Chicago Bears Receive No. 1 Pick in 2023 NFL Draft -- Here's How the Rest of the Draft Order Will Play Out

Chicago Bears Receive No. 1 Pick in 2023 NFL Draft — Here’s How the Rest of the Draft Order Will Play Out

The Chicago Bears did it – they’re officially picking No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft after an extremely disappointing season. It might be just what this team needs, considering they’ve only had one first round draft pick in the past four offseasons – they drafted Justin Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in 2020. 

With the No. 1 overall pick, the Bears can do whatever they please. They can keep the pick and draft the best player available – they have a lot of needs, so they can improve anywhere. In the event they prefer a guy who might fall a few picks back, they could also trade the No. 1 pick in lieu of more assets/players. 

The ball really is in Chicago’s court – either way, they’re going to walk away a better team. Of course, only time will tell if they make the right decision. Having the No. 1 pick can go so well for a team, but it could also go just as bad. After all, busts are a thing and not all No. 1 picks end up panning out in the NFL. 

RELATED: 20 Underclassmen Who Are Forgoing Their Remaining Years of College Eligibility and Declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft

What Does the 2023 NFL Draft Order Look Like Today?

The 2023 NFL Draft is just three months away and, while the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles have bigger fish to fry, the 30 other teams in the league are already trying to figure out what to do with their draft picks. It’s something they’ve thought about all year, but they now know what picks they have.

As of right now, the first 30 draft picks are set, with the final two picks of the first round being decided in the Super Bowl. With an incoming class of talented rookies, teams can easily find a starting-caliber player in the first 2-3 rounds and can fill out some of their deepest holes throughout the rest of the draft. 

Of course, a lot of the attention will be on the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft – more specifically, the top 10-15 picks. Those are where teams are going to find franchise-changing and future-altering players. If teams aren’t drafting that high, there’s a good chance they’re looking for a way to get up that high. 

Let’s take a look at how the 2023 NFL Draft order is shaping up right now – don’t forget, there are only 31 first round picks since the Miami Dolphins had to forfeit their first rounder for tampering violations.

30 & 31. Kansas City Chiefs / Philadelphia Eagles

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are going to battle it out on February 12 for Super Bowl LVII. The loser of the game will be picking No. 31 in the first round, while the winner will have the No. 30 pick in the first round. It’ll be the first pick for the Chiefs, but not for the Eagles – they also have the 10th pick in the draft. Don’t worry Chiefs’ fans, you’ll have eight total picks in the draft and might even add more!

29. New Orleans Saints (via 49ers)

This pick has moved around quite a bit. It was originally the San Francisco 49ers’ pick, but they traded it to the Miami Dolphins, who then traded it to the Denver Broncos, who then traded it to the New Orleans Saints in the deal that sent head coach Sean Payton from NO to DEN. The Saints can use all the assets they can get, but they’ll be focusing on finding a quarterback and shoring up their OL and DL. 

28. Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals finished the regular season 12-4-0 (.750) and were on an eight-game winning streak heading into the playoffs – where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. They’ll have seven total picks in the NFL Draft with their biggest needs being their secondary, offensive line, and tight end positions. Overall, this roster is stacked, but a few tweaks are necessary.

27. Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills finished the regular season 13-3-0 (.813) and were on a seven-game winning streak heading into the playoffs – where they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Round. They only have six picks in the 2023 NFL Draft and are in desperate need of help along the offensive line. Of course, they can also use some depth at wide receiver and linebacker, but this is still a solid roster. 

26. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys finished the regular season 12-5-0 (.706) and were 8-1-0 at home before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the AFC Divisional Round. The team will have six picks in the 2023 NFL Draft and have a lot of holes to fill – most importantly along the secondary, offensive line, and wide receiver. They have several cornerstone pieces on their roster already, but they need complimentary players. 

25. New York Giants

The New York Giants finished the season 9-7-1 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2016 – when the team had Eli Manning under center. Now, the team has Daniel Jones and they can also say they have a playoff win under their belt – their first since Super Bowl XLVI. Moving forward, the team will have to address the interior of their O-Line, their secondary, and get Jones some help at wide receiver. 

24. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars finished the season 9-8-0 (.529) and won the AFC South Division after winning the final five games of the year. They showed they’ll be the team to beat in the division moving forward, especially if Trevor Lawrence continues his rise. They can use some help on the edge of their offensive line, as well as their defensive line and secondary – all three of which they can address in the draft. 

23. Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings finished the season 13-4-0 (.765) and had many people thinking they could go all the way. Then again, not everyone was fooled as they lost to the Giants in the NFC Divisional Round. A majority of their offseason has to be spent on the defense – it can use all the help it can get, especially the secondary and defensive line. Some additional depth at wide receiver would help Kirk Cousins.

22. Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens finished the season 10-7-0 (.588), despite Lamar Jackson missing most of the second half of the season. They were able to make the playoffs, but their backup QB wasn’t enough to get them a win. The most important question for them this offseason is whether or not they can get Lamar a new contract – they would be dumb not to. And while the defense needs help, get this team some WRs!

21. Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers finished the season 10-7-0 (.588), despite having one of the more talented rosters in the league. Their defense underperformed consistently and not having Keenan Allen most of the season didn’t help the offense find their groove. The good news is they have their quarterback of the future and several cornerstone players on defense – they just need to build around it, which they will.

20. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks finished the season 9-8-0 (.529), narrowly making it into the playoffs as a Wild Card team. Considering they traded away their franchise quarterback prior to the season starting, they had an incredible season that they can build off of moving forward. The team also has the No. 5 pick in the draft (see below), so they can do whatever they want – even go after a superstar quarterback.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the season 8-9-0 (.471), but somehow made a playoff appearance as the winner of the NFC South – the three other teams in the division finished 7-10-0. The Bucs have likely seen the end of the Tom Brady experiment, so that will consume a lot of their energy during the offseason. Aside from a quarterback, they need a lot of help along the offensive line and secondary. 

18. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions finished the season 9-8-0 (.529) and are in a similar position as the Seattle Seahawks. They over-exceed expectations this season and showed they’re closer to being a playoff contender than we all thought – so long as Jared Goff can play that well consistently. They have two first round picks (No. 18 and No. 6), so they hold all the leverage right now. All this team needs is a lot of help on defense.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers finished the season 9-8-0 (.529), which isn’t that bad for a team in the midst of a rebuild after Ben Roethlisberger retired. They ended the year on a four-game win streak as Kenny Pickett started to gain some chemistry with his guys. The Steelers have six picks in the draft, including three in the first two rounds – which they can use to help bolster their offensive line and defensive line. 

16. Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders finished the season 8-8-1 (.500) as they continued their search for a starting quarterback. They’ll likely be in the market for a veteran or rookie at the position, but can also use some help in the secondary – more specifically, cornerbacks – and offensive line. This team has some quality pieces, both on offense and defense, they just need the pieces to start bringing it all together. 

15. Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers finished the season 8-9-0 (.471) and were one of the biggest disappointments of 2022-23. With that said, they did win 3 of their last 4 and it appears as if Aaron Rodgers will be back for at least one more go at it. With a mid-round pick, the team should be looking at getting Rodgers a quality tight end, but they can also use some help at safety and need to bolster their pass rush on defense. 

14. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots finished the season 8-9-0 (.471), losing 3 of their last 4 and failing to make the playoffs for the second time in three years. They didn’t play poorly, but they lacked playmakers and weren’t getting a lot of help from their quarterback. They don’t seem to be moving on from Mac Jones, so they’re going to have to shore up their offensive line and give him some weapons if they want to improve.

13. New York Jets

The New York Jets finished the season 7-10-0 (.412) and were losers in each of their final six games, but this team is better than their record states. They still need a quarterback to step up, but they have all the playmakers they need on both offense and defense. If they can find a win-now quarterback and use their picks to improve their offensive line (or a safety), then this team might impress some folks next year. 

12. Houston Texans (via CLE)

The Houston Texans received this pick from the Cleveland Browns – it was part of that massive trade that sent Deshaun Watson from HOU to CLE. The team also holds the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, which puts them in the driver’s seat as they try and figure out where to go from here. With 13 total picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, you can expect them to trade a few of those – but they also need help everywhere. 

11. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans finished the season 7-10-0 (.412), despite starting the year 7-3-0 – they lost seven straight games to end the year. They have six total picks in the 2023 NFL Draft and will likely use most of them on the offense. They can use some youth along the offensive line and need some offensive weapons (WR, TE) for their QB – whether that’s Malik Willis or someone new that enters the mix.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO)

The Philadelphia Eagles have already won the offseason. Not only are they playing for a shot at the Super Bowl, but they have two first round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, including this pick – which came from the Saints. With one of the best rosters in football already, one has to wonder what they do with their collateral. We can expect some of their key defensive starters to leave, so replacing them will be a must.

