TheNFL draft, officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting",[1][2][3] is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.[4] The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks. Teams that qualified for theNFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for theSuper Bowl runner-up and champion. Draft picks aretradable and players or other picks can be acquired with them.[5]
In 1936, the league introduced the NFL draft after team owners voted on it in 1935.[6][7] The intention of the draft is to make the NFL more competitive, as some teams had an advantage in signing players.[5][7] From1947 through1958 the NFL designated the first overall selection as a "bonus" or "lottery pick". The pick was awarded by a random draw and the winner who received the "bonus pick" forfeited its selection in the final round of the draft and became ineligible for future draws. The system was abolished prior to the1959 NFL draft, as all twelve teams in the league at the time had received a bonus choice.[8][9]
| Draft | Date | Rds. | Picks[10] | Venue[11] | City | First overall selection | Hall of Famers[10] | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | February 8, 1936 | 9 | 81 | Ritz-Carlton Hotel | Philadelphia | Jay Berwanger | 4 | [12] |
| 1937 | December 12, 1936 | 10 | 100 | Hotel Lincoln | New York | Sam Francis | 2 | [13] |
| 1938 | December 12, 1937 | 12 | 110 | Sherman House Hotel | Chicago | Corbett Davis | 2 | [14] |
| 1939 | December 9, 1938 | 22 | 200 | New Yorker Hotel | New York | Ki Aldrich | 1 | [15] |
| 1940 | December 9, 1939 | 22 | 200 | Schroeder Hotel | Milwaukee | George Cafego | 2 | [16] |
| 1941 | December 10, 1940 | 22 | 204 | Willard Hotel | Washington | Tom Harmon | 1 | [17] |
| 1942 | December 22, 1941 | 22 | 200 | Palmer House Hotel | Chicago | Bill Dudley | 1 | [18] |
| 1943 | April 8, 1943 | 32 | 300 | Palmer House Hotel | Chicago | Frank Sinkwich | 0 | [19] |
| 1944 | April 19, 1944 | 32 | 330 | Warwick Hotel | Philadelphia | Angelo Bertelli | 3 | [20] |
| 1945 | April 8, 1945 | 32 | 330 | Commodore Hotel | New York | Charley Trippi | 5 | [21] |
| 1946 | January 14, 1946 | 32 | 300 | Commodore Hotel | New York | Frank Dancewicz | 1 | [22] |
| 1947 | December 16, 1946 | 32 | 300 | Commodore Hotel | New York | Bob Fenimore | 2 | [23] |
| 1948 | December 19, 1947 | 32 | 300 | Fort Pitt Hotel | Pittsburgh | Harry Gilmer | 3 | [24] |
| 1949 | December 21, 1948 | 25 | 251 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel Schenley Hotel | Philadelphia | Chuck Bednarik | 4 | [25] |
| 1950 | January 20–21, 1950 | 30 | 391 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel Racquet Club of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Leon Hart | 5 | [26] |
| 1951 | January 18–19, 1951 | 30 | 362 | Blackstone Hotel | Chicago | Kyle Rote | 8 | [27] |
| 1952 | January 17, 1952 | 30 | 360 | Hotel Statler | New York | Bill Wade | 4 | [28] |
| 1953 | January 22, 1953 | 30 | 360 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel | Philadelphia | Harry Babcock | 8 | [29] |
| 1954 | January 28, 1954 | 30 | 360 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel | Philadelphia | Bobby Garrett | 1 | [30] |
| 1955 | January 27–28, 1955 | 30 | 360 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel Warwick Hotel | New York | George Shaw | 1 | [31] |
| 1956 | November 28, 1955, January 17–18, 1956 | 30 | 360 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel Ambassador Hotel | Philadelphia Los Angeles | Gary Glick | 4 | [32] |
