The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night in Pittsburgh, where the Las Vegas Raiders will make the first pick.
It’s just the second time in franchise history the Raiders have owned the No. 1 overall selection.
Here’s a look at the NFL teams that have had the most and fewest No. 1 picks in the Super Bowl era (since 1967).
RELATED: 2026 NFL mock draft with shocking top 3, latest trade buzz
(Baltimore, Indianapolis): 1967, 1983, 1990, 1992, 1998, 2012
It’s difficult to believe this actually came down to Manning or, ahem, Ryan Leaf as the choice at No. 1 in 1998. And, yes, the Colts did draft John Elway No. 1 overall in 1983, but he demanded a trade and was dealt to Denver without ever playing a down for Baltimore.
As the first-ever pick in Tampa Bay’s history, Selmon became a three-time first-team All-Pro and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. He remains the team’s all-time sack leader, and in 1979, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
This is where it starts getting tricky: Picking only one best pick from these four teams. Could have gone with O.J. Simpson (Bills 1969). Kidding, but just sayin’. Or Myles Garrett (Browns 2017), who’s closing in fast on my pick: Bruce Smith. Buffalo’s bad, bad man (Not O.J. bad, just sayin’) is the NFL’s all-time sack leader (200), was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and is a Hall of Famer (2009).
As much as I wanted to select Earl Campbell, I had to go with Troy Aikman. You could also make the case for Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace (No. pick 1997), but the Cowboys Hall of Fame QB (2006) led Dallas to three Super Bowl titles in four years (1993, 1994, 1996). Hard to beat that.
Tennessee Titans: 1973, 1978 (as the Houston Oilers), 2025
Las Vegas Raiders: 2007 (as the Oakland Raiders), 2026
Stafford was stellar in Detroit, but Lions fans sure wish he had led them to a Super Bowl title, instead of MVP-ing the Rams to the top of the NFL world in 2015.
Los Angeles Chargers: 2004 (as the San Diego Chargers)
Even if you think Bradshaw is, in the words of Charles Barkley, “turrible” as an NFL analyst, he was a terrific QB. The Hall of Famer guided the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979) during Pittsburgh’s incredible run in the 1970s under coach Chuck Noll.
A bit of a surprise, no? It’s a testament to their consistency of winning year after year that these three franchises have never made the No. 1 pick. Instead, they have 61 total postseason appearances collectively and have accounted for seven Lombardi Trophies.
Hornung was nicknamed “The Golden Boy,” but he was tough as bronze. Legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi called Hornung “the greatest player I ever coached”. Heavy praise for the bruising running back.
Well, there’s little doubt that the Raiders are going to take Fernando Mendoza with the first pick on Thursday.
They can only hope the promising Heisman Trophy winner doesn’t become the next JaMarcus Russell, inarguably the worst No. 1 overall draft pick in NFL history.