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{{short description|Annual event determining player selections}}
{{for|the recent event|2025 NFL draft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
[[File:NFL Draft logo.svg|thumb|right|Logo of the NFL draft]]

The '''NFL draft''', officially known as the '''Annual Player Selection Meeting''',<ref>{{cite news|first=Sam|last=Farmer|title=What makes them tick|date=April 26, 2008|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-26-sp-nfl26-story.html|access-date=February 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Chad|last=Reuter|title=Who will be the best pro RB? Martin vs. Miller vs. Wilson|website=NFL.com|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/who-will-be-the-best-pro-rb-martin-vs-miller-vs-wilson-09000d5d8284a7d0|access-date=February 7, 2024}}</ref> is an annual event which serves as the most common source of player recruitment in the [[National Football League]]. Each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order relative to its record in the previous year, which means that the team with the worst record is positioned first and the [[Super Bowl champion]] is last. For teams that had the same record, their position in the draft order for each round rotates in some way amongst the teams with tied records. From this position, the team can either select a player or trade its position to another team for other draft positions, a player, or players, or any combination thereof. The round is complete when each team has either selected a player or traded its position in the [[draft (sports)|draft]]. The first draft was held in [[1936 NFL draft|1936]] and has been held every year since.

Certain aspects of the draft, including team positioning and the number of rounds in the draft, have been revised since its creation, but the fundamental method has remained the same. Currently, the draft consists of seven rounds. The original rationale in creating the draft was to increase the competitive parity between the teams as the worst team would, ideally, be able to choose the best player available. In the early years of the draft, players were chosen based on hearsay, print media, or other rudimentary evidence of ability. In the 1940s, some franchises began employing full-time [[Scout (sport)|scouts]]. The ensuing success of these teams eventually forced the other franchises to also hire scouts.

Colloquially, the name of the draft each year takes on the form of the NFL season in which players picked could begin playing. For example, the [[2010 NFL draft]] was for the [[2010 NFL season]]. However, the NFL-defined name of the process has changed since its inception. The location of the draft has continually changed over the years to accommodate more fans, as the event has gained popularity. The draft's popularity now garners prime-time television coverage. In the league's early years, from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s, the draft was held in various cities with NFL franchises until the league settled on New York City starting in [[1965 NFL draft|1965]], where it remained for fifty years until [[2015 NFL draft|2015]], when future draft locations started being determined through a yearly bidding process.

==History==
{{See also|List of NFL drafts}}
[[File:Commissioner Goodell at the 2010 NFL Draft podium.jpg|thumb|League commissioner [[Roger Goodell]] announcing a team's selection at the [[2010 NFL draft]]]]
In the early 1930s, [[Stan Kostka]] had an excellent college career as a [[University of Minnesota]] [[running back]], leading the [[Minnesota Gophers]] to an undefeated season in [[1934 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|1934]]. Every NFL team wanted to sign him. Kostka took advantage of the lack of a draft and held out for the highest possible offer. While a free agent, he even ran for Mayor of [[Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota]]. Although his political career did not take off, Kostka's nine-month NFL holdout succeeded and he became the league's highest-paid player, signing a $5,000 contract with the [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] on August 25, 1935. As a response to the bidding war for Stan Kostka, the NFL instituted the draft in 1936.<ref>{{cite news|author=HipsterGopher|title=The NFL Draft exists because of a Minnesota Football star| url=http://www.thedailygopher.com/2017/4/27/15453054/nfl-draft-minnesota-football-philadelphia-eagles-stan-kostka|website=[[SB Nation|The Daily Gopher]]|date=April 27, 2017|access-date=June 7, 2017}}</ref>

