NFL
2024 NFL Draft: Which university has had the most No.1 draft picks in history?
The Draft returns with NFL teams looking to select players who will have a positive impact in the new season.
NFL Draft 2024 live online: First-round picks, teams, players and big board updates
After being held in Las Vegas in 2022, and Kansas City last year, the 2024 NFL Draft will be held around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan. The Chicago Bears will make the first pick in the draft - trading their selection from the Carolina Panthers, who had the worst record during the 2023 regular season (2-15), back in March last year.
In the March 2023 trade with the Bears, the Panthers sent wide receiver DJ Moore, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, a No 61 overall pick in 2023, a 2024 first-rounder and a 2025 second-rounder to Chicago in exchange for the top pick. The Bears used the 2023 first-round pick up offensive tackle Darnell Wright from Tennessee. Wright started in all 17 games, had 1,133 snaps played, 7 penalties, 7 sacks allowed, 3 hits, 41 hurries, 51 pressures and was selected for the 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team. That 2023 second rounder turned into left cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who made 16 starts and registered four interceptions during his rookie season.
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It will be just the third time that the Bears have made the No.1 pick. In 1941, five years after the first NFL Draft, they selected Michigan HB Tom Harmon; six years after that they took Oklahoma A&M HB Bob Fenimore in the 1947 draft. This will be the 20th time that the Bears have picked in the top five.
While the Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders have more picks than any other team, with both teams carrying 12 picks apiece, the Miami Dolphins enter the Draft with the fewest selections with just four after they were forced to forfeit a pick for multiple violations of NFL rules.
Which college has the most No. 1 picks?
While the NFL teams will be hoping to make great selections before the new season gets started, colleges will be looking to enhance their reputation by providing players that will have a positive impact wherever they end up playing.
But which college has the most No. 1 overall picks in draft history? Since the first NFL Draft was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia on 8 February 1936, 51 colleges have produced the top overall pick in the drafts so far and there’s currently a four-way tie at the top of the list.
Bryce Young was the most recent No.1 overall pick after the Carolina Panthers selected him in last year’s draft. Young signed a four-year rookie contract worth $37.9 million fully guaranteed in July 2023.
List of colleges with most overall No. 1 picks
- Notre Dame (5): Walt Patulski (1972), Paul Hornung (1957), Leon Hart (1950), Frank Dancewicz (1946), Angelo Bertelli (1944)
- Oklahoma (5): Kyler Murray (2019), Baker Mayfield (2018), Sam Bradford (2010), Billy Sims (1980), Lee Roy Selmon (1976)
- Southern California (5): Carson Palmer (2003), Keyshawn Johnson (1996), Ricky Bell (1977), O.J. Simpson (1969), Ron Yary (1968)
- Georgia (5): Travon Waker (2022), Matthew Stafford (2009), Harry Babcock (1953), Charley Trippi (1945), Frank Sinkwich (1943)
- Auburn (4): Cam Newton (2011), Aundray Bruce (1988), Bo Jackson (1986), Tucker Frederickson (1965)
- Stanford (4): Andrew Luck (2012), John Elway (1983), Jim Plunkett (1971), Bobby Garrett (1954)
- LSU (3): Joe Burrow (2020), JaMarcus Russell (2007), Billy Cannon (1960)
- Ohio State (3): Orlando Pace (1997), Dan Wilkinson (1994), Tom Cousineau (1979)
- Texas (3): Kenneth Sims (1982), Earl Campbell (1978), Tommy Nobis (1966)
- California (2): Jared Goff (2016), Steve Bartkowski (1975)
- Miami (Fla.) (2): Russell Maryland (1991), Vinny Testaverde (1987)
- Michigan (2): Jake Long (2008), Tom Harmon (1941)
- Nebraska (2): Irving Fryar (1984), Sam Francis (1937)
- Penn State (2): Courtney Brown (2000), Ki-Jana Carter (1995)
- South Carolina (2): Jadeveon Clowney (2014), George Rogers (1981)
- Tennessee (2): Peyton Manning (1998), George Cafego (1940)
- Virginia Tech (2): Michael Vick (2001), Bruce Smith (1985)
- Alabama (2): Harry Gilmer (1948), Bryce Young (2023)
- Central Michigan (1): Eric Fisher (2013)
- Chicago (1): Jay Berwanger (1936)
- Clemson (1): Trevor Lawrence (2021)
- Colorado A&M (1): Gary Glick (1956)
- Florida State (1): Jameis Winston (2015)
- Fresno State (1): David Carr (2002)
- Illinois (1): Jeff George (1990)
- Iowa (1): Randy Duncan (1959)
- Indiana (1): Corbett Davis (1938)
- Kentucky (1): Tim Couch (1999)
- Louisiana Tech (1): Terry Bradshaw (1970)
- Michigan State (1): Bubba Smith (1967)
- Mississippi (1): Eli Manning (2004)
- North Carolina State (1): Mario Williams (2006)
- Oklahoma State (1): Bob Fenimore (1947)
- Oregon (1): George Shaw (1955)
- Oregon State (1): Terry Baker (1963)
- Pennsylvania (1): Chuck Bednarik (1949)
- Rice (1): King Hill (1958)
- Southern Methodist (1): Kyle Rote (1951)
- Syracuse (1): Ernie Davis (1962)
- Tampa (1): John Matuszak (1973)
- TCU (1): Ki Aldrich (1939)
- Tennessee State (1): Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones (1974)
- Texas A&M (1): Myles Garrett (2017)
- Texas Tech (1): Dave Parks (1964)
- Tulane (1): Tommy Mason (1961)
- UCLA (1): Troy Aikman (1989)
- Utah (1): Alex Smith (2005)
- Vanderbilt (1): Bill Wade (1952)
- Virginia (1): Bill Dudley (1942)
- Washington (1): Steve Emtman (1992)
- Washington State (1): Drew Bledsoe (1993)
Who is is the No.1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft?
Although it seems likely that USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams will be the first overall pick and head straight to the Chicago Bears, there are still many exciting storylines to watch out for with between four and six quarterbacks expected to be selected in the first round.
The 2024 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place on Thursday 25, Friday 26 and Friday 27 April 2024 at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan, with each day’s event starting at a specific time.
2024 NFL Draft
- Thursday 25 April: Round 1 (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)
- Friday 26 April: Rounds 2-3 (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)
- Saturday 27 April: Rounds 4-7 (12 noon ET/9 a.m. PT)
The 2024 NFL draft will be televised live on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and NFL Network with live radio broadcasts from Westwood One Radio, ESPN Radio and Sirius XM Radio. You’ll also have the option of following AS USA’s live-text coverage of the Draft. Dane Arlauckas will be talking you through all the picks as they happen in Michigan.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the 2024 NFL Draft Experience will take place in Detroit, and is free to attend. It includes immersive exhibits, autograph sessions, and sponsor activities. Detroit’s unique culture of music, art, food, and style will be highlighted in the event. Attendees can enjoy local cuisine and participate in youth-focused activities. The Draft Experience will be held at Hart Plaza and Corner Ballpark, and fans are encouraged to arrive early due to the first-come, first-served attendance policy.