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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Barry Werner

NFL Draft: The No. 2 overall pick every year since 1960

Everyone remembers who went first in the NFL Draft. However, who were the players taken in the second slot over the last 60 years?

1960: George Izo

George Izo played quarterback at Notre Dame and was the second overall pick by the Chicago Cardinals as well as being a territorial selection of the New York Titans in the new AFL. He played for four teams in an NFL career that ended in the 1966 season.

1961: Norm Snead (NFL)

Norm Snead played college football for Wake Forest and was drafted second overall in 1961. He played for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. Snead was a four-time Pro Bowler.

1961: Tom Brown (AFL)

Tom Brown is a former outstanding American college football player. He played collegiately at the University of Minnesota, and won the Outland Trophy in 1960 as the nation’s best lineman He played professional football with the BC Lions and was made a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1984. Brown was taken second overall in the AFL draft by the New York Titans (Jets)

1962: Roman Gabriel (NFL)

Roman Gabriel played for the Los Angeles Rams, who drafted him out of North Carolina State, for 11 seasons, then five seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is notable for being the first NFL quarterback of Filipino-American descent.

1962: Merlin Olsen (AFL)

Merlin Olsen was chosen by the Denver Broncos out of Utah State second overall. He opted to sign with the Los Angeles Rams and that paid off for the player and team. Olsen played his entire 15-year professional football career as a defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams. He was selected to the Pro Bowl a record 14 straight times, missing selection only in the last year of his career.

1963: Jerry Stovall (NFL)

Jerry Stovall played college ball at LSU, where he was a unanimous selection to the 1962 College Football All-America Team as a halfback. Stovall played professionally as a defensive back and punter with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1963-71.

1963: Walt Sweeney (AFL)

Walt Sweeney played college ball at Syracuse and chose the AFL San Diego Chargers rather than playing in the established NFL. Sweeney stood 6-foot-4 and weighed 256 pounds. He was such an intimidating presence that Merlin Olsen famously remarked he’d “rather sell used cars” than play against Sweeney each game

1964: Bob Brown (NFL)

Bob Brown went from Nebraska to the Philadelphia Eagles. The offensive tackle played from 1964-73. He played for the Eagles from 1964-68, the Los Angeles Rams from 1969-70, and the Oakland Raiders from 197-73. Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

1964: Pete Beathard (AFL)

Pete Beathard was the fifth overall selection in 1964 NFL Daft (Detroit Lions) and the second overall pick in the AFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he signed and backed up Len Dawson. In October 1967, Beathard was traded during his fourth season to the Houston Oilers in exchange for defensive tackle Ernie Ladd and quarterback Jacky Lee. He led the Oilers to the Eastern division title, but lost 40–7 to the Oakland Raiders in the AFL championship. Beathard was traded to the Cardinals in 1970, the Rams in August 1972, and returned to the Chiefs in 1973.

1965: Ken Willard (NFL)

Ken Willard went from North Carolina to the San Francisco 49ers.Willard was drafted with the second pick of the 1965 NFL Draft, by the San Francisco 49ers ahead of future NFL Hall of Famers Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers. He played nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and one with the St. Louis Cardinals. He opted to pass on his 11th season after two consecutive years of knee injuries in St. Louis. Willard was a four-time Pro Bowler, and scored 45 rushing and 17 receiving touchdowns

1965: Larry Elkins (AFL)

Larry Elkins was drafted in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and second overall in the 1965 AFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, one selection after the New York Jets drafted Joe Namath. He was with Houston from 1965 -68. He suffered a knee injury in training camp with the Oilers in 1965 and was not on their active roster that year. His first season was 1966. Elkins’ pro career never really got off the ground and he had 24 pro catches.

1966: Tom Mack (NFL)

Tom Mack was selected by the Los Angeles Rams out of Michigan with the second pick in the 1966 NFL Draft and played at the left guard position for the Rams from 1966-78. During his NFL career, Mack played in 11 Pro Bowls and appeared in 184 consecutive games.

1966: Rick Norton (AFL)

Rick Norton played college football at the University of Kentucky and professionally with the American Football League’s Miami Dolphins (1966–1969), and one game for the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers (1970). Norton holds the distinction of throwing the last professional touchdown pass at Wrigley Field. It came on a 29-yard pass to John Hilton in the fourth quarter of a 35-17 Chicago Bears victory over Norton’s Packers on Dec. 13, 1970.