In late 1934, [[Art Rooney]], owner of the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], gave the right of usage of two players to the [[New York Giants]] because Rooney's team had no chance to participate in the postseason. After the owner of the [[Boston Redskins]], [[George Preston Marshall]], protested the transaction, the president of the NFL, [[Joe F. Carr]], disallowed the Giants the ability to employ the players.<ref name="Coenen, 2005, pp. 92-93.">Coenen, 2005, pp. 92–93.</ref> At a league meeting in December 1934, the NFL introduced a [[Waivers (American football)|waiver rule]] to prevent such transactions. Any player released by a team during the season would be able to be claimed by other teams. The selection order to claim the player would be in inverse order to the teams' standings at the time.<ref name="Coenen, 2005, pp. 92-93."/><ref>{{cite news|title=Pros Make Five Changes in Rules To Improve Game|date=December 11, 1934|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HbMVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6169%2C2107110|work=[[Milwaukee Sentinel]]|page=13|access-date=October 9, 2011}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Throughout this time, [[Bert Bell]], co-owner of the [[Philadelphia Eagles]], felt his team's lack of competitiveness on the field made it difficult for the Eagles to sell tickets and to be profitable.<ref name="Lyons, 2010, p. 54.">Lyons, 2010, p. 54.</ref> Compounding the Eagles' problems were players signed with teams that offered the most money,<ref name="MacCambridge, 2005, p. 43.">MacCambridge, 2005, p. 43.</ref> or if the money being equal, players chose to sign with the most prestigious teams at the time,<ref name="Maule, 1964, p. 15.">The three most prestigious teams at the time were the Bears, Giants, and the Packers. Maule, 1964, p. 15.</ref> who had established a winning tradition.<ref name="Dunscomb">The players had an auxiliary financial incentive to play with the best teams because 60% of the profit for the NFL championship game went to the players on the winning team and 40% went to the players on the losing team. {{cite news | first = George | last = Dunscomb | title = $6,000 for a Touchdown: George Halas of the Chicago Bears Tells of Costs of Running a Pro Team | date = December 12, 1936 | work = [[Saturday Evening Post]] | pages = 16, 40, 42 }}</ref> As a result, the NFL was dominated by the [[Chicago Bears]], [[Green Bay Packers]], Giants, and Redskins.<ref name="Lyons, 2010, p. 56.">Lyons, 2010, p. 56.</ref><ref name="RUCK, p. 108.">Ruck; Patterson and Weber, 2010, p. 108.</ref> Bell's inability to sign a desired prospect, [[Stan Kostka]], in 1935,<ref name="MacCambridge, 2005, p. 43."/><ref name="Lyons, 2010, KOSTKA, p. 56.">Lyons writes Bell tried to sign Kostka in 1933.Lyons, 2010, p. 56.</ref><ref name="Willis, 2010, p. 338.">Willis, 2010, p. 338.</ref> eventually led Bell to believe the only way for the NFL to have enduring success was for all teams to have an equal opportunity to sign eligible players.<ref name="Lyons, 2010, p. 56."/><ref name="Peterson, 1997, p. 119.">Peterson, 1997, p. 119.</ref><ref name="Williams, 2006, pp. 41-42.">Williams, 2006, pp. 41–42.</ref> At a league meeting on May 18, 1935, Bell proposed a draft be instituted to enhance the possibility of competitive parity on the field in order to ensure the financial viability of all franchises. His proposal was adopted unanimously that day,<ref name="Didinger; Lyons, 2005, p. 256. Draft Accepted">Didinger writes the proposal was accepted the next day, on May 19, 1935. Didinger; Lyons, 2005, p. 256.</ref><ref name="Lyons, 2010, p. 57–58.">Lyons, 2010, p. 57–58.</ref><ref name="Willis, 2010, p. 341–343.">Willis, 2010, p. 341–343.</ref><ref name="DeVito, 2006, p. 84.">DeVito, 2006, p. 84.</ref> although the first draft would not occur until the next off-season.<ref name="Peterson, 1997, p. 119."/><ref name="Williams, 2006, pp. 41-42."/>

The rules for the selection of the players in the first draft were, first, that a list of college seniors<ref name="Baldwin, 2000, p. 192.">Baldwin, 2000, p. 192.</ref><ref name="CC-the Draft">{{cite web|url=http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/05-06-143.pdf|title=1936: The First Draft| author=Barnett, Bob|access-date=October 4, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311103750/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/05-06-143.pdf|archive-date=March 11, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> would be assembled by each franchise and submitted into a pool. From this pool, each franchise would select, in inverse order to their team's record in the previous year, a player. With this selection, the franchise had the unilateral right to negotiate a contract with that player,<ref name="Lyons, 2010, pp. 58-59">Lyons, 2010, pp. 58–59</ref><ref name="Willis, 2010, p. 342.">Willis, 2010, p. 342.</ref> or the ability to trade that player to another team for a player, or players.<ref>{{cite news | title = Pro Rules on Signing Up of College Players | date = February 10, 1936 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i7cVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6650%2C1839038 | work = Milwaukee Sentinel | page = 10 | access-date =October 10, 2011}}</ref> If, for any reason, the franchise was unsuccessful in negotiating a contract with the player and was unable to trade the player, the president of the NFL could attempt to arbitrate a settlement between the player and the franchise. If the president was unable to settle the dispute, then the player would be placed in the ''reserve list'' of the franchise and would be unavailable to play for any team in the NFL that year.<ref name="Lyons, 2010, pp. 58-59"/><ref name="Willis, 2010, p. 342."/> In the [[1935 NFL season]], the Eagles finished in last place at 2–9, thus securing themselves the first pick in the [[1936 NFL draft|draft]].<ref name="MacCambridge, 2005, p. 44.">MacCambridge, 2005, p. 44.</ref><ref name="Didinger; Lyons, 2005, p. 256.">Didinger; Lyons, 2005, p. 256.</ref><ref name="Willis, 2010, p. 337.">Willis, 2010, p. 337.</ref>

