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Which states produced the most 2026 NFL Draft picks?
TL;DR
The 2026 NFL Draft featured players from 38 of the 50 states, showcasing the growth of football talent across the country. Alabama led with 10 picks, highlighting its strong high school football programs.
Key points
- 2026 NFL Draft featured players from 38 states
- Alabama had the highest number of picks with 10
- The draft showcases high school football talent
- Football's popularity continues to grow across the country
Every year, the NFL draft is arguably one of the biggest sporting spectacles in the country, with fans from all over waiting to see who their favorite team will select.
It's also a showcase for states to hype former high school stars as they look to make their dream of becoming professional football players a reality. This year's draft was a perfect example of how much the sport has grown, with 38 of the 50 states represented.
Based on where each of this year's prospects played their high school ball, here's a look at every state represented in this year's NFL draft.
Alabama
Number of picks: 10
Highest Pick: Peter Woods, Kansas City Chiefs (Round 1, Pick 29)
Arizona
Number of picks: 5
Highest Pick: Caleb Lomu, New England Patriots (Round 1, Pick 28)
Arkansas
Number of picks: 1
Highest Pick: Jayden Williams, Arizona Cardinals (Round 7, Pick 217)
California
Number of picks: 19
Highest Pick: David Bailey, New York Jets (Round 1, Pick 2)
Colorado
Number of picks: 3
Highest Pick: Emmanuel Pregnon, Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 3, Pick 88)
Connecticut
Number of picks: 2
Highest Pick: Skyler Bell, Buffalo Bills (Round 4, Pick 125)
Florida
Number of picks: 27
Highest Pick: Fernando Mendoza, Oakland Raiders (Round 1, Pick 1)
Georgia
Number of picks: 22
Highest Pick: Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys (Round 1, Pick 11)
Hawaii
Number of picks: 1
Highest Pick: De’Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers (Round 2, Pick 33)
Idaho
Number of picks: 1
Highest Pick: Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets (Round 1, Pick 16)
Illinois
Number of picks: 11
Highest Pick: Keagan Trost, Los Angeles Rams (Round 3, Pick 93)
Indiana
Number of picks: 3
Highest Pick: Dillon Thieneman, Chicago Bears (Round 1, Pick 25)
Iowa
Number of picks: 7
Highest Pick: Kadyn Proctor, Miami Dolphins (Round 1, Pick 12)
Kansas
Number of picks: 3
Highest Pick: Sam Hecht, Carolina Panthers (Round 5, Pick 144)
Kentucky
Number of picks: 2
Highest Pick: Malachi Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys (Round 1, Pick 23)
Louisiana
Number of picks: 6
Highest Pick: Bud Clark, Seattle Seahawks (Round 2, Pick 64)
Maryland
Number of picks: 9
Highest Pick: Mansoor Delane, Kansas City Chiefs (Round 1, Pick 6)
Michigan
Number of picks: 5
Highest Pick: Caleb Banks, Minnesota Vikings (Round 1, Pick 18)
Minnesota
Number of picks: 6
Highest Pick: Bryce Lance, New Orleans Saints (Round 4, Pick 136)
Mississippi
Number of picks: 2
Highest Pick: Markel Bell, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 3, Pick 68)
Missouri
Number of picks: 9
Highest Pick: Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals (Round 1, Pick 3)
Montana
Number of picks: 1
Highest Pick: Keyshawn James-Newby, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 7, Pick 252)
Nebraska
Number of picks: 2
Highest Pick: Nate Boerkircher, Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 2, Pick 56)
Nevada
Number of picks: 3
Highest Pick: Germie Bernard, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 2, Pick 47)
New Jersey
Number of picks: 3
Highest Pick: Chase Bisontis, Arizona Cardinals (Round 2, Pick 34)
New York
Number of picks: 3
Highest Pick: Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders (Round 4, Pick 122)
North Carolina
Number of picks: XXX
Highest Pick: KC Concepcion, Cleveland Browns (Round 1, Pick 24)
Ohio
Number of picks: 11
Highest Pick: Arvell Reese, New York Giants (Round 1, Pick 5)
Oklahoma
Number of picks: 3
Highest Pick: Chirs McClellan, Green Bay Packers (Round 3, Pick 77)
Oregon
Number of picks: 2
Highest Pick: Kage Casey, Denver Broncos (Round 4, Pick 111)
Pennsylvania
Number of picks: 6
Highest Pick: Josiah Trotter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 2, Pick 46)
South Carolina
Number of picks: 4
Highest Pick: Monroe Freeling, Carolina Panthers (Round 1, Pick 19)
Tennessee
Number of picks: 8
Highest Pick: Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams (Round 1, Pick 13)
Texas
Number of picks: 33
Highest Pick: Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints (Round 1, Pick 8)
Utah
Number of picks: 4
Highest Pick: Spencer Fano, Cleveland Browns (Round 1, Pick 9)
Virginia
Number of picks: 9
Highest Pick: Malachi Fields, New York Giants (Round 3, Pick 74)
Washington
Number of picks: 2
Highest Pick: Olavivagena Ioane, Baltimore Ravens (Round 1, Pick 14)
Wisconsin
Number of picks: 6
Highest Pick: Max Bredeson, Minnesota Vikings (Round 5, Pick 159)
2026: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Las Vegas Raiders
2025: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.) - Tennessee Titans
2024: Caleb Williams, QB, USC - Chicago Bears
2023: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama - Carolina Panthers
2022: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia - Jacksonville Jaguars
2021: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson - Jacksonville Jaguars
2020: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU - Cincinnati Bengals
2019: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma - Arizona Cardinals
2018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma - Cleveland Browns
2017: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M - Cleveland Browns
2016: Jared Goff, QB, Cal - Los Angeles Rams
2015: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina - Houston Texans
2009: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - Detroit Lions
2008: Jake Long, OT, Michigan - Miami Dolphins
2007: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU - Oakland Raiders
2004: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss - San Diego Chargers (traded to New York Giants)
2003: Carson Palmer, QB, USC - Cincinnati Bengals
2002: David Carr, QB, Fresno State - Houston Texans
2001: Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech - Atlanta Falcons
2000: Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State - Cleveland Browns
1999: Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky - Cleveland Browns
