Stats that stood out: NFL Draft Edition

Draft Day is upon us, so it only felt natural to treat it like a “game day” and review some of the various statistics compiled over multiple year’s of the NFL’s annual event.

First-Round Trades Since 2000

(Yearly totals can include future selections traded in previous years.)

Draft Trades
2000 16
2001 15
2002 14
2003 18
2004 17
2005 9
2006 11
2007 10
2008 17
2009 13
2010 15
2011 8
2012 19
2013 12
2014 11
2015 6
2016 8

Consecutive Top 10 Choices From Same College

Year Picks
1937 Nebraska – HB Lloyd Cardwell (7) and E Les McDonald (8)
1943 Minnesota – HB Bill Daley (7) and T Dick Wildung (8)
1946 Notre Dame – QB Johnny Lujack (4) and T George Connor (5)
1948 Alabama – HB Lowell Tew (4) and C Vaughn Mancha (5)
1949 Notre Dame – QB Frank Tripucka (9) and G Bill Fischer (10)
1949 Southern Methodist – RB Doak Walker (3) and HB Paul Page (4)
1959 Ohio State – HB Don Clark (7) and C Dan James (8)
1967 Michigan State – DT Bubba Smith (1) and RB Clint Jones (2)
1977 Southern California – T Marvin Powell (4) and DT Gary Jeter (5)
1978 Notre Dame – TE Ken MacAfee (7) and DT Ross Browner (8)
1981 UCLA – RB Freeman McNeil (3) and DB Kenny Easley (4)
1984 Nebraska – WR Irving Fryar (1) and T Dean Steinkuhler (2)
1990 Southern California – LB Junior Seau (5) and DB Mark Carrier (6)
1991 Nebraska – DB Bruce Pickens (3) and LB Mike Croel (4)
1991 Tennessee – T Charles McRae (7) and T Antone Davis (8)
1992 Stanford – T Bob Whitfield (8) and RB Tommy Vardell (9)
1993 Alabama – DE John Copeland (5) and DE Eric Curry (6)
1996 Illinois – LB Kevin Hardy (2) and DE Simeon Rice (3)
2000 Penn State – DE Courtney Brown (1) and LB LaVar Arrington (2)
2002 Texas – T Mike Williams (4) and DB Quentin Jammer (5)
2004 Miami – S Sean Taylor (5) and TE Kellen Winslow (6)
2010 Oklahoma – DT Gerald McCoy (3) and T Trent Williams (4)
2013 Alabama – DB Dee Milliner (9) and G Chance Warmack (10)
2014 Texas A&M – T Jake Matthews (6) and WR Mike Evans (7)
2016 Ohio State – DE Joey Bosa (3) and RB Ezekiel Elliott (4)

Breakdown Of Offensive/Defensive Players Selected In First Round Since 1990

Year Offense Defense First Offensive Pick First Defensive Pick
1990 11 14 Jeff George-QB (1) Cortez Kennedy-DT (3)
1991 13 14 Charles McRae-T (7) Russell Maryland-DT (1)
1992 13 15 Desmond Howard-WR (4) Steve Emtman-DE (1)
1993 15 14 Drew Bledsoe-QB (1) Marvin Jones-LB (4)
1994 13 16 Marshall Faulk-RB (2) Dan Wilkinson-DT (1)
1995 18 14 Ki-Jana Carter-RB (1) Kevin Carter-DE (6)
1996 17 13 Keyshawn Johnson-WR (1) Kevin Hardy-LB (2)
1997 14 16 Orlando Pace-T (1) Darrell Russell-DE (2)
1998 14 16 Peyton Manning-QB (1) Andre Wadsworth-DE (3)
1999 16 15 Tim Couch-QB (1) Champ Bailey-CB (7)
2000 17 14 Chris Samuel-T (3) Courtney Brown-DE  (1)
2001 15 16 Michael Vick-QB (1) Gerard Warren-DT (3)
2002 16 16 David Carr-QB (1) Julius Peppers-DE (2)
2003 14 18 Carson Palmer-QB (1) Dewayne Robertson-DT (4)
2004 19 13 Eli Manning-QB (1) Sean Taylor-S (5)
2005 16 16 Alex Smith-QB (1) Adam Jones-CB (6)
2006 19 13 Reggie Bush-RB (2) Mario Williams-DE (1)
2007 15 17 JaMarcus Russell-QB (1) Gaines Adams-DE (4)
2008 16 15 Jake Long-T (1) Chris Long-DE (2)
2009 19 13 Matthew Stafford-QB (1) Tyson Jackson-DE (3)
2010 14 18 Sam Bradford-QB (1) Ndamukong Suh-DT (2)
2011 16 16 Cam Newton-QB (1) Von Miller-LB (2)
2012 15 17 Andrew Luck-QB (1) Morris Claiborne-CB (6)
2013 14 18 Eric Fisher-T (1) Dion Jordan-DE (3)
2014 14 18 Greg Robinson-T (2) Jadeveon Clowney-DE (1)
2015 17 15 Jameis Winston-QB (1) Dante Fowler-DE (3)
2016 15 16 Jared Goff-QB (1) Joey Bosa-DE (3)