===The first draft (1936)===
The [[1936 NFL draft|first NFL draft]] began at the [[Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia|Ritz-Carlton Hotel]] in [[Philadelphia]] on February 8, 1936.<ref name="Peterson, 1997, p. 119."/><ref name="Williams, 2006, pp. 41-42."/> Ninety names were written on a blackboard in the meeting room from which the teams would choose.<ref name="Lyons, 2010, p. 60.">Lyons, 2010, p. 60.</ref><ref name="Willis, 2010, p. 350.">Willis, 2010, p. 350.</ref> As no team had a scouting department, the list was created from either print media sources, visits to local colleges by team executives, or by recommendations to team executives.<ref name="Lyons, 2010, p. 60."/><ref name="Willis, 2010, p. 350."/><ref name="Davis, 2005, p. 131.">Davis, 2005, p. 131.</ref> The draft would last for nine rounds,<ref name="Williams, 2006, pp. 41-42."/><ref name="Willis, 2010, p. 350."/><ref name="Lyons, 2010, Lyons 5 to 9 rounds, p. 60">Lyons and Willis write the draft was originally set up to have only five rounds, but it was changed to nine rounds during the selection meeting. Lyons, 2010, p. 350.</ref> and it had no media coverage.<ref name="Williams, 2006, pp. 41-42."/> The first player ever selected in the draft was [[Jay Berwanger]]. Bell, prior to the draft, was not successfully able to negotiate a contract with Berwanger so Bell traded him to the [[Chicago Bears|Bears]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Chicago Bears Granted Option on Jay Berwanger |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XaVQAAAAIBAJ&pg=3397,1514709&hl=en |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal]] |page=D4 |date=February 10, 1936 |access-date=October 2, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Milwaukee Journal implies the Eagles never attempted to negotiate with Berwanger.</ref><ref name="Lyons, 2010, Bell's offer to Berwanger, p. 60.">Lyons writes Bell offer of $150 per game was declined by Berwanger. Lyons, 2010, p. 60.</ref><ref name="Willis, 2010, p. 351.">Willis, 2010, p. 351.</ref> [[George Halas]], owner of the Bears, was also unsuccessful in signing Berwanger.<ref name="Davis, 2005, Halas' offer to Berwanger, pp. 131-132.">Davis writes Berwanger requested a two-year no cut contract for $12,500 per year which George Halas declined to meet. Davis, 2005, pp. 131–132.</ref> Berwanger's decision to not play in the NFL was not unusual, as only twenty-four of the eighty-one players selected chose to play in the NFL that year.<ref name="Willis, 2010, Players change their minds., p. 351.">Willis writes four players chosen in the draft eventually changed their minds and entered into the NFL in 1937. Willis, 2010, p. 351.</ref> The draft was recessed on the first day and it was continued and finished on the next day.<ref name="Lyons, 2010, p. 59.">Lyons, 2010, p. 59.</ref>

This draft saw the emergence of [[Wellington Mara]] as a savant, as he had been subscribing to magazines and local and out-of-town papers to build up dossiers of college players across the country, which resulted in the Giants' drafting of [[Tuffy Leemans]].<ref name="Devito, 2006, p. 85.">Devito, 2006, p. 85.</ref> As a result of the institution of the draft, [[Tim Mara]], owner of the Giants, reduced [[Ken Strong]]'s salary offer to $3,200 from $6,000 a year for [[1936 NFL season|1936]] because Mara felt the draft would alter the salary structure of the NFL.<ref name="Coenen, 2005, pp. 96-97.">Coenen, 2005, pp. 96–97.</ref> Generally, the franchises' exclusivity in negotiating with draft picks produced the immediate effect of, depending on sources, stopping the escalating salaries of new players,<ref name="Williams, 2006, pp. 41-42."/><ref name="Baldwin, 2000, p. 192."/> or reducing their salaries.<ref name="Coenen, 2005. p. 90.">Coenen, 2005, p. 90.</ref><ref name="Devito, 2006, pp. 84.">"The players coming out of college were not happy, as salaries dropped by almost half." Devito, 2006, pp. 84.</ref>  Consequently, contemporary critics charged it was anti-labor.<ref name="Peterson, 1997, pp. 119–120.">Peterson, 1997, pp. 119–120.</ref>

===Early drafts (1937–1946)===
[[Art Rooney]], owner of the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], chose [[Byron White|Byron "Whizzer" White]] in the first round of the [[1938 NFL draft|1938 draft]] despite White's known public declaration that he would not play professional football and would instead begin work on his [[Rhodes scholarship]]. White did, however, agree to play for the [[1938 NFL season|1938 season]] after Rooney publicly gave him a guaranteed contract of $15,000, double what any other player had ever made in the NFL.<ref name="RUCK, pp. 138-140.">Ruck; Patterson and Weber, 2010, pp. 138–140.</ref> The size of the dollar amount brought condemnation from other owners because it altered the pay expectations of college draftees.<ref name="RUCK, pp. 143, 148.">Ruck; Patterson and Weber, 2010, pp. 143, 148.</ref> For the [[1939 NFL draft|1939 draft]] Wellington, for the first time, was put in charge of drafting players for the Giants. He submitted the list of players into the pool that the Giants—or other franchises—could choose players from. However, in the first round he selected a player, [[Walt Nielsen]], not on the list of players that the Giants or any other franchise had submitted. With a grin Wellington stated, "I didn't think I said I put every name on that list."<ref name="Devito, 2006, pp. 95-96.">Devito, 2006, pp. 95–96.</ref>

