The 2018 NFL Draft kicks off at 8 PM EST tonight from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. More than 250 college players will hear their names called over the next three days. The competition for the top spot is likely down to a quartet of quarterbacks in Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Sam Darnold.
The top QBs were all born in football hotbeds with three from California and Mayfield a product of the Lone Star State. California has produced 29 first-round picks over the past decade, while Florida and Texas are responsible for 35 players each. There are 11 states that have not produced a first-round pick since 2008 and another 13 represented by only one player. Ten picks were born outside the U.S., including Nelson Agholor (Nigeria), Robert Griffin (Japan) and Tim Tebow (Philippines).
Using data from Pro Football Reference, mapping firm Esri put together the below interactive map of the hometowns of the 318 players drafted in the first round between 2008 and 2017 (two drafts had teams lose first-round picks for penalties). The data can also be filtered by year drafted, college, home state, position, team and age.
Alabama has won five national titles in the past decade, so no surprise the football powerhouse produced the most first round picks with 22. Ohio State ranks second with 14.
Quarterbacks tend to get the headlines, but teams are focused on building their lines near the top of the draft. Defensive ends and offensive tackles are the most commonly drafted positions in the first round. Both had 43 selected in the past decade.
Barring a trade, the Cleveland Browns will select first for the second straight year (the previous 10 No. 1 overall picks have been made by different franchises). The Browns know the first round drill well with 14 day one picks over the past 10 years. The San Francisco 49ers are second with 13 first-round selections.
Explore the Esri map below for info on every first-round pick over the past 10 years.
