Yardbarker
x
When the most recent Heisman Trophy winners were drafted
Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

When the most recent Heisman Trophy winners were drafted

The Heisman Trophy, essentially the NCAA's MVP Award, is among the greatest individual awards in sports. But winning it doesn't guarantee NFL success. Here's a look at how Heisman winners since 1990 have performed in the league.

 
1 of 29

2018: Kyler Murray, QB

2018: Kyler Murray, QB
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

Murray was the second consecutive Oklahoma Sooners quarterback to win the Heisman, throwing for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2018. Like Baker Mayfield before him, Murray was the first overall pick in the following year's NFL draft, going to the Arizona Cardinals. Despite a 5-10-1 record in his rookie season, Murray backed up the hype with 3,722 yards passing and 20 touchdowns, along 544 yards rushing to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

 
2 of 29

2017: Baker Mayfield, QB

2017: Baker Mayfield, QB
Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports

Mayfield starred at quarterback for three years at Oklahoma — he played as a freshman at Texas Tech in 2013 before transferring. He capped his college career by winning the Heisman as a senior. Mayfield threw for 4,627 yards and 43 touchdowns, completing 70 percent of his passes, in his final season for the Sooners. Mayfield, who went No. 1 overall to Cleveland in the 2018 NFL Draft, led a resurgence for the 7-8-1 Browns but struggled in his sophomore season.

 
3 of 29

2016: Lamar Jackson, QB

2016: Lamar Jackson, QB
Mark Zerof / USA TODAY Sports

The dynamic Louisville quarterback amazed with his arm and legs in 2016, taking home the Heisman as a sophomore (3,543 yards passing, 1,571 yards rushing). As a junior, he threw for 3,660 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for 1,601 yards and 18 more TDs. He was drafted by Baltimore with the 32nd and last pick of the first round in 2018. Jackson was named the Ravens starter in December 2018, supplanting veteran Joe Flacco. He won the NFL MVP in 2019.

 
4 of 29

2015: Derrick Henry, RB

2015: Derrick Henry, RB
Christopher Hanewinckel / USA TODAY Sports

Taken in the second round by the Titans (45th overall), Henry rushed for 3,591 yards in three seasons at Alabama. In four seasons with the Titans, he has topped 1,000 rushing yards twice and led the NFL in rushing yards and scores in 2019.

 
5 of 29

2014: Marcus Mariota, QB

2014: Marcus Mariota, QB
Winslow Townson / USA TODAY Sports

Mariota went second overall in the 2015 draft to the Titans after a brilliant career at Oregon. He had mixed success in Tennessee, battling injuries and topping 3,000 yards passing only twice in five seasons. Mariota signed with the Raiders during the 2020 offseason to back up Derek Carr.

 
6 of 29

2013: Jameis Winston, QB

2013: Jameis Winston, QB
Wesley Hitt / Getty Images

Winston went first overall in the 2015 draft to the Buccaneers after a stellar on-field career at Florida State. He threw for 4,042 yards and 22 touchdowns in his rookie season, but he has battled inaccuracy. In five seasons in the NFL, he has thrown 15, 18, 11, 14, and 30 interceptions.


 
7 of 29

2012: Johnny Manziel, QB

2012: Johnny Manziel, QB
Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports

Johnny Football went 22nd overall to the Browns in the 2014 draft after a great career at Texas A&M. After two seasons struggling on and off the field, the Browns cut him. He last played in the Alliance of American Football, which later suspended operations.

 
8 of 29

2011: Robert Griffin III, QB

2011: Robert Griffin III, QB
Thomas B. Shaw / Getty Images

The Redskins traded up for the second overall pick in the 2012 draft to select Griffin. The Baylor star was terrific in his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign, leading Washington to the playoffs after throwing for 3,200 yards with 20 TDs and five interceptions. He hasn't been the same since hurting his knee in the playoffs that year. He's backed up Lamar Jackson in Baltimore over the last two years.

 
9 of 29

2010: Cam Newton, QB

2010: Cam Newton, QB
Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Newton went first overall to the Panthers in 2011 after leading Auburn to a national title. In his rookie season, he threw for 4,051 yards. A three-time Pro Bowler, the eight-year veteran earned the NFL MVP after leading the Panthers to a 15-1 record in 2015. He labored through injuries over the last two years, finally getting released by Carolina during the 2020 offseason.

 
10 of 29

2009: Mark Ingram, RB

2009: Mark Ingram, RB
Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Ingram went 28th overall to the Saints in the 2011 draft after a great career at Alabama. In eight seasons in the league, he topped 1,000 yards rushing twice — 1,043 in 2016 and 1,124 in 2017. He surpassed 1,000 yards rushing again in 2019 with the Ravens.


 
11 of 29

2008: Sam Bradford, QB

2008: Sam Bradford, QB
Streeter Lecka / Getty Images

Bradford went first overall to the Rams in the 2010 draft after a stellar career at Oklahoma. He had five injury-plagued seasons with the Rams and then mixed results as a starter in Philadelphia and Minnesota. In 2018, he was a disaster in Arizona before finally retiring.

 
12 of 29

2007: Tim Tebow, QB

2007: Tim Tebow, QB
Jim Rogash / Getty Images

The Broncos shocked the football world by selecting Tebow 25th overall in the 2010 draft out of Florida. One of the best college football players ever, Tebow didn't transition well to the pros. A highly inaccurate passer, Tebow started only 14 games in his two seasons in Denver, but he helped lead the team to the playoffs in 2011. Tebow played 12 more games with the Jets in 2012 as a fullback but has not played in the league since. Aiming to jump-start an MLB career, Tebow has toiled in the Mets minor league system.

