The2008 NFL draft was the 73rdannual meeting ofNational Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligibleAmerican football players. The draft took place atRadio City Music Hall inNew York City,New York, on April 26 and April 27, 2008.[1][2] For the 29th consecutive year,ESPN televised the draft; theNFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so. Of the 252 selections,[3] 220 were regular selections in rounds one through seven, and 32 werecompensatory selections,[4] distributed among rounds three through seven.[5] As of the end of the 2018 season, 27 players have been selected to the Pro Bowl.
For the first time since the common draft began, nowide receiver was selected in the first round. For the first time ever, the first two picks had the same last name (Jake and Chris Long; they were unrelated). Also, a then-record 34 trades were made during the draft itself.[6] The number of trades was later broken in2017.
As of 2025, there are only 5 remaining active players in the NFL from the 2008 draft class: Cardinals defensive endCalais Campbell, Bengals quarterbackJoe Flacco, Panthers long snapperJ. J. Jansen, 49ers long snapperJon Weeks, and Commanders quarterbackJosh Johnson, although Johnson was absent from 2014 to 2017, from 2019 to 2020, and again in 2023.
The schedule for the draft was changed: day one began at 3:00 PM.EDT (1900UTC), instead of noon, and consisted of just two rounds. Day two began with round three at 10:00 AM EDT (1400 UTC), instead of 11:00 AM. Moreover, the time limits for day one selections were reduced, from 15 minutes to ten for first-round picks and from ten minutes to seven in the second. The limit remained five minutes for all picks in rounds three through seven.[7]
The draft also marked the official debut of a new NFL shield logo, replacing the old shield logo which had been used since 1970, featuring eight white stars to represent each of the league's eight divisions, and a football rotated to the same angle as the one on the top of theVince Lombardi Trophy given to the Super Bowl champion.[8]
The 2016 MVPMatt Ryan was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Falcons.QuarterbackJoe Flacco, drafted 18th overall, led theBaltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl win and holds many team passing records.CornerbackAqib Talib, drafted 20th overall, has made 5Pro Bowls and was named anAll-Pro twice.24th overall pickChris Johnson holds the NFL record for most yards from scrimmage in a single season, and is one of nine members of the2,000-yard club.
Jordy Nelson (top) andDeSean Jackson (bottom), two All-Pro receivers, were both taken in the second round
Defensive endCliff Avril, drafted 92nd overall in the third round, won a Super Bowl with theSeattle Seahawks and was named to aPro Bowl in 2016.
In the explanations below,(PD) indicates trades completed prior to the start of the draft (i.e.Pre-Draft), while(D) denotes trades that took place during the 2008 draft.
#7: San Francisco → New England (PD). San Francisco traded its first-round selection in 2008 and a fourth-round selection inthe 2007 draft (No. 110, traded to the Oakland Raiders forRandy Moss, used to selectJohn Bowie), to New England for one of its first-round selections in 2007 (No. 28, used to selectJoe Staley).[source 1]
#7: New England → New Orleans (D). New England traded its first- and fifth-round selections (No. 7 and 164) to New Orleans for New Orleans' first- and third-round selections (No. 10 and 78).[source 2][source 3]
^#8: Baltimore → Jacksonville (D). Baltimore traded its first-round selection to Jacksonville for Jacksonville's first-round selection, two third-round selections, and fourth-round selection (No. 26, 71, 89, 125).[source 2]
^#15: Detroit → Kansas City (D). Detroit traded its first- and third-round selections (No. 15 and 76) to Kansas City for Kansas City's second first-round selection, first third-round selection, and first fifth-round selection (No. 17, 66, and 136).[source 2]
#17: Minnesota → Kansas City (PD). Minnesota traded its first-round selection and their two third-round selections (No. 73 and 82) and pick 182 to Kansas City for defensive endJared Allen and pick 187.[source 4]
^#18: Houston → Baltimore (D). Houston traded its first-round selection to Baltimore for the first-round and (second) third-round selections Baltimore acquired from Jacksonville, and a sixth-round selection (No. 26, 89, and 173).[source 2]
^#19: Philadelphia → Carolina (D). Philadelphia traded its first-round selection to Carolina for Carolina's second- and fourth-round selections in 2008 (No. 43 and 109), and Carolina's first-round pick in 2009.
