 By SuperWest Sports Staff
April 19, 2026
Atotal of 78 players from schools in the West have been taken in the Top 5 overall picks in the NFL Draft since it premiered in 1936.
USC leads the way with 20 top picks, followed by Stanford with 8, and Cal and Oregon with 7 each.
We have included UTEP on this list because, beginning in 2026, the Miners are playing in the Mountain West, and the City of El Paso is in a direct line with Albuquerque and west of Boulder, Fort Collins, and Cheyenne.
Here is a table of all the players from the region who have been drafted in the top five.
There is a breakdown by program at the bottom.
Top 5 Overall NFL Draft Picks for Programs from the West
| Year | Pick No. | Player | College | NFL Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | Travis Hunter | Colorado | Jaguars | WR/CB |
| 2024 | 1 | Caleb Williams | USC | Bears | QB |
| 2022 | 5 | Kayvon Thibodeaux | Oregon | Giants | DE |
| 2021 | 2 | Zach Wilson | BYU | Jets | QB |
| 2018 | 3 | Sam Darnold | USC | Jets | QB |
| 2017 | 3 | Solomon Thomas | Stanford | 49ers | DE |
| 2016 | 1 | Jared Goff | Cal | Rams | QB |
| 2015 | 2 | Marcus Mariota | Oregon | Titans | QB |
| 2013 | 3 | Dion Jordan | Oregon | Dolphins | DE |
| 2013 | 5 | Ezekiel Ansah | BYU | Lions | DE |
| 2012 | 1 | Andrew Luck | Stanford | Colts | QB |
| 2012 | 4 | Matt Kalil | USC | Vikings | OT |
| 2009 | 5 | Mark Sanchez | USC | Jets | QB |
| 2006 | 2 | Reggie Bush | USC | Saints | RB |
| 2005 | 1 | Alex Smith | Utah | 49ers | QB |
| 2003 | 1 | Carson Palmer | USC | Bengals | QB |
| 2002 | 1 | David Carr | Fresno St | Texans | QB |
| 2002 | 3 | Joey Harrington | Oregon | Lions | QB |
| 1999 | 3 | Akili Smith | Oregon | Bengals | QB |
| 1998 | 2 | Ryan Leaf | WSU | Chargers | QB |
| 1997 | 2 | Darrell Russell | USC | Raiders | DT |
| 1996 | 1 | Keyshawn Johnson | USC | Jets | WR |
| 1996 | 4 | Jonathan Ogden | UCLA | Ravens | OT |
| 1995 | 2 | Tony Boselli | USC | Jaguars | OT |
| 1995 | 4 | Michael Westbrook | Colorado | Redskins | WR |
| 1994 | 2 | Marshall Faulk | SDSU | Colts | RB |
| 1994 | 4 | Willie McGinest | USC | Patriots | DE |
| 1993 | 1 | Drew Bledsoe | WSU | Patriots | QB |
| 1992 | 1 | Steve Emtman | Washington | Colts | DE |
| 1991 | 2 | Eric Turner | UCLA | Browns | DB |
| 1990 | 5 | Junior Seau | USC | Chargers | LB |
| 1989 | 1 | Troy Aikman | UCLA | Cowboys | QB |
| 1985 | 5 | Duane Bickett | USC | Colts | LB |
| 1983 | 1 | John Elway | Stanford | Colts | QB |
| 1982 | 3 | Chip Banks | USC | Browns | LB |
| 1982 | 5 | Jim McMahon | BYU | Bears | QB |
| 1981 | 3 | Freeman McNeil | UCLA | Jets | RB |
| 1981 | 4 | Kenny Easley | UCLA | Seahawks | DB |
| 1980 | 3 | Anthony Munoz | USC | Bengals | OT |
| 1979 | 2 | Mike Bell | CSU | Chiefs | DE |
| 1979 | 3 | Jack Thompson | WSU | Bengals | QB |
