Landing one first-round pick is exciting—landing three or more? That’s rare NFL territory. This article dives into the history of teams who pulled it off, how they did it, and whether those extra picks actually paid off.
NFL Teams With Three or More First-Round Picks in a Single Draft: Full List and History
Ever wonder what it feels like to be an NFL general manager with multiple first-round picks at your disposal? It’s like having extra lottery tickets during draft night – thrilling, but far from a guarantee of success.
While plenty of teams manage to snag two first-rounders through savvy trades, the real unicorns of the draft world are those franchises that somehow collect three or more picks in round one. This rare feat usually stems from bold rebuilding strategies, blockbuster trades of star players, or simply outmaneuvering more desperate teams in the market.
Dolphins, Raiders, Giants Among Rare Teams to Stack First-Round Picks
Since 1941, just over 20 times has an NFL team pulled off the trick of making at least three first-round picks in a single draft. Most teams on this exclusive list appear just once – a testament to how difficult it is to compile such draft capital in the highly competitive NFL landscape.
The Miami Dolphins are the most recent members of this club, making three first-round selections in 2020 after the headline-grabbing Laremy Tunsil trade with Houston. Their haul? Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5 (now their established starter), offensive tackle Austin Jackson at No. 18 (who’s battled injuries and coaching changes), and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene at No. 30 (who lasted only three years before being shown the door).
The 2019 draft saw two teams rolling the dice with triple first-rounders. The Giants, clearly in rebuild mode, grabbed quarterback Daniel Jones at No. 6, defensive tackle Lawrence at No. 17 (courtesy of the Odell Beckham Jr. trade), and cornerback Deandre Baker at No. 30.
That same year, the Raiders leveraged their Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper trades to select defensive end Ferrell at No. 4, running back Josh Jacobs at No. 24, and safety Johnathan Abram at No. 27.
The Historical Impact and Mixed Results
If three first-rounders sounds impressive, how about four? The New York Jets stand alone in modern draft history, having made four first-round picks in 2000 when they selected Shaun Ellis, John Abraham, Chad Pennington, and Anthony Becht. Talk about going all-in on a draft class!
The list of teams who’ve taken three bites at the first-round apple includes some fascinating cases: the 2017 Browns (landing Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers, and David Njoku), the 2013 Vikings (selecting Sharrif Floyd, Xavier Rhodes, and Cordarrelle Patterson), and the 1991 Cowboys (choosing Russell Maryland, Alvin Harper, and Kelvin Pritchett).
So, how do teams end up with this embarrassment of draft riches? Usually, by trading away established stars or sliding down the draft board multiple times, often while rebuilding. But here’s the kicker – history shows these draft hauls are anything but sure things.
The results tell a sobering story. For every Garrett the Browns found, there’s a Clelin Ferrell who never lived up to his draft slot. The Giants struck gold with Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence but whiffed on Baker. The Dolphins hit on Tua but are still waiting for consistent returns on their other 2020 first-rounders.
KEEP READING: Who Has the Most NFL Draft Picks in 2025?
The hard truth for NFL decision-makers? Having multiple first-round picks might get fans excited and create splashy headlines, but turning those extra swings into actual home runs remains one of football’s toughest challenges. For the franchises that pull it off, though, these rare draft bonanzas can reshape their fortunes for years to come.
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