Vanderbilt All-Time First-Round NFL Draft Picks

Vanderbilt football has produced 125 NFL Draft Picks across the years, the lowest number in the SEC. But while the Commodores don’t quite have the draft pedigree of Alabama, LSU or Tennessee, there are still some strong players in that list of 125.

Vanderbilt has produced 9 first-round picks across its history, including one No. 1 overall pick. Vanderbilt’s latest first-round selection was Chris Williams in 2008, who was selected by the Chicago Bears.

Here’s a list of all 9 first-round selections out of Vanderbilt:

Vanderbilt No. 1 Overall Picks

As mentioned, a Vanderbilt player has heard his name before anyone else once before on draft night. That’s something not every SEC program can say, folks.

Here’s a closer look at Vanderbilt’s top NFL draftee:

Billy Wade, QB — No. 1 Overall Pick, 1952 NFL Draft (Los Angeles Rams)

Vanderbilt’s member of the No. 1 overall club is Billy Wade, who played quarterback in Nashville and starred in 1951 and 1952. He won SEC MVP in 1951 and was selected by the Rams with the first pick after the following year.

Wade served in the military until 1954 when he finally ended up in Los Angeles. He played there for 7 seasons, playing especially well in 1958 when he led the NFL in passing and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. Wade then landed in Chicago in 1961 and finished his career there, 6 total seasons. He led Chicago to an NFL Championship over the New York Giants in 1963 and retired in 1966.

Wade was made a member of the inaugural 2008 Vanderbilt Hall of Fame class. He passed away in Nashville at the age of 85 on March 9, 2016.

More Notable Vanderbilt Draft Selections

Jay Cutler, QB — No. 11 Overall pick, 2006 NFL Draft (Denver Broncos)

Jay Cutler stands on the sideline during a game against the Packers on Sept. 25, 2011.

Jay Cutler is one of the most interesting characters to ever play in the NFL. He’s also perhaps the greatest QB in Vanderbilt history right there alongside Wade.

Cutler started his NFL career with the Broncos, who drafted him in 2006 with the No. 11 overall pick. He only spent 3 years in Denver before being traded to Chicago in 2008.

Cutler’s career in Chicago was full of ups (such as a 2010 NFC Championship appearance) and downs (4 interceptions his first game). But he’s still one of the best quarterbacks to ever play for the Bears, leading the historic franchise in career passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions.

Casey Hayward, DB — No. 62 Overall pick, 2012 NFL Draft (Green Bay Packers)

Casey Hayward is one of Vanderbilt’s latest success stories in the NFL. He played 4 seasons in Nashville, earning a larger role in his sophomore season. He finished his college career with 15 interceptions and 18 tackles for loss against SEC offenses.

Green Bay selected Hayward in the second round, No. 62 overall in 2012. He was an instant contributor, finishing third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Hayward made it to a pair of Pro Bowls with the Charger before his career finished after the 2022 season.

Will Wolford, T — No. 20 Overall pick, 1986 NFL Draft (Buffalo Bills)

Will Wolford was the definition of consistent in the NFL. The standout tackle started all 191 games he played in the NFL across 13 seasons and played 8 seasons without missing a single game. At a position where availability may be the best quality, that’s important.

Wolford was selected No. 2o overall in the 1986 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, also spending time with the Colts and Steelers before the end of his career in 1998. Wolford was named a second-team All-Pro in 1992 and finished with 3 Pro Bowl appearances — in 1990, 1992 and 1995.

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.