Later this evening someone will hear their name called with the No. 1 overall selection of the 2024 NFL Draft and join a group of just 88 players. The Philadelphia Eagles selected Jay Berwanger with the first pick of the inaugural draft in 1936, making him one of two No. 1s from Iowa along with Randy in 1959.
Last year, California had its 13th No. 1 selection when the Carolina Panthers selected Bryce Young. That put the Golden State one behind Texas for the most first picks. Some notable selections include O.J. Simpson, Jim Plunkett, John Elway, Keyshawn Johnson, Carson Palmer, Alex Smith and Jared Goff.
Earl Campbell, Matthew Stafford, Andrew Luck, Myles Garrett, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray headline the 14 picks from the Lone Star State.
Ohio is the only other state with more than five. When the Cincinnati Bengals selected Joe Burrow in 2020, that gave the Buckeye State six No. 1 selections. Burrow was the first overall pick since Orlando Pace in 1997.
Alabama and Louisiana tied for the fourth most with five. Peyton and Eli Manning were selected first overall in 1998 and 2004 making
Newman (New Orleans) one of two high schools to have multiple first picks.
Jefferson (San Antonio, Texas) is the other. Kyle Rote was selected first in 1951 by the New York Giants and Tommy Nobis was the No. 1 pick in 1966 by the Atlanta Falcons.
Georgia is tied with New York and Oklahoma with four No. 1 selections. The Peach State is also the last to have back-to-back first picks when Jacksonville selected Trevor Lawrence in 2021 and Travon Walker in 2022.
Florida has dominated the NFL Draft but has only had one No. 1 pick. That came all the way back in 1965 when the New York Giants selected Tucker Frederickson.
In total, 27 different states have had a No. 1 pick. If the Chicago Bears select Caleb Williams first overall he would be the first player from the District of Columbia to go No. 1. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner graduated from
Gonzaga in 2021 and was the second-rated quarterback behind Quinn Ewers according to 247Sports. Williams led Gonzaga to its first WCAC title since 2002 as a sophomore accounting for 480 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns in a 46-43 win over DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) in the 2018 WCAC championship.
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming are still waiting for its first overall selection.
1. Texas — 141939: Ki Aldrich,
Temple1951: Kyle Rote,
Jefferson (San Antonio)1958: King Hill,
Brazosport (Freeport)1964: Dave Parks,
Abilene1966: Tommy Nobis, Jefferson (San Antonio)
1967: Bubba Smith, Charlton-Pollard (Beaumont)
1978: Earl Campbell,
Tyler1980: Billy Sims,
Hooks1982: Kenneth Sims,
Groesbeck2009: Matthew Stafford,
Highland Park (Dallas)2012: Andrew Luck,
Stratford (Houston)2017: Myles Garrett,
Martin (Arlington)2018: Baker Mayfield,
Lake Travis (Austin)2019: Kyler Murray,
Allen
2. California — 13
1954: Bobby Garrett,
South Pasadena1968: Ron Yary,
Bellflower1969: O.J. Simpson,
Galileo (San Francisco)1971: Jim Plunkett,
James Lick (San Jose)1975: Steve Bartkowski, Buchser (Santa Clara)
1977: Ricky Bell,
Fremont (Los Angeles)1983: John Elway,
Granada Hills1996: Keyshawn Johnson,
Dorsey (Los Angeles)2002: David Carr,
Stockdale (Bakersfield)2003: Carson Palmer,
Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)2005: Alex Smith,
Helix (La Mesa)2016: Jared Goff,
Marin Catholic (Kentfield)2023: Bryce Young,
Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
3. Ohio — 6
T4. Alabama — 5
T4. Louisiana — 5
T6. Georgia — 4
T6. New York — 4
T6. Oklahoma — 4
T9. Indiana — 3
T9. Pennsylvania — 3
T9. Virginia — 3
T12. Iowa — 2
T12. Kentucky — 2
T12. Massachusetts — 2
T12. Michigan — 2
T12. Oregon — 2
T12. South Carolina — 2
T12. Tennessee — 2
T12. Washington — 2
T20. Colorado — 1
1956: Gary Glick, Cache la Poudre (Fort Collins)
T20. Florida — 1
T20. Illinois — 1
T20. Kansas — 1
T20. New Jersey — 1
T20. North Carolina — 1
T20. West Virginia — 11940: George Cafego,
Oak Hill
T20. Wisconsin — 1