In 1939, [[Kenny Washington (American football)|Kenny Washington]] was, to no small extent, viewed as one of the greatest college football players of all time. After information was made available to at least one owner of a franchise that Washington was [[African-American]], he was not drafted by any team for the [[1940 NFL draft]].<ref name="Pervin, 2009, p. 16.">Pervin writes that "Some NFL owners, including Tim Mara, were encouraged to draft Washington but none chose to break the racial barrier." Pervin, 2009, p. 16.</ref>

The draft would be eventually codified into the ''NFL Constitution'',<ref name="NFL Constitution">{{citation | contribution = Organized Professional Team Sports, Part 3 | title = Hearings Before the Antitrust Subcommittee (Subcommittee No. 5) of the Committee on the Judiciary | publisher = United States Government Printing Office | place = Washington | pages = 2580a–2580at | year = 1957|url = https://web.lexis-nexis.com/congcomp/getdoc?HEARING-ID=HRG-1957-HJH-0012 | access-date =October 9, 2011 |url-access=subscription}}. Password protected except at participating U.S. Library.</ref> although no information is available on when that originally occurred.

[[Bill Dudley|"Bullet Bill" Dudley]] was the first overall pick in the [[1942 NFL draft|1942 draft]] and he would eventually become the first player picked first overall in the draft to enter the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].<ref name="All Time #1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/alltimeno1 |title=1936: All Time #1|website=[[NFL.com]]|access-date=October 10, 2011}}</ref>

===Scouting era begins (1946–1959)===
[[Eddie Kotal]] became the first player [[talent scout|scout]] in 1946 when he was hired by [[Dan Reeves (NFL owner)|Dan Reeves]] of the [[Los Angeles Rams]].<ref>{{cite news | first = Pete | last = Dougherty | title = Rams ushered in modern era of with help from former Packers player, coach Eddie Kotal | date = October 14, 2011 | url = http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111014/PKR07/111014148/Pete-Dougherty-column-Ex-Packer-Kotal-helped-Rams-transform-NFL-scouting | work = [[Green Bay Press-Gazette]] | access-date = October 28, 2011 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120717172928/http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111014/PKR07/111014148/Pete-Dougherty-column-Ex-Packer-Kotal-helped-Rams-transform-NFL-scouting | archive-date = July 17, 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="MacCambridge, 2005, pp. 55-57.">MacCambridge, 2005, pp. 55–57.</ref>

The NFL's competition with the [[All-America Football Conference]] (AAFC) in 1947 resulted in a temporary institution of a ''bonus pick''. Under this system, the first overall selection was awarded as a bonus pick by a random draw, while the last place team picked second, and so on. The team that won this draft lottery then forfeited its selection in the final round of the draft. The winner was then also eliminated from the draw in future years. By 1958, all twelve clubs in the league at the time had received a bonus choice and this system was abolished.<ref>{{cite book |title=Official 2013 National Football League Record & Fact Book |year=2013 |publisher=[[National Football League]] |location=New York |isbn=978-1-603-20980-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/official2013nati0000unse/page/525 |editor1-last=Zimmer |editor1-first=John |editor2-last=Marini |editor2-first=Matt |access-date=October 11, 2013 |format=PDF |page=[https://archive.org/details/official2013nati0000unse/page/525 525] |url-access=registration }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Draft History: 1940's |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1940s.aspx |publisher=[[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001024342/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1940s.aspx |archive-date=October 1, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Competitive parity did not, however, quickly arrive in the NFL  as perennial losers, such as the Eagles and [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]], standings' did not improve until 1947.<ref name="Coenen, 2005. p. 90."/><ref name="MacCambridge, 2005, p. 41.">MacCambridge, 2005, p. 41.</ref>

In the [[1949 NFL draft]], [[George Taliaferro]] became the first African-American selected when he was chosen in the thirteenth round. He however, chose to sign with an AAFC team. [[Wallace Triplett|Wally Triplett]] was chosen in the nineteenth and he would be the first African-American to be selected in the draft and make an NFL team.<ref name="AA in pro football">{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/african-americans.aspx |title=African-Americans in Pro Football: Pioneers, Milestones and Firsts|access-date=October 10, 2011}}</ref> After the draft and prior to the start of the season, [[Paul "Tank" Younger]] was signed by the [[Los Angeles Rams]] as a [[free agent]] and became the first NFL player from an [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black college]].<ref name="MacCambridge, 2005, pp. 55-57."/><ref name="AA in pro football"/> [[Eddie Robinson (American football coach)|Eddie Robinson]], Younger's coach at [[Grambling State University|Grambling]], promptly and unequivocally, impressed upon him that the future of the recruitment and drafting of his colleagues at other black colleges lay in the balance based on his success with the Rams.<ref name="Levy, 2003, p. 102.">Levy incorrectly writes Younger was drafted by the Rams. Levy 2003, p. 102.</ref>

===Technology (1960–1979)===
The [[1960 NFL draft]] marked a turning point in the draft's history because of the pending arrival of the [[American Football League]] (AFL), as it became a "high-stakes, competitive affair."<ref name="Williams, 2006, p. 46.">Williams, 2006, p. 46.</ref>

