Who was the oldest player selected in the NFL draft? It's quarterback Chris Weinke, who was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in Round 4 in 2001. Weinke, who was 28 years and 264 days old when he was drafted, had won the Heisman Trophy at Florida State in 2000, throwing 33 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. He did not have the same success in the NFL, however, as he managed just 15 touchdown passes -- with 26 picks -- in 29 career games with the Panthers and San Francisco 49ers.
What about the oldest quarterback to be a first-round pick in the NFL draft? It's Brandon Weeden, who was selected No. 22 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 draft. Weeden, who was 28 years and 195 days old when he was drafted, started 25 games across two seasons for Cleveland, throwing 23 touchdown passes and 26 interceptions. He was cut in 2014 and went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans.
Below is a list of the five oldest players drafted among all positions, going back to 1986. We also have the five oldest Round 1 quarterbacks drafted since 1967, the start of the common draft era:
Oldest players picked in the NFL draft since 1986
Draft: 2001
Team: Carolina Panthers
Pick: No. 106 (Round 4)
Career stats: Weinke threw for 3,904 yards, 15 touchdowns and 26 interceptions during his seven-year NFL career with the Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers.
Draft: 2012
Team: Cleveland Browns
Pick: No. 22 (Round 1)
Career stats: In his seven-year NFL career, Weeden threw for 6,462 yards, 31 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He played for the Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans.
Draft: 2012
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: No. 228 (Round 7)
Career stats: Pendleton played in the NFL for two years with the Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts. He recorded three total tackles and one assisted tackle in five games played.
Draft: 1991
Team: New Orleans Saints
Pick: No. 321 (Round 12)
Career stats: Prior to the NFL draft, Drabczak played football at the University of Minnesota for four years.
Andre King, WR: 27 years, 146 days
Draft: 2001
Team: Cleveland Browns
Pick: No. 245 (Round 7)
Career stats: King caught 30 receptions for 327 yards in four years with the Browns.
Oldest QBs drafted in the first round in the common draft era (since 1967)
Draft: 2012
Team: Cleveland Browns
Pick: No. 22
Draft: 1997
Team: San Francisco 49ers
Pick: No. 26
Career stats: In two seasons with the 49ers, Druckenmiller played in four games and threw for 239 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.
Draft: 1979
Team: New York Giants
Pick: No. 7
Career stats: Simms had a long career with the Giants, playing for 15 seasons and winning two Super Bowls -- and Super Bowl XXI MVP. He tallied up 33,462 passing yards, 199 touchdowns and 157 interceptions.
Draft: 2022
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick: No. 20
Career stats: Pickett threw for 2,404 yards and seven touchdowns with nine interceptions during his rookie season.
Draft: 2000
Team: New York Jets
Pick: No. 18
Career stats: Pennington played in the NFL for 11 seasons, eight with the Jets and three with the Miami Dolphins. He is a two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year winner (2006 and 2008). He threw for 17,823 passing yards and 102 touchdowns with 64 interceptions.
FAQs
The oldest player ever selected in the NFL draft was quarterback Chris Weinke, who was 28 years and 264 days old when the Panthers selected the Heisman Trophy winner out of Florida State in 2000.
Who is the oldest NFL player to get drafted? ›
It's quarterback Chris Weinke, who was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in Round 4 in 2001. Weinke, who was 28 years and 264 days old when he was drafted, had won the Heisman Trophy at Florida State in 2000, throwing 33 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions.
How old was Patrick Mahomes when he was drafted? ›
How old was Patrick Mahomes when he got drafted to the NFL? Patrick Mahomes declared for the 2017 NFL Draft at the age of 22. The Kansas City Chiefs traded up with the Buffalo Bills to secure the overall 10th selection, making Mahomes their first pick in the draft.
Who was the youngest player drafted in the NFL? ›
Amobi Okoye, DT, Houston Texans (2007 NFL Draft)
In 2007, Amobi Okoye became the youngest player ever drafted into the NFL at 19 years and 10 months old. Okoye was born in Anambra State, Nigeria, and moved to Alabama at the age of 12.
Who is the youngest quarterback in the 2024 draft? ›
Drake Maye, UNC: At 21 years old, Maye's one of the youngest QBs in this draft class — Daniels and Washington's Michael Penix Jr. are 23, while Oregon's Bo Nix is 24.
Has there ever been a 50 year old NFL player? ›
Blanda retired from pro football in August 1976 as the sport's oldest player at the age of 48, a mark that still stands. One of only two players to play in four different decades—the other one being John Carney, he holds the record for most extra points made (943) and attempted (959).
Who was the oldest quarterback drafted in the first round? ›
Weeden was selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 22nd pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Weeden became the oldest player ever taken in the first round, at 28 years old. Going into the 2012 regular season, the Browns named Weeden their starting quarterback.
Who is the richest retired NFL player? ›
Former National Football League (NFL) player and executive Jerry Richardson was the richest NFL player of all time as of January 2023, with a net worth of around two billion U.S. dollars.
Who was the 19 year old rookie in the NFL? ›
Edmunds became the second youngest player to be drafted in NFL history at 19 years 11 months 24 days old, only behind Amobi Okoye at 19 years old 10 months 18 days, in 2007. Edmunds' brother, Terrell, went on to be drafted in the first round (28th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Has anyone been drafted from high school to NFL? ›
Becoming a pro football player is a dream of many teenagers, but no matter how talented you are, you can't join the NFL straight out of high school. Some high school football stars are itching to go professional right after they graduate, but the NFL does not allow it, and they will have to wait a few years.
There are a few 20-year-olds in the 2024 NFL Draft class, but only one has the honor of being born in 2004 — Braelon Allen. The Wisconsin running back does not look anything like his age, as he comes in listed at 6-2, 240 pounds.
Who will be the best QB in the 2024 draft? ›
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| Rank | Quarterback | Fornelli Rating |
|---|
| 1. | Caleb Williams | 8.98% |
| 2. | J.J. McCarthy | 7.64% |
| 3. | Jayden Daniels | 2.93% |
| 4. | Spencer Rattler | 2.71% |
10 more rowsApr 25, 2024
2024 ESPN Top Quarterbacks: Pocket Passer
| RK | PLAYER | HT |
|---|
| 1 | Dylan Raiola Video | Scouts Report | 6'3'' |
| 2 | C.J. Carr Video | Scouts Report | 6'3'' |
| 3 | Air Noland Video | Scouts Report | 6'3'' |
| 4 | Michael Van Buren Video | Scouts Report | 6'0'' |
37 more rowsJohn Nesser is the oldest rookie. He was 45 years old in 1921.
| NAME | AGE | SEASON |
|---|
| Fritz Loven | 35 | 1929 |
| Dutch Forst | 35 | 1926 |
| Sav Rocca | 34 | 2007 |
| Dieter Brock | 34 | 1985 |
24 more rowsJason Peters, Robbie Gould, and Andy Lee are currently playing football even though they are above the age of 40. Peters is the oldest among them at 41 years old.
Who was the oldest player to play in an NFL game? ›
George Blanda is the oldest in a game. He was 48 years and 95 days old against the Chiefs on December 21, 1975.
How old was Joe Burrow when he was drafted? ›
Joe Burrow was drafted at the young age of 23 and in just two years, he has proven to be a huge hit with the long-suffering franchise. The first year went well until he tore his ACL and MCL in his left knee, which curtailed his rookie season.