| 1957 | November 26, 1956, January 31, 1957 | 30 | 360 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel Warwick Hotel | Philadelphia | Paul Hornung | 9 | [33] |
| 1958 | December 2, 1957, January 28, 1958 | 30 | 360 | Warwick Hotel | Philadelphia | King Hill | 4 | [34] |
| 1959 | December 1, 1958, January 21, 1959 | 30 | 360 | Warwick Hotel | Philadelphia | Randy Duncan | 1 | [35] |
| 1960 | November 30, 1959 | 20 | 240 | Warwick Hotel | Philadelphia | Billy Cannon | 2 | [36] |
| 1961 | December 27–28, 1960 | 20 | 280 | Warwick Hotel | Philadelphia | Tommy Mason | 7 | [37] |
| 1962 | December 4, 1961 | 20 | 280 | Sheraton Hotel & Towers | Chicago | Ernie Davis | 2 | [38] |
| 1963 | December 3, 1962 | 20 | 280 | Sheraton Hotel & Towers | Chicago | Terry Baker | 5 | [39] |
| 1964 | December 2, 1963 | 20 | 280 | Sheraton Hotel & Towers | Chicago | Dave Parks | 11 | [40] |
| 1965 | November 28, 1964 | 20 | 280 | Summit Hotel | New York | Tucker Frederickson | 5 | [41] |
| 1966 | November 27, 1965 | 20 | 305 | Summit Hotel | New York | Tommy Nobis | 1 | [42] |
| 1967 | March 14–15, 1967 | 17 | 445 | Gotham Hotel | New York | Bubba Smith | 8 | [43] |
| 1968 | January 30–31, 1968 | 17 | 462 | Belmont Plaza Hotel | New York | Ron Yary | 8 | [44] |
| 1969 | January 28–29, 1969 | 17 | 442 | Belmont Plaza Hotel | New York | O. J. Simpson | 5 | [45] |
| 1970 | January 27–28, 1970 | 17 | 442 | Belmont Plaza Hotel | New York | Terry Bradshaw | 2 | [46] |
| 1971 | January 28–29, 1971 | 17 | 442 | Belmont Plaza Hotel | New York | Jim Plunkett | 4 | [47] |
| 1972 | February 1–2, 1972 | 17 | 442 | Essex House | New York | Walt Patulski | 1 | [48] |
| 1973 | January 30–31, 1973 | 17 | 442 | Americana Hotel | New York | John Matuszak | 4 | [49] |
| 1974 | January 29–30, 1974 | 17 | 442 | Americana Hotel | New York | Ed "Too Tall" Jones | 5 | [50] |
| 1975 | January 28–29, 1975 | 17 | 442 | Hilton at Rockefeller Center | New York | Steve Bartkowski | 3 | [51] |
| 1976 | April 8–9, 1976 | 17 | 487 | Roosevelt Hotel | New York | Lee Roy Selmon | 5 | [52] |
| 1977 | May 3–4, 1977 | 12 | 335 | Roosevelt Hotel | New York | Ricky Bell | 1 | [53] |
| 1978 | May 2–3, 1978 | 12 | 334 | Roosevelt Hotel | New York | Earl Campbell | 3 | [54] |
| 1979 | May 3–4, 1979 | 12 | 330 | Waldorf-Astoria Hotel | New York | Tom Cousineau | 3 | [55] |
| 1980 | April 29–30, 1980 | 12 | 333 | New York Sheraton Hotel | New York | Billy Sims | 3 | [56] |
| 1981 | April 28–29, 1981 | 12 | 332 | New York Sheraton Hotel | New York | George Rogers | 6 | [57] |
| 1982 | April 27–28, 1982 | 12 | 334 | New York Sheraton Hotel | New York | Kenneth Sims | 3 | [58] |
| 1983 | April 26–27, 1983 | 12 | 335 | New York Sheraton Hotel | New York | John Elway | 7 | [59] |
| 1984 | May 1–2, 1984 | 12 | 336 | New York Sheraton Hotel | New York | Irving Fryar | 0 | [60] |
| 1985 | April 30 – May 1, 1985 | 12 | 336 | New York Sheraton Hotel | New York | Bruce Smith | 5 | [61] |
| 1986 | April 29–30, 1986 | 12 | 333 | New York Marriott Marquis | New York | Bo Jackson | 1 | [62] |
| 1987 | April 28–29, 1987 | 12 | 335 | New York Marriott Marquis | New York | Vinny Testaverde | 1 | [63] |
| 1988 | April 24–25, 1988 | 12 | 333 | New York Marriott Marquis | New York | Aundray Bruce | 5 | [64] |
| 1989 | April 23–24, 1989 | 12 | 335 | New York Marriott Marquis | New York | Troy Aikman | 4 | [65] |
| 1990 | April 22–23, 1990 | 12 | 332 | New York Marriott Marquis | New York | Jeff George | 4 | [66] |
| 1991 | April 21–22, 1991 | 12 | 334 | New York Marriott Marquis | New York | Russell Maryland | 2 | [67] |
| 1992 | April 26–27, 1992 | 12 | 336 | New York Marriott Marquis | New York | Steve Emtman | 0 | [68] |
