The NFL Draft can provide franchises with the much-needed chance to reboot – so long as they make their selections wisely. The teams at the top of the draft frequently take the rare opportunity to pick an in-demand quarterback.

In the 2026 NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza with the number one overall pick.

Here is a look at the top quarterback taken in the 10 preceding years, and how they each have fared.

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2025: Cam Ward #1 Tennessee Titans

Cam Ward was taken with the number one overall pick in 2025 by the Tennessee Titans. It was a tough rookie season with the Titans finishing bottom of the AFC South with a 3-14 record.

Ward played in all 17 games and threw for more than 3,100 yards, with 17 overall touchdowns, 15 passing TDs and two rushing.

The Titans selected wide receiver Carnell Tate with the #4 pick in 2026, a move clearly aimed at boosting Ward’s production in his second season.

Statistic	2025 Season Total
Games Played	17
Passing Yards	3,169
Passing Touchdowns	15
Interceptions	7
Completion Percentage	59.8%
Passer Rating	80.2
Rushing Yards	159
Rushing Touchdowns	2

Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images

2024: Caleb Williams #1 Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams endured a disappointing rookie season with the Chicago Bears. They finished 5-12 with head coach Matt Eberflus fired midway through. The appointment of Ben Johnson turned their fortunes around.

Williams justified his number one overall selection by helping the Bears to win the NFC North with a 11-6 record. They reached the Divisional Round of the playoffs, defeated by the Rams.

One of the key changes was Williams’ improvement as a passer, he made 27 total touchdowns in the regular season, up from 20 the year prior. He also simplified his game, rushing for only 24 yards, rather than having to scramble so frequently in his rookie season.

Statistic	2024 Season	2025 Season
Games Played	17	17
Passing Yards	3,541	3,942
Passing Touchdowns	20	27
Interceptions	6	7
Completion Percentage	62.5%	58.1%
Passer Rating	87.8	90.1
Rushing Yards	489	24
Rushing Touchdowns	0	0

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

2023: Bryce Young #1 Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young appeared to be a questionable pick by the Carolina Panthers in his rookie season, compared to the immediate success of #2 selection CJ Stroud with the Houston Texans.

Young and the Panthers have made incremental improvements, turning around a team that went 2-15 in 2023 to go 8-9 in 2025.

While Young has not been able to eradicate the interceptions, his total touchdowns have shot up from 11 in his rookie season to 25 last year. He has just had his fifth-year option taken up by the Panthers.

Season	Record	GP	Yds	Total TD	Int
2023	2–15	16	2,877	11	10
2024	5–12	14	2,403	21	9
2025	8–9	16	3,011	25	11
Total	15–36	46	8,291	57	30

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

2022: Kenny Pickett #20 Pittsburgh Steelers

It took until the 20th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft for a quarterback to come off the board. The Pittsburgh Steelers decided to take Kenny Pickett.

Pickett spent two seasons with the Steelers before being traded away to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2024 offseason. He requested the trade after the Steelers signed Russell Wilson in free agency.

He actually ended the season as Super Bowl champion after backing up Jalen Hurts. Pickett threw two of his career 16 touchdowns for the Eagles, and played the final snap in the Super Bowl blowout win over the Chiefs.

Pickett spent 2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he made six starts. He has signed with the Carolina Panthers for 2026 where he will back up Bryce Young.

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

2021: Trevor Lawrence #1 Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence was the coveted number one overall selection 2021, and he remains the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ franchise QB.

A terrible rookie season saw Lawrence post more interceptions than touchdowns, and a change in coach was required. He has made good improvement, with some inconsistency along the way.

2025 was Lawrence’s best yet, finishing with a 13-4 record and 38 total touchdowns. Their offseason ended early with a 27-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The future could still be bright for Lawrence in Jacksonville.

Season	Record	GP	Yds	Total TD	Int
2021	3–14	17	3,641	14	17
2022	9–8	17	4,113	30	8
2023	9–8	16	4,016	25	14
2024	4–13	10	2,045	12	7
2025	13–4	17	4,007	38	12
Total	38–47	77	17,822	119	58

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

2020: Joe Burrow #1 Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, striking up an immediate connection with his former LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

The Bengals reached the Super Bowl in 2022, where they were defeated 23-20 by the LA Rams.

The only thing holding Burrow back has been injuries, partly related to problems with the Bengals’ offensive line.

With only eight games played in 2025, Burrow needs a healthy season in 2026 to get back to his best.

Season	Record	GP	Yds	Total TD	Int
2020	2–7–1	10	2,688	16	5
2021	10–6	16	4,611	36	14
2022	12–4	16	4,475	40	12
2023	5–5	10	2,309	15	6
2024	9–8	17	4,918	45	9
2025	5–3	8	1,809	17	5
Total	43–33–1	77	20,810	169	51

Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images

2019: Kyler Murray #1 Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray has spent seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. That spell finally came to an end in free agency.

A terrible 3-14 record for the Cardinals accelerated their desire to rebuild, with Murray leaving to sign with the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year deal.

Murray will be competing with JJ McCarthy to start in Minnesota in 2026 in one of the most intriguing quarterback battles of the upcoming season.

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

2018: Baker Mayfield #1 Cleveland Browns

Baker Mayfield was given the poisoned chalice of trying to turn the Cleveland Browns around. While he was unable to succeed with this, Mayfield has carved out an impressive NFL career.

Mayfield spent four seasons with the Browns before trying to rehabilitate his career with the Carolina Panthers in 2022.

This did not go well, but Mayfield was able to salvage his season with an emergency fill-in role for the LA Rams after Matthew Stafford suffered an injury.

His performances led to a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where Mayfield has spent the past three seasons, playing the best football of his career.

Mayfield threw for a career-high 41 touchdowns in 2024, followed up with 26 in 2025.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

2017: Mitchell Trubisky #2 Chicago Bears

Mitchell Trubisky was the franchise-altering bad pick taken by the Chicago Bears in 2022. He had only started 13 college games for North Carolina when he was selected.

While the Bears made the playoffs in two of Trubisky’s four seasons, he did not win any of his playoff games.

He has since been relegated to a career back-up, spending a season with the Bills, two with the Steelers, before returning to Buffalo in 2024.

The worst aspect of all this for the Bears was that Patrick Mahomes was on the board when they took Trubisky. Mahomes has gone on to win three Super Bowls with the Chiefs.

Player	Record	GP	Yds	Total TD	Int
Mitchell Trubisky	33–26	82	13,028	91	48
Patrick Mahomes	100–31	126	35,939	286	85
Deshaun Watson	35–38	73	17,904	144	48

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

2016 Jared Goff #1 LA Rams

Jared Goff has had a successful NFL career, but Super Bowl success has eluded him.

Goff and the Rams were beaten at Super Bowl LIII with a disappointing showing against the New England Patriots with a dismal 13-3 loss.

This was the spark for the Rams to later use Goff in a trade with the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford.

The move worked out for the Rams, who won the Super Bowl in 2022. Goff has had his moments too, reaching the NFC Championship game two years later.

Goff even had a moment of revenge along the way, with a 24-23 playoff win over the Rams.