When was the last time each NFL team had the No. 1 overall draft pick?

Widely viewed as the most important draft in North American professional sports, a top pick is seen as the most important building block for a team’s future – with the pick often spent on a quarterback.

Growing up as a sports fan, one thing that I found incredibly fascinating was the popularity gap when it came to entry drafts between the North American professional sports leagues.

I was primarily a baseball fan growing up, and the MLB Draft largely remains an afterthought to everyone except the most dedicated sickos who obsess over minor league and college baseball.

The vibe is a bit different but still mostly subdued for the NHL, while anticipation around a given NBA Draft largely depends on the quality of the draft class and if a generational prospect is expected to be selected first overall.

Maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise considering the NFL remains the most popular league in the country by leaps and bounds, but the NFL Draft is an entirely different ballgame when compared to its three major counterparts.

Taking up three days in late April every year, the seven-round draft attracts nationwide attention and thousands of fans in attendance as the draft now typically changes locations from year to year.

Another factor that keeps the NFL Draft unique is its lack of a draft lottery, something the other three leagues have all instituted. Fans of bad teams are often just as glued to the scoreboard as fans of playoff teams, crunching the numbers to see if their team can finish with the worst record in the NFL – which locks in the top overall pick.

Given the importance of the pick and the ability to select any available prospect, the top pick has historically trended heavily towards quarterback, widely viewed as the most important position in the sport while also usually being the greatest need of a struggling team.

However, quarterbacks aren’t exclusively selected as top picks, with edge rushers and offensive tackles occasionally sliding in as the top pick of a given draft. The last top overall pick that was not a quarterback, offensive tackle or defensive end was Keyshawn Johnson, who was selected first in 1996 as a wide receiver for the New York Jets.

Heading into Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season, the Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans appear to be in the best position to take home the top draft pick, with the Chargers remaining as the league’s only winless team.

The following teams have never had a top overall draft pick in the NFL:

1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Denver Broncos
3. Seattle Seahawks

Here’s a look at the last time each team had the top pick in the draft, beginning with the most recent occurrences:

1. Las Vegas Raiders: 2026 – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. Tennessee Titans: 2025 – Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
3. Chicago Bears: 2024 – Caleb Williams, QB, USC
4. Carolina Panthers: 2023 – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2022 – Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
6. Cincinnati Bengals: 2020 – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
7. Arizona Cardinals: 2019 – Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
8. Cleveland Browns: 2018 – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
9. Los Angeles Rams: 2016 – Jared Goff, QB, California
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2015 – Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
11. Houston Texans: 2014 – Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
12. Kansas City Chiefs: 2013 – Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
13. Indianapolis Colts: 2012 – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
14. Detroit Lions: 2009 – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
15. Miami Dolphins: 2008 – Jake Long, OT, Michigan
16. San Francisco 49ers: 2005 – Alex Smith, QB, Utah
17. Los Angeles Chargers: 2004 – Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss*
18. Atlanta Falcons: 2001 – Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech
19. New York Jets: 1996 – Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC
20. New England Patriots: 1993 – Drew Bledsoe, QB, Washington State
21. Dallas Cowboys: 1991 – Russell Maryland, DT, Miami (FL)
22. Buffalo Bills: 1985 – Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech
23. New Orleans Saints: 1981 – George Rogers, RB, South Carolina
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: 1970 – Terry Bradshaw, QB, Louisiana Tech
25. Minnesota Vikings: 1968 – Ron Yary, OT, USC
26. New York Giants: 1965 – Tucker Frederickson, RB, Auburn
27. Washington Commanders: 1962 – Ernie Davis, RB, Syracuse**
28. Green Bay Packers: 1959 – Randy Duncan, QB, Iowa
29. Philadelphia Eagles: 1949 – Chuck Bednarik, LB, Pennsylvania

*denotes team was known as San Diego Chargers at the time
**denotes team was known as Washington Redskins at the time