25 wealthiest No. 1 NFL draft picks

This week, the nation’s elite college football players are nervously waiting to find out if and where they will be drafted during the NFL’s 81st annual draft, which gets underway Thursday. The draft will include 253 picks over seven rounds. Quarterbacks Carson Wentz of North Dakota State and Jared Goff of California are expected to be the two top picks in this year’s draft.

Many No. 1 picks never reach the lofty expectations that come along with being chosen first among the best of the best. In fact, of the richest NFL players of all time, only two were No. 1 draft picks. The other five include Brett Favre (pick 33 in 1991), Tom Brady (pick 199 in 2000), John Madden (pick 244 in 1958), Roger Staubach (pick 129 in 1964) and Jerry Richardson (pick 154 in 1958).

The NFL’s very first No. 1 draft pick, John Jacob “Jay” Berwanger, never even played in the NFL after the Philadelphia Eagles declined to meet his reported salary demands of $1,000 per game.

But many No. 1 picks have fulfilled the expectations that accompany being chosen first. In addition to commanding higher salaries (which are growing every year), these players often also attract endorsement deals and speaking engagements that further fatten their wallets.

Consider last year’s top pick, Jameis Winston. He garnered a rookie contract worth more than $22 million, including a signing bonus of more than $14 million. These numbers automatically land him near the top of the list of the wealthiest No. 1 NFL draft picks.

If this year’s No. 1 pick came to you for financial advice, what advice would you give him?

Following are the top 25 No. 1 NFL draft picks ranked by their net worth as estimated by celebritynetworth.com.

25. Vinny Testaverde

Estimated Net Worth: $10 million

Position: Quarterback

College: Miami (Florida)

NFL Draft Year: 1987

Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Years Played: 21

Pro Bowl Selections: 2

(Photo: Henry Hoegen/Wikimedia Commons)

24. Bruce Smith

Estimated Net Worth: $12 million

Position: Defensive End

College: Virginia Tech

NFL Draft Year: 1985

Drafted by: Buffalo Bills

Years Played: 18

Pro Bowl Selections: 11

(Photo: Michele Moore/Wikimedia Commons)

23. Jadeveon Clowney

Estimated Net Worth: $13 million

Position: Defensive End

College: South Carolina

NFL Draft Year: 2014

Drafted by: Houston Texans

Years Played: 2

Pro Bowl Selections: 0

(Photo: Ian McCormick/Wikimedia Commons)

22. (tie) Matthew Stafford

Estimated Net Worth: $15 million

Position: Quarterback

College: Georgia

NFL Draft Year: 2009

Drafted by: Detroit Lions

Years Played: 7

Pro Bowl Selections: 1

(Photo: Mike Morbeck/Wikimedia Commons)

22. (tie) Alex Smith

Estimated Net Worth: $15 million

Position: Quarterback

College: Utah

NFL Draft Year: 2005

Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers

Years Played: 11

Pro Bowl Selections: 2

(Photo: John Martinez Pavliga/Wikimedia Commons)

22. (tie) Terry Bradshaw

Estimated Net Worth: $15 million

Position: Quarterback

College: Louisiana Tech

NFL Draft Year: 1970

Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers

Years Played: 14

Pro Bowl Selections: 3 

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

19. (tie) Bo Jackson

Estimated Net Worth: $16 million

Position: Running Back

College: Auburn

NFL Draft Year: 1986 

Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Years Played: 4

Pro Bowl Selections: 1

(Photo: By James C. Dillard/Wikimedia Commons)

19. (tie) Michael Vick

Estimated Net Worth: $16 million

Position: Quarterback

College: Virginia Tech 

NFL Draft Year: 2001

Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons

Years Played: 15

Pro Bowl Selections: 4

(Photo: Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons)

17. David Carr

Estimated Net Worth: $19 million

Position: Quarterback

College: Fresno State

NFL Draft Year: 2002

Drafted by: Houston Texans

Years Played: 11

Pro Bowl Selections: 0

(Photo: BrokenSphere/Wikimedia Commons)

16. Andrew Luck

Estimated Net Worth: $20 million

Position: Quarterback

College: Stanford

NFL Draft Year: 2012

Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts

Years Played: 4

Pro Bowl Selections: 3

(Photo: Jeffrey Beall/Wikimedia Commons)

15. Keyshawn Johnson

Estimated Net Worth: $20 million

Position: Wide receiver

College: Southern California

NFL Draft Year: 1996

Drafted by: New York Jets

Years Played: 11

Pro Bowl Selections: 4

(Photo: Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons)

14. (tie) Troy Aikman

Estimated Net Worth: $25 million

Position: Quarterback

College: UCLA

NFL Draft Year: 1989 

Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys

Years Played: 12