The NFL's 81st annual draft has kicked off and the nation's elite college football players continue to nervously wait to find out if and where they will be drafted.
The draft will include 253 picks over seven rounds. In the first round, Jared Goff of California, the No. 1 overall pick selected by the Los Angeles Rams and Carson Wentz of North Dakota State, selected by the Philadelphia Eagles, rounded out the two top picks in this year's draft.
Many No. 1 picks never reach the lofty expectations that come along with being chosen first among the best of the best. In fact, of the richest NFL players of all time, only two were No. 1 draft picks. The other five include Brett Favre (pick 33 in 1991), Tom Brady (pick 199 in 2000), John Madden (pick 244 in 1958), Roger Staubach (pick 129 in 1964) and Jerry Richardson (pick 154 in 1958).
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The NFL's very first No. 1 draft pick, John Jacob "Jay" Berwanger, never even played in the NFL after the Philadelphia Eagles declined to meet his reported salary demands of $1,000 per game.
But many No. 1 picks have fulfilled the expectations that accompany being chosen first. In addition to commanding higher salaries (which are growing every year), these players often also attract endorsement deals and speaking engagements that further fatten their wallets.
Consider last year's top pick, Jameis Winston. He garnered a rookie contract worth more than $22 million, including a signing bonus of more than $14 million. These numbers automatically land him near the top of the list of the wealthiest No. 1 NFL draft picks.
If this year's No. 1 pick came to your credit union for financial advice, what advice would you give him?
Here's the top 25 No. 1 NFL draft picks ranked by their net worth as estimated by celebritynetworth.com.
25. Vinny Testaverde
Estimated Net Worth: $10 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Miami (Florida)
NFL Draft Year: 1987
Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Years Played: 21
Pro Bowl Selections: 2
(Photo: Henry Hoegen/Wikimedia Commons)
24. Bruce Smith
Estimated Net Worth: $12 million
Position: Defensive End
College: Virginia Tech
NFL Draft Year: 1985
Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
Years Played: 18
Pro Bowl Selections: 11
(Photo: Michele Moore/Wikimedia Commons)
23. Jadeveon Clowney
Estimated Net Worth: $13 million
Position: Defensive End
College: South Carolina
NFL Draft Year: 2014
Drafted by: Houston Texans
Years Played: 2
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
(Photo: Ian McCormick/Wikimedia Commons)
22. (tie) Matthew Stafford
Estimated Net Worth: $15 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Georgia
NFL Draft Year: 2009
Drafted by: Detroit Lions
Years Played: 7
Pro Bowl Selections: 1
(Photo: Mike Morbeck/Wikimedia Commons)
22. (tie) Alex Smith
Estimated Net Worth: $15 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Utah
NFL Draft Year: 2005
Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
Years Played: 11
Pro Bowl Selections: 2
(Photo: John Martinez Pavliga/Wikimedia Commons)
22. (tie) Terry Bradshaw
Estimated Net Worth: $15 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Louisiana Tech
NFL Draft Year: 1970
Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
Years Played: 14
Pro Bowl Selections: 3
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
19. (tie) Bo Jackson
Estimated Net Worth: $16 million
Position: Running Back
College: Auburn
NFL Draft Year: 1986
Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Years Played: 4
Pro Bowl Selections: 1
(Photo: By James C. Dillard/Wikimedia Commons)
19. (tie) Michael Vick
Estimated Net Worth: $16 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Virginia Tech
NFL Draft Year: 2001
Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
Years Played: 15
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
(Photo: Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons)
17. David Carr
Estimated Net Worth: $19 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Fresno State
NFL Draft Year: 2002
Drafted by: Houston Texans
Years Played: 11
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
(Photo: BrokenSphere/Wikimedia Commons)
16. Andrew Luck
Estimated Net Worth: $20 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Stanford
NFL Draft Year: 2012
Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
Years Played: 4
Pro Bowl Selections: 3
(Photo: Jeffrey Beall/Wikimedia Commons)
15. Keyshawn Johnson
Estimated Net Worth: $20 million
Position: Wide receiver
College: Southern California
NFL Draft Year: 1996
Drafted by: New York Jets
Years Played: 11
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
(Photo: Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons)
14. (tie) Troy Aikman
Estimated Net Worth: $25 million
Position: Quarterback
College: UCLA
NFL Draft Year: 1989
Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
Years Played: 12
Pro Bowl Selections: 6
(Photo: Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons)
14. (tie) Jake Long
Estimated Net Worth: $25 million
Position: Offensive tackle
College: Michigan
NFL Draft Year: 2008
Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
Years Played: 8
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
(Photo: June Rivera/Wikimedia Commons)
14. (tie) Earl Campbell
Estimated Net Worth: $25 million
Position: Running Back
College: Texas
NFL Draft Year: 1978
Drafted by: Houston Oilers
Years Played: 8
Pro Bowl Selections: 5
(Photo: TankedBevo/Wikimedia Commons)
14. (tie) Sam Bradford
Estimated Net Worth: $25 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Oklahoma
NFL Draft Year: 2010
Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
Years Played: 6
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
(Photo: John Silks/Wikimedia Commons)
14. (tie) Cam Newton
Estimated Net Worth: $25 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Auburn
NFL Draft Year: 2011
Drafted by: Carolina Panthers
Years Played: 5
Pro Bowl Selections: 3
(Photo: Anthonysc1988/Wikimedia Commons)
9. Tim Couch
Estimated Net Worth: $26 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Kentucky
NFL Draft Year: 1999
Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
Years Played: 6
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
(Photo: Wikimedia)
8. (tie) Orlando Pace
Estimated Net Worth: $30 million
Position: Offensive tackle
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft Year: 1997
Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
Years Played: 12
Pro Bowl Selections: 7
(Photo: Wikimedia)
8. (tie) Mario Williams
Estimated Net Worth: $30 million
Position: Defensive end
College: North Carolina State
NFL Draft Year: 2006
Drafted by: Houston Texans
Years Played: 10
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
(Photo: Rick Kimpel/Wikimedia Commons)
6. Jameis Winston
Estimated Net Worth: $32 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Florida State
NFL Draft Year: 2015
Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Years Played: 1
Pro Bowl Selections: 1
(Photo: Thomson200/Wikimedia Commons)
5. Drew Bledsoe
Estimated Net Worth: $48 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Washington State
NFL Draft Year: 1993
Drafted by: New England Patriots
Years Played: 14
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
(Photo: Chad Riley/Wikimedia Commons)
4. Carson Palmer
Estimated Net Worth: $60 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Southern Cal
NFL Draft Year: 2003
Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
Years Played: 13
Pro Bowl Selections: 3
(Photo: SteelCityHobbies Wikimedia Commons)
3. Eli Manning
Estimated Net Worth: $80 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Mississippi
NFL Draft Year: 2004
Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
Years Played: 12
Pro Bowl Selections: 4
(Photo: Mike Morbeck/Wikimedia Commons)
2. John Elway
Estimated Net Worth: $145 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Stanford
NFL Draft Year: 1983
Drafted by: Baltimore Colts
Years Played: 16
Pro Bowl Selections: 10
(Photo: Marc Barnes/Wikimedia Commons)
1. Peyton Manning
Estimated Net Worth: $200 million
Position: Quarterback
College: Tennessee
NFL Draft Year: 1998
Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
Years Played: 18
Pro Bowl Selections: 14
(Photo: Jeffrey Beall/Wikimedia Commons)
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