Mandatory Credit: Photo by Duane Burleson/AP/REX/Shutterstock (10050933v)Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) passes the ball against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game, in DetroitRams Lions Football, Detroit, USA - 02 Dec 2018.
George Malone
5 min read
Being drafted No. 1 overall in the NFL puts a player into an exclusive club. In addition to the prestige of being the top pick (there have been only 84 No. 1 overall picks), there’s a huge financial windfall.
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Even with the implementation of a rookie salary cap after the 2010 season, the No. 1 NFL draft picks since 2000 have made an average of $95,575,781. No surprise, but 15 of the No. 1 picks since 2000 have been quarterbacks.
To find the career earnings of every top NFL pick since 2000, GOBankingRates used Spotrac’s NFL Draft Tracker data to find the total career earnings for each overall No. 1 pick since 2000. For supplemental data, GOBankingRates found yearly earnings from 2000 through 2020 for each pick.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ed Betz/AP/Shutterstock (6032812a)BROWN Defensive end Courtney Brown, from Penn State, holds up a Cleveland Browns jersey after being selected by the Browns as the No.
2000: Courtney Brown
Team drafted to: Cleveland Browns
Other team played for: Denver Broncos
Position: Defensive End
Career length: 2000-2006
Total career earnings: $28,938,000
Michael-Vick
2001: Michael Vick
Team drafted to: Atlanta Falcons
Other teams played for: Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Lyons/EPA/Shutterstock (7916659b)David Carr of the Houston Texans Passes Against the Cincinnati Bengals During Their Game Sunday 02 October 2005 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati OhioUsa Nfl Bengals Vs Texans - Oct 2005.
2002: David Carr
Team drafted to: Houston Texans
Other teams played for: Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers
Position: Quarterback
Career length: 2002-2012
Total career earnings: $40,000,000
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 15: Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals throws an incomplete pass during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on November 15, 2015 in Seattle, Washington.
2003: Carson Palmer
Team drafted to: Cincinnati Bengals
Other teams played for: Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 14: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants throws a pass in the first half against the Washington Redskins during their game at MetLife Stadium on December 14, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
2004: Eli Manning
Team drafted to: San Diego Chargers
Other team played for: New York Giants
Position: Quarterback
Career length: 2004-2019
Total career earnings: $252,280,004
SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 25: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on August 25, 2017 in Seattle, Washington.
2005: Alex Smith
Team drafted to: San Francisco 49ers
Other teams played for: Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins/Washington Football Team
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dave Einsel/AP/Shutterstock (9271372au)Houston Texans outside linebacker Mario Williams in the first quarter of an NFL football against the Oakland Raiders game, in HoustonRaiders Texans Football, Houston, USA - 9 Oct 2011.
2006: Mario Williams
Team drafted to: Houston Texans
Other teams played for: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Paul Sakuma/AP/Shutterstock (6030743g)JaMarcus Russell Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell (2) in the second quarter of their NFL football game in Oakland, CalifBroncos Raiders Football, Oakland, USA.
2007: JaMarcus Russell
Team drafted to: Oakland Raiders
Other teams played for: N/A
Position: Quarterback
Career length: 2007-2009
Total career earnings: $39,365,000
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Wilfredo Lee/AP/Shutterstock (6022953f)Jake Long Miami Dolphins tackle Jake Long (77) on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, in MiamiSeahawks Dolphins Football, Miami, USA.
2008: Jake Long
Team drafted to: Miami Dolphins
Other teams played for: St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 20: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions looks down field against the Jacksonville Jaguars during first half action at Ford Field on November 20, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan.
2009: Matthew Stafford
Team drafted to: Detroit Lions
Other teams played for: N/A
Position: Quarterback
Career length: 2009-present
Total career earnings: $226,478,969
ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 10: Sam Bradford #8 hands the ball off to Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 10, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York.
2010: Sam Bradford
Team drafted to: St. Louis Rams
Other teams played for: Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals
Position: Quarterback
Career length: 2010-2018
Total career earnings: $130,022,863
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 22: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers throws a pass against the Washington Redskins in the 2nd quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 22, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 21: Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts throws down field during the game against the New York Jets at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 21, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2012: Andrew Luck
Team drafted to: Indianapolis Colts
Other teams played for: N/A
Position: Quarterback
Career length: 2012-2018
Total career earnings: $109,107,998
Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Fisher (72) runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, in Kansas City, MoChargers Chiefs Football, Kansas City, USA - 29 Dec 2019.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Gregory Payan/AP/Shutterstock (6016759az)Jedeveon Clowney Jadeveon Clowney is seen on stage with his jersey after being selected first by the Houston Texans at the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City on Thursday, May 8th, 2014 in New York, NY2014 NFL Draft, New York, USA.
2014: Jadeveon Clowney
Team drafted to: Houston Texans
Other teams played for: Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans
Jameis Winston Tampa Bay Buccaneers highest paid player
2015: Jameis Winston
Team drafted to: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Other team played for: New Orleans Saints
Position: Quarterback
Career length: 2015-present
Total career earnings: $47,280,894
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Duane Burleson/AP/REX/Shutterstock (10050933v)Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) passes the ball against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game, in DetroitRams Lions Football, Detroit, USA - 02 Dec 2018.
2016: Jared Goff
Team drafted to: Los Angeles Rams
Other teams played for: N/A
Position: Quarterback
Career length: 2016-present
Total career earnings: $80,720,672
Mandatory Credit: Photo by AP/Shutterstock (8721295f)Myles Garrett, Audrey Garret, Lawrence Garrett, Bruce Smith IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR FOR NFLPA - Former No.
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 29, 2019: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns signals touchdown toward an official, after throwing a 20-yard touchdown to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
2018: Baker Mayfield
Team drafted to: Cleveland Browns
Other teams played for: N/A
Position: Quarterback
Career length: 2018-present
Total career earnings: $27,867,591
Nov 10, 2019; Tampa, FL USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) smiles before an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
2019: Kyler Murray
Team drafted to: Arizona Cardinals
Other teams played for: N/A
Position: Quarterback
Career length: 2019-present
Total career earnings: $26,302,414
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 30: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass the football during a scrimmage at Paul Brown Stadium on August 30, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Methodology: To find the career earnings of every top NFL pick since 2000, GOBankingRates used Spotrac’s NFL Draft Tracker data to find the following factors for each overall No. 1 pick since 2000: (1) name; (2) team drafted to; (3) other teams played for; (4) position; (5) career length; (6) total career earnings. For supplemental data, GOBankingRates found yearly earnings from 2000 through 2020 for each pick. All data was collected on and up to date as of Nov. 30, 2020.