Colleges with most No. 1 overall draft choices

Auburn (5) 2011: Cam Newton, QB (Carolina); 1988: Aundray Bruce, LB (Atlanta); 1986: Bo Jackson, RB (Tampa Bay); 1965: Tucker Frederickson, RB (N.Y. Giants); 1961: Ken Rice, G (Buffalo)
Notre Dame (5) 1973: Walt Patulski, DE (Buffalo); 1957: Paul Hornung, HB (Green Bay); 1950: Leon Hart, E (Detroit); 1946: Frank Dancewicz, QB (Boston Yanks); 1944: Angelo Bertelli, QB (Boston Yanks)
Southern California(5) 2003: Carson Palmer, QB (Cincinnati); 1996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR (N.Y. Jets); 1977: Ricky Bell, RB (Tampa Bay);1969: O.J. Simpson, RB (Buffalo); 1968: Ron Yary, T (Minnesota)

Most first-round selections from one college in single year:  6

2004 – Miami (Sean Taylor, Kellen Winslow, Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Williams, Vernon Carey, Vince Wilfork).

College with most players taken in single draft

Texas, 17 in 1984.

Most offensive players selected in first round

19 in 2009, 2004 & 1968.

Most defensive players selected in first round

19 in 2006.

Consecutive first-round choices from same college that played same position:

  • 1991: Tennessee Ts Charles McRae (#7-Tampa Bay) and Antone Davis (#8-Philadelphia).
  • 1993: Alabama DEs John Copeland (#5-Cincinnati) and Eric Curry (#6-Tampa Bay).
  • 1997: Miami DEs Kenard Lang (#17-Washington) and Kenny Holmes (#18-Tennessee).

Number of Pro Football Hall of Famers selected No. 1 overall:  14

  • 1942 – “Bullet” Bill Dudley/Pittsburgh; 1945 – Charley Trippi/Chicago Cardinals
  • 1949 – Chuck Bednarik/Philadelphia
  • 1957 – Paul Hornung/Green Bay
  • 1963 – Buck Buchanan/Kansas City (AFL)
  • 1968 – Ron Yary/Minnesota; 1969 – O.J. Simpson/Buffalo
  • 1970 – Terry Bradshaw/Pittsburgh; 1976 – Lee Roy Selmon/Tampa Bay
  • 1978 – Earl Campbell/Houston; 1983 – John Elway/Baltimore Colts
  • 1985 – Bruce Smith/Buffalo Bills; 1989 – Troy Aikman/Dallas Cowboys
  • 1997 – Orlando Pace/St. Louis Rams

Most consecutive offensive players selected to start NFL Draft:

1999 – 6; QB Tim Couch (Cleveland), QB Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia), QB Akili Smith (Cincinnati), RB Edgerrin James (Indianapolis), HB Ricky Williams (New Orleans), WR Torry Holt (St. Louis).

Most consecutive defensive players selected to start NFL Draft:

1991 – 6; DT Russell Maryland (Dallas), S Eric Turner (Cleveland), CB Bruce Pickens (Atlanta), OLB Mike Croel (Denver), CB Todd Lyght (Los Angeles Rams), DT Eric Swann (Phoenix).

Number of times QB and RB from same college have been chosen in top 10: 10

  • 1942 (QB Frank Albert, RB Pete Kmetovic-Stanford)
  • 1943 (QB Jack Jenkins, RB Bob Steuber-Missouri)
  • 1944 (QB Angelo Bertelli, RB Creighton Miller-Notre Dame)
  • 1946 (QB Frank Dancewicz, QB Johnny Lujack, RB Emil Sitko-Notre Dame)
  • 1947 (QB Ernie Case, RB Cal Rossi-UCLA)
  • 1948 (QB Harry Gilmer, RB Lowell Tew-Alabama)
  • 1983(QB Todd Blackledge, RB Curt Warner-Penn State)
  • 1993 (QB Rick Mirer, RB Jerome Bettis-Notre Dame)
  • 1995(QB Kerry Collins, RB Ki-Jana Carter-Penn State)
  • 2006 (QB Matt Leinart, RB Reggie Bush-Southern California)

Most offensive linemen taken in first round: 10

1968 – T Ron Yary, C Robert Johnson, T Russ Washington, T Mike Taylor, C Forrest Blue, G Maurice Moorman, G George Daney, T John Williams, G Bill Lueck, T Doug Crusan.