1967: Clint Jones

Clint Jones was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings out of Michigan State. The pick used to draft Jones was one received by the Vikings from the New York Giants in exchange for Fran Tarkenton. Jones spent six seasons with Minnesota before moving on to the San Diego Chargers for one last season in 1973. Overall, he rushed for 2,178 yards and 20 TDs

1968: Bob Johnson

Bob Johnson was the first pick by the expansion Cincinnati Bengals. He was an AFL All-Star in 1968. Johnson was the last original Bengal to retire, after the 1978 season. His uniform number 54 was retired, and remains the only number the team has retired. However, he came out of retirement in 1979 when Bengals center Blair Bush suffered a knee injury and the Bengals asked Johnson to return as a long snapper on punts, field goals and extra points

1969: George Kunz

George Kunz played college ball at Notre Dame. As a Falcon, he was one of the premier offensive linemen of his generation, being named to the Pro Bowl team eight times in a nine-year span. I

1970: Mike McCoy

Mike McCoy played at Notre Dame before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers. He played eleven years in the NFL – seven with Green Bay, two with the Oakland Raiders and two with the New York Giants.

1971: Archie Manning

Archie Manning is the patriarch of a legendary football family. He played college ball at Ole Miss and went to the New Orleans Saints in the draft. He was a two-time Pro Bowler as the Saints went through some hard times in their early days.

1972: Sherman White

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Sherman White went to college at Cal and was drafted by the Bengals. After playing four seasons with the Bengals, the Buffalo Bills acquired White to replace the person whom the Bills had selected first overall in the same draft: Walt Patulski. White went on to play eight seasons with the Bills before retiring.

1973: Bert Jones

Bert Jones played college ball at LSU before being drafted by the Baltimore Colts. The 1976 regular season was Jones’ finest as a professional. He threw for 3,104 yards and a career-high 24 touchdowns, compiling a passer rating of 102.5. He was one of only three quarterbacks to achieve a 100+ passer rating during the entire decade of the 1970s, joining Dallas’ Roger Staubach (1971) and Oakland’s Ken Stabler (1976).

1974: Bo Matthews

Bo Matthews played college ball at Colorado before being tabbed by the San Diego Chargers. He rushed for 1,566 yards in a career that saw him play for three NFL teams.

1975: Randy White

The Dallas Cowboys got a Pro Football Hall of Famer when they drafted Randy White — the “Manster” — out of Maryland. White was a Super Bowl MVP and champ and nine-time Pro Bowler.

1976: Steve Niehaus

Steve Niehaus was selected by the Seattle Seahawks. He was the first draft pick for Seattle Niehaus was the 1976 NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year and holds the Seahawk rookie record for sacks in a season with 9½. Multiple knee injuries ended his career.

1977: Tony Dorsett

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Tony Dorsett out of Pittsburgh. They got an elite running back who rushed for 12,738 yards and 77 TDs on the ground in a Pro Football HOF career.

1978: Art Still

Art Still came from Camden HS to Kentucky to the Kansas City Chiefs. Still made the All-Rookie Team in 1978. In 1980, Still recorded 14½ sacks and was voted All-Pro and All-AFC as well as being named to the Pro Bowl. Still was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, and was named the Kansas City Chiefs’s Most Valuable Player twice. Still is third on the Chiefs all-time sack list with 48.5. He was traded to the Buffalo Bills in 1988 and played there for two seasons.

1979: Mike Bell

Mike Bell was drafted by the Chiefs out of Colorado State He played for the Chiefs from 1979-91. During his 12 NFL seasons, he played in 135 games and started 100, while compiling 40 sacks and 10 recovered fumbles.

1980: Johnny “Lam” Jones

The Jets had high hopes when they drafted Johnny “Lam Jones,” a speedster out of Texas. He wound up playing for three teams with 138 receptions in his NFL career.

1981: Lawrence Taylor

Lawrence Taylor went to the Giants from North Carolina and became one of the great defensive players in NFL history.

1982: Johnie Cooks

Johnie Cooks was drafted out of Mississippi State by the Baltimore Colts. Cooks played in 10 NFL seasons from 1982–1991 for the Colts, New York Giants, and Cleveland Browns. He was a member of the Giants when they defeated the Buffalo Bills 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV.

