Every 3rd pick in NFL draft history

52 players have gone 3rd in the NFL draft since 1975, from Ken Huff to Jeremiyah Love in 2026. The most decorated: Barry Sanders (1989; NFL MVP, 2x NFL Offensive Player of the Year), Matt Ryan (2008; NFL MVP, NFL Offensive Player of the Year), and Steve McNair (1995; NFL MVP). 42 of the 52 won nothing on the NFL honours list.

NFL draft, every No. 3 pick by year

Year	Player	Team	Honours
2026	Jeremiyah Love	Arizona Cardinals	—
2025	Abdul Carter	New York Giants	—
2024	Drake Maye	New England Patriots	—
2023	Will Anderson Jr.	Houston Texans	NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
2022	Derek Stingley Jr.	Houston Texans	—
2021	Trey Lance	San Francisco 49ers	—
2020	Jeff Okudah	Detroit Lions	—
2019	Quinnen Williams	New York Jets	—
2018	Sam Darnold	New York Jets	—
2017	Solomon Thomas	San Francisco 49ers	—
2016	Joey Bosa	Los Angeles Chargers	NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
2015	Dante Fowler Jr.	Jacksonville Jaguars	—
2014	Blake Bortles	Jacksonville Jaguars	—
2013	Dion Jordan	Miami Dolphins	—
2012	Trent Richardson	Cleveland Browns	—
2011	Marcell Dareus	Buffalo Bills	—
2010	Gerald McCoy	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	—
2009	Tyson Jackson	Kansas City Chiefs	—
2008	Matt Ryan	Atlanta Falcons	NFL MVP, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
2007	Joe Thomas	Cleveland Browns	—
2006	Vince Young	Tennessee Titans	NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
2005	Braylon Edwards	Cleveland Browns	—
2004	Larry Fitzgerald	Arizona Cardinals	—
2003	Andre Johnson	Houston Texans	—
2002	Joey Harrington	Detroit Lions	—
2001	Gerard Warren	Cleveland Browns	—
2000	Chris Samuels	Washington Commanders	—
1999	Akili Smith	Cincinnati Bengals	—
1998	Andre Wadsworth	Arizona Cardinals	—
1997	Shawn Springs	Seattle Seahawks	—
1996	Simeon Rice	Arizona Cardinals	NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
1995	Steve McNair	Tennessee Titans	NFL MVP
1994	Heath Shuler	Washington Commanders	—
1993	Garrison Hearst	Arizona Cardinals	2x NFL Comeback Player of the Year
1992	Sean Gilbert	Los Angeles Rams	—
1991	Bruce Pickens	Atlanta Falcons	—
1990	Cortez Kennedy	Seattle Seahawks	NFL Defensive Player of the Year
1989	Barry Sanders	Detroit Lions	NFL MVP, 2x NFL Offensive Player of the Year, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
1988	Bennie Blades	Detroit Lions	—
1987	Alonzo Highsmith	Tennessee Titans	—
1986	Jim Everett	Tennessee Titans	—
1985	Ray Childress	Tennessee Titans	—
1984	Carl Banks	New York Giants	—
1983	Curt Warner	Seattle Seahawks	—
1982	Chip Banks	Cleveland Browns	NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
1981	Freeman McNeil	New York Jets	—
1980	Anthony Munoz	Cincinnati Bengals	—
1979	Jack Thompson	Cincinnati Bengals	—
1978	Wes Chandler	New Orleans Saints	—
1977	Eddie Edwards	Cincinnati Bengals	—
1976	Chuck Muncie	New Orleans Saints	—
1975	Ken Huff	Indianapolis Colts	—

Honours from the NFL award history, matched to the pick by name. Picks from ESPN's draft pages, 1975 on.