NFL Power Rankings: Every No. 1 Overall Pick of The Last 25 Years - Ranked Worst to First

April 22, 2026

Andy's NFL Power Rankings for Every No. 1 Overall Pick of The Last 25 Years, Ranked Worst to First. Who were the best and worst first overall selections in NFL history. The top picks include Andrew Luck, Myles Garrett, and more.

With the 2026 NFL Draft right around the corner, it's time to rank each of the No. 1 overall picks from the last 25 years from worst to first.

In this ranking, we will spotlight some franchise cornerstones and some selections that teams still regret making to this day.

Let's dive in!

No. 25: JaMarcus Russell, QB

2007 NFL Draft, Oakland Raiders

One of the most infamous first overall selections will take the next spot. Russell spent just three seasons with the Raiders and finished his time with a 7-18 record. His "best" season came in 2008 when he won a career-high five games while losing 10. Through three seasons, Russell threw just 18 passing scores while adding a high 23 interceptions.

No. 24: Cam Ward, QB

2025 NFL Draft, Tennessee Titans

Cam Ward was not given the best situation as a rookie. The former Miami product had limited offensive weapons, and his "top" WR, Calvin Ridley, had the worst season of his professional career. As a result, Ward finished his debut campaign with a modest 3,169 passing yards and a 15:7 TD:INT.

He did not earn a single vote for Offensive Rookie of the Year and was sacked a high 55 times, which led the sport. Ward will look to bounce back in Year 2 with an improved offense, led by former Giants WR Wan'Dale Robinson.

No. 23: David Carr, QB

2002 NFL Draft, Houston Texans

David Carr spent the first five seasons of his 10-year NFL career with the Houston Texans. As a Texan, Carr would hit the double-digit TD mark in three of his seasons and throw a season-best 16 back in 2004. He was under constant pressure in Houston during this time, as he led the league in sacks in three of these campaigns. He would never make the Pro Bowl nor reach the postseason.

No. 22: Sam Bradford, QB

2010 NFL Draft, St. Louis Rams

Sam Bradford spent only four seasons of his eight-year NFL career with the Rams. He immediately lived up to the No.1 draft selection as he was awarded Rookie of the Year honors during his debut campaign, where he threw 18 passing scores, posting a 7-9 record. However, after this strong debut, Bradford would go on to post an 11-21-1 record while averaging 13.7 TDs per season.

No. 21: Carson Palmer, QB

2003 NFL Draft, Cincinnati Bengals

Carson Palmer flashed high upside at the start of his NFL career, but his production steadily declined over time. After finishing his rookie campaign with 18 passing scores, he would lead the league in TD passes in his second campaign (32) and toss another 28 during his third season. However, after this short stretch, Palmer would fall short of the 28-TD mark in his final four seasons as a Bengal and led the league in interceptions in 2007.

He would play in two playoff games for the Bengals and lose both.

No. 20: Eric Fisher, OT

2013 NFL Draft, Kansas City Chiefs

Eric Fisher spent all but one of his nine NFL seasons with the team that selected him in the 2013 NFL Draft. While he was a consistent contributor on the offensive line, he never emerged as a legit superstar among blockers. He was only named to the Pro Bowl twice in his career and only earned double-digit AV (according to Pro Football Reference) in two seasons.

No. 19: Bryce Young, QB

2023 NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young had a slow start to his career and was trending toward "bust" territory. However, Young bounced back in a major way in 2025, leading the Panthers to an NFC South Division title. In this season, Young threw for a season-best 23 passing scores with 3,011 yards. This was the first time he threw more than 20 passing touchdowns and 3,000 yards in a campaign.

However, given that Young posted a 6-22 record over his first two seasons while averaging 2,640 yards per season, he will still remain on the lower end of this list.

YOUNG. COKER. @PANTHERS LEAD ONCE AGAIN!

LARvsCAR on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/9V5X60bAJL

— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2026

No. 18: Travon Walker, DE

2022 NFL Draft, Jacksonville Jaguars

While Walker has been productive, he has not lived up to the No. 1 draft capital he was selected with. In his debut campaign, Walker appeared in just 15 games and tallied a low 3.5 sacks with 49 combined tackles. However, over the next two seasons, Walker would hit the 10.0 sack mark in each campaign.

