The NFL Draft has historically been the entry point for future legends into the game. While every selection offers promise, only a few have produced an unusually high number of Hall of Fame players. Look at some of the most memorable draft classes in NFL history.
NFL Draft Royalty: The Most Hall of Fame–Loaded Classes in History
1964 NFL Draft: The Gold Standard with 10 Hall of Famers
- Roger Staubach (QB, Navy) – 10th round, 129th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
- Paul Warfield (WR, Ohio State) – 1st round, 11th overall by the Cleveland Browns
- Charley Taylor (WR, Arizona State) – 1st round, 3rd overall by the Washington Redskins
- Mel Renfro (CB, Oregon) – 2nd round, 17th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
- Paul Krause (S, Iowa) – 2nd round, 18th overall by the Washington Redskins
- Carl Eller (DE, Minnesota) – 1st round, 6th overall by the Minnesota Vikings
- Bob Hayes (WR, Florida A&M) – 7th round, 88th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
- Leroy Kelly (RB, Morgan State) – 8th round, 110th overall by the Cleveland Browns
- Dave Wilcox (LB, Oregon) – 3rd round, 29th overall by the San Francisco 49ers
- Bob Brown (OT, Nebraska) – 1st round, 2nd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles
1957 NFL Draft: A Powerhouse with 9 Hall of Famers
- Jim Brown (RB, Syracuse) – 6th overall by the Cleveland Browns
- Paul Hornung (RB, Notre Dame) – 1st overall by the Green Bay Packers
- Len Dawson (QB, Purdue) – 5th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Sonny Jurgensen (QB, Duke) – 4th round, 43rd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles
- Don Maynard (WR, Texas Western) – 9th round, 109th overall by the New York Giants
- Jim Parker (OT, Ohio State) – 8th overall by the Baltimore Colts
- Tommy McDonald (WR, Oklahoma) – 3rd round, 31st overall by the Philadelphia Eagles
- Henry Jordan (DT, Virginia) – 5th round, 52nd overall by the Cleveland Browns
- Gene Hickerson (OG, Mississippi) – 7th round, 78th overall by the Cleveland Browns
1983 NFL Draft: Quarterback Renaissance with 8 Hall of Famers
- John Elway (QB, Stanford) – 1st overall by the Baltimore Colts
- Dan Marino (QB, Pittsburgh) – 27th overall by the Miami Dolphins
- Jim Kelly (QB, Miami) – 14th overall by the Buffalo Bills
- Eric Dickerson (RB, SMU) – 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Rams
- Bruce Matthews (OL, USC) – 9th overall by the Houston Oilers
- Richard Dent (DE, Tennessee State) – 8th round, 203rd overall by the Chicago Bears
- Darrell Green (CB, Texas A&I) – 28th overall by the Washington Redskins
- Jim Covert (OT, Pittsburgh) – 6th overall by the Chicago Bears
1968 NFL Draft: Underrated Greatness with 8 Hall of Famers
- Larry Csonka (RB, Syracuse) – 1st round, 8th overall by the Miami Dolphins
- Ron Yary (OT, USC) – 1st overall by the Minnesota Vikings
- Art Shell (OT, Maryland State) – 3rd round, 80th overall by the Oakland Raiders
- Claude Humphrey (DE, Tennessee State) – 1st round, 3rd overall by the Atlanta Falcons
- Charlie Sanders (TE, Minnesota) – 3rd round, 74th overall by the Detroit Lions
- Ken Houston (S, Prairie View A&M) – 9th round, 214th overall by the Houston Oilers
- Curley Culp (DT, Arizona State) – 2nd round, 31st overall by the Denver Broncos
- Elvin Bethea (DE, North Carolina A&T) – 3rd round, 77th overall by the Houston Oilers
1967 NFL Draft: Merging Eras, Building Legends
- Alan Page (DT, Notre Dame) – 1st round, 15th overall by the Minnesota Vikings
- Gene Upshaw (OG, Texas A&I) – 1st round, 17th overall by the Oakland Raiders
- Willie Lanier (LB, Morgan State) – 2nd round, 50th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs
- Lem Barney (CB, Jackson State) – 2nd round, 34th overall by the Detroit Lions