9. Carolina Panthers 

The Carolina Panthers finished the season 7-10-0 (.412), which isn’t all that bad – considering they traded away their best player and don’t have a quarterback they can trust. The good news is they have seven draft picks, including three in the first two rounds. They can certainly make a play at a quarterback – and they probably should – but they also need to get him some weapons and shore up their secondary.

8. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons finished the season 7-10-0 (.412), but ended the year on a high note with two wins in a row. They have eight picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, five of which are in the later rounds – which they can use to fill in depth or use to trade up. Either way, the Falcons can make some moves to improve their pass rush, while also finding themselves a quarterback (if they want) and some quality weapons. 

7. Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders finished the season 6-11-0 (.353) and were losers in each of their last three games. They’ve made it clear that Derek Carr is no longer their quarterback, so they’ll definitely be in the market there – if they don’t address it in the draft, they’ll find a veteran who can keep Davante Adams happy. They’ll also need help along the offensive line and can use some talented pass rushers. 

6. Detroit Lions (via LAR)

We talked about the Detroit Lions earlier with the No. 18 overall pick and here they are, back again at No. 6. They received this pick from the Los Angeles Rams and have eight picks total – including four in the first two rounds. They can make some serious moves, especially since they feel comfortable with Jared Goff at quarterback. If they use their picks wisely, they should have a much better defense next year. 

5. Seattle Seahawks (via DEN)

The Seattle Seahawks are back again – they also have the No. 20 overall pick, with the No. 5 pick originally being owned by the Denver Broncos (it was a part of the trade that sent Russell Wilson from SEA to DEN). They need some depth along the defensive line with several players entering contract years, but they also need to start thinking about their QB – they can’t rely on Geno Smith long-term.

4. Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts finished the season 4-12-1 (.265) and ended the year on a seven-game losing streak with Jeff Saturday as their head coach. The team was bad in most areas on the field, so they should really be going for the best player available at No. 4, but they desperately need a long-term answer at quarterback. Offensive line and wide receiver rooms also need a lot of help moving forward. 

3. Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals finished the season 4-13-0 (.235) and ended the year on a seven-game losing streak – they won just one home game all year long. They don’t have a fifth or seventh round pick this year, but they need desperate help along the offensive line and defensive line – especially their pass rush. Of course, even that isn’t going to save this team, who are also looking for a new head coach. 

2. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans finished the season 3-13-1 (.206), winning two of their last three games – otherwise, they might be sitting at No. 1 overall. If they have a quarterback they like, then that’s who they’re going to draft – no matter what it takes. Other than that, they need a lot of help along the line of scrimmage, so anything that will improve their offensive and defensive lines should be a target. Don’t forget, they also have the No. 12 pick.

1. Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears finished the season 3-14-0 (.176) and were the winners of the 2023 NFL Draft sweepstakes. They have eight total picks in the draft, including five in Rounds 4-7. To be honest, there’s a good chance they trade this pick if someone gives them the right haul in return – it would be smart, considering the Bears have their quarterback and have several other needs across the board. 

Who Are the Best Prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft? 

The 2023 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 27-29 with the first round on Thursday, the second and third rounds on Friday and rounds 4-7 on Saturday. The event is taking place at the iconic Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri – nearby the city’s World War I Museum and Memorial. Are you excited yet? 

Some of the best prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft include QB Bryce Young, LB Will Anderson Jr., QB C.J. Stroud, QB Will Levis, DT Jalen Carter, RB Bijan Robinson, CB Joey Porter Jr., WR Quentin Johnston, DE Tyree Wilson, OL Paris Johnson Jr., and WR Jaxon Smith-Njiba. The class is stacked!

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Alright, now that (most of) the 2023 NFL Draft order is set – barring any trades in the coming months, which will almost certainly happen – we can start to think about where some of these prospects may end up. Which teams will desperately fill a roster need and which ones will take the best player available? 

Chicago Bears Become 13th NFL Team to Trade No. 1 Overall Pick in NFL Draft — Do You Remember the 12 Other NFL Teams to Do So?

The Chicago Bears became the 13th team in NFL history to trade the No. 1 overall pick ahead of the NFL Draft when they agreed to a massive trade with the Carolina Panthers. The deal was originally announced on March 10, but didn’t become official until the start of the new league year – which came on March 15. 