In 2025, Walker would take a massive step back, logging just 3.5 sacks, which keeps him lower on our list.

No. 17: Mario Williams, DE

2006 NFL Draft, Houston Texans

Mario Williams was a strong contributor to the Houston defense over his six campaigns with the club, but never truly emerged as a bona fide superstar. Over six seasons, Williams was named to two Pro Bowls, received Defensive Player of the Year votes in only two seasons, and finished as high as fifth.

He would post two double-digit sack campaigns (2007, 2008) but would earn his first All-Pro nomination with the Buffalo Bills in 2014.

No. 16: Jameis Winston, QB

2015 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

During his five seasons in Tampa Bay, Jameis Winston enjoyed incredible highs, but some very "low" lows as well. As a rookie, Winston would finish second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, throwing 22 touchdowns with a hefty 15 interceptions. The next season, he would win a season-best nine games and post a solo 28:18 TD:INT.

After two seasons in 2017 and 2018, Winston would end his time in Tampa Bay with an inconsistent 2019 campaign. In this season, Winston threw for a league-leading 5,109 yards and 33 scores, but added a rough 30 interceptions.

No. 15: Alex Smith, QB

2005 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers

While Alex Smith enjoyed most of his success in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, Smith spent the first seven of his 14 seasons with the 49ers. As a 49er, Smith would wind up a 38-36-1 record while leading them to one playoff appearance. While he was a stable option under center, he never developed into the tsar QB the team had hoped for.

He enjoyed his best season in 2013, posting a 13-3 record while leading the league with a near-perfect 1.1% INT%.

No. 14: Jake Long, OT

2008 NFL Draft, Miami Dolphins

Jake Long was one of the game's best tackles during his five seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Long would earn a bid to the Pro Bowl in all but one of his seasons, while being named first-team All-Pro in 2010 and earning second-team All-Pro honors the year prior. Per Pro Football Reference, he earned at least 11 AV (average value) over the first three seasons of his career.

No. 13: Jadeveon Clowney, DE

2014 NFL Draft, Houston Texans

Clowney had a rough start to his NFL career, appearing in just four games during his rookie season, but quickly found his footing. From 2016 through 2018, Clowney tallied at least 6.0 sacks per season and even hit the 9.0-sack mark in two of them. He was named to the Pro Bowl in all three campaigns and second-team All-Pro once. He would eventually jump from one team to another, but would end his time as a Texan with 29 sacks through 62 games.

No. 12: Michael Vick, QB

2001 NFL Draft, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons kicked off the 2001 NFL Draft by selecting QB Michael Vick out of Virginia. Throughout his six seasons in Atlanta, Vick flashed incredible upside and was the first true dual-threat quarterback in the NFL. Through six campaigns, Vick posted a 38-28-1 record while being named to three Pro Bowls and finishing with the top-4 in MVP voting twice.

No. 11: Kyler Murray, QB

2019 NFL Draft, Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray enjoyed an impressive start to his tenure in Arizona, but has seen his stock plummet over the recent years. In his debut campaign, the former Oklahoma standout won Offensive Rookie of the Year and followed this up with two-straight Pro Bowl bids the following two seasons.

He dealt with some injuries in 2022 and 2023 and was never able to rekindle his early-career form. This offseason, the Cardinals opted to part ways with him, and he will now compete for the starting job with the Vikings.

No. 10: Baker Mayfield, QB

2018 NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns

While Baker Mayfield has since revived his career in Tampa Bay, his time in Cleveland was not as fortunate. Mayfield showed some promise as a rookie, posting a 6-7 record and finishing second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. After a modest showing in Year 2, Mayfield rebounded in 2020, leading the Browns to an 11-5 record and a playoff victory.

However, the following season, he would leave the team and join the Panthers and Rams (in short stints) before finding a QB1 job in Tampa Bay.

No. 9: Jared Goff, QB

2016 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Rams

While Goff was unable to lead the Rams to a Super Bowl victory, which resulted in them acquiring Matthew Stafford, Goff enjoyed a productive stretch of his career in Los Angeles. Through five seasons, Goff posted a strong 42-27 record and brought them to the postseason in three of these campaigns.

He was named to the Pro Bowl twice, throwing for at least 4,600 yards in two of these seasons. He would then join the Lions where his offensive upside has been significantly raised.