- Bob Griese (QB, Purdue) – 1st round, 4th overall by the Miami Dolphins
- Floyd Little (RB, Syracuse) – 1st round, 6th overall by the Denver Broncos
- Rayfield Wright (OT, Fort Valley State) – 7th round, 182nd overall by the Dallas Cowboys
- Ken Houston (S, Prairie View A&M) – 9th round, 214th overall by the Houston Oilers
1988 NFL Draft: A Hidden Gem with 7 Hall of Famers
- Michael Irvin (WR, Miami) – 1st round, 11th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
- Randall McDaniel (OG, Arizona State) – 1st round, 19th overall by the Minnesota Vikings
- Tim Brown (WR, Notre Dame) – 1st round, 6th overall by the Los Angeles Raiders
- Derrick Thomas (LB, Alabama) – 1st round, 4th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs
- Thurman Thomas (RB, Oklahoma State) – 2nd round, 40th overall by the Buffalo Bills
- Ken Norton Jr. (LB, UCLA) – 2nd round, 41st overall by the Dallas Cowboys
- Kevin Greene (LB/DE, Auburn) – 5th round, 113th overall by the Los Angeles Rams
1981 NFL Draft: Defensive Dynasty with 7 Hall of Famers
- Lawrence Taylor (LB, North Carolina) – 1st round, 2nd overall by the New York Giants
- Ronnie Lott (DB, USC) – 1st round, 8th overall by the San Francisco 49ers
- Mike Singletary (LB, Baylor) – 2nd round, 38th overall by the Chicago Bears
- Howie Long (DE, Villanova) – 2nd round, 48th overall by the Oakland Raiders
- Rickey Jackson (LB, Pittsburgh) – 2nd round, 51st overall by the New Orleans Saints
- Russ Grimm (OG, Pittsburgh) – 3rd round, 69th overall by the Washington Redskins
- Kenny Easley (S, UCLA) – 1st round, 4th overall by the Seattle Seahawks
1961 NFL Draft: A Hidden Gem with 7 Hall of Fame Legends
- Bob Lilly (DT, TCU) – 1st round, 13th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
- Herb Adderley (CB, Michigan State) – 1st round, 12th overall by the Green Bay Packers
- Deacon Jones (DE, Mississippi Valley State) – 14th round, 186th overall by the Los Angeles Rams
- Billy Shaw (G, Georgia Tech) – 2nd round, 9th overall (AFL) by the Buffalo Bills
- Fran Tarkenton (QB, Georgia) – 3rd round, 29th overall by the Minnesota Vikings
- Jimmy Johnson (CB, UCLA) – 1st round, 6th overall by the San Francisco 49ers
- Mike Ditka (TE, Pittsburgh) – 1st round, 5th overall by the Chicago Bears
1953 NFL Draft: The Forgotten Gem with 7 Hall of Famers
- John Henry Johnson (RB, Arizona State) – 2nd round, 18th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Doug Atkins (DE, Tennessee) – 1st round, 11th overall by the Cleveland Browns
- Stan Jones (G/DT, Maryland) – 5th round, 54th overall by the Chicago Bears
- Joe Schmidt (LB, Pittsburgh) – 7th round, 85th overall by the Detroit Lions
- Jim Ringo (C, Syracuse) – 7th round, 79th overall by the Green Bay Packers
- Bob St. Clair (OT, San Francisco) – 3rd round, 32nd overall by the San Francisco 49ers
- Chuck Noll (G, Dayton) – 20th round, 239th overall by the Cleveland Browns
1952 NFL Draft: Foundation of Greatness with 7 Hall of Famers
- Ollie Matson (RB, University of San Francisco) – 1st overall by the Chicago Cardinals
- Frank Gifford (RB/WR, USC) – 11th overall by the New York Giants
- Les Richter (LB, California) – 2nd overall by the New York Yanks (rights traded to Rams)
- Hugh McElhenny (RB, Washington) – 9th overall by the San Francisco 49ers
- Gino Marchetti (DE, San Francisco) – 14th round, 168th overall by the Dallas Texans
- Art Donovan (DT, Boston College) – 3rd round, 39th overall by the Baltimore Colts
- Doug Atkins (DE, Tennessee) – 1st round, 11th overall by the Cleveland Browns
These outstanding draft classes left an indelible mark, introducing players who achieved personal success and elevated the game itself. Their contributions continue to impact the NFL and inspire future generations of players.
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