Teams That Didn't Pick in 1st Round Have Fared Well

A look at how teams without a first-round pick have performed in recent years

Apr. 19, 2026 at 8:35pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes in the Bengals' team colors, representing the strategic decision-making and competitive action of an NFL draft or football game.The Bengals' bold move to trade their first-round pick reflects the growing trend of teams finding success without a top draft selection.Cincinnati Today

By acquiring Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants, the Cincinnati Bengals will not make a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the first time they've done so since 1989. However, teams lacking first-round picks have actually fared quite well in recent years, with 59% of them reaching the playoffs and 35% making it to the conference championship game or Super Bowl.

Why it matters

The success of teams without first-round picks challenges the conventional wisdom that the first round is essential for building a winning roster. This trend could embolden more teams to trade away their first-rounders in exchange for established veteran talent, changing the dynamics of the NFL draft.

The details

Over the last 10 drafts, there have been 49 teams that didn't make a first-round pick, including a league-record 10 in 2022. Of those 49 teams, 29 (59%) reached the playoffs, 19 won their division, and 10 made it to the Super Bowl, with 4 winning the championship. Another 7 teams lost in the conference championship game, meaning 17 of the 49 (35%) were among the final four teams in the postseason.

  • In just the last 10 drafts, there have been 49 teams that didn't make a first-round pick, including a league-record 10 of them in 2022.
  • Since the outlier 2022 season, there have only been 10 total teams without a first-round pick in the last three drafts, and 8 of them (80%) made the playoffs.

The players

Dexter Lawrence

A defensive tackle acquired by the Cincinnati Bengals from the New York Giants in exchange for the Bengals' first-round pick.

Matthew Stafford

A veteran quarterback traded to the Los Angeles Rams, who gave up a first-round pick to acquire him.

Tyreek Hill

A star wide receiver traded to the Miami Dolphins, who gave up a first-round pick to get him.

Davante Adams

An elite wide receiver traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, who gave up a first-round pick to acquire him.

Jalen Ramsey

An All-Pro cornerback traded to the Los Angeles Rams, who gave up a first-round pick to get him.

Minkah Fitzpatrick

A talented defensive back traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who gave up a first-round pick to acquire him.

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What’s next

The Bengals will look to build on their success without a first-round pick, as they aim to return to the playoffs and make another Super Bowl run.

The takeaway

The trend of teams finding success without a first-round pick challenges the conventional wisdom about the importance of the opening round of the NFL Draft. This could lead to more teams trading away their top picks in exchange for proven veteran talent, changing the dynamics of the draft and roster-building strategies across the league.