No. 8: Caleb Williams, QB

2024 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams had a disappointing rookie season but quickly silenced his doubters in his second campaign. With Ben Johnson leading the team, the entire Bears roster took a massive step forward, winning the NFC North and finishing the season with an 11-6 record. This was a nice improvement compared to the 5-12 record Williams posted as a rookie.

In Year 2, Williams threw for 3,942 yards with 27 passing scores. He was elite in the clutch situations as he finished the campaign with six game-winning drives. He is shaping up to be a budding superstar in the league.

No. 7: Eli Manning, QB

2004 NFL Draft, San Diego Chargers

Eli Manning was selected first overall by the then-San Diego Chargers in 2004, but quickly demanded a trade and was shipped to the Big Apple. Manning would then spend his entire career with the New York Giants, developing into a franchise icon.

In the trade, the Chargers received two first-round picks, including one that would eventually be used on Philip Rivers. Manning would lead the Giants to two Super Bowls and be named to four Pro Bowls throughout his 16-year NFL career. While the Chargers likely "regret" this pick, they still netted a solid return and remained very competitive during Rivers' prime seasons.

No. 6: Cam Newton, QB

2011 NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers

While Cam Newton did not bring a Lombardi Trophy to Carolina, the former Auburn superstar became an icon of the club for a decade. As a Panther, Newton won Offensive Rookie of the Year in his debut campaign and took home the MVP during the 2015 season. During this season, Newton led the Panthers to the Big Game while posting a 15-1 record. He posted a league-high 71.% TD% while leading the sport in AV (21). Although he never won a Super Bowl, he single-handedly turned this franchise around.

No. 5: Matthew Stafford, QB

2009 NFL Draft, Detroit Lions

Although Matthew Stafford won his only Super Bowl after leaving the Lions, he established himself as a franchise icon during his time in Motown. With the Lions, Stafford would probably post a modest 74-90-1 record but would consistently light up the scoreboard. He would throw 282 passing scores while totaling 45,109 passing yards. He would go on to win his first Lombardi Trophy during his first season with the Rams in 2021.

No. 4: Trevor Lawrence, QB

2021 NFL Draft, Jacksonville Jaguars

While it took Trevor Lawrence some time to fully adjust to the NFL, the former Clemson standout has seen his value skyrocket heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. With Liam Coen leading the offense, Lawrence enjoyed the best seasons of his career in 2025 as he finished fifth in MVP voting and tossed a career-best 29 passing scores.

Early in his career, Lawrence earned a Pro Bowl nod in the 2022 campaign (his second season), and he currently holds an overall 35-42 record with the Jaguars heading into 2026.

No. 3: Andrew Luck, QB

2012 NFL Draft, Indianapolis Colts

While his career was not as long as Colts fans would have hoped, when on the field, Andrew Luck looked the part of a franchise QB. The former Stanford guard spent six seasons with the Colts (and in the NFL) and finished with a 53-33 record. He was named to the Pro Bowl in four seasons and led the sport in passing scores (4-) in 2014. In the postseason, he would post a 4-4 record and would be the driving force behind the franchise's most impressive playoff comebacks over the Chiefs in the Wild Card round.

No. 2: Joe Burrow, QB

2020 NFL Draft, Cincinnati Bengals

While injuries have limited him during his NFL career, Joe Burrow is one of the best players at his position on the field. During the 2021 campaign, Burrow led the Bengals to the Super Bowl but ultimately fell short against the Rams. The following season, Burrow led them to another two playoff victories but fell short in the AFC title game.

He enjoyed the best statistical campaign in 2024, when he led the sport with 4,198 yards and 43 passing scores.

No. 1: Myles Garrett, DE

2017 NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns

The Browns struck gold with this selection. To open the 2017 NFL Draft, the Browns selected one of the greatest defensive players in league history, Myles Garrett. Throughout his nine seasons with the Browns, Garrett has emerged as a legit superstar and has even put his name in the record books.

Through nine campaigns, Garrett has been named first-team All-Pro five times and has been awarded Defensive Player of the Year twice. Additionally, in 2025, Garrett recorded 23.0 sacks, setting a new single-season record.

MYLES GARRETT IS THE NEW SACK RECORD KING.

CLEvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/Jaa4aBGrIl

— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026

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