^#21: Washington → Atlanta (D). Washington traded its first-, third-, and fifth-round selections (No. 21, 84, and 154) to Atlanta for two of Atlanta's second-round selections and its fourth-round selection (No. 34, 48, and 103).[source 2]
^#22: Cleveland → Dallas (PD). Cleveland traded its first-round selection in 2008 and a second-round selection in 2007 (No. 36, later traded to Philadelphia, who selectedKevin Kolb) for Dallas' first-round selection in 2007 (No. 22, used to selectBrady Quinn).[source 5]
^#25: Seattle → Dallas (D). Seattle traded its first-round selection to Dallas for Dallas' remaining first-round selection (No. 28) and its fifth- and seventh-round selections (No. 163 and 235).[source 2]
^#29: Indianapolis → San Francisco (PD). Indianapolis traded its first-round selection in 2008 and a fourth-round selection in 2007 (No. 126, used to selectDashon Goldson) to San Francisco for San Francisco's second-round selection in 2007 (No. 42, used to selectTony Ugoh)[source 6]
^#30: Green Bay → New York Jets (D). Green Bay traded its first-round selection to the Jets for the Jets' second- and fourth-round selections (No. 36 and 113).
#34: Oakland → Atlanta (PD). Oakland traded its second-round selection in 2008 and its fifth-round selection in 2009 to Atlanta for cornerbackDeAngelo Hall.[source 7]
^#38: Baltimore → Seattle (D). Baltimore traded its second-round selection (No. 38) to Seattle for Seattle's second- and third-round selections (No. 55 and 86).[source 2]
#43: Philadelphia → Minnesota (D). Philadelphia traded its second- and fifth-round selections (No. 43 and 152) to Minnesota for Minnesota's second- and fourth-round selections (No. 47 and 117).
#48: Houston → Atlanta (PD). Houston traded its second-round selection in 2008, and its second-round selection in 2007 (No. 39, used to selectJustin Blalock) to Atlanta for quarterbackMatt Schaub in a deal in which Houston and Atlanta swapped first-round draft picks (Atlanta selectedJamaal Anderson with No. 8, Houston draftedAmobi Okoye with No. 10).[source 8]
^#52: Tampa Bay → Jacksonville (D). Tampa Bay traded its second-round selection to Jacksonville for Jacksonville's second- and fifth-round selections (No. 58 and 158) and a seventh-round selection in 2009.
#69: Oakland → New England (PD). Oakland traded its third-round selection in 2008, and the No. 211 selection in 2007 (used to selectOscar Lua) to New England for the No. 91 selection in 2007 (used to selectMario Henderson).[source 12]
#69: New England → San Diego (D). New England traded the first of its third-round selections to San Diego for San Diego's fifth-round selection in 2008 (No. 160) and second-round selection in 2009.
^#70: San Francisco → Chicago (PD). As penalty for tampering with Bears linebackerLance Briggs,NFL CommissionerRoger Goodell ordered San Francisco to swap its third-round selection with Chicago's, and to forfeit its fifth-round selection.[source 13]
#71: Baltimore → Buffalo (PD). Baltimore traded its third-round selection in 2008, and the No. 92 and 239 selections in 2007 (used to selectTrent Edwards andC. J. Ah You, respectively) to Buffalo forWillis McGahee.[source 14]
#71: Buffalo → Jacksonville (PD). Buffalo traded its third- and fifth- round selections to Jacksonville for defensive tackleMarcus Stroud.[source 15]
#73: Denver → Minnesota (PD). Denver traded its third-round selection in 2008, and the No. 176 and 233 selections in 2007 to Minnesota for the No. 121 selection in 2007 (used to selectMarcus Thomas).[source 6]
^#90: San Diego → Chicago (PD). San Diego traded its third-round selection in 2008, as well as the No. 62, 93, and 167 selections in 2007 (used to selectDan Bazuin,Garrett Wolfe, andKevin Payne, respectively) to Chicago for the No. 37 selection in 2007 (used to selectEric Weddle).[source 6]
^#92: Dallas → Detroit (D). Dallas traded its third-round selection to Detroit for Detroit's fourth-round selection in 2008 (No. 111) and fourth-round selection in 2009.[source 2]
#100: Miami → Dallas (PD). The Miami Dolphins traded their fourth-round selection in 2008 to the Dallas Cowboys for playersAkin Ayodele andAnthony Fasano.[source 16]
#100: Dallas → Oakland (D). Dallas traded their fourth-round selection (#100 overall) to Oakland for their fourth-round selection (#104 overall) and seventh-round selection (#213 overall).
