Who was the number one pick in the NFL draft between 2016 and 2020? 

The 2022 NFL season is reaching its apex and the playoff picture has been taking shape for a number of weeks now. As things stand, OddsChecker, which compares NFL odds and free bets, has made the Buffalo Bills the favorites to lift the Lombardi trophy this season for the first time in franchise history. They are closely followed in the betting odds by the runaway leaders of the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles, and by Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs.

Whoever goes on to achieve success at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona’s State Farm Stadium remains to be seen. But one thing that is certain is that two months after the championship game, the 2023 NFL Draft will take place. Next year’s Draft will be held at Kansas City’s Union Station.

The first pick in the NFL draft from the five-year time period between 2016 and 2020 is an interesting combination of players with various levels of college football success and a variety of teams that drafted them. Here is a breakdown of each player and their achievements in college football, as well as which team drafted them and the statistics associated with their NFL draft selection.

2016: Jared Goff, QB, California 

Goff was the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams. He had a successful college career, throwing for 12,195 yards, 96 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions while completing 62.1% of his passes. He was also a two-time All-Pac-12 selection.

2017: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

Garrett was the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. He had an impressive college career with 31.5 sacks, 141 tackles, and 8 forced fumbles. He was also a two-time All-American selection, in addition to being the winner of the Bednarik Award.

2018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

Mayfield was the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. During his time at Oklahoma, he threw for 14,607 yards, 131 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions while completing 70.7% of his passes. He was also the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner.

2019: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

Murray was the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals. During his time at Oklahoma, he threw for 4,361 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions while completing 69.0% of his passes. He was also the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner.

2020: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Burrow was the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. He had an outstanding college career, throwing for 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions while completing 76.3% of his passes. He was also the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner and the winner of the Maxwell Award and Davey O’Brien Award.

Who’s the best? 

In conclusion, the first pick in the NFL draft from the past five years have all been successful college football players who have had impressive accolades and awards. They have also all been drafted to different teams, with the Cleveland Browns having drafted two of them (Myles Garrett and Baker Mayfield). Furthermore, these five players have all had impressive statistics associated with their selection, with Joe Burrow perhaps achieving the most success. He led the Cincinnati Bengals to a first Super Bowl in 33 years in just his second season in Ohio, and his Bengals could be primed and ready for greatness once again this term.

The Paycor Stadium outfit reached the Super Bowl last season, defeating Mahomes’ Chiefs on the way to AFC Championship glory. And they looked as though they would go on to lift the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in history at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. They led the Los Angeles Rams by three points as the Super Bowl ticked into its final stages.

But the Rams, who were playing on home soil, came roaring back and claimed the trophy courtesy of Cooper Kupp’s last-gasp touchdown. This season, however, The Rams have a dismal record of four wins and ten defeats, while the Bengals look set to be progressing to the postseason playoff showdown as champions of the AFC North.