Who are the greatest all-time first-round draft picks for every NFL team?

The first round of the NFL draft features some of the best talents the league has ever seen. These are the best players ever drafted in Round 1 by each franchise.

The third overall pick in 2004, Fitzgerald is likely a first-ballot Hall of Famer after a 17-year career in Arizona that included 11 Pro Bowls. He concluded his career following the 2020 season with 1,432 catches for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns. 

Atlanta's first-round history has included Hall of Famers Claude Humphrey (1968) and Deion Sanders (1989), but it's difficult to top the impact Ryan had on the franchise. The third pick in the 2008 draft spent 14 seasons in Atlanta, winning the 2016 MVP and leading the Falcons to their infamous Super Bowl loss vs. New England. He made four Pro Bowls with the Falcons before leaving for Indianapolis in 2022.

The Ravens franchise moved to Baltimore from Cleveland in 1996 and started their new tenure with a bang, drafting future Hall of Famers Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis in the first round. Lewis is on the short list of best linebackers ever to play, as a 12-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All-Pro, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and two-time Super Bowl winner over 17 seasons. The former star at Miami was the 26th overall pick in the 1996 draft. 2018 first-round pick Lamar Jackson has a strong claim to overcome Lewis as the franchise's best first rounder after winning two MVPs.

Buffalo's history is marred with bad luck, but the team has fared well in the first round of drafts. They've selected five Hall of Famers in that round, led by 1985 first-overall draft choice Bruce Smith. The big defensive end out of Virginia Tech was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, playing 15 seasons in Buffalo over his 19-year career. He finished his career with 200 sacks and 11 Pro Bowl appearances. The franchise has also selected such greats as Jim Kelly and O.J. Simpson in the first round and hopes that 2018 first-rounder Josh Allen can be considered alongside them someday.

A football and basketball star out of North Carolina, Peppers was an instant star after being selected second overall in 2002. He recorded 159.5 sacks during his 17-year career and made nine Pro Bowls. 2011 first-overall draft choice Cam Newton also had a terrific career for the Panthers, winning MVP in 2015 and leading the team to a Super Bowl, but his prime was cut short in part due to injuries.

The Bears have a rich history on both sides of the ball, but "Sweetness" remains one of the most memorable players in NFL history. Walter Payton had a tremendous 13-year career in Chicago after being selected fourth overall in 1975, winning the MVP in 1977, and gaining over 21,000 yards from scrimmage for his career. The nine-time Pro Bowler is also known for his work off the field. Following his death in 1999, the NFL's Man of the Year Award was renamed the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Other historic names Chicago has selected in the first round include Chuck Howley (1958), Dıck Butkus (1965), Gale Sayers (1965), and Brian Urlacher (2000).

Arguably the best offensive lineman of his era, Munoz was selected third overall by the Bengals in 1980. He made 11 Pro Bowls and was named an All-Pro nine times in his 13-year career in Cincy. The franchise has also had some success drafting quarterbacks in the first round, led by Carson Palmer (2004) and Joe Burrow (2020).

Selected sixth, Brown is on the short list of the best running backs ever. He incredibly led the league in rushing eight times in his nine-year career. Brown won three MVP Awards and might have tallied insurmountable records if he didn't call it a career after nine seasons. Other Browns first-round Hall of Famers include Doug Atkins (1953), Paul Warfield (1964), Ozzie Newsome (1978), and Joe Thomas (2007).

The Cowboys have selected their fair share of Hall of Famers in the first round, led by the all-time rushing leader, Emmitt Smith. Smith was selected 17th overall in 1990 and went on to win three Super Bowls with the franchise and also win the 1993 league MVP. Other prominent Cowboys drafted in the first round include Bob Lilly (1961), Too Tall Jones (1974), Randy White (1975), Tony Dorsett (1977), Michael Irvin (1988), Troy Aikman (1989), and DeMarcus Ware (2005).

