This week, the nation’s elite college football players are nervously waiting to find out if and where they will be drafted during the NFL’s 81st annual draft, which gets underway Thursday. The draft will include 253 picks over seven rounds. Quarterbacks Carson Wentz of North Dakota State and Jared Goff of California are expected to be the two top picks in this year’s draft.
Many No. 1 picks never reach the lofty expectations that come along with being chosen first among the best of the best. In fact, of the richest NFL players of all time, only two were No. 1 draft picks. The other five include Brett Favre (pick 33 in 1991), Tom Brady (pick 199 in 2000), John Madden (pick 244 in 1958), Roger Staubach (pick 129 in 1964) and Jerry Richardson (pick 154 in 1958).
The NFL’s very first No. 1 draft pick, John Jacob “Jay” Berwanger, never even played in the NFL after the Philadelphia Eagles declined to meet his reported salary demands of $1,000 per game.
But many No. 1 picks have fulfilled the expectations that accompany being chosen first. In addition to commanding higher salaries (which are growing every year), these players often also attract endorsement deals and speaking engagements that further fatten their wallets.
Consider last year's top pick, Jameis Winston. He garnered a rookie contract worth more than $22 million, including a signing bonus of more than $14 million. These numbers automatically land him near the top of the list of the wealthiest No. 1 NFL draft picks.
If this year's No. 1 pick came to you for financial advice, what advice would you give him?
Following are the top 25 No. 1 NFL draft picks ranked by their net worth as estimated by celebritynetworth.com.
25. Vinny Testaverde
Estimated Net Worth: $10 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Miami (Florida)
NFL Draft Year: 1987
Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Years Played: 21
Pro Bowl Selections: 2
24. Bruce Smith
Estimated Net Worth: $12 million
Position: Defensive End
College: Virginia Tech
NFL Draft Year: 1985
Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
Years Played: 18
Pro Bowl Selections: 11
23. Jadeveon Clowney
Estimated Net Worth: $13 million
Position: Defensive End
College: South Carolina
NFL Draft Year: 2014
Drafted by: Houston Texans
Years Played: 2
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
22. (tie) Matthew Stafford
Estimated Net Worth: $15 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Georgia
NFL Draft Year: 2009
Drafted by: Detroit Lions
Years Played: 7
Pro Bowl Selections: 1
22. (tie) Alex Smith
Estimated Net Worth: $15 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Utah
NFL Draft Year: 2005
Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
Years Played: 11
Pro Bowl Selections: 2
22. (tie) Terry Bradshaw
Estimated Net Worth: $15 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Louisiana Tech
NFL Draft Year: 1970
Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
Years Played: 14
Pro Bowl Selections: 3
19. (tie) Bo Jackson
Estimated Net Worth: $16 million
Position: Running Back
College: Auburn
NFL Draft Year: 1986
Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Years Played: 4
Pro Bowl Selections: 1
19. (tie) Michael Vick
Estimated Net Worth: $16 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Virginia Tech
NFL Draft Year: 2001
Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
Years Played: 15
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
17. David Carr
Estimated Net Worth: $19 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Fresno State
NFL Draft Year: 2002
Drafted by: Houston Texans
Years Played: 11
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
16. Andrew Luck
Estimated Net Worth: $20 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Stanford
NFL Draft Year: 2012
Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
Years Played: 4
Pro Bowl Selections: 3
15. Keyshawn Johnson
Estimated Net Worth: $20 million
Position: Wide receiver
College: Southern California
NFL Draft Year: 1996
Drafted by: New York Jets
Years Played: 11
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
14. (tie) Troy Aikman
Estimated Net Worth: $25 million
Position: Quarterback
College: UCLA
NFL Draft Year: 1989
Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
Years Played: 12
Pro Bowl Selections: 6
14. (tie) Jake Long
Estimated Net Worth: $25 million
Position: Offensive tackle
College: Michigan
NFL Draft Year: 2008
Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
Years Played: 8
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
14. (tie) Earl Campbell
Estimated Net Worth: $25 million
Position: Running Back
College: Texas
NFL Draft Year: 1978
Drafted by: Houston Oilers
Years Played: 8
Pro Bowl Selections: 5
14. (tie) Sam Bradford
Estimated Net Worth: $25 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Oklahoma
NFL Draft Year: 2010
Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
Years Played: 6
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
14. (tie) Cam Newton
Estimated Net Worth: $25 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Auburn
NFL Draft Year: 2011
Drafted by: Carolina Panthers
Years Played: 5
Pro Bowl Selections: 3
9. Tim Couch
Estimated Net Worth: $26 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Kentucky
NFL Draft Year: 1999
Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
Years Played: 6
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
8. (tie) Orlando Pace
Estimated Net Worth: $30 million
Position: Offensive tackle
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft Year: 1997
Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
Years Played: 12
Pro Bowl Selections: 7
8. (tie) Mario Williams
Estimated Net Worth: $30 million
Position: Defensive end
College: North Carolina State
NFL Draft Year: 2006
Drafted by: Houston Texans
Years Played: 10
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
6. Jameis Winston
Estimated Net Worth: $32 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Florida State
NFL Draft Year: 2015
Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Years Played: 1
Pro Bowl Selections: 1
5. Drew Bledsoe
Estimated Net Worth: $48 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Washington State
NFL Draft Year: 1993
Drafted by: New England Patriots
Years Played: 14
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
4. Carson Palmer
Estimated Net Worth: $60 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Southern Cal
NFL Draft Year: 2003
Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
Years Played: 13
Pro Bowl Selections: 3
3. Eli Manning
Estimated Net Worth: $80 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Mississippi
NFL Draft Year: 2004
Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
Years Played: 12
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
2. John Elway
Estimated Net Worth: $145 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Stanford
NFL Draft Year: 1983
Drafted by: Baltimore Colts
Years Played: 16
Pro Bowl Selections: 10
1. Peyton Manning
Estimated Net Worth: $200 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Tennessee
NFL Draft Year: 1998
Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
Years Played: 18
Pro Bowl Selections: 14
by Kristen Beckman | April 25, 2016
Author: Kristen Beckman
Source: ALM Media, LLC
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