The Panthers, who will now get to choose their quarterback of the future, ended up sending wide receiver D.J. Moore to a Bears’ team in need of talent at the position. In 80 games over the past five years, Moore has 364 catches for 5,201 yards and 21 touchdowns – including three seasons with over 1,100 yards.

In addition to receiving Moore, the Bears will receive the No. 9 overall pick (1st round) and No. 61 overall pick (2nd round) in the 2023 NFL Draft, as well as a first round pick in 2024 and second round pick in 2025. The massive haul gives Chicago what they need right now and helps them build for the future. 

RELATED: Chicago Bears Receive No. 1 Pick in 2023 NFL Draft — Here’s How the Rest of the Draft Order Will Play Out

The History of Trading the No. 1 Pick Ahead of the NFL Draft

Chicago Bears Become 13th NFL Team to Trade No. 1 Overall Pick in NFL Draft -- Do You Remember the 12 Other NFL Teams to Do So?
via Shutterstock (rarrarorro)

The NFL Draft is one of the most important events for any team looking to get a leg-up on the competition during the offseason. Not only can teams find talent at a reasonable price, but that talent will likely stick around for at least four years – if teams are smart, they can maximize their roster with limited cap space. 

Since draft order is determined by regular season record, the NFL Draft is set up in a way that rewards the worst teams in the league with some of the best incoming rookies. And since the Chicago Bears had the worst record last season, that’s why they were handed the No. 1 pick – at least until they traded it. 

While it made sense for the Bears to trade the pick, that isn’t always the case. In fact, only 12 other teams have traded the No. 1 overall pick leading up to the NFL Draft – not including the four teams that traded it during/after the NFL Draft. Let’s take a closer look at those 12 rare instances and how they turned out. 

12. Tennessee Titans Trade No. 1 Pick in 2016

The Tennessee Titans finished the 2015 season with a 3-13-0 record and were given the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but decided they were better off trading that pick for a massive haul – which they ended up getting from the Los Angeles Rams. The good news is it worked out well for both teams.

In addition to the No. 1 overall pick, the Titans sent the Rams a 2016 fourth-round and 2016 sixth-round pick. The Rams would go on to select QB Jared Goff at No. 1 overall and TE Temarrick Hemingway at No. 177 overall, but ended up trading away the fourth-round pick they received from the Titans. 

The Titans received a first-round, two second-round, and a third-round pick in 2016, and a first-round and third-round pick in 2017. They traded the 2016 first- and third-round, but drafted DT Austin Johnson and RB Derrick Henry in the second round. In 2017, they drafted WR Corey Davis and TE Jonnu Smith. 

11. San Diego Chargers Trade No. 1 Pick in 2001

The San Diego Chargers finished the 2000 season with a 1-15-0 record and were given the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. Instead of using that pick to draft their player of choice, they decided to trade it to the Atlanta Falcons for a massive haul. The Falcons won the trade, but it wasn’t all bad for San Diego. 

The Falcons would end up using that No. 1 overall pick to select QB Michael Vick, who spent six years with the franchise before going to prison for several years. During his time in Atlanta, he had a 38-28-1 record, 11,505 passing yards, 71 passing touchdowns, 3,859 rushing yards, and 21 rushing touchdowns.

The Chargers ended up receiving WR Tim Dwight and three picks – a first-round (No. 5) and third-round (No. 67) pick in 2001, and a second-round (No. 48) pick in 2002. They drafted RB LaDainian Tomlinson and DB Tay Cody with their two 2001 picks, and WR Reche Caldwell with their 2002 pick. 

10. New York Jets Trade No. 1 Pick in 1997

The New York Jets finished the 1996 regular season with a 1-15-0 record and were handed the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. Instead of using that pick to draft top talent, the Jets decided they could maximize the pick to fill out their roster by trading it to the St. Louis Rams for more draft capital.

The Jets ended up receiving four picks in the 1997 NFL Draft – a first-round (No.6), third-round (No. 67), fourth-round (No. 102), and seventh-round (No. 207). They went on to trade the first-round, third-round, and seventh-round picks, but they drafted DE Terry Day in the fourth round – he only played one game.

As for the Rams, they made out well with that No. 1 overall pick – drafting T Orlando Pace. He went on to spend the next 12 seasons with the Rams and is one of the best offensive tackles of all-time. He was a 7-time Pro Bowler, one-time Super Bowl Champion, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016. 