Miller is still going strong, and he appears to be a surefire Hall of Famer after winning two Super Bowls and the MVP of Super Bowl 50. He made eight Pro Bowls with Denver and has gone on to play with the Rams and Bills. Miller recorded 110.5 sacks in 10 seasons with the Broncos after being selected second overall in 2011. Other great players drafted by the Broncos in the first round include Merlin Olsen (1962), Bob Brown (1964), Floyd Little (1967), and Steve Atwater (1989).

The highlights of Sanders' incredible cuts and jukes could go on for hours as one of the best and most beloved players in Lions history. The third pick in 1989, Sanders led the NFL in rushing four times in his 10-year career and won MVP in 1997 after rushing for 2,053 yards. He made the Pro Bowl in all 10 of his seasons. Other NFL Hall of Famers drafted by the Lions in the first round included Y.A. Tittle (1948), Alex Karras (1958), Johnny Robinson (1960), and Calvin Johnson (2007).

Despite all the greats drafted by Green Bay in the first round, Rodgers stands head and shoulders above the rest. Rodgers famously fell down the 2005 draft to 24th, making 23 other teams regret not selecting him. He won only one Super Bowl with the team, but Rodgers was a four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowler who will assuredly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer after he hangs up his cleats. The Packers have also drafted Hall of Famers Paul Hornung (1957), Herb Adderley (1961), Dave Robinson (1963), and James Lofton (1978) in the first round.

Watt stands out as the best first-round pick ever for the relatively young Texans franchise, winning three Defensive Player of the Year Awards in his 12-year career that concluded following the 2022 season. The Texans can't claim in first-round NFL Hall of Famers yet, though Andre Johnson (2004), DeAndre Hopkins (2013), and Deshaun Watson (2017) have the potential for enshrinement in addition to Watt.

The Colts have selected some great players in the first round, particularly on offense, but Manning stands above the rest. The first overall pick in 1998 made 14 Pro Bowls in his 17-year career, winning a Super Bowl with the Colts and Broncos. He also won an incredible five MVP Awards. The franchise also drafted prominent Hall of Famers John Elway (1983), Marshall Faulk (1994), Marvin Harrison (1996), and Edgerrin James (1999) in the first round, among others.

Jacksonville hasn't done much winning in their history, and their first-ever draft choice might have been their best to this day. Boselli was a Hall of Famer after being drafted second overall in 1995, making five Pro Bowls in a seven-year career cut short by injury. The Jaguars have also struck out many times in the first round but hope 2021 first-round pick quarterback Trevor Lawrence can soon develop as their best pick.

Only eight years into his NFL career, Mahomes has left no doubt as the franchise's best-ever draft pick with five Super Bowl berths, three Super Bowl victories, and two MVP Awards. KC traded up to 10th overall in 2017 to draft Mahomes and hasn't looked back. Before Mahomes, the franchise's best first-round picks included Buck Buchanan (1963), Neil Smith (1988), Derrick Thomas (1989), and Tony Gonzalez (1997).

A Heisman Trophy winner out of Michigan, Woodson was selected fourth overall in 1998. He backed up the hype with a Hall of Fame NFL career, making nine Pro Bowls over 18 seasons and winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 with Green Bay. The historic franchise has also selected Hall of Famers Gene Upshaw (1967), Ray Guy (1973), Marcus Allen (1982), and Tim Brown (1988) in the first round.

Seau is known as one of the top linebackers of his era, making 12 Pro Bowls and being named an All-Pro six times over his 20-year career. The USC alum was selected fifth overall in the 1990 draft. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson certainly has an argument as the team's best first-rounder ever, as the fifth pick in 2001. The team selected Eli Manning first overall in 2004 before trading him to the Giants for Philip Rivers.

Donald played 10 seasons as arguably the top defensive player in football and the best first-round pick in Rams history. He's won three Defensive Player of the Year Awards and the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 10 seasons and also made the Pro Bowl each year after he was selected 13th overall in 2014. The franchise has also selected Hall of Famers like Merlin Olsen (1962), Jack Youngblood (1971), Eric Dıckerson (1983), Jerome Bettis (1993), and Orlando Pace (1997) in the first round.