In 1976, former NFL wide receiver [[Paul Salata]] first coined the moniker "[[Mr. Irrelevant]]" to refer to the last overall player selected in the draft.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://w.espn.go.com/espnw/news-opinion/6450225/2011-nfl-draft-irrelevant-good-thing | title = Irrelevant can be a good thing | access-date = October 11, 2011 | last = Jacobs | first = Melissa | date = April 30, 2011 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120715093548/http://w.espn.go.com/espnw/news-opinion/6450225/2011-nfl-draft-irrelevant-good-thing | archive-date = July 15, 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===ESPN and the digital age (1980–2017)===
In 1980, [[Chet Simmons]], president of the year-old [[ESPN]], asked [[Pete Rozelle]] if the fledgling network could broadcast coverage of the draft live on ESPN. Although Rozelle did not believe it would be entertaining television, he agreed.<ref name="Williams, 2006, pp. 52-53.">Williams, 2006, pp. 52–53.</ref><ref name="rsandomirnyt">Sandomir, Richard [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/27/sports/27simmons.html?ref=obituaries "Chet Simmons, a Founding Force of ESPN, Dies at 81"] ''The New York Times'', Saturday, March 27, 2010</ref> In 1988, the NFL moved the draft from weekdays to the weekend and ESPN's ratings of the coverage improved dramatically.<ref name ="Williams, 2006, pp. 52-53."/><ref name = "NYT 1991/04/22"> {{cite news | first = Richard | last = Sandomir | title = TV SPORTS; ESPN Show Was a Draftnik's Nirvana | date = April 22, 1991 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/22/sports/tv-sports-espn-show-was-a-draftnik-s-nirvana.html?src=pm | work = [[The New York Times]] | access-date =October 28, 2011}}</ref>

In 2006, ESPN received competition  when the [[NFL Network]], which had launched in October 2003, began to produce its own draft coverage. ESPN pays the NFL a rights fee for the non-exclusive rights to draft coverage, a fee that is included in its overall contract to televise games (''[[ESPN Sunday Night Football|ESPN Sunday Night NFL]]'' from 1987 to 2005, and ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' from 2006 to the present).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/04/27/espns-layoffs-will-not-even-come-close-to-solving-the-networks-issues/ |title=ESPN's layoffs will not even come close to solving the network's issues|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 27, 2017|access-date=November 11, 2017}}</ref>

In 2010, the NFL moved to a three-day draft with the first day encompassing the first round beginning at 8:00&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]] Thursday, the second day encompassing the second and third rounds beginning at 7:00&nbsp;pm EDT Friday, and third day concluding the process with the final four rounds beginning at 11:00&nbsp;am EDT Saturday.

===Fox, NFL Network, ESPN, and ABC (2018)===

[[2018 NFL draft|2018]] was the first time ever that the draft was carried on broadcast television. As a prelude to their new ''[[Thursday Night Football]]'' contract, [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox]] and [[NFL Network]] simulcast the first two nights of the draft, with both nights featuring personnel from both NFL Network and Fox.<ref name="foxnfldraft">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/sports/football/fox-nfl-draft.html|title=Fox to Broadcast N.F.L. Draft for First Time|last=Draper|first=Kevin|date=February 14, 2018|work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 14, 2018}}</ref> ESPN continued to produce its own coverage of the draft, with [[ESPN2]] simulcasting days 1 and 2, and [[ESPN on ABC|ABC]] simulcasting day 3. NFL Network's main set featured the crew of host [[Rich Eisen]], [[Daniel Jeremiah]], draft expert [[Mike Mayock]], and [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]] head coach [[David Shaw (American football)|David Shaw]], with [[Steve Mariucci]], [[Steve Smith Sr.]], and [[Fox NFL]] lead analyst [[Troy Aikman]] joining from an outside set for day 1. Other analysts included: [[Fox College Football]] lead analyst [[Joel Klatt]], [[Charles Davis (defensive back)|Charles Davis]], and [[Deion Sanders]].

===NFL Network, ABC, and ESPN (2019–present)===

The Fox/NFL Network simulcast would only last one year, as ABC picked up the broadcast television rights for all 3 days of the draft in 2019. ABC's coverage would have the ''[[College GameDay (football)|College GameDay]]'' crew on days 1 and 2, with ''[[Good Morning America]]'' anchor [[Robin Roberts (newscaster)|Robin Roberts]], joined by [[2018 NFL season|2018 NFL MVP]] and [[Kansas City Chiefs]] quarterback [[Patrick Mahomes]], and [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award winner]] [[Taylor Swift]], co-hosting with ''GameDay'' host [[Rece Davis]] on day 1. Also, on day 1, Swift announced her new single "[[Me! (Taylor Swift song)|ME!]]", featuring [[Panic! at the Disco]]'s [[Brendon Urie]], being released at midnight ET, with the music video debuting on [[YouTube]] at the same time. Day 3 featured the ESPN crew of [[Trey Wingo]], NFL insiders [[Louis Riddick]], and draft experts [[Todd McShay]] and [[Mel Kiper Jr.]], hosting ABC's coverage, which was a simulcast of ESPN's coverage.