9. Carolina Panthers Trade No. 1 Pick in 1995

The Carolina Panthers were one of two expansion teams to begin play in 1995 – joining the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Panthers were given the No. 1 overall pick after drafting second in the 1995 Expansion Draft and decided to trade that pick to the Cincinnati Bengals, essentially moving back four spots. 

The Panthers received a first-round (No. 5) and second-round (No. 36) pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, which they used to draft QB Kerry Collins and DE Shawn King, respectively. Collins spent three full seasons with the Panthers and led them to a 22-16-0 record in that time, but King didn’t last long in the NFL. 

As for the Bengals, they ended up drafting RB Ki-Jana Carter with the No. 1 overall pick – one of the worst No. 1 picks in NFL history. He spent four seasons with the Bengals and totaled 747 yards and 16 touchdowns during that time. The pick would’ve been much better if he hadn’t suffered from injuries. 

8. New England Patriots Trade No. 1 Pick in 1991

The New England Patriots finished the 1990 regular season with a 1-15-0 record and were given the No. 1 overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft as a result. They weren’t blown away with the talent available and felt they could maximize their value by trading that pick to the Dallas Cowboys for quite a massive haul. 

The Patriots received three players – CB Ron Francis, LB David Howard, LB Eugene Lockhart Jr. – and two 1995 picks – a first-round (No. 11) and second-round (No. 41). They drafted T Pat Harlow with their No. 11 pick and DB Jerome Henderson with their No. 41 pick. Overall, they made out pretty well.

As for the Cowboys, they originally traded up for the No. 1 pick to draft WR Raghib “Rocket” Ismail, but he ended up jumping ship and signing with the CFL before the draft started. Left scrambling, the Cowboys selected DT Russell Maryland – who won three Super Bowls with the team over the next five seasons.

7. Atlanta Falcons Trade No. 1 Pick in 1990

The Atlanta Falcons finished the 1989 regular season with a 3-13-0 record and were given the No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft – it would’ve gone to the Dallas Cowboys, but they forfeited the pick. Instead of keeping it, the Falcons decided to trade it to the Indianapolis Colts – a bad idea for Atlanta. 

The Falcons received two players – OT Chris Hinton, WR Andre Rison – and two picks – fifth-round (No. 121) in 1990 and first-round (No. 13) in 1991. They drafted TE Reggie Redding in 1990 and WR Mike Pritchard in 1991. It wasn’t a terrible haul for Atlanta, but hindsight tells a totally different story. 

The Cowboys ended up drafting QB Jeff George with the No. 1 pick and WR Stacey Simmons with the No. 83 pick. George stuck around for four seasons, but was traded to – you guessed it – the Falcons in 1994. The Falcons traded two first-round picks for him, when they could’ve drafted him a few years prior. 

6. No. 1 Pick Traded Twice in 1984

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 1983 regular season with a 2-14-0 record and were handed the No. 1 overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft. They decided to trade that pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for QB Jack Thompson. The Bengals proceeded to trade the pick to the New England Patriots prior to the draft. 

The Bengals received four picks from the Patriots, including two first-round picks and a 10th-round pick in 1984, and a fifth-round pick in 1985. They ended up drafting DE Pete Koch and OL Brian Blados in the first round, RB Brent Ziegler in the 10th round, and DB Lee Davis in the 1985 draft. No one stood out. 

As for the Patriots, they ended up drafting WR Irving Fryar with the No. 1 overall pick in 1984. He went on to spend the next nine years with the Patriots, totaling 363 catches for 5,726 yards and 38 touchdowns. He had one 1,000-yard season and one Pro Bowl appearance during his time in New England. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Trade No. 1 Pick in 1978

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 1977 regular season with a 2-12-0 record and were handed the No. 1 overall pick. They, once again, decided to trade the pick, but this time received a much better haul – opposed to receiving a quarterback that led them to a 3-13-0 record in 16 starts – like Jack Thompson. 

The Buccaneers received TE Jimmie Giles and four picks – a first-round (No. 17) and second-round (No. 44) pick in 1978, as well as a third-round (No. 78) and fifth-round (No. 133) pick in 1979. They ended up drafting QB Doug Williams, G Brett Moritz, DE Reggie Lewis, and QB Chuck Fusina, respectively. 

As for the Houston Oilers, they made out very well after trading for the No. 1 overall pick. They drafted RB Earl Campbell, who played 91 games with the Oilers over the next 7 seasons – totaling 8,574 rushing yards and 73 touchdowns during that span. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. 