Draft Times

NOTE: The first combined (AFL-NFL) draft in 1967 consisted of 17 rounds.  In 1977, the draft was reduced to 12 rounds.  There were eight rounds in 1993 and seven since 1994.

  • Longest first round since 1967: 2007 (6 hours, 8 minutes)
  • Shortest first round since 1967: 1972 (2 hours)
  • Longest seven-round draft: 2007 (18 hours, 5 minutes)
  • Shortest seven-round draft: 2015 (13 hours, 45 minutes)
  • Most rounds on draft day: 30 (1943-1959 drafts)

Colleges With Three Players Drafted In First Round 

Number of times since 2000 that a college has had at least three players chosen in first round: 28

  • 2000:  Florida State (3) – Peter Warrick/Cincinnati; Corey Simon/Philadelphia; Sebastian Janikowski/Oakland.
  • 2001:  Miami (4) – Dan Morgan/Carolina; Damione Lewis/St. Louis; Santana Moss/ N.Y. Jets; Reggie Wayne/Indianapolis. Michigan (3) – David Terrell/Chicago; Steve Hutchinson/Seattle; Jeff Backus/Detroit.
  • 2002:  Miami (5) – Bryant McKinnie/Minnesota; Jeremy Shockey/N.Y. Giants; Phillip Buchanon/Oakland; Ed Reed/Baltimore; Mike Rumph/San Francisco. Tennessee (3) – John Henderson/Jacksonville; Donte’ Stallworth/New Orleans; Albert Haynesworth/Tennessee.
  • 2003:  Miami (4) – Andre Johnson/Houston; Jerome McDougle/Philadelphia; Willis McGahee/Buffalo; William Joseph/N.Y. Giants. Penn State (4) – Jimmy Kennedy/St. Louis; Michael Haynes/Chicago; Bryant Johnson/Arizona; Larry Johnson/Kansas City.
  • 2004:  Miami (6) – Sean Taylor/Washington; Kellen Winslow/Cleveland; Jonathan Vilma/N.Y. Jets; D.J. Williams/Denver; Vernon Carey/Miami; Vince Wilfork/New England. Ohio State (3) – Will Smith/New Orleans, Chris Gamble/Carolina, Mike Jenkins/Atlanta.
  • 2005:  Auburn (4) – Ronnie Brown/Miami; Jason Campbell/Washington; Carlos Rogers/Washington; Carnell Williams/Tampa Bay.
  • 2006:  Ohio State (5) – A.J. Hawk/Green Bay; Donte Whitner/Buffalo; Bobby Carpenter/Dallas; Santonio Holmes/Pittsburgh; Nick Mangold/N.Y. Jets. Florida State (4) – Ernie Sims/Detroit; Kamerion Wimbley/Cleveland; Brodrick Bunkley/Philadelphia; Antonio Cromartie/San Diego. North Carolina State (3) – Mario Williams/Houston; Manny Lawson/San Francisco; John McCargo/Buffalo.
  • 2007:  Louisiana State (4) – JaMarcus Russell/Oakland; LaRon Landry/Washington; Dwayne Bowe/Kansas City; Craig Davis/San Diego. Miami (3) – Brandon Meriweather/New England; Jon Beason/Carolina; Greg Olsen/Chicago.
  • 2008: Southern California (4) – Sedrick Ellis/New Orleans; Keith Rivers/Cincinnati; Sam Baker/Atlanta; Lawrence Jackson/Seattle.
  • 2009: Southern California (3) – Mark Sanchez/N.Y. Jets; Brian Cushing/Houston; Clay Matthews/Green Bay;
  • 2010: Oklahoma (4) – Sam Bradford/St. Louis; Gerald McCoy/Tampa Bay; Trent Williams/Washington; Jermaine Gresham/Cincinnati  Florida (3) – Joe Haden/Cleveland; Maurkice Pouncey/Pittsburgh; Tim Tebow/Denver
  • 2011: Alabama (4) – Marcell Dareus/Buffalo; Julio Jones/Atlanta; James Carpenter/Seattle; Mark Ingram/New Orleans
  • 2012: Alabama (4) – Trent Richardson/Cleveland; Mark Barron/Tampa Bay; Dre Kirkpatrick/Cincinnati; Dont’a Hightower/New England
  • 2013: Alabama (3) – Dee Milliner/New York Jets; Chance Warmack/Tennessee; D.J. Fluker/San Diego Florida State (3) – E.J. Manuel/Buffalo; Bjoern Werner/Indianapolis; Xavier    Rhodes/Minnesota
  • 2014: Louisville (3) – Calvin Pryor/New York Jets; Marcus Smith/Philadelphia; Teddy Bridgewater/Minnesota; Texas A&M (3) – Jake Matthews/Atlanta; Mike Evans/Tampa Bay; Johnny Manziel/Cleveland
  • 2015: Washington (3) – Danny Shelton/Cleveland; Marcus Peters/Kansas City; Shaq Thompson/Carolina
  • 2016:  Ohio State (5) – Joey Bosa/San Diego; Ezekiel Elliott/Dallas; Eli Apple/New York Giants; Taylor Decker/Detroit; Darron Lee/New York Jets; Mississippi (3) – Laremy Tunsil/Miami; Laquon Treadwell/Minnesota; Robert Nkemdiche/Arizona