For the [[2020 NFL draft]], which was supposed to be in Las Vegas but was moved to a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NFL Network decided to simulcast ESPN's coverage of all 3 days. Personalities from NFL Network like: draft guru [[Daniel Jeremiah]], Hall of Fame QB [[Kurt Warner]], and Hall of Fame WR [[Michael Irvin]] joined ESPN personnel on all 3 days. ABC continued to carry a feed with the ''College GameDay'' crew for the first two days of the draft. Majority of the analysts joined remotely from their homes with Trey Wingo, [[Rece Davis]], [[Jesse Palmer]], and [[Maria Taylor (sportscaster)|Maria Taylor]] working from ESPN's Bristol, CT studios. Todd McShay was to also participate in the draft, but was unable to due to him testing positive for COVID.

[[2021 NFL draft|2021]] saw a return to normal as after a one-year hiatus, NFL Network returned to producing their own coverage of the draft. ESPN and ABC continued to carry separate feeds, one with all the "X's and O's" on ESPN, and the other with the ''College GameDay'' crew on ABC. After Wingo left ESPN in 2020, [[Mike Greenberg]], host of ''[[Get Up (TV program)|Get Up!]]'', took over as ESPN's host for the first two nights, while Davis, who continued as ABC's host, hosted ESPN's coverage of Day 3, which was also simulcast on ABC.

[[2022 NFL draft|2022]] saw the draft head to Las Vegas after a two-year wait. NFL Network saw no personnel changes, but ESPN and ABC took a few hits. ESPN announced that insider [[Adam Schefter]] would miss the draft to attend his son's college graduation, and Mel Kiper Jr. would participate virtually because of his COVID-19 vaccination status. Kirk Herbstreit meanwhile, announced himself that he would be dropping out of ABC's draft coverage due to blood clots.

==Current format==
Players who have been out of high school for at least three years are eligible for the NFL draft. The rules do not state that a player must attend college, but virtually all of the players selected in the NFL draft have played college football, usually in the United States but occasionally from [[U Sports football|Canadian universities]] as well. A few players are occasionally selected from other football leagues like the [[Arena Football League]] (AFL), the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL), and the [[German Football League]] (GFL). A small handful of players have also been drafted from colleges who played sports other than football.

Rules state only that a player must be three years removed from high school graduation, regardless of what the prospective draftee did during that time. A year as a [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirt player]] in college counts toward eligibility even though the player was not allowed to participate in games during that year, therefore players who have completed their redshirt sophomore year can enter the NFL draft.

===Rules for determining draft order===
The selection order is based on each team's win–loss record in the previous season and whether the team reached the playoffs. Teams that did not reach the playoffs the previous season are ranked in reverse order of their records (thus the team with the fewest wins is awarded the first selection). Ties between teams with identical records are determined by the following tiebreakers (in order):<ref name="Draft order">{{cite web|url=http://operations.nfl.com/the-players/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/|title=The Rule of the Draft|work=NFL.com|access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milehighreport.com/2018/12/30/18162098/2019-nfl-draft-order| title=Update: Broncos will likely pick 10th in NFL Draft after clarification on tie-breaking scenarios| last=Lynch|first=Tim|date=December 30, 2018|website=Mile High Report|access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref>
#[[Strength of schedule]], which is the combined win–loss record for all 17 of the team's opponents in the previous season (ties count as half a win and half a loss). The team with the ''lower'' strength of schedule (i.e. their opponents compiled fewer wins) is granted the ''earlier'' pick in round one. (Each game against a division rival is counted separately, so divisional records are weighted double.)
#If any teams are in the same division, the [[NFL playoffs#Breaking ties|other playoff tiebreakers]] will be applied in the specified order.
#If any teams are in the same conference, the other playoff tiebreakers will be applied in the specified order.
#If two teams remain from opposing conferences, a series of tiebreakers starting with head-to-head (if one team lost to the other in the previous regular season), win percentage of common games, and strength of victory are applied. Prior to the [[2020 NFL draft]], interconference ties were only broken by a coin flip.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.quirkyresearch.com/nfl-tiebreakers/|title=NFL tiebreakers|website=Quirky Research|date=February 12, 2017|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref>

Teams that reached the playoffs the previous season are then slotted in the order in which they were eliminated as indicated in the table below. Within each tier, the slotting is determined as above (i.e. worst record picks first and the same tiebreakers apply).<ref name="Draft order"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Status
! Draft picks
|-
| Non-playoff teams
| 1–18
|-
| Eliminated in wild card round
| 19–24
|-
| Eliminated in divisional round
| 25–28
|-
| Conference runners-up
| 29–30
|-
| Super Bowl runner-up
| 31
|-
| Super Bowl champion
| 32
|}

Once the order for the first round is determined as described above, the selection order remains the same for subsequent rounds with the exception of teams with identical records within their tier. These tied teams "cycle" picks in each subsequent round. For example, in the [[2014 NFL draft|2014 draft]], the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]], [[Cleveland Browns]], [[Oakland Raiders]], [[Atlanta Falcons]], and [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] all finished 4–12, and selected in that order in the first round (based on the tiebreakers described above). In the second round, Jacksonville cycled to the back of the line with the order becoming Cleveland, Oakland, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville. That cycling continued in each round.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft|title=Draft 2018 – NFL Draft History: Full Draft Year| website=NFL.com|language=en|access-date=August 22, 2018}}</ref>

