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.