Considered by many to be the best player never to win a Super Bowl, Marino was an instant starter after being selected 27th overall in 1983. The star quarterback won the 1984 MVP and led the league in passing five times in 17 years. He also made nine Pro Bowls. The franchise also selected future Hall of Famers in the first round in back-to-back years with Bob Griese (1967) and Larry Csonka (1968).

Arguably the most talented wideout to ever play, Moss was a six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro in 16 NFL seasons. He led the league in receiving touchdowns five times, including his historic 2007 season with the Patriots when he scored 23 times. Other Vikings' first-round greats include Carl Eller (1964), Alan Page (1968), Ron Yary (1968), Chris Doleman (1985), Randall McDaniel (1988), and Adrian Peterson (2007).

Hannah is one of only four Patriots Hall of Famers drafted in the first round. The fourth pick in 1973, Hannah made nine Pro Bowls in his 13 NFL seasons, all with the Pats. The franchise also drafted Mike Haynes (1976), Ty Law (1995), and Richard Seymour (2001) in the first round.

The Saints franchise hasn't been successful for many years in its history and can currently only claim one Hall of Famer drafted in the first round. Roaf was arguably the best offensive tackle of his era, making 11 Pro Bowls after he was selected eighth overall by the Saints in 1993. He played nine seasons in New Orleans and four years with the Chiefs.

Considered by some to be the best defensive player ever, Taylor was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and the 1986 NFL MVP after he was selected second overall in 1981. Taylor also won two Super Bowls with the team in his 13-year career.

If nothing else, Namath has the most name recognition of any player selected in the first round by the franchise. The Hall of Fame quarterback was selected first overall in 1965 and went on to make five Pro Bowls and win MVP of Super Bowl III. The franchise also selected Hall of Famers John Riggins (1971) and Darrelle Revis (2007) with their first-round picks. 

Eagles fans have a love-hate relationship with McNabb, but his impact on the franchise is undeniable. He appeared in six Pro Bowls over his 13-year career, leading the team to four consecutive NFC Championship appearances and one Super Bowl appearance. McNabb was selected second overall out of Syracuse in 1999.

The great drafting history of the Steelers has produced nine NFL Hall of Famers in the first round, and Roethlisberger is very likely to be the 10th. Big Ben had an excellent career after being selected 11th in 2004, making six Pro Bowls and winning two Super Bowls in 18 seasons. Steelers fans also remember other first-round picks like Joe Greene (1969), Terry Bradshaw (1970), Franco Harris (1972), Rod Woodson (1989), and Troy Polamalu (2003) fondly.

Rice made his mark in a 20-year NFL career, still considered by many as the best non-quarterback to strap on cleats. He remains the all-time receptions, receiving yardage, and receiving touchdown leader and made 13 Pro Bowls in his career. Rice is one of eight Hall of Famers San Francisco has selected in the draft's first round.

There's a strong argument to be made for the best first-round pick in Seahawks history, with Jones, Cortez Kennedy (1990), and Steve Hutchinson (2001) among those in the running. Jones' argument includes nine Pro Bowls and four All-Pro selections in his 12-year Hall of Fame career.

It's hard to imagine a more successful first round than the Bucs had in 1995, selecting future Hall of Famers Warren Sapp and Brooks. Brooks was taken 28th overall. He won one Super Bowl in 14 seasons with the Bucs, making 11 Pro Bowls and winning the 2002 Defensive Player of the Year Award.

The ninth pick in 1983, Matthews became one of his era's best and most durable players. He never missed a game due to injury, starting 293 games in his 19-year career. Matthews made 14 Pro Bowls, playing his entire career with the Oilers/Titans franchise.

The undersized Green dropped to 28th overall in 1983 but was more than worthy of the pick. He won two Super Bowls in 20 seasons with Washington, making seven Pro Bowls along the way. Green is one of five Hall of Famers selected in the first round by the franchise, along with Sammy Baugh (1937), Charley Taylor (1964), Art Monk (1980), and Champ Bailey (1999).