An exception to this ordering strategy occurs when "[[expansion team]]s" are added to the league. Any expansion team is automatically granted the first selection; if there are two or more expansion teams added, a coin toss (for two expansion teams) or a drawing of lots (for three expansion teams or more) determines which team is awarded the first selection in the regular draft. The winner of the coin toss (or of the drawing of lots in the event there are three or more expansion teams) is awarded the first selection in the expansion draft.<ref name="1995 expansion coin flip">{{cite web| title=Carolina Panthers history| url=http://www.panthers.com/team/history/chronology.html#1994| publisher=[[Carolina Panthers|Panthers.com]]| access-date=March 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927113839/http://www.panthers.com/team/history/chronology.html#1994| archive-date=September 27, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Similarly, the order of [[NFL draft#Compensatory picks|compensatory picks]] generally does not follow the standard draft order.

====Timing====
Each team has its representatives attend the draft. During the draft, one team is always "on the clock." Teams have 10 minutes to make their choice in the first round, seven minutes in the second round, five minutes in the third through sixth rounds, and four minutes in the seventh round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://operations.nfl.com/the-players/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/|title=The rules of the NFL Draft|website=[[NFL.com]]|access-date=December 31, 2018}}</ref> Until 2007, the limits were 15 minutes in the first round, 10 minutes in the second, and 5 minutes for all subsequent rounds.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d807cf87e/printable/teams-will-have-to-get-down-to-business-with-less-time-for-picks|title=Teams will have to get down to business with less time for picks|website=[[NFL.com]]|access-date=December 31, 2018}}</ref> The time for seventh-round selections was shortened from five to four minutes in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.si.com/2015/04/27/philip-rivers-trade-titans-chargers-nfl-draft|title=Rivers Trade Dead? Draft Intrigue Begins at No. 2|website=SI.com|date=April 27, 2015 |language=en|access-date=December 31, 2018}}</ref> If a team does not make a decision within its allotted time, the team still can submit its selection at any time after its time is up, but the next team is then free to make a selection, thus possibly 'stealing' a player the team with the earlier pick may have been considering. This occurred in the [[2003 NFL draft|2003 draft]], when the [[Minnesota Vikings]], with the 7th overall pick, were late with their selection. The [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] drafted quarterback [[Byron Leftwich]] and the [[Carolina Panthers]] drafted offensive tackle [[Jordan Gross]] before the Vikings were able to submit their selection of defensive tackle [[Kevin Williams (defensive tackle)|Kevin Williams]].  This also happened in [[2011 NFL draft|2011]]; as the [[Baltimore Ravens]] were negotiating a trade with the [[Chicago Bears]], their time expired and allowed the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] to pick ahead of Baltimore, who were unable to finalize the trade with Chicago.

===Pick trades===
Teams may negotiate with one another both before and during the draft (including when they are not "on the clock") for the right to pick an additional player in a given round. For example, a team may include draft picks in future drafts in order to acquire a player during a trading period. Teams may also make negotiations during the draft relinquishing the right to pick in a given round for the right to have an additional pick in a later round. Thus teams may have multiple picks or no picks in a given round. Teams are only allowed to trade picks for the next three draft cycles and picks for the subsequent draft cycle become eligible for trading upon the start of the upcoming draft.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/lists/deshaun-watson-trade-saints-draft-picks-2022-nfl/ | title=Status update on future Saints draft picks, from 2022 to 2025 | date=March 18, 2022 }}</ref> For example, for the 2022 draft, only picks through the 2024 draft can be traded prior to the draft, and once the 2022 draft starts, picks from the 2025 draft are eligible to be traded.

===Compensatory picks===
<!-- This section is frequently linked -->
In addition to the 32 selections in each of the seven rounds, a total of 32 compensatory selections are awarded to teams based on the players they lost and gained in free agency. The league defines a class of unrestricted free agents as "compensatory free agents" (CFA). Teams that have lost more compensatory free agents than they signed in the previous year receive between one and four selections somewhere in the third through seventh rounds, but always at the end of each round. Teams that gain and lose equal numbers of players but lose higher-valued players can also be awarded a single seventh-round pick. Compensatory selections are awarded each year at the NFL annual meeting which is held at the end of March; typically, about three or four weeks before the draft. Compensatory selections can be traded; this began with the [[2017 NFL draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14274468/nfl-owners-ok-compensatory-pick-trading-2017|title=Owners OK trading of compensatory picks, shorten legal tampering window|work=ESPN.com|date=December 2, 2015|access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref>

The placement of selections is determined by a proprietary formula based on the player's average annual salary, playing time, and postseason honors with his new team, with salary being the primary factor. So, for example, a team that lost a linebacker who signed for $2.5 million per year in free agency might get a sixth-round compensatory pick, while a team that lost a wide receiver who signed for $5 million per year might receive a fourth-round pick. The formula used prior to the 2020 free agency season was never revealed by the NFL, though observers from outside the NFL were able to [[reverse engineer]] it to some degree of certainty.<ref name="OTCBasics">{{cite web| url=http://overthecap.com/the-basics-and-methodology-of-projecting-the-nfls-compensatory-draft-picks/ |title=The Basics and Methodology of Projecting the NFL's Compensatory Draft Picks|work=Over the Cap|access-date=April 19, 2016}}</ref> The [[NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement|2020 CBA]] explicitly provided the details of a new formula, still based primarily on salary.<ref name="OTCBasics"/>

