Has a Wide Receiver Ever Gone First Overall? (Highest Drafted WRs in NFL History)

While many people think of the NFL Draft as the best way to find a franchise quarterback, it's also a great chance to surround a quarterback with dynamic skill players and weapons, especially at wide receiver.

Some of the top receivers in today's game were high first-round draft picks, including Ja'Marr Chase (fifth overall in 2021), Justin Jefferson (22nd overall in 2020), CeeDee Lamb (17th overall in 2020) and more.

Since a quarterback typically goes first overall, however, how common is it for a wide receiver to be taken with the first pick in the draft?

Let's take a look at the highest drafted wide receivers in NFL history.

Has a Wide Receiver Ever Been Drafted First Overall?

Yes, a wide receiver has been drafted first overall before. It's happened three times, actually, but not in almost 30 years.

The last wideout to be the No. 1 pick was Keyshawn Johnson, who was taken by the New York Jets out of USC in 1996. Johnson went on to have a productive 11-year career, making three Pro Bowl appearances and helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win their first Super Bowl title during the 2002 campaign.

Before him, Irving Fryar (1984) and Dave Parks (1964) were also wide receivers who went first overall. Fryar was selected by the New England Patriots from Nebraska and proceeded to play 17 seasons in the NFL, making five Pro Bowls. Parks went to the San Francisco 49ers from Texas Tech and enjoyed a strong start to his 11-year career, but faded after his first three seasons.

None of these players were draft busts, but the NFL has become so dominated by quarterbacks in recent decades that it simply doesn't make much sense to use the top pick on a less valuable position like wide receiver anymore.

Highest Drafted Wide Receivers in NFL history

In addition to the trio mentioned above, a number of other wide receivers have also been taken early in drafts. Here's a list of every wide receiver who was a top-5 pick on draft day:

Be sure to check out all of The Duel's coverage of the NFL Draft, from prospect rankings to odds and analysis.