1998: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee - Indianapolis Colts
1997: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State - St. Louis Rams
1996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC - New York Jets
1995: Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State - Cincinnati Bengals
1994: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State - Cincinnati Bengals
1992: Steve Emtman, DT, Washington - Indianapolis Colts
1991: Russell Maryland, DT, Miami - Dallas Cowboys
1990: Jeff George, QB, Illinois - Indianapolis Colts
1989: Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA - Dallas Cowboys
1988: Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn - Atlanta Falcons
1987: Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1986: Bo Jackson, RB, Auburn - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (did not sign, later joined Los Angeles Raiders)
1985: Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech - Buffalo Bills
1984: Irving Fryar, WR, Nebraska - New England Patriots
1983: John Elway, QB, Stanford - Baltimore Colts (traded to Denver Broncos)
1 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2026: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Las Vegas Raiders
1 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2026: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Las Vegas Raiders
2 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2025: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.) - Tennessee Titans
3 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2024: Caleb Williams, QB, USC - Chicago Bears
4 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2023: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama - Carolina Panthers
5 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2022: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia - Jacksonville Jaguars
6 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2021: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson - Jacksonville Jaguars
7 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2020: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU - Cincinnati Bengals
8 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2019: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma - Arizona Cardinals
9 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma - Cleveland Browns
10 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2017: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M - Cleveland Browns
11 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2016: Jared Goff, QB, Cal - Los Angeles Rams
12 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2015: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
13 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina - Houston Texans
14 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2009: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - Detroit Lions
15 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2008: Jake Long, OT, Michigan - Miami Dolphins
16 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2007: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU - Oakland Raiders
17 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2004: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss - San Diego Chargers (traded to New York Giants)
18 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2003: Carson Palmer, QB, USC - Cincinnati Bengals
19 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2002: David Carr, QB, Fresno State - Houston Texans
20 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2001: Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech - Atlanta Falcons
21 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2000: Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State - Cleveland Browns
22 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1999: Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky - Cleveland Browns
23 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1998: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee - Indianapolis Colts
24 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1997: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State - St. Louis Rams
25 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC - New York Jets
26 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1995: Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State - Cincinnati Bengals
27 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1994: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State - Cincinnati Bengals
28 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1992: Steve Emtman, DT, Washington - Indianapolis Colts
29 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1991: Russell Maryland, DT, Miami - Dallas Cowboys
30 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1990: Jeff George, QB, Illinois - Indianapolis Colts
31 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1989: Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA - Dallas Cowboys
32 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1988: Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn - Atlanta Falcons
33 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1987: Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
34 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1986: Bo Jackson, RB, Auburn - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (did not sign, later joined Los Angeles Raiders)
35 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1985: Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech - Buffalo Bills
36 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1984: Irving Fryar, WR, Nebraska - New England Patriots
37 / 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1983: John Elway, QB, Stanford - Baltimore Colts (traded to Denver Broncos)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Super 25 powerhouse areas headline states with most NFL draft picks
Q&A
Which state had the most NFL Draft picks in 2026?
Alabama produced the most NFL Draft picks in 2026, with a total of 10 selections.
How many states were represented in the 2026 NFL Draft?
A total of 38 states were represented in the 2026 NFL Draft.
What is the significance of high school football in the NFL Draft?
High school football serves as a crucial foundation for players aspiring to enter the NFL, showcasing their talent and potential.
How does the NFL Draft reflect the growth of football in the U.S.?
The NFL Draft reflects the growth of football in the U.S. by highlighting the increasing number of states producing professional-level talent.