1983: Eric Dickerson

Eric Dickerson went from being a member of the “Pony Express” backfield at SMU to the Los Angeles Rams. He had a spectacular career playing for the Rams and Colts, mainly, while also seeing time with the Raiders and Falcons. Dickerson rushed for 13,259 yards and 90 TDs on the ground.

1984: Dean Steinkuhler

Dean Steinkuhler was an incredible force at Nebraska. The Oilers took him with the second pick and got eight seasons out of him.

1985: Bill Fralic

Bill Fralic played college football at Pitt before being drafted by the Falcons. Fralic went on to be named All-Pro in 1986 and ’87, and was named to the Pro Bowl from 1986-89. Fralic had a reputation as a ferocious run blocker. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and finished his career in 1993 with the Detroit Lions.

1986: Tony Casillas

Tony Casillas went from Oklahoma to the Atlanta Falcons. He saw great success with the Dallas Cowboys. Casillas was part of the Cowboys’ back-to-back victories in Super Bowl XXVII and XXVIII, both against the Buffalo Bills. In 2004, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

1987: Cornelius Bennett

Cornelius Bennett played college football at Alabama. He was drafted by the Bennett and the Colts but was unable to come to an agreement on a contract. Bennett was then dealt to the Buffalo Bills from the Colts in a three-way trade that also included Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson and Bills running back Greg Bell. He played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987-95, Atlanta Falcons from 1996-98, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999-2000. Bennett was a five-time Pro Bowler, being elected in 1988, and 1990–’93, and won the AFC Defensive Player of the Year award twice (1988 and ’91).

1988: Neil Smith

Neil Smith played college football at Nebraska before going to the Kansas City Chiefs. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1988-96, the Denver Broncos from 1997-99, and the San Diego Chargers in 2000. Smith was a two-time Super Bowl champion and six-time Pro Bowler.

1989: Tony Mandarich

Tony Mandarich became the “Incredible Bulk” at Michigan State was taken by the Green Bay Packers. Mandarich was unable to live up to expectations, however, and was released following four seasons with the team. After five years away from football, he returned with the Colts, with whom he spent his last three seasons. He was the only top-five pick in his draft class not to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as the Packers passed on Deion Sanders, Barry Sanders, and Derrick Thomas to select Mandarich.

1990: Blair Thomas

The Jets hoped for a franchise running back when they took Blair Thomas out of Penn State. It did not turn out that way as he rushied for 2,000 yards and five touchdowns in his four seasons with the team. Thomas played for the Patriots, Cowboys and Panthers, too.

1991: Eric Turner

The Browns chose Eric Turner out of UCLA. In 1994, Turner had his finest NFL season. He recorded a league-leading nine interceptions on his way to being named First Team All-Pro. After the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996, Turner played one more season for them. He made his second Pro Bowl and was second on the team with 112 tackles and tied for lead with five interceptions. Following the 1996 season Turner, who had the most expensive contract among all NFL safeties, was cut by the Ravens and became an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his six-year career. Turner then signed a four-year, $6 million deal with the Raiders in 1997.

1992: Quentin Coryatt

Quentin Coryatt went from Texas A&M to the Indianapolis Colts. He was the highest-selected Aggie since John David Crow in 1958. He is distinguished as being the first Crucian to play in the NFL.

1993: Rick Mirer

Rick Mirer was a golden boy at Notre Dame. He was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks and wound up a journeyman, catching on with seven teams.

1994: Marshall Faulk

Marshall Faulk went from San Diego State to a great NFL career. The running back rushed for 12,279 yards and was a seven-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champ in a career that saw him play for the Colts and Rams.

1995: Tony Boselli

Tony Boselli has been in the news recently for his battle with COVID-19. The former star offensive lineman went from USC to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was a five-time Pro Bowler before his career was cut short by injuries.

1996: Kevin Hardy

Kevin Hardy played college ball at Illinois and went to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL Draft. He also played for the Cowboys and Bengals.

1997: Darrell Russell

The Raiders drafted Darrell Russell out of USC. He died in a car crash near Los Angeles after being indefinitely banned from the NFL for repeated violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.

1998: Ryan Leaf

Ryan Leaf was chosen out of Washington State after Peyton Manning went to the Colts. The San Diego Chargers wound up with a problem child who battled abuse issues. He has gotten his life in order and now works in TV.

1999: Donovan McNabb

Donovan McNabb went from Syracuse to the Philadelphia Eagles. He has a long run in the City of Brotherly Love, doing everything except winning a Super Bowl for the Eagles.

