When it comes to the NFL Draft, first-round picks are, as the kids say, “where it’s at.” It should come as no surprise that the most successful NFL players are the earliest drafted. Given how important it is to nail that first-round pick, draft pick trades are not all that common when it comes to the first round. There’s a lot of pressure on general managers to do the right thing with their team’s first-round selection.
Starting in 1941, teams have had the opportunity to select three times in the first round over 20 times in NFL Draft history. Below is a list and summary of every time it has happened going as far back as 1983.
Teams With 3 or More First-Round Draft Picks
Miami Dolphins | 2020
No team appears on this list more than once. For the Miami Dolphins, their time to enjoy three picks in the first round was in 2020. Miami having three first-round picks was facilitated by the big Laremy Tunsil trade with Houston.
In 2020, the Dolphins used the first of their three first-rounders to select QB Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5 overall. It’s fair to say they hit on Tagovailoa, as he’s clearly one of the 15-20 best QBs in the NFL. Unfortunately, the next two did not go so well.
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The Dolphins’ second first-round pick was used on offensive tackle Austin Jackson. He’s been unable to stay healthy, and the constant coaching changes have impeded his development.
With their final pick in Round 1, Miami selected cornerback Noah Igbinoghene. He’s been the biggest disappointment of the bunch, lasting just three years on the team.
New York Giants | 2019
The New York Giants were not in a great spot as a franchise in 2019. However, they had a great chance to turn things around with three first-round picks.
The Giants used the first of their three first-rounders on QB Daniel Jones. Considered a bit of a reach at the time, the Giants had to take someone, as 38-year-old Eli Manning was clearly no longer the player he once was.
The No. 17 overall pick was acquired in the Giants’ trade of Odell Beckham Jr.; they made good use of that pick, selecting defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, one of the most dominant players in football.
Pick 30 was used on Deandre Baker, who had an incredible amount of red flags coming out of college, which unfortunately eventually derailed his career.
Oakland Raiders | 2019
The Oakland Raiders had a real chance to turn their fortunes around with a good showing in the 2019 NFL Draft. Instead, they put together one of the worst performances in NFL history.
The Raiders acquired their excess first-rounders by trading away stars Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. With the No. 4 pick, Oakland took Clelin Ferrell. At the time, not a single draft pundit or analyst had a clue why the Raiders would take him that high. Everyone (except the Raiders) was correct.
With the pick acquired from the Mack trade, the Raiders took a running back. Sure, Josh Jacobs is a nice player, but it’s rarely a good idea to use first-round draft capital on running backs. That’s especially the case when a team has far more pressing needs. Jacobs spent five years with the team and is now a member of the Green Bay Packers.
The Cooper trade yielded safety Johnathan Abram, who missed 15 games as a rookie and is no longer on the team.
Cleveland Browns | 2017
The Cleveland Browns are another team that has experienced minimal success over the years. However, three first-round picks can change that in an instant.
Perennially in need of a quarterback, the Browns decided to forgo that position in favor of Myles Garrett, who is one of if not the best pass-rushers in the NFL right now. It’s safe to say they nailed that pick.
Their second selection was used on safety Jabrill Peppers. The Browns later included him in the deal for Beckham.
With their final first-round pick, the Browns went with tight end David Njoku. While Njoku has been a quality NFL tight end, he hasn’t quite been worth the lofty draft capital used to acquire him.
Minnesota Vikings | 2013
Following Adrian Peterson’s MVP performance in 2012, the Vikings made a big move at wide receiver, trading away the studly but often-injured Percy Harvin. They received a first-round pick in return, giving them two.
The Vikings used their first first-rounder on DT Sharrif Floyd. While Floyd did spend his entire career with the Vikings, due to health problems, it only lasted four seasons.
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With the pick acquired from trading away Harvin, the Vikings drafted CB Xavier Rhodes. It’s safe to say this pick worked out. While Rhodes is now retired, he was a top corner in the league for quite some time, making three Pro Bowls and a first-team All-Pro in 2017.
The Vikings did not initially have a third first-round pick. However, they traded back into the tail-end of the first round for a selection that would become the greatest kickoff returner in NFL history, Cordarrelle Patterson, at No. 29 overall. Patterson never quite graduated beyond a gadget player, but his contributions on kick returns have been unmatched throughout NFL history.
