest 47 tackles and 4.5 sacks as a rookie. His sophomore campaign demonstrated dramatic improvement: 59 tackles, 14.0 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Based on that and subsequent performances, the Buffalo Bills signed him as a free agent in 2012 to the richest contract ever for a defensive players -- six years and $100 million, with $50 million guaranteed. He was hampered with a wrist injury in the first half of a disappointing 2012 season.

2005 - Alex Smith

Smith became the first quarterback to lead a non-BCS school to a victory in a BCS bowl during the '04 season, spiriting Utah to a 12-0 record capped by a dominating performance against Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl. After joining the 49ers as the top pick in the '05 draft, Smith bounced between starter and backup, then seemingly solidified his hold on the job by leading the Niners to the NFC Championship game under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh. By the end of the 2012 season Smith had been overtaken by Colin Kaepernick, who led the 49ers to the Super Bowl. Smith was traded to Kansas City in the offseason, where he's expected to start.

2004 - Eli Manning

The Chargers chose the Ole Miss signal-caller with the first overall pick despite admonitions from Manning's agent, who insisted the quarterback wouldn't sign with San Diego due to the franchise's reputation for not paying well. The Giants chose Philip Rivers with the second pick and brokered a trade with the Chargers: the rights to Manning in exchange for the rights to Rivers, a 2005 first-rounder (Shawne Merriman), a 2004 third-rounder (Nate Kaeding) and a 2005 fifth-rounder (traded to Tampa Bay). Manning overcame early struggles and intense media scrutiny to lead the Giants to two Super Bowl victories, both over the Patriots.

2003 - Carson Palmer

The Bengals tabbed Palmer as their quarterback of the future after the Fresno native won the Heisman Trophy during his senior year at USC. Palmer enjoyed a decorated career In Cincy despite a horrific knee injury suffered during the 2005-06 postseason. He set a number of franchise passing records, made a pair of Pro Bowls and lead Cincinnati to its first division title since 1990. The Bengals traded him to the Oakland Raiders in 2011 after he refused to play for them any more. He was traded to Arizona after the 2012 season.

2002 - David Carr

One of the most prolific passers in college football history, Carr threw for 7,849 yards and 70 touchdowns during a four-year career at Fresno State. But Houston's first overall pick in franchise history, Carr couldn't handle the pressure -- literally. Carr set the single-season record for sacks taken (70) during his rookie season and struggled mightily throughout his five-year stint in the Lone Star State.

2001 - Michael Vick

Atlanta selected Vick with the first overall pick following an electric collegiate career at Virginia Tech. The multi-talented quarterback made three Pro Bowls and led the Falcons to the NFC Championship Game in 2004 while finishing second in the MVP voting. But a 2007 indictment on federal dog fighting charges led to a 23-month prison sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Vick returned to the field in 2009 with the Philadelphia Eagles after his indefinite suspension was lifted, playing sparingly behind starter Donovan McNabb until earning the job outright. His 2012 season was ruined by a spate of turnovers and health issues. It's too early to tell how he'll mesh with new coach Chip Kelly's fast-break offense.

2000 - Courtney Brown

A rare combination of speed, strength and athleticism, Brown went first overall in the '00 draft to the Cleveland Browns. But after totaling 70 tackles and 4.5 sacks during a promising rookie campaign, injuries took a toll with Brown playing just 26 games from 2002 through 2004 (and amassing a modest eight sacks). After a minor resurgence in Denver during the 2005 regular season and playoffs, a torn ACL in his left knee during 2006 preseason effectively ended his pro career.

1999 - Tim Couch

Couch's place at the head of the Quarterback Class of 1999 didn't translate add up to much in the NFL. Instead of following in the footsteps of classmates Donovan McNabb and Daunte Culpepper, Couch went the way of historical footnotes Akili Smith and Cade McNown. Attempted comebacks with the Green Bay Packers (2004) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (2007) proved futile.

1998 - Peyton Manning

Few first overall picks have realized the hype more impressively than Manning, the only four-time MVP in league history. Manning led Indianapolis to two Super Bowl appearances, including a victory in Super Bowl XLI, but the team released him in 2012 after he missed all of 2011 with a neck injury. The Denver Broncos beat out several other teams for his services.

1997 - Orlando Pace

After not allowing a quarterback sack during his final two years at Ohio State, the brawny left tackle became the first offensive lineman in 29 years to go first overall in the draft. Pace helped the Rams to the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl victory while blocking for Kurt Warner during the '99 season.

1996 - Keyshawn Johnson

Johnson solidified his draft standing with a magnificent performance for USC in the Rose Bowl, setting a game record with 216 receiving yards in a 41-32 victory over Northwestern. But while Johnson never quite lived up to his considerable hype, the L.A. native still made three Pro Bowls during an 11-year career and helped Tampa Bay to its first Super Bowl title in 2002.

1995 - Ki-Jana Carter

After helping Penn State to an undefeated record and finishing second in the Heisman voting as a senior, Carter went first overall to the Bengals in the '95 draft. But the Ohio native tore an ACL on the third carry of his first preseason game and ended up rushing for just 1,144 yards in 10 seasons.

1994 - Dan Wilkinson

Wilkinson played four seasons with the Bengals after Cincinnati took the Ohio State product with the first overall pick, recording 25.0 sacks and missing just three games. The Bengals sent Wilkinson packing after the defensive end called Cincinnati a "racist" city, and the Dayton native spent the remaining seven years of his career playing for the Redskins, Lions and Dolphins.

1993 - Drew Bledsoe

After going to the Patriots with the first pick of the '93 draft, Bledsoe spent the remainder of the decade as the face of the franchise. He broke a number of team passing records, made three Pro Bowls and led New England to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXI. Bledsoe made a fourth Pro Bowl during the first of three years with the Bills and finished up his career in Dallas under former New England coach Bill Parcells.

1992 - Steve Emtman

Injury-plagued practically from the start, the defensive end blew out his knee just nine games into his rookie season and finished each of his first three years with Indianapolis on injured reserve. Emtman bounced around the league but never approached the dynamic form displayed during a brilliant collegiate career at Washington. In 1997, Emtman retired from the Redskins at 27 years old.

1991 - Russell Maryland

Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson used draft picks acquired in the legendary Herschel Walker trade to deal with New England for the No. 1 overall selection in the '91 draft. With the choice, the Cowboys took Maryland -- and the University of Miami product started on the defensive line for three Super Bowl champions during the early 1990s.

1990 - Jeff George

Despite having one of the strongest arms of his generation, George never quite harnessed his natural gifts -- a 4,000-yard season with the Falcons in 1995 notwithstanding -- and spent his career as a journeyman signal-caller. The Illinois product played for seven different NFL teams throughout a 15-year career.

1989 - Troy Aikman

After finishing 3-13 during the 1988 season, the Cowboys made Troy Aikman the franchise's first pick of the post-Landry era. Dallas stumbled to a 1-15 mark during Aikman's rookie year, with the UCLA product going 0-11 as a starter. But things would turn around quickly, with Aikman winning his third Super Bowl title by his seventh NFL season.

No. 1 NFL Draft Picks of the Past 25 Years