2000: LaVar Arrington

LaVar Arrington went to Washington from Penn State. Considered a franchise linebacker, he was a three-time Pro Bowler. In April 2006, Arrington agreed to a seven-year, $49 million contract with the New York Giants. He was injured in week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys and missed the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. On Feb. 12, 2007, he was released by the Giants.

2001: Leonard Davis

Leonard Davis was drafted by Arizona out of Texas. He played for four teams in an NFL career that lasted 12 seasons.

2002: Julius Peppers

Julius Peppers went from North Carolina to the Carolina Panthers. The nine-time Pro Bowler sandwiched appearances with the Bears and Packers around two runs with Carolina. A star who has 159.5 sacks,

2003: Charles Rogers

Charles Rogers was taken by the Lions out of Michigan State. The WR had his career ruined by abuse issues. He recently died in Florida.

2004: Robert Gallery

Robert Gallery was drafted by the Raiders out of Iowa. He was expected to be a franchise left tackle. It didn’t quite pan out that way. He wound up with the Seahawks in 2011.

2005: Ronnie Brown

Ronnie Brown went from Auburn to the Miami Dolphins. He made one Pro Bowl and rushed for 5,391 yards with five teams.

2006: Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush won a Heisman at USC — since rescinded — and went to the New Orleans Saints. He was expected to be a great running back in the NFL after his transcendent college career. It didn’t quite happen. Bush played for five teams and rushed for 5,490 yards in his NFL career.

2007: Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson went from Georgia Tech to the Detroit Lions. The gifted wide receiver was a six-time Pro Bowler and caught 731 passes for 11,619 yards in a career that ended with a surprise retirement after 2015.

2008: Chris Long

Chris Long went from Virginia to the NFL. He played for 11 seasons, primarily with the St. Louis Rams. The son of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long and older brother of retired guard Kyle Long was recognized as a unanimous All-American in college. He was selected by the Rams as the second overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, whom he was a member of for eight seasons. Long later played one season for the New England Patriots and two seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles, winning a Super Bowl title with each.

2009: Jason Smith

Jason Smith played college football at Baylor University. Throughout his career, he was a member of the Rams, the New York Jets and the New Orleans Saints.

2010: Ndumakong Suh

Ndumakong Suh went from Nebraska to the Detroit Lions. He has moved on since to the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Bucs. Suh is a five-time Pro Bowler and has 58.5 career sacks.

2011: Von Miller

Von Miller went from Texas A&M to the Denver Broncos, where he remains as a defensive force. Miller has 106 sacks in a career that has seen him as an eight-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champ.

2012: Robert Griffin III

Robert Griffin III started off great for Washington, which drafted him after a storied college career that saw him win the Heisman at Baylor. That was derailed due to injury and he has bounced to Cleveland and Baltimore.

2013: Luke Joeckel

Luke Joeckel started 35 games at left tackle from 2013–2015, and four games at left guard in 2016, for the Jaguars, who drafted him out of Texas A&M. He played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2017.

2014: Greg Robinson

Greg Robinson was chosen by the Rams out of Auburn. The selection did not work out and in 2017 he was traded to the Detroit Lions for a 2018 sixth-round draft pick. Robinson was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2018. Most recently, Robinson was jailed in El Paso County, Texas, for possession of 156.9 pounds of marijuana.

2015: Marcus Mariota

Quarterback went 1-2 in 2015 with Jameis Winston going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Marcus Mariota of Oregon being taken by the Tennessee Titans. Neither is with the team that drafted them.

2016: Carson Wentz

Carson Wentz was drafted by the Eagles out of North Dakota State after the Los Angeles Rams took Jared Goff. Wentz’ biggest issue has been staying healthy.

2017: Mitchell Trubisky

The Chicago Bears traded up to draft Mitchell Trubisky out of North Carolina. The rookie results were fine as the Bears won the NFC North. The second season saw a serious tumble. Chicago has acquired Nick Foles, so it will be intriguing to watch Trubisky.

2018: Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley came to the Giants out of Penn State. The running back had a brilliant rookie season. His sophomore campaign was jinxed due to an ankle injury.

2019: Nick Bosa

The Niners drafted Nick Bosa out of Ohio State and got immediate results. The defensive force had nine sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception in a rookie season that wound up in the Super Bowl.

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