 
13 of 29

2006: Troy Smith, QB

2006: Troy Smith, QB
Larry French / Getty Images

Baltimore selected Smith in the fifth round of the 2007 draft out of Ohio State, where he threw for 2,542 yards during the Buckeyes' undefeated regular season. He started eight games over his four NFL seasons between the Ravens and 49ers. He last played in the league in 2010.

 
14 of 29

2005: Reggie Bush, RB

2005: Reggie Bush, RB
Chris Graythen / Getty Images

Bush went second overall in the 2006 draft to New Orleans, as Houston controversially selected Mario Williams ahead of him. He wasn't the NFL star many expected after a great career at USC. He finished his NFL career with 5,490 yards rushing and 3,598 receiving yards over 10 seasons with five franchises.

 
15 of 29

2004: Matt Leinart, QB

2004: Matt Leinart, QB
Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

Leinart, selected 10th overall in 2006 by the Cardinals after an accomplished career at USC, struggled as a pro. He started 11 games his rookie season but only seven more the remaining five years of his career. He finished his career as a bench-warmer for the Raiders in 2012.

 
16 of 29

2003: Jason White, QB

2003: Jason White, QB
Tom Hauck / Getty Images

White went undrafted after a great college career at Oklahoma. He was signed as a free agent by the Titans in 2005 but decided to retire.

 
17 of 29

2002: Carson Palmer, QB

2002: Carson Palmer, QB
Jared Wickerham / Getty Images

A standout at Southern Cal, Palmer, the first overall pick in the 2003 draft, led the Bengals to an 11-5 record in his second season in the league. He played in Cincinnati for seven seasons before finishing his career with Oakland and Arizona. He retired after the 2017 season with 46,247 yards passing and 294 TD passes.

 
18 of 29

2001: Eric Crouch, QB

2001: Eric Crouch, QB
Elsa / Getty Images

Crouch was taken in the third round of the 2002 draft by the Rams to play wideout after a great career as quarterback at Nebraska. He got hurt in his first training camp and never played a down for the Rams, though he did play safety in NFL Europe and quarterback in the CFL.

 
19 of 29

2000: Chris Weinke, QB

2000: Chris Weinke, QB
Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

Weinke went in the fourth round to Carolina in 2001, starting 15 games as a 29-year-old rookie and going 1-14. He was a backup for the rest of his NFL career.

 
20 of 29

1999: Ron Dayne, RB

1999: Ron Dayne, RB
Adam Pretty / Getty Images

Dayne went 11th overall to the Giants in 2000 after a historic career at Wisconsin, where he rushed for 7,125 yards in four seasons. He twice rushed for more than 2,000 yards in a season for the Badgers. In the NFL, he never came close to his college success. Dayne was eventually unseated by Tiki Barber and started only 28 games over his seven-year career.

 
21 of 29

1998: Ricky Williams, RB

1998: Ricky Williams, RB
Harry How / Getty Images

The Saints famously traded up to draft the University of Texas star fifth overall in 1999. He failed to fulfill expectations until he was traded in 2002 to Miami, where he rushed for 1,853 yards his first season with the Dolphins. Williams, who retired after the 2003 season, came back to play six more seasons in the league. He finished his career with 10,009 yards rushing.

 
22 of 29

1997: Charles Woodson, CB/WR

1997: Charles Woodson, CB/WR
Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

Woodson, a star at Michigan, went fourth overall to the Raiders in 1998. He had a Hall of Fame career as a defensive back, with 65 career interceptions. He retired after his second stint in Oakland following the 2015 season.

 
23 of 29

1996: Danny Wuerffel, QB

1996: Danny Wuerffel, QB
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

A fourth-round pick by the Saints in 1997 out of Florida, Wuerffel started only 10 games in six seasons in the NFL. He was an interception machine in the league, tossing 22 interceptions in 350 attempts (6.2 percent interception rate).

 
24 of 29

1995: Eddie George, RB

1995: Eddie George, RB
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

The 14th overall pick of the Oilers in 1996 out of Ohio State, George had a productive career. He rushed for over 1,000 yards seven times — including a high of 1,509 yards in 2000. He retired with 10,441 rushing yards.

 
25 of 29

1994: Rashaan Salaam, RB

1994: Rashaan Salaam, RB
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

Drafted 21st overall by the Bears in 1995, Salaam was an NFL disappointment. He rushed for 1,074 yards in his rookie season but averaged only 3.6 yards per carry and struggled to stay on the field over the next four years. On Dec. 5, 2016, he was found dead in a park in Boulder, Colorado. His death was ruled a suicide. The Heisman was a heavy burden for the former Colorado star.

 
26 of 29

1993: Charlie Ward, QB

1993: Charlie Ward, QB
Rick Stewart / Getty Images

A two-sport star in college at Florida State, Ward decided to play in the NBA after he was drafted by the Knicks. He never played in the NFL. 

 
27 of 29

1992: Gino Torretta, QB

1992: Gino Torretta, QB
Joel Stahl / Getty Images

After a great career at Miami, Torretta went in the seventh round of the 1993 draft to the Vikings. He threw only 16 passes in the league, completing five, in two seasons.

 
28 of 29

1991: Desmond Howard, WR

1991: Desmond Howard, WR
Joseph Patronite / Getty Images

The fourth overall pick by the Redskins in the 1992 draft out of Michigan, Howard made a far greater contribution in the NFL as a kick returner than a wide receiver. He was Super Bowl MVP for the Packers and an All-Pro in 1996 as a kick returner.

 
29 of 29

1990: Ty Detmer, QB

1990: Ty Detmer, QB
Harry Scull Jr. / Getty Images

Detmer went in the ninth round of the 1992 draft to the Packers and had a long career as a backup. In addition to the Packers, the former BYU star played with Eagles, Niners, Browns and Lions. 

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.