Across the Super Bowl era, certain franchises have dominated the top slot. The Indianapolis Colts lead with six No. 1s, followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with five. Four teams—Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and New England—each own four No. 1 picks.
Five teams have three No. 1 selections: the Falcons, Cowboys, Texans, Rams, and the Oilers/Titans. The standout among that group is Troy Aikman, selected by the Cowboys in 1989, who helped Dallas win multiple championships in the 1990s.
Two No. 1s belong to the Panthers, Lions, Jaguars, and Raiders, with Matthew Stafford (Detroit, 2009) regarded as the top pick among them.
Only one No. 1 pick has gone to ten franchises—Cardinals, Bears, Chiefs, Chargers, Dolphins, Vikings, Saints, Jets, Steelers, and 49ers—headlined by Terry Bradshaw (Steelers, 1970). Ravens, Broncos, and Seahawks have never had the No. 1 overall selection, a reflection of their sustained success.
The Raiders are expected to take Fernando Mendoza with the first pick, a choice that will be watched closely given the history of top selections, including notable missteps like JaMarcus Russell.
