Wall of navy
DL is one of the densest columns on the chart in any era. Every team, every year, every round, somebody takes a defensive lineman. The white spots here are accidents, temporary.
DE·pick 1
Walt Patulski
Drafted by BUF · Notre Dame
1972
12
DEs drafted at #1 in NFL history
most recent: Travon Walker (JAX, 2022)
Editor's note
DE-at-1 has been a constant
Twelve different defensive ends have gone #1 overall since 1967, from Walt Patulski (Bills, 1972) and Lee Roy Selmon (Bucs, 1976) through Bruce Smith (1985), Mario Williams (2006), Jadeveon Clowney (2014), Myles Garrett (2017), and Travon Walker (2022). After the Burrow / Lawrence / Williams QB run, expect Abdul Carter / J.T. Tuimoloau-tier prospects to put DE-at-1 back on the board.
How rare was this draftigami?
Trained on every pick through 1971, the model gave a defensive end at #1 a 4.3% chance in 1972.
Defensive end at #1, year by year
Each year's estimate uses only that year's draft and the years before it — no peeking ahead. The line smooths across neighboring picks and seasons so a single oddball draft doesn't dominate. The shaded band is the model's 90% uncertainty range.
Peak: 61.7% · 2027 model: 15.2%
Surrounding picks · 1972 draft
- #2DESherman White
- #3OTLionel Antoine
- #4WRBobby Moore
- #5TERiley Odoms
- #6DEGreg Sampson
Drafted at this same coordinate later · 11 picks
- 2022Travon Walker
- 2017Myles Garrett
- 2014Jadeveon Clowney
- 2006Mario Williams
- 2000Courtney Brown
- 1992Steve Emtman
- 1985Bruce Smith
- 1982Kenneth Sims
- 1976Lee Roy Selmon
- 1974Ed Jones
- 1973John Matuszak