Arkansas All-Time First Round NFL Draft Picks

Arkansas football has produced some memorable teams and some memorable players that went on to star in the NFL.

The Razorbacks’ program has produced a grand total of 289 NFL draftees, including 24 first-round selections and 2 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame — Dan Hampton and Steve Atwater. Though he was drafted in the AFL, Lance Alworth is also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

As mentioned, Arkansas has produced 24 first-round selections, dating all the way back to Lamar McHan in 1954. Here’s a look at all 24 first-rounders out of Arkansas:

Notable Arkansas Razorbacks in the NFL Draft

Arkansas is one of only a few SEC teams to not have a No. 1 overall pick in their history (joining Florida, Missouri and Mississippi State), but the Razorbacks do have several high picks that turned in excellent NFL careers.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable:

Dan Hampton, DE — No. 4 Overall Pick, 1979 NFL Draft (Chicago Bears)

Dan Hampton might be the best overall Razorback to ever play in the NFL. The all-star defensive end was selected No. 4 overall in 1979 to the Chicago Bears, and instantly became a contributor.

Eventually, Hampton became an anchor on the famous 1985 Chicago Bears defense, considered by some to be the greatest defense ever assembled. The Bears, thanks in part to an excellent season from Hampton rushing the quarterback, went 15-1 and won their first and only Super Bowl over the New England Patriots.

“The King” was a force along the defensive line. He finished his career with 4 Pro Bowl appearances and a first-team All-Pro in 1984, the year before he won a ring. When all was said and done, Hampton had totaled 82 sacks, 10 fumbles recoveries and a safety.

Hampton spent all 11 years in the NFL with the Bears and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002. He appeared in 157 games.

Steve Atwater, DB — No. 20 Overall Pick, 1989 NFL Draft (Denver Broncos)

Steve Atwater was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Saturday, August 7, 2021. Atwater was presented by Broncos teammate Dennis Smith.

It’s hard to find a former Arkansas player with more accolades than Steve Atwater, so let’s just start from the top and list them out.

• 2-Time Super Bowl Champion
• 8-Time Pro Bowler
• 2-Time First-Team All-Pro
• All-1990s Team
• Pro Football Hall of Fame

Atwater is considered by many to be one of the best safeties in NFL history, and the Smiling Assassin was certainly consistent. He received an award or Pro Bowl appearance in all but 2 seasons, and he spent all but 1 season with the Denver Broncos after they selected him No. 20 overall in 1989.

Atwater was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

Darren McFadden, RB — No. 4 Overall Pick, 2008 NFL Draft (Oakland Raiders)

Darren McFadden is best known for his electric college career, but he did turn in a solid NFL career as well, spending 7 seasons with the Raiders and 3 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.

Let’s start with his college accolades. McFadden is a 2-time All-American, a 2-time SEC Offensive Player of the Year, a 2-time Doak Walker Award winner and the SEC Freshman of the Year for 2005. He totaled 4,590 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns across 3 playing seasons, 38 games total.

Because of his prowess in college McFadden was drafted No. 4 overall by the Oakland Raiders. He dealt with some injury issues his first 2 seasons, then had an excellent 2010 campaign, rushing for 1,157 yards with 7 touchdowns, adding 507 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. It was by far his best season in the NFL, and he did it all in just 13 games.

McFadden started the 2011 season hot, but his season fizzled out after 7 games due to a foot issue that was aggravating him. The Raiders shut him down, and he was never the same rusher the remainder of his NFL career. He struggled with consistency and injuries, only breaking the 1,000-yard mark once more in 2015 with Dallas.

At his best, McFadden was as talented as any running back across the past few decades. Here’s a look at some of that talent:

Felix Jones, RB — No. 22 Overall Pick, 2008 NFL Draft (Dallas Cowboys)

Oct 7, 2006; Auburn, AL, USA. Arkansas Razorbacks running back Felix Jones (25) escapes the grasp of Auburn Tigers defenders Karibi Dede (21) and Aairon Savage (2) at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. The Razorbacks upset the Tigers 27-10. Credit: Photo By John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Felix Jones is not the best running back in Arkansas history. Heck, he wasn’t even the best running back at Arkansas in 2007, his final year in college. Unfair of us to say? Absolutely, as Jones was an excellent player at Arkansas and went on to have a solid NFL career of 6 years.

But that 2007 Arkansas team was a testament to old-school football. They were going to run the ball 70% of the time, and unless you had an elite defensive line you were not going to stop them. And get this: buried in the depth chart behind McFadden and Jones was Peyton Hillis, who also went on to have a solid NFL career.

In the same year that McFadden rushed for 1,802 yards with 21 touchdowns, Jones rushed for 1,162 yards with 11 touchdowns, more than all but 3 rushers in the SEC: McFadden, Knowshon Moreno and Arian Foster. The Razorbacks had not one, but 2 all-star talents at running back in 2007, both of whom were drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft and went on to have strong NFL careers.

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Down South.