St. Louis Rams | 2001
With Kurt Warner having established himself as one of the best QBs in the league, the St. Louis Rams didn’t need Trent Green wasting away on their bench. They traded him away, giving him a chance to continue starting (which he deserved). In exchange, they received the No. 12 overall pick, which they used to select defensive tackle Damione Lewis.
With their own pick (20), St. Louis took safety Adam Archuleta before taking another defensive lineman, Ryan Pickett, at 29.
Pickett became better known for his Packers work and played 14 seasons, while Lewis was a decent Ram for six years. Though Archuleta started in Super Bowl 36, he played just five seasons with the Rams.
New York Jets | 2000
This article is about teams making three first-round selections. If there were an article about teams picking four times in the first round, only the 2000 New York Jets would appear.
Two of those picks came the Jets’ way because of the Keyshawn Johnson trade, which yielded them two first-rounders in the same draft. The Jets also acquired the fourth pick from the New England Patriots for Bill Belichick’s rights, something we may never see again. I think New England was happy with the outcome.
With the extra picks, New York did well, drafting defensive-line anchors Shaun Ellis and John Abraham, who would have Pro Bowl careers. They also drafted six-year starting QB Chad Pennington with their own pick and tight end Anthony Becht at 27. Pennington piloted the team to three playoff berths. Becht spent 11 years in the NFL and is now the head coach of the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks.
Carolina Panthers | 1995
Carolina made three first-round picks in 1995. All three combined to play nearly four decades in the NFL but were out of Carolina before 1999.
The Panthers first traded the No. 1 pick to the Cincinnati Bengals. At Pick 5, Carolina then took Kerry Collins, who led his team to the Super Bowl within just six years. Unfortunately, it was with the Giants.
At 22 and 29, the Panthers selected Tyrone Poole and Blake Brockermeyer, respectively. The Panthers traded Poole to the Indianapolis Colts in 1998, and he went on to win two Super Bowls as a Patriot. Meanwhile, Brockermeyer signed with the Chicago Bears in 1999. Unfortunately, alcohol issues led to Collins being waived in 1998.
Dallas Cowboys | 1991
The Dallas Cowboys benefited for years from the Herschel Walker trade. Having extra first- and second-rounders in 1991, Dallas used one of those selections to move into the No. 1 slot, taking defensive tackle Russell Maryland. Dallas’ own pick became wide receiver Alvin Harper.
Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones then pulled off an NBA Draft-style trade by selecting D-lineman Kelvin Pritchett but flipped him to the Detroit Lions for three 1991 picks soon after. Maryland and Harper became mainstays for Dallas’ ’90s dynasty, with Maryland making one Pro Bowl.
Los Angeles Raiders | 1988
Modern NFL fans may not associate the Raiders with making great draft selections, but in 1988, they hit a home run at No. 6 overall, selecting WR Tim Brown. The Raiders then added defenders Terry McDaniel and Scott Davis at Nos. 9 and 25, respectively.
The McDaniel pick was made possible due to a trade between the Houston Oilers and the Rams in 1986. The Oilers dealt it to L.A.’s other team two years later in a deal that gave Houston promising defensive end Sean Jones.
For Davis, a seven-year linebacker, the Raiders traded former starting wideout Dokie Williams and two picks to the San Francisco 49ers. Brown went on to have a Hall of Fame career, while McDaniel became a five-time Pro Bowl corner with the Raiders.
Cincinnati Bengals | 1984
Similar to the 2019 Raiders, these selections were mostly busts for the Bengals. Cincinnati took linebacker Ricky Hunley, nose tackle Pete Koch, and tackle Brian Blados at Picks 7, 16, and 28, respectively.
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Hunley held out Eli Manning-style and forced a trade. Denver sent Cincinnati a first- and third-round pick in 1986. Blados became a seven-year Bengal, starting at right tackle in Super Bowl 23. Koch, however, played just one season with Cincinnati.
San Diego Chargers | 1983
In the famous 1983 QB Draft, the Chargers selected a linebacker, a cornerback, and a running back. Yes, they already had Dan Fouts, but 10 years in while holding three selections, who knows what could have happened if they drafted his heir apparent?
Instead, San Diego first took linebacker Billy Ray Smith at Pick 5. The 49ers then held Pick 22, but the Bolts traded back up for the right to take cornerback Gill Byrd.
San Diego’s original pick, running back Gary Anderson, spent two years in the USFL before joining the team in 1985. Byrd had the most successful Chargers career of the three, with 42 career interceptions over a decade played in San Diego.