^#102: New York Jets → Green Bay (D). Green Bay traded their fourth round selection (#113 overall) and fifth round selection (#162 overall) to the Jets for New York's fourth round selection (#102 overall).[source 2]
#103: Washington → Tennessee (D). Washington traded their fourth-round selection (#103 overall) to Tennessee Titans for their fourth-round selection (#124 overall), and a fifth-round selection (#157 overall).
#104: Dallas → Cleveland (D). Dallas traded their fourth-round selection (#104 overall) to Cleveland for their fourth-round selection (#122 overall), and fifth-round selection (#155 overall).
^#110: Chicago → Miami (D). Chicago traded their fourth round selection (#110 overall) to the Dolphins for Miami's fourth round selection (#115 overall) and seventh round selection (#208 overall).[source 2]
#113: New Orleans → New York Jets (PD). The New Orleans Saints traded their fourth-round selection to the New York Jets forJonathan Vilma and a conditional pick in the 2009 draft.[source 18]
#115: Chicago → Tampa Bay (D). Tampa Bay traded their fourth-round selection (#120 overall) and fifth-round selection (#158 overall) to Chicago for their fourth-round selection (#115 overall) and sixth-round selection (#175 overall).
^#119: Washington → Denver (PD). TheWashington Redskins traded their fourth-round selection in 2008, and their third-round selection in 2007 (used to selectRyan Harris) to Denver as part of a three-team trade in which Washington receivedT. J. Duckett and Atlanta receivedAshley Lelie. (This was the result of a formula which could have had Denver and Washington swapping 2007 first-round selections.)[source 19]
^#123: Pittsburgh → New York Giants (D). Pittsburgh traded their fourth-round selection (#123 overall) to New York Giants for their fourth-round selection (#130 overall), and a sixth-round selection (#194 overall).[source 2]
#125: Baltimore → Oakland (D). Baltimore traded the fourth-round selection obtained from Jacksonville in Round 1 (#125 overall) to the Oakland Raiders for CB Fabian Washington.
^#126: Dallas → Tennessee (PD). The Dallas Cowboys traded their fourth-round selection to the Tennessee Titans for suspendeddefensive backPacman Jones.[source 20]
^#128: Green Bay → St. Louis (D). Green Bay traded its fourth-round selection to St. Louis for their fifth-round selection in 2008 (No. 137) and seventh-round selection in 2008 (No. 217).[source 2]
#136: Miami → Kansas City (PD). Miami conditionally traded its fifth-round selection to Kansas City forTrent Green. The selection would have been upgraded to a fourth-round selection if Green had met certain performance criteria.[source 21] However, Green was injured in a game against the Houston Texans and would up on the injured reserve list for the remainder of the season.
#137: Green Bay → Minnesota (D). Minnesota traded their fifth round pick (150) and seventh round pick (209) to Green Bay for their fourth round pick (137).
^#139: Oakland → Denver (PD). Oakland (conditionally) traded their fifth-round selection to Denver in exchange forGerard Warren.[source 22]
#143: Chicago → Buffalo (PD). Chicago conditionally traded their fifth-round selection to Buffalo in exchange forDarwin Walker. The round of the selection was dependent on Walker's playing time.[source 24]
#143: Jacksonville → Dallas (D). Jacksonville traded its fifth-round selection (#143 overall) to Dallas for its fifth-round selection (#155 overall) and seventh-round selection (#213 overall).
^#153: Tampa Bay → New England (D). New England traded fifth-round and seventh-round selections (#160 and #238 overall) to Tampa Bay for its fifth-round selection (#153 overall).[source 2]
#158: Seattle → Jacksonville (PD). The Seattle Seahawks traded their fifth-round selection to Jacksonville for running backAlvin Pearman and the Jaguars' seventh-round pick.
