Titans Clash - #23 - NFL Draft First Overall Pick Stats

The NFL draft is less than two weeks away. Instead of our usual Titan’s Clash, we decided to give you some interesting facts about first round picks:

• John Jacob "Jay" Berwanger, Heisman Trophy winner and University of Chicago player, was the first player ever selected in the NFL draft. He was offered $13,500 by Bear’s owner George Halas but turned it down as he wanted $15,000. He never played a down in the NFL.
• Eric William Fisher was the latest first round pick, selected in the 2013. He was a tackle for Central Michigan University. The first MAC player to be selected first. He signed a $22.1 million guaranteed contract. That is a 9,594% difference from Berwanger’s offer (adjusted for inflation).
• John Elway and Peyton Manning were both the first pick in their respective drafts. Both were drafted by the Colts, although Elway would never play a down for them. Between the two of them they have eight Super Bowl appearances and three Super Bowl championships.
• Eighteen of the 78 overall first round picks have won the Heisman Trophy. Apparently the NFL and those who award the Heisman Trophy have a difference of opinion on what “constitutes” the best football player.
• Nine of these first round picks served their country in WW II: Jay Berwanger (Chicago); Sam Francis (Nebraska); Corbett Davis (Indiana); Ki Aldrich (TCU); George Cafego (Tennessee); Tom Harmon (Michigan); Bill Dudley (Virginia); Angelo Bertelli (Notre Dame); and Charley Trippi (Georgia). We thank them for their service!
• Notre Dame and USC are tied with five each for the first overall pick. However, Notre Dame’s last first overall pick was in 1972, while USC’s was Carson Palmer in 2003.
• Stanford has four first overall picks. All of them quarterbacks: Bobby Garrett (1954); Jim Plunkett (1971); John Elway (1983); and Andrew Luck (2012). Between them there are seven Super Bowl appearances and four Super Championships.
• Alabama has only one first overall pick.


Do you have any interesting facts you would like to share with us about first overall NFL draft picks? We would love to hear them. Please provide them via the comment button below.