As the 2025 NFL Draft gets closer, let's dive into the last 10 first overall picks of previous NFL Drafts. Being a first overall pick in the NFL Draft is probably an amazing honor, but it also does come with a different level of expectation.
Everyone likely remembers these players as first overall picks. Many of them turn out to be first-ballot Hall of Famers, but others end up being total busts, unfortunately. As the 2025 NFL Draft gets closer, let's take a quick look here at the previous 10 first overall picks.
NFL Draft: Last 10 first overall picks approaching the 2025 NFL Draft
2015 - Jameis Winston
Jameis Winston was the first overall pick back in the 2015 NFL Draft and played his college football at Florida State. Winston never lived up to the first overall pick draft billing, but he's carved out a recent career as a fun and loveable backup QB option. He's now on the New York Giants.
2016 - Jared Goff
One of the better pocket passers in recent NFL history, Jared Goff was drafted to the Los Angeles Rams and is now on the Detroit Lions when the Rams decided they'd rather have Matthew Stafford. Goff has since revived his career with the Lions and is among the best QBs in the NFL.
2017 - Myles Garrett
Myles Garrett is going to end up in the Hall of Fame one day, but he's also on the Cleveland Browns, so in a way, his career is wasting away. He did re-sign on a massive extension this offseason, so perhaps some of this is his doing. Garrett won the DPOY in the 2023 NFL Season.
2018 - Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield played the best football of his career in year seven in the NFL. He goes to show you just how important it is to always keep your head down and work. Mayfield isn't quite as good as the no. 1 pick would indicate, but he's found a home with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
2019 - Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray is another player who hasn't quite lived up to being a no. 1 pick, but he is a legitimate dual-threat QB and can be among the best quarterbacks in the NFL in any given week.
2020 - Joe Burrow
Breaking out in 2021 as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Joe Burrow led the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams. Burrow has totally changed the direction of the franchise, but they have not been in the postseason since the 2022 NFL Season. Burrow missed some time in 2023, and their defense was flat-out awful in 2024.
2021 - Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence was dubbed a generational prospect by some, and he and the Jacksonville Jaguars did put things together back in 2022, winning the AFC South and winning a playoff game. However, the Jaguars have been a pretty bad team in the two previous seasons.
Now entering year five in the NFL, you'd have to think that it's becoming crunch time for Lawrence and the Jaguars to finally put things together.
2022 - Travon Walker
Travon Walker went to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft in what was an interesting and slightly controversial decision. In 2024, Walker set a career-high in sacks, total tackles, and tackles for loss, and does seem to be hitting his stride.
He is also eligible for a contract extension, so we'll see if the Jags get that done this offseason. Walker could live up to being the no. 1 pick in a couple of seasons.
2023 - Bryce Young
Bryce Young did seem to catch on in a big way after his benching during the 2024 NFL Season, so perhaps Young is going to hit his stride in year three. One of the smaller starting QBs the NFL has seen, the former Alabama product stands at 5'10" and weighs just 205 pounds. The Panthers could be a frisky team in 2025 if Young can keep this pace going.
2024 - Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams threw just six interceptions as a rookie and was another player that some dubbed as a generational prospect. Only time will tell if Williams pans out as a high-end QB in the NFL. I personally think he will and that the Chicago Bears are going to compete their tails off in 2025.