| 1993 | April 25–26, 1993 | 8 | 224 | New York Marriott Marquis | New York | Drew Bledsoe | 5 | [69] |
| 1994 | April 24–25, 1994 | 7 | 222 | New York Marriott Marquis | New York | Dan Wilkinson | 5 | [70] |
| 1995 | April 22–23, 1995 | 7 | 249 | Theater at Madison Square Garden | New York | Ki-Jana Carter | 6 | [71] |
| 1996 | April 20–21, 1996 | 7 | 254 | Theater at Madison Square Garden | New York | Keyshawn Johnson | 5 | [72] |
| 1997 | April 19–20, 1997 | 7 | 240 | Theater at Madison Square Garden | New York | Orlando Pace | 4 | [73] |
| 1998 | April 18–19, 1998 | 7 | 241 | Theater at Madison Square Garden | New York | Peyton Manning | 4 | [74] |
| 1999 | April 17–18, 1999 | 7 | 253 | Theater at Madison Square Garden | New York | Tim Couch | 2 | [75] |
| 2000 | April 15–16, 2000 | 7 | 254 | Theater at Madison Square Garden | New York | Courtney Brown | 1 | [76] |
| 2001 | April 21–22, 2001 | 7 | 246 | Theater at Madison Square Garden | New York | Michael Vick | 3 | [77] |
| 2002 | April 20–21, 2002 | 7 | 261 | Theater at Madison Square Garden | New York | David Carr | 1 | [78] |
| 2003 | April 26–27, 2003 | 7 | 262 | Theater at Madison Square Garden | New York | Carson Palmer | 1 | [79] |
| 2004 | April 24–25, 2004 | 7 | 255 | Theater at Madison Square Garden | New York | Eli Manning | 0 | [80] |
| 2005 | April 23–24, 2005 | 7 | 255 | Javits Center | New York | Alex Smith | 0 | [81] |
| 2006 | April 29–30, 2006 | 7 | 255 | Radio City Music Hall | New York | Mario Williams | 0 | [82] |
| 2007 | April 28–29, 2007 | 7 | 255 | Radio City Music Hall | New York | JaMarcus Russell | 4 | [83] |
| 2008 | April 26–27, 2008 | 7 | 252 | Radio City Music Hall | New York | Jake Long | 0 | [84] |
| 2009 | April 25–26, 2009 | 7 | 256 | Radio City Music Hall | New York | Matthew Stafford | 0 | [85] |
| 2010 | April 22–24, 2010 | 7 | 255 | Radio City Music Hall | New York | Sam Bradford | 0 | [86] |
| 2011 | April 28–30, 2011 | 7 | 254 | Radio City Music Hall | New York | Cam Newton | 0 | [87] |
| 2012 | April 26–28, 2012 | 7 | 253 | Radio City Music Hall | New York | Andrew Luck | 0 | [88] |
| 2013 | April 25–27, 2013 | 7 | 254 | Radio City Music Hall | New York | Eric Fisher | 0 | [89] |
| 2014 | May 8–10, 2014 | 7 | 256 | Radio City Music Hall | New York | Jadeveon Clowney | 0 | [90] |
| 2015 | April 30 – May 2, 2015 | 7 | 256 | Auditorium Theatre Grant Park | Chicago | Jameis Winston | 0 | [91] |
| 2016 | April 28–30, 2016 | 7 | 253 | Auditorium Theatre Grant Park | Chicago | Jared Goff | 0 | [92][93] |
| 2017 | April 27–29, 2017 | 7 | 253 | Eakins Oval | Philadelphia | Myles Garrett | 0 | [94][95] |
| 2018 | April 26–28, 2018 | 7 | 256 | AT&T Stadium | Arlington | Baker Mayfield | 0 | [96][97] |
| 2019 | April 25–27, 2019 | 7 | 254 | Lower Broadway | Nashville | Kyler Murray | 0 | [98][99] |
| 2020 | April 23–25, 2020 | 7 | 255 | Virtual[a][100] | Joe Burrow | 0 | [101] | |
| 2021 | April 29 – May 1, 2021 | 7 | 259 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Cleveland | Trevor Lawrence | 0 | [102][103] |
| 2022 | April 28–30, 2022 | 7 | 262 | Bellagio | Paradise | Travon Walker | 0 | [104][105] |
| 2023 | April 27–29, 2023 | 7 | 259 | Union Station | Kansas City | Bryce Young | 0 | [106][107] |
| 2024 | April 25–27, 2024 | 7 | 257 | Hart Plaza Campus Martius Park | Detroit | Caleb Williams | 0 | [108][109] |
| 2025 | April 24–26, 2025 | 7 | 257 | Lambeau Field | Green Bay | Cam Ward | 0 | [110] |
| 2026 | April 23–25, 2026 | 7 | 257 | Point State Park Acrisure Stadium | Pittsburgh | [111] | ||
| 2027 | National Mall | Washington | [112] | |||||