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Florida Football All-Time First-Round NFL Draft Picks
By Andrew Olson
Last Updated:
When NFL Draft time rolls around on the football calendar, you can expect Florida football to be well-represented. Many Gator greats have gone on to play professional football in the league.
As of the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft, a total of 366 UF players had been selected by NFL teams. Of those 366 players picked, an impressive 58 of them have gone in Round 1.
Here’s a look at all 58 first-round picks to come out of the University of Florida (as of the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft):
The NFL Draft began in 1936, and less than 10 years later, a Gator would be picked in the first round. Paul Duhart became the first college football player from the Sunshine State to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, going No. 2 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1945.
A fun bit of trivia: Duhart’s NFL career began before he was drafted. He was not eligible for the 1944 NFL Draft, as Florida did not field a varsity team in 1943 due to the number of athletes who joined the armed services during World War II. Though he wasn’t draft-eligible, Duhart played for the Green Bay Packers in the ’44 season. The NFL determined, however, that Duhart would need to enter the NFL Draft ahead of the 1945 season.
Despite its rich NFL Draft history, going No. 1 overall has eluded Gator greats. Here is a look at some names of note that have been selected at other spots in the first round:
Notable First-Round Draft Picks
Steve Spurrier, QB — No. 3 overall, 1967 NFL Draft (San Francisco 49ers)
Spurrier’s professional playing career is one of the least talked-about aspects of his multiple decades spent in football because there wasn’t much to it.
Florida’s first Heisman Trophy winner, Spurrier was selected by San Francisco early in the ’67 draft. He was with the 49ers through 1975 before joining the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise.
Spurrier ended his professional playing career in 1977.
Anthony Richardson, QB — No. 4 overall, 2023 NFL Draft (Indianapolis Colts)
Richardson is one of the most fascinating Florida draft stories. He had only one full season as the Gators’ starting QB and was wildly inconsistent. His freak athleticism and high potential, however, convinced the Colts to pick him at No. 4 overall, ahead of Will Levis and others.
Surprising some, Richardson was the Colts’ QB1 to open the 2023 season. He was limited to just four games, though, due to injury. Richardson showed some promise, going 50-of-84 passing for 577 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception, adding 25 rushes for 136 yards and 4 TDs.
He’s on track to be Indianapolis’ QB1 for the 2024 season.
Fred Taylor, RB — No. 9 overall, 1998 NFL Draft (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Taylor was a top-10 pick after ending a standout Gator career playing for Spurrier. It’s a crime he’s not yet a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Taylor was drafted by Jacksonville in 1998 and remained with the Jaguars through 2008.
He began his pro career rushing for 1,223 yards and 14 touchdowns as a rookie. It would be the first of seven 1,000-yard seasons for Taylor as a Jaguar.
Taylor is Jacksonville’s all-time leading rusher with 11,271 yards. He would finish his pro career playing two more seasons with New England, retiring with 11,695 rushing yards, No. 17 on the NFL’s all-time list.
Taylor finished averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Only Barry Sanders and Jim Brown have posted a better average with more rushing yards.
Emmitt Smith, RB — No. 17 overall, 1990 NFL Draft (Dallas Cowboys)
There isn’t a Gator with a more decorated NFL career than Emmitt Smith. A superstar from the Dallas Cowboys’ heyday, Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher in yards and touchdowns.
Smith came up short of 1,000 yards as a rookie (937). Then, from 1991 to 2001, he established himself as a rushing machine with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Retiring after playing for Arizona in 2003 and ’04, Smith finished with 18,355 yards and 164 rushing touchdowns in 226 regular-season games.
Smith was named first-team All-Pro four consecutive seasons (1992-95). The four-time NFL rushing leader was also an eight-time Pro Bowl selection. Smith collected three Super Bowl rings with the Cowboys (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX). For the 1993 season, he won the regular-season MVP title and was named the Super Bowl XXVIII MVP.
Smith was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. He’s also recognized in the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor and as a member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Jack Youngblood, DE — No. 20 overall, 1971 NFL Draft (Los Angeles Rams)
Youngblood was picked by the Rams in 1971. He’d play for the club for 14 standout seasons before hanging up his cleats.
An iron man for the Rams, Youngblood missed only one game, logging 201 consecutive appearances, a franchise record that still stands. Even in Super Bowl XIV, Youngblood played through a fractured left fibula. Sporting a special brace, Youngblood managed 1 tackle and 1 pass breakup.
Youngblood finished his career with 151.5 sacks. He was a 5-time All-Pro selection and named to 7 straight Pro Bowls. In 2001, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Tim Tebow, QB — No. 25 overall, 2010 NFL Draft (Denver Broncos)
Tebow’s decorated Florida career made him a first-round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, which came with plenty of fanfare.
Tebow had an up-and-down time with the Denver Broncos. He led the club to a thrilling walk-off win in the playoffs, but John Elway and others in the front office did not see him as the club’s long-term QB.
After Denver, Tebow would spend time with the New York Jets, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. After trying professional baseball with the New York Mets, Tebow gave pro football one more shot when Urban Meyer coached the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021.
When all was said and done, Tebow played in 37 NFL games, making 18 starts.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
