Texas, California headline states with most No. 1 overall picks in NFL Draft

The first NFL Draft took place in 1936 when the Philadelphia Eagles selected Jay Berwanger out of the University of Chicago with the No. 1 overall selection. He was the first of two  No. 1 picks from Iowa. The other came in 1959 when the Green Bay Packers selected Randy Duncan. Berwanger played high school football at Dubuque Senior (Dubuque) while Duncan attended Roosevelt (Des Moines).

When it comes to bragging rights Texas claims the top spot with 14 No. 1 overall selections. The first was in 1939 when the Chicago Cardinals selected Ki Aldrich, who played high school football at Temple.

The Lone Star State has had five No. 1 picks over the last 14 years — four are quarterbacks. Matthew Stafford, Andrew Luck, Myles Garrett, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray all played high school football in Texas and heard their name called first overall.

California is the only other state in double-digits with 12. Bobby Garrett was the first in 1954 and Jared Goff was the most recent in 2016. There is a good chance the Golden State adds another to the list if either Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud are taken with the No. 1 pick.

Ohio has had six overall No. 1 picks, but Joe Burrow was the first in the 21st century after being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020. His selection ended a 23-year long drought after Orlando Pace in 1997 by the St. Louis Rams.

Newman (New Orleans) is one of two high schools that has produced two No. 1 selections. The Indianapolis Colts selected Peyton Manning in 1998 and six years later Eli Manning went first overall in 2004. The other school was Jefferson (San Antonio) as Kyle Rote was taken first in 1951 and Tommy Nobis in 1966.

The last two drafts have featured Georgia products taken No. 1 after the Jacksonville Jaguars selected former Cartersville standout Trevor Lawrence in 2021 and the Jaguars took Travon Walker out of Upson-Lee (Thomaston) in last year's draft.

In total, 27 states have produced a No. 1 pick. Florida is among seven states with one: In 1965 when the New York Giants selected Tucker Frederickson. If Anthony Richardson goes No. 1, he would end a 58-year drought. If Will Levis gets selected first overall he would be the first player from Connecticut.

1. Texas — 14

1939: Ki Aldrich, Temple

1951: Kyle Rote, Jefferson (San Antonio)

1958: King Hill, Brazosport (Freeport)

1964: Dave Parks, Abilene

1966: Tommy Nobis, Jefferson (San Antonio)

1967: Bubba Smith, Charlton-Pollard (Beaumont)

1978: Earl Campbell, Tyler

1980: Billy Sims, Hooks

1982: Kenneth Sims, Groesbeck

2009: 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

1954: Bobby Garrett, South Pasadena

1968: Ron Yary, Bellflower

1969: O.J. Simpson, Galileo (San Francisco)

1971: Jim Plunkett, Overfelt (San Jose)

1975: Steve Bartkowski, Buchser (Santa Clara)

1977: Ricky Bell, Fremont (Los Angeles)

1983: John Elway, Granada Hills

1996: 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)

1943: Frank Sinkwich, Chaney (Youngstown)

1979: Tom Cousineau, St. Edward (Lakewood)

1994: Dan Wilkinson, Dunbar (Dayton)

1995: Ki-Jana Carter, Westerville South (Westerville)

1997: Orlando Pace, Sandusky

2020: Joe Burrow, Athens (The Plains)

1948: Harry Gilmer, Woodlawn (Birmingham)

1986: Bo Jackson, McAdory (McCalla)

1988: Aundray Bruce, Carver Montgomery (Montgomery)

2007: JaMarcus Russell, Williamson (Mobile)

2015: Jameis Winston, Hueytown

1960: Billy Cannon, Istrouma (Baton Rouge)

1961: Tommy Mason, Lake Charles

1970: Terry Bradshaw, Woodlawn (Shreveport)

1998: Peyton Manning, Newman (New Orleans)

2004: Eli Manning, Newman (New Orleans)

1981: George Rogers, Duluth

2011: Cam Newton, Westlake (Atlanta)

2021: Trevor Lawrence, Cartersville

2022: Travon Walker, Upson-Lee (Thomaston)

1953: Harry Babcock, Pearl River

1962: Ernie Davis, Elmira Free Academy (Elmira)

1972: Walt Patulski, Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse)

1987: Vinny Testaverde, Sewanhaka (Floral Park)

1947: Bob Fenimore, Woodward

1976: Lee Roy Selmon, Eufaula

1989: Troy Aikman, Henryetta

2010: Sam Bradford, Putnam City North (Oklahoma City)

1938: Corbett Davis, Lowell

1941: Tom Harmon, Mann (Gary)

1990: Jeff George, Warren Central (Indianapolis)

1945: Charley Trippi, Pittston Area (Pittston)

1949: Chuck Bednarik, Liberty (Bethlehem)

1950: Leon Hart, Turtle Creek

1942: Bill Dudley, Graham (Bluefield)

1985: Bruce Smith, Booker T. Washington (Norfolk)

2001: Michael Vick, Warwick (Newport News)

1936: Jay Berwanger, Dubuque Senior (Dubuque)

1959: Randy Duncan, Roosevelt (Des Moines)

1957: Paul Hornung, Flaget (Louisville)

1999: Tim Couch, Leslie County (Hyden)

1944: Angelo Bertelli, Cathedral (Springfield)

1946: Frank Dancewicz, Lynn Classical (Lynn)

2008: Jake Long, Lapeer East (Lapeer)

2013: Eric Fisher, Stoney Creek (Rochester Hills)

1955: George Shaw, Grant (Portland)

1963: Terry Baker, Jefferson (Portland)

2000: Courtney Brown, Macedonia (Alvin)

2014: Jadeveon Clowney, South Pointe (Rock Hill)

1952: Bill Wade, Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville)

1974: Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Merry (Jackson)

1992: Steve Emtman, Cheney

1993: Drew Bledsoe, Walla Walla

1956: Gary Glick, Cache la Poudre (Fort Collins)

1965: Tucker Frederickson, South Broward (Hollywood)

1991: Russell Maryland, Whitney Young (Chicago)

1937: Sam Francis, Decatur Community (Oberlin)

1984: Irving Fryar, Rancocas Valley (Mt. Holly)

2006: Mario Williams, Richlands

1940: George Cafego, Oak Hill

John Matuszak, Oak Creek