NFL Draft: Which SEC players have been taken No. 1 overall?

By Matt Melton | Mar 30, 2023

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 08: Jadeveon Clowney of the South Carolina Gamecocks stands on stage with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after he was picked #1 overall by the Houston Texansduring the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on May 8, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Eli Manning (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /

LSU Tigers – Billy Cannon (1960), JaMarcus Russell (2007), Joe Burrow (2020)

LSU has had three players selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft, the first of which came in 1960 with Billy Cannon to the Los Angeles Rams. Cannon would play 11 seasons in the NFL from 1960-70, a span that included two Pro Bowls and two All-Pro selections.

The second of those three would come in 2007, where JaMarcus Russell was selected first overall by the then Oakland Raiders. Russell would go on to play three seasons in the NFL from 2007-09.

LSU’s most recent No. 1 overall pick came in the 2020 NFL Draft, when Joe Burrow was taken first by the Cincinnati Bengals. Burrow has so far played three seasons in the NFL from 2020-22, a span that includes one Pro Bowl selection.

Mississippi State Bulldogs – None

Missouri Tigers – None

Ole Miss Rebels – Eli Manning (2004)

Ole Miss has had only one player selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft with Eli Manning, who was taken by the then San Diego Chargers back in 2004. Manning would go on to play 16 seasons in the NFL from 2004-19, a professional career that included two Pro Bowls, two Super Bowl titles, and two Super Bowl MVP’s.

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