Ohio State All-Time First-Round NFL Draft Picks

Ohio State remains one of the premier powerhouse programs in college football. Though the Buckeyes claimed just 1 national championship during the 4-team College Football Playoff era, it hasn’t dampened Ohio State’s string of elite NFL prospects.

Since the inception of the NFL Draft in 1936, Ohio State has produced an eye-popping 486 overall picks as of the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Buckeyes have also produced a staggering 93 first-round picks, becoming the first program to reach 90 1st-round picks all-time during the 2023 NFL Draft.

A historical NFL factory like Ohio State has produced talent regardless of who the head coach is. However, Ryan Day assumed the role beginning with the 2019 season, and he has developed 10 Round 1 picks in the first 5 seasons of his tenure. Though Ohio State hasn’t produced a No. 1 pick under Day, the Buckeyes can claim a pair of No. 2 overall picks in the form of Chase Young (2020) and CJ Stroud (2023).

Here’s a look at 93 first-round picks produced by Ohio State (as of the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft):

Ohio State No. 1 Overall Draft Picks

The Buckeyes have produced a total of 3 No. 1 overall draft picks. That puts Ohio State tied for 4th-most all-time with LSU and Texas. USC has produced the most No. 1 picks in draft history with 6 while Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Georgia have all produced 5 apiece.

Here’s a look at the 3 No. 1 draft picks who played their college football careers in Columbus:

The NFL Draft started in 1936, and it did not take long for Ohio State to produce a top-5 pick. The first came in 1938 when Jim McDonald was drafted No. 2 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, Ohio State’s search for a No. 1 overall pick did not finalize until the late 1970s. Tom Cousineau, a star linebacker for the Buckeyes, was the top pick of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.

During Cousineau’s time in the program, Ohio State was a 3-time Big Ten Champion as he set a school record with 211 tackles in 1978. He also set the single-game tackles record for the Buckeyes with 29 against Penn State in 1978 and was the MVP of the 1977 Orange Bowl while Cousineau was also a 2-time All-American and the B1G’s MVP in 1978.

After being drafted by the Bills, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers but would instead sign to play in the Canadian Football League. He was the Grey Cup MVP in 1979 before eventually returning to the NFL in 1982.

Cousineau would make an impact during his time in the NFL, earning a 2nd-team All-Pro nod in 1984. However, he would play just 6 NFL seasons and appeared in just 9 games in his final 2 seasons.

Here are the other 2 Buckeyes to become a No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft:

Dan Wilkinson, DT/DE — No. 1 overall, 1994 NFL Draft (Cincinnati Bengals)

It took until midway through the 1990s for Ohio State to produce another No. 1 overall pick in the form of Dan Wilkinson. A game-changing defensive lineman, Wilkinson ended his career with the Buckeyes with a star-studded 1993 season.

Wilkinson’s final year in Columbus included being named a consensus All-American, the co-B1G Defensive Player of the Year (LB Dana Howard, Illinois) and the B1G’s DL of the Year. He was a 2-time All-Big Ten recipient.

Remarkably, Wilkinson arrived in Columbus as an offensive tackle at 348 pounds. However, he shed weight and redshirted as a freshman before switching to defense. Wilkinson finished his junior season with 44 tackles and 13 TFL before entering the NFL Draft.

Though Wilkinson would not receive any All-Pro nods, he would deliver a productive 13-year career with 4 different franchises. Wilkinson eventually retired after the 2006 season with 54.5 career sacks, 390 total tackles and 39 TFL.

Orlando Pace, OT — No. 1 overall, 1997 NFL Draft (St. Louis Rams)

After Dan Wilkinson’s selection, it would take just a few short years before Orlando Pace gave Ohio State another No. 1 overall pick. An Ohio native, Pace would shine in Columbus before embarking on one of the most successful careers for an offensive lineman.

Joining Ohio State in the 1994 recruiting class, Pace was a starter as a true freshman and became a two-time unanimous All-American for the 1995 and 1996 seasons. He was also the B1G’s OL of the Year those seasons while also being named the B1G’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1996. Pace is still the only OL to win the B1G’s Offensive Player of the Year honor.

Additionally, Pace was a 2-time winner of the Lombardi Award (1995 and 1996), given annually to the best lineman in college football. He also captured the Outland Trophy in 1996 and was a cornerstone piece in paving the way to Eddie George’s Heisman Trophy in 1995.

After being selected No. 1 overall by the St. Louis Rams, Pace would go on to serve as a cornerstone piece for the franchise across 12 seasons. He would play 13 NFL seasons in total, finishing with 3 first-team All-Pro selections, 7 Pro Bowl appearances and helped deliver a Super Bowl ring to the Rams.

Pace helped block for Marshall Faulk in St. Louis, helping Faulk reach 2,000+ yards from scrimmage every season from 1999-2001. Both Pace and Faulk have been inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Other Notable Picks

Paul Warfield, WR/SE — No. 11 overall, 1964 NFL Draft (Cleveland Browns)

After playing running back at Ohio State, Paul Warfield was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1964 and converted to receiver. Even while playing in a more run-heavy version of the NFL, Warfield finished his career with 427 catches, 8,565 yards and 85 touchdowns.

Warfield was named to 8 Pro Bowls and 2 All-Pro teams and was a member of 2 Super Bowl championships. His career 20.1 average yards per catch is still among the best all-time in NFL history.

Cris Carter, WR — 4th round, 1987 Supplemental Draft (Philadelphia Eagles)

Long before Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave or David Boston, Cris Carter was the Ohio State receiver known for terrorizing defenses. At the time Carter left the Buckeyes, he was 2nd on the program’s all-time list with 2,421 receiving yards (still ranks 7th in that category), and Carter’s 26 receiving touchdowns were an OSU record until Boston broke that mark (Carter is still 5th in receiving touchdowns).

Carter would break into the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he ascended into stardom while with the Minnesota Vikings where he would play for 12 seasons. Carter was a 2-time first-team All-Pro selection, an 8-time Pro Bowler, the 1999 Walter Payton Man of the Year and was inducted into the HOF as one of the most productive receivers of all-time with 1,101 catches for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns.

Eddie George, RB — No. 14 overall, 1996 NFL Draft (Houston Oilers)

One of the best running backs in program history, Eddie George delivered Ohio State’s 6th Heisman season in 1995 and the first for the Buckeyes since Archie Griffin went back-to-back in 1974-75. (Troy Smith in 2006 is the only Buckeye to win the award since George.)

After over 3,500 yards and 43 rushing touchdowns in Columbus, the Houston Oilers would use a 1st-round pick on the Buckeye RB. George would help lead the franchise (then the Tennessee Titans) to the Super Bowl in 1999 and followed that up with the best season of his career in 2000. He finished his career with the 1996 Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, 4 Pro Bowl appearances, 1 first-team All-Pro nod and over 10,000 yards with 68 rushing touchdowns.