First Round By Position

Most first-round selections by position (one year):

  • Quarterback (6-1983): John Elway/Baltimore, Todd Blackledge/Kansas City, Jim Kelly/Buffalo, Tony Eason/New England, Ken O’Brien/N.Y. Jets, Dan Marino/Miami
  • Halfback/Running Back (9-1938, 1941): (Last time) 1941 – Tom Harmon/Chicago Bears, John Kimbrough/Chicago Cardinals, Norm Standlee/Chicago Bears, John Thomason/Detroit, George Franck/New York, George Paskavan/Green Bay, Dean McAdams/Brooklyn, Don Scott/Chicago Bears, Forrest Evashevski/Washington
  • Wide Receiver (7-2004): Larry Fitzgerald/Arizona, Roy Williams/Detroit, Reggie Williams/Jacksonville, Lee Evans/Buffalo, Michael Clayton/Tampa Bay, Michael Jenkins/Atlanta, Rashaun Woods/San Francisco.
  • Tight End (3-1970, 2002): (Last time) 2002 – Jeremy Shockey/N.Y. Giants; Daniel Graham/New England; Jerramy Stevens/Seattle
  • Center (2-1949, 1950, 1968, 2009): (Last time) 2009 – Alex Mack/Cleveland, Eric Wood/Buffalo
  • Guard (4-1982): Mike Munchak/Houston, Sean Farrell/Tampa Bay, Ron Hallestrom/Green Bay, Roy Foster/Miami
  • Tackle (8-2008): Jake Long/Miami, Ryan Clady/Denver, Chris Williams/Chicago, Branden Albert/Kansas City, Gosder Cherilus/Detroit, Jeff Otah/Carolina, Sam Baker/Atlanta, Duane Brown/Houston
  • Defensive Back (9-2014): Justin Gilbert/Cleveland, Kyle Fuller/Chicago, Calvin Pryor/New York Jets, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix/Green Bay, Darqueze Dennard/Cincinnati, Jason Verrett/San Diego, Deone Bucannon/Arizona, Jimmie Ward/San Francisco, Bradley Roby/Denver.
  • Linebacker (7-1990): Keith McCants/Tampa Bay, Junior Seau/San Diego, Chris Singleton/New England, James Francis/Cincinnati, Percy Snow/Kansas City, Lamar Lathon/Houston, Tony Bennett/Green Bay.
  • Defensive End (6-1992, 2011): (Last time) 2011 – J.J. Watt/Houston, Robert Quinn/St. Louis, Corey Liuget/San Diego, Adrian Clayborn/Tampa Bay, Cameron Jordan/New Orleans, Cameron Heyward/Pittsburgh.
  • Defensive Tackle (6-1977, 2001, 2003): (Last time) 2003 – Dewayne Robertson/N.Y. Jets, Johnathan Sullivan/New Orleans, Kevin Williams/Minnesota, Jimmy Kennedy/St. Louis, Ty Warren/New England, William Joseph/N.Y. Giants.
  • Nose Tackle (1-1986, 1988, 2012): (Last time) 2012 – Dontari Poe/Kansas City
  • Kicker/Punter (1-1966, 1973, 1978, 1979, 2000): (Last time) 2000 – K Sebastian Janikowski/Oakland

Statistics and game information courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers and/or National Football League.


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