Winston, Mariota go 1-2 in 2015 NFL draft

The tradition of Heisman winners being highly coveted by the NFL continued this week…and how!

The overall first pick of this past Thursday’s 2015 NFL draft was 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston out of Florida State, selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The very next pick was 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota of Oregon, selected by the Tennessee Titans.

It marked the first time in history that Heisman winners were selected as the first two picks of an NFL draft. Winston became the 20th Heisman winner to be the first overall pick, while he and Mariota are the 52nd and 53rd winners to be taken in the first round. Every Heisman winner from 2007 onward has been a first round pick (and 10 of the last 11 overall).

The draft was also kind to the other two finalists from the 2014 Heisman race. Reigning Heisman runner up Melvin Gordon was selected as the 15th pick by the San Diego Chargers, while third-place finisher and Heisman finalist Amari Cooper was the fourth pick, headed to Oakland.