A look back: 20 years of overall #1 Draft Picks

[purplefaithful]

• 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 | Indianapolis Colts
  
• 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, North Carolina State | Houston Texans
  
• 2005: Alex Smith, QB, Utah | San Francisco 49ers
  
• 2004: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss | San Diego Chargers
  

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A couple duds
More than a few studs
A handful of hof'ers
Most went on to have productive/good careers

It will be interesting to see how Caleb does for the Bears. A new era in Bears football?

[FLVike]

Don't rightly know if my count is correct but I have 5 of those QB's playing in a Superbowl or two.

[dadevike]

It would be interesting to see how teams did who gave up 3+ first round picks to draft a QB. Were those QBs worth it?

Also would be interesting to see how QBs did in the NFL did who were pure projections when drafted, like Trey Lance and Josh Allen. JJ McCarthy and, to a lesser extent, Drake Maye also fit this criterion. Maybe also Spencer Rattler - guys with tools and traits but who were not necessarily dominant in college.

[purplefaithful]

It's really hard to say if its "worth it" or not...

Different era's of football and inherent in the argument is the belief among many that the player is primarily the reason for the fail.

How many of these kids actually had the tools, but were ruined by poorly run teams? Teams that did not provide the coaching, teaching, running game, defense, system consistency, system fit that are all crucial to success?

Sure there are plenty of Ponders and Teddy's, but I'd bet that a lot of these kids would have done much better in better circumstances.