| 1977 | 1 | Ricky Bell | USC | Buccaneers | RB |
| 1977 | 4 | Marvin Powell | USC | Jets | OT |
| 1977 | 5 | Gary Jeter | USC | Giants | DE |
| 1976 | 3 | Chuck Muncie | Cal | Saints | RB |
| 1976 | 5 | Mike Haynes | ASU | Patriots | DB |
| 1975 | 1 | Steve Bartkowski | Cal | Falcons | QB |
| 1974 | 2 | Bo Matthews | Colorado | Chargers | RB |
| 1972 | 2 | Sherman White | Cal | Bengals | DE |
| 1972 | 4 | Ahmad Rashad | Oregon | Cardinals | RB |
| 1971 | 1 | Jim Plunkett | Stanford | Patriots | QB |
| 1971 | 3 | Dan Pastorini | Santa Clara | Oilers | QB |
| 1971 | 4 | J.D. Hill | ASU | Bills | WR |
| 1969 | 1 | O.J. Simpson | USC | Bills | RB |
| 1968 | 1 | Ron Yary | USC | Vikings | OT |
| 1968 | 5 | Fred Carr | UTEP | Packers | LB |
| 1965 | 5 | Craig Morton | Cal | Cowboys | QB |
| 1964 | 3 | Charley Taylor | ASU | Redskins | WR |
| 1964 | 5 | Pete Beathard | USC | Lions | QB |
| 1963 | 1 | Terry Baker | Ore St | Rams | QB |
| 1962 | 3 | Merlin Olson | USU | Rams | DT |
| 1961 | 4 | Marlin McKeever | USC | Rams | LB |
| 1959 | 2 | Dick Bass | Pacific | Rams | FB |
| 1957 | 2 | Jon Arnett | USC | Rams | HB |
| 1957 | 3 | John Brodie | Stanford | 49ers | QB |
| 1956 | 1 | Gary Glick | CSU | Steelers | DB |
| 1955 | 1 | George Shaw | Oregon | Colts | QB |
| 1954 | 1 | Bobby Garrett | Stanford | Browns | QB |
| 1953 | 4 | Johnny Olszewski | Cal | Cardinals | FB |
| 1952 | 2 | Les Richter | Cal | Yanks | LB |
| 1952 | 3 | Ollie Matson | San Francisco | Cardinals | RB |
| 1949 | 5 | Stan Heath | Nevada | Packers | QB |
| 1947 | 4 | Cal Rossi | UCLA | Redskins | RB |
| 1942 | 3 | Pete Kmetovic | Stanford | Eagles | HB |
| 1941 | 3 | Norm Standlee | Stanford | Bears | FB |
| 1941 | 4 | Rudy Mucha | Washington | Rams | OG |
| 1938 | 4 | Whizzer White | Colorado | Steelers | TB |
| 1937 | 2 | Ed Goddard | WSU | Dodgers | RB |
Breakdown of Top 5 Picks by Program
| Top 5 Picks | School | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | USC | 2024, 2018, 2012, 2009, 2006, 2003, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1990, 1985, 1982, 1980, 1977, 1969, 1968, 1964, 1961, 1957 |
| 8 | Stanford | 2017, 2012, 1983, 1971, 1957, 1954, 1942, 1941 |
| 7 | Cal | 2016, 1976, 1975, 1972, 1965, 1953, 1952 |
| 7 | Oregon | 2022, 2015, 2013, 2002, 1999, 1972, 1955 |
| 6 | UCLA | 1996, 1991, 1989, 1981, 1947 |
| 4 | Colorado | 2025, 1995, 1974, 1938 |
| 4 | WSU | 1998, 1993, 1979, 1937 |
| 3 | ASU | 1976, 1971, 1964 |
| 3 | BYU | 2021, 2013, 1982 |
| 2 | CSU | 1979, 1956 |
| 2 | Washington | 1992, 1941 |
| 1 | Fresno St | 2022 |
| 1 | Nevada | 1949 |
| 1 | Ore St | 1963 |
| 1 | Pacific | 1959 |
| 1 | San Francisco | 1952 |
| 1 | Santa Clara | 1971 |
| 1 | SDSU | 1994 |
| 1 | Utah | 2005 |
| 1 | Utah St | 1962 |
| 1 | UTEP | 1968 |