List of NFL first overall draft choices

The National Football League draft is an annual sports draft in which NFL teams select newly-eligible players for their rosters. To be eligible, a player must be out of high school at least three years. Teams are ranked in reverse order based on the previous season's record, with the worst record picking first. The current draft system has seven rounds and in 2009, 256 players were selected in the draft.

A total of 72 players have been selected first overall. The Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts have had the most first overall draft picks, with 6. Only four players have been selected the NFL Rookie of the Year and a total of 12 first overall picks have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

List of first overall picks

 * - denotes Pro Bowler
 * - denotes Hall of Fame

* From 1967-69 the NFL held a common draft with the American Football League, which merged with the NFL in 1970. ** Original #1 selection in 1986 was forfeited by the Cleveland Browns via the Buffalo Bills for selecting Bernie Kosar in the Supplemental Draft in 1985. *** Original #1 selection in 1990 was forfeited by the Dallas Cowboys for selecting Steve Walsh in the Supplemental Draft in 1989.