4. Baltimore Colts Trade No. 1 Pick in 1975

The Baltimore Colts finished the 1974 regular season with a 2-12-0 record and were given the No. 1 overall pick in the 1975 NFL Draft as a result. They ended up trading the pick to the Atlanta Falcons, who became the first team to move up for a QB. Both teams made out well, but they both could’ve done better.

The Colts received OL George Kunz and the No. 3 overall pick in the draft – essentially moving back two spots. They continued to bolster their offensive line by selecting G Ken Huff with the third overall pick. Kunz was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Colts, while Huff spent the next eight seasons with the team. 

Meanwhile, the Falcons selected QB Steve Bartkowski with the No. 1 overall pick – who would spend 11 seasons with the team and led them to a 55-66-0 record in 121 starts. Not a bad trade for either team, but they both could’ve drafted RB Walter Payton, who went to the Chicago Bears with the No. 4 pick.

3. Houston Oilers Trade No. 1 Pick in 1974

The Houston Oilers finished the 1973 regular season with a 1-13-0 record and were given the No. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NFL Draft. They decided to trade that pick to the Dallas Cowboys in lieu of proven talent, but likely would’ve been better off saving that pick and drafting one of the top young players. 

The Oilers ended up receiving two players in the trade – DE Tody Smith and WR Billy Parks. Smith ended up having 3.5 sacks for the Oilers in 1973 and improved that to 10.5 sacks in 1974. As for Parks, he had 43 receptions for 581 yards and 1 touchdown for Houston, but faded out of the league by 1975. 

The Cowboys ended up getting the better of the trade. They received the No. 1 overall pick and the No. 53 (third-round) pick in the 1974 draft – they selected DE Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones at No. 1 and QB Danny White, respectively. Jones had 106.0 sacks for the Cowboys, while White went 62-30 as a starter. 

2. New York Giants Trade No. 1 Pick in 1968

The New York Giants finished the 1967 regular season with a 7-7-0 record, but had the No. 1 overall pick in the 1968 NFL Draft due to a negotiation during the AFL-NFL merger. They decided against drafting a player with the pick and ended up packaging it in what was a massive trade to the Minnesota Vikings. 

The Giants ended up receiving QB Fran Tarkenton from the Vikings. He went on to spend five seasons with the Giants and led them to just a 33-36-0 record during that time – throwing for 13,905 yards and 103 touchdowns. He later returned to the Vikings and played well enough to receive a Hall of Fame induction. 

Meanwhile, the Vikings received a massive haul for the trade – including the No. 1 overall pick in 1968, No. 2 overall pick in 1967, a second-round (No. 28) pick in 1967, and a second-round (No. 39) pick in 1969. They drafted T Ron Yary, RB Clint Jones, WR Bob Grim, and OL Ed White with those picks. 

1. New Orleans Saints Trade No. 1 Pick in 1967

The New Orleans Saints received the No. 1 overall pick in the 1967 NFL Draft as an expansion team. They actually had two first-round picks in the draft – the first and the last – but decided to trade the No. 1 overall pick to the Baltimore Colts, while drafting RB Leslie Kelly with the last pick of the first-round. 

The Saints ended up receiving QB Gary Cuozzo from the Colts. He only spent one season with the Saints in 1967 and led the team to a 3-7-0 record in 10 starts. He threw for 1,562 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His lack of success resulted in him being traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 1968. 

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Colts drafted DT Bubba Smith with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1967 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with the franchise and recorded 43.0 sacks during his time in Baltimore. He was also a two-time Pro Bowler who won the 1968 NFL Championship and Super Bowl V with the Colts.

What About the 4 Times the No. 1 Pick Was Traded During the Draft?

When a team decides to trade the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, it almost always happens in the month(s) leading up to the draft – much like what happened in the 12 instances listed above. With that said, four NFL teams have ended up trading the rights to their No. 1 overall pick during or after the draft. 

The two most popular such instances were Eli Manning and John Elway. Manning was originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2004, but almost immediately traded to the New York Giants. Meanwhile, Elway was originally drafted by the Baltimore Colts, but almost immediately traded to the Denver Broncos. 

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The other two instances were Ernie Davis and Jay Berwanger. Davis was originally drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1962, but almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns. Berwanger was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1936, but almost immediately traded to the Chicago Bears.

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