^#167: Miami → Dallas (PD). Dallas and Miami exchanged their sixth-round selections in a trade withJason Ferguson going to the Dolphins as part of the deal.[source 25]
#180: Denver → St. Louis (PD). Denver traded their sixth-round selection to the St. Louis Rams for defensive tackleJimmy Kennedy.[source 26] The trade occurred after the Broncos had tried to trade the same pick to Miami for defensive tackleDan Wilkinson; that trade was voided.[15]
#187: Tampa Bay → Kansas City (PD). The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded their sixth-round selection to Kansas City for nose tackleRyan Sims and running backMichael Bennett.
#191: Cleveland → Philadelphia (PD). Cleveland traded their sixth-round selection to Philadelphia for centerHank Fraley. The trade was conditional on games started by Fraley, and could have fallen to a seventh-round pick, but Fraley started all 16 games.[source 29]
^#193: Jacksonville → Minnesota (PD). Jacksonville traded their sixth-round selection to Minnesota forTroy Williamson.[source 30]
#194: Green Bay → New York Giants (PD). Green Bay traded their sixth-round selection to the New York Giants in exchange for running backRyan Grant.[source 31]
#217: Cincinnati → St. Louis (PD). Cincinnati traded their seventh-round selection to St. Louis in exchange forRyan Fitzpatrick[source 33]
^#224: Philadelphia → Buffalo (PD). Philadelphia traded their seventh-round selection, and defensive tackle Darwin Walker, to Buffalo for linebackerTakeo Spikes and quarterbackKelly Holcomb.[source 34]
#226: Minnesota → New York Jets (PD). Minnesota traded their seventh-round selection to the Jets in exchange forBrooks Bollinger.[source 35]
^#227: Tampa Bay → Denver (PD). Tampa Bay traded a conditional 2008 draft pick to Denver for the rights to quarterbackJake Plummer. If Plummer, who is currently retired, had reported to the Buccaneers before the first pick of the 2008 draft was made, Tampa Bay would have sent the Broncos their fourth-round selection. Since Plummer did not report, Denver will receive Tampa's seventh-round selection.[source 36]
^#230: Seattle → Philadelphia (PD). Seattle traded their seventh-round selection to Philadelphia for fullbackJosh Parry.[source 37]
^#232: Pittsburgh → Atlanta (PD). The Pittsburgh Steelers traded their seventh-round selection to Atlanta for kick/punt returnerAllen Rossum.[source 38]
Redskins to Rams. Washington traded fifth-round and seventh-round selections (#157 and #228 overall) to St. Louis for its two sixth-round selections (#168 and #180 overall).
Sixth round
Ravens to Texans.See first-round trade above.
Steelers to Giants.See fourth-round trade above.
Eagles to Browns. Philadelphia traded to Cleveland the 6th round selection they had previously received from the Browns for Hank Fraley (#191 overall).(see Pre-Draft Trades above) In return, the Browns gave the Eagles their 5th round pick in the 2009 draft.
Seventh round
Cowboys to Seahawks.See first-round trade above.
Raiders to Cowboys.See fourth-round trade above.
Cowboys to Jaguars.See fifth-round trade above.
Packers to Vikings.See fifth-round trade above.
Patriots to Buccaneers.See fifth-round trade above.
^Triplett, Mike (April 26, 2008)."Saints trade up, draft Ellis".The Times-Piscayune Greater New Orleans. Archived fromthe original on April 19, 2016. RetrievedApril 7, 2016.
^"Selection" is the term used in NFL documentation, although the more-commonly used term, and the term used during the broadcast of the draft itself, is "picks".
^As penalty forvideotaping defensive signals in their season opener against the Jets, the Patriots forfeited their first-round selection since they qualified for the playoffs; they would have lost their second- and third-round selections if they had not."NFL: 'Spygate' deal in the works with ex-Patriots employee".The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 10, 2008. p. E1.
^As penalty for violating the NFL's anti-tampering rules in an attempt to sign Bears linebacker Lance Briggs, the 49ers forfeited their fifth-round selection and were required to swap third-round selections with the Bears.
^Baltimore used this pick in the 2007 Supplemental Draft to selectJared Gaither.