Being the worst team in the NFL is not a feeling franchises want to experience, but having the No. 1 pick in the draft helps ease the pain. In 2025, the Tennessee Titans will pick first in the NFL Draft, with Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward being the heavy favorite to join the long list of former No. 1 picks.
Franchises have dramatically improved their future outlook with the top selection in the NFL Draft, and Ward could be the next to do so. As the draft approaches, it’s time to revisit all the previous No. 1 picks.
Looking Back On Every Top Overall Pick in NFL Draft History
2024: Caleb Williams, QB, USC – Chicago Bears
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 – Chicago Bears
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, NC 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 – 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 – 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, California – 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 Redskins
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, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia Eagles
1948: Harry Gilmer, HB/WR, Alabama – Washington Redskins
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
Best No. 1 Picks
Looking at the list of former No. 1 picks, a few names stand out. John Elway, Peyton Manning, Terry Bradshaw, and Troy Aikman are among the most successful quarterbacks of all time. Other non-quarterbacks that jump off the list are defensive end Bruce Smith and running backs O.J. Simpson and Earl Campbell.
Manning is a five-time NFL MVP, two-time Super Bowl champ, and seven-time first-team All-Pro. He threw for 539 touchdowns and 71,940 yards over his 17-year career. Add in his 14 Pro Bowl appearances, two Offensive Player of the Year awards, and a Hall of Fame gold jacket, and he’s likely the best No. 1 pick ever.
Elway is a two-time Super Bowl champion, NFL MVP, and Super Bowl MVP. He threw for 300 touchdowns and more than 51,000 yards. He was a revelation for the Broncos, especially after refusing to play for the Colts, who originally drafted him No. 1 overall.
Bradshaw wasn’t the most statistically dominant quarterback — he finished with 212 touchdowns and 210 interceptions — but he was a four-time Super Bowl winner, NFL MVP, two-time Super Bowl MVP, and a Hall of Famer. He delivered the Steelers four championships, placing him high on the list of successful No. 1 picks.
Aikman is a three-time Super Bowl champion, six-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl MVP, and Hall of Famer. He led the Cowboys to their most recent postseason success in 1996. Dallas hasn’t made it back to a conference championship game since.
Smith is one of the most feared pass rushers ever. He’s the all-time leader in sacks with 200 over his 19-year career. Though he never won a Super Bowl, Smith was an eight-time first-team All-Pro, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a Hall of Famer.
While Simpson’s off-field controversies are well known, he was a dominant force on the field. “The Juice” ran for 11,236 yards and 61 touchdowns over 11 seasons. He was an NFL MVP, a five-time first-team All-Pro, and a Hall of Famer.
Campbell was another excellent use of the No. 1 pick. He was the 1979 NFL MVP, with three first-team All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl nods. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame, though injuries shortened his prime. Still, his early years were dominant.
Ward’s Expectations as the Potential No. 1
Ward is expected to be drafted No. 1 overall by the Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’ll hope to finish his career among the names listed above. Plenty of No. 1 picks have made significant impacts without being named among the absolute best: Eli Manning, Chuck Bednarik, Myles Garrett, and Matthew Stafford are just a few.
Titans fans hope Ward will follow in their footsteps and change the direction of the franchise. It’s a huge responsibility to live up to the No. 1 overall pick, and only time will tell if he belongs among the NFL’s greats.