On two occasions, 33 compensatory selections have been awarded instead of 32:

* In [[2016 NFL draft|2016]], the additional pick was awarded (under an agreement between the NFL Management Council and the [[NFLPA]]) to the [[Buffalo Bills]] for losing [[Da'Norris Searcy]] to free agency and signing [[Charles Clay (American football)|Charles Clay]] as a transition tagged player from the [[Miami Dolphins]], who had not qualified as a CFA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://overthecap.com/evaluating-otcs-2016-compensatory-draft-picks-projection/|title=Evaluating OTC's 2016 Compensatory Draft Picks Projection|work=Over the Cap |access-date=April 19, 2016|date=March 11, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://overthecap.com/comment-compensatory-picks-transition-tag/|title=A Comment On Compensatory Picks And The Transition Tag|work=Over the Cap|access-date=April 28, 2016|date=March 10, 2016}}</ref>
* In [[2021 NFL draft|2021]], the NFL announced compensatory selections — the first under a new formula — on March 10. On March 19, it published a revised list after "a correction by the Management Council to the calculation of average yearly compensation."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-19|title=NFL awards Patriots additional 2021 NFL Draft pick|url=https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2021/03/nfl-awards-new-england-patriots-mysterious-new-fifth-round-comp-pick.html|access-date=2021-03-20|website=masslive|language=en}}</ref> The revised calculation meant that [[Damiere Byrd]] did not qualify as a CFA, giving the [[New England Patriots]] an additional fifth-round compensatory pick for [[Jamie Collins (American football)|Jamie Collins]]. Rather than remove the last compensatory pick (a sixth-round pick for the [[Chicago Bears]]), a 33rd pick was awarded.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Overthecap.com|title=The NFL Management Council Makes Corrections To The 2021 Compensatory Picks|url=https://overthecap.com/the-nfl-management-council-makes-corrections-to-the-2021-compensatory-picks/|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Over the Cap|date=March 20, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>

If fewer than 32 compensatory selections are awarded, the remainder are awarded after the final Round 7 compensatory selections in the order in which teams would pick in a hypothetical eighth round of the draft; these are known as "supplemental compensatory selections".

=== Resolution JC-2A{{anchor|2020 Resolution JC-2A}} ===
Resolution JC-2A, which was enacted by the NFL in November 2020, rewards teams for developing minority candidates for head coach and/or general manager positions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Bell|first=Jarrett|title=NFL approves plan to reward teams with draft picks for developing minority coaches, GMs|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/11/10/nfl-minority-coach-general-manager-hiring-proposal-approved/6234064002/|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=USA Today|language=en-US|date=November 10, 2020}}</ref> The resolution rewards teams whose minority candidates are hired away for one of those positions by awarding draft picks:

* Two draft picks are awarded if a team has one qualified candidate hired for either a coach or a general manager position.
* Three draft picks are awarded if a team has two qualified candidates hired for both positions, whether by the same team or two different teams.
* These draft picks are at the end of the third round in consecutive years, after standard compensatory picks. For example, the first team to receive such picks, the [[Los Angeles Rams]], received picks in 2021 and 2022 after the [[Detroit Lions]] hired their director of college scouting, [[Brad Holmes]], as their general manager.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 14, 2021|title=Rams are 1st team to earn compensatory picks thanks to NFL's new hiring initiative|url=https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2021/01/14/rams-draft-picks-brad-holmes-minority-hiring/|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=Rams Wire|language=en-US}}</ref>
* if multiple teams qualify in a given year, they are awarded in draft order from the first round. The number of picks awarded via the resolution has no impact on the 32 compensatory picks described above.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Overthecap.com|title=2020 Resolution JC-2A|url=https://overthecap.com/2020-resolution-jc-2a/|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=Over the Cap|language=en-US}}</ref>

The resolution followed moves strengthening the league's [[Rooney Rule]] to require two minority candidates be interviewed for head coach positions (previously one), and one minority candidate for open coordinator positions (previously not required). It also replaced an earlier resolution that would have rewarded teams for hiring minority candidates rather than for developing them.<ref name=":0" />

===Salaries===
The NFL allows each team a certain amount of money from its [[salary cap]] to sign its drafted rookies for their first season. That amount is based on an undisclosed formula that assigns a certain value to each pick in the draft; thus, having more picks, or earlier picks, will increase the allotment. In 2008 the highest allotment was about $8.22 million for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], who had 12 picks, including two first-rounders, while the lowest was the $1.79 million for the [[Cleveland Browns]] who had only five picks, and none in the first three rounds.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3385956|title=Chiefs get largest rookie pool to pay draft picks|work=ESPN.com|date=May 7, 2008|access-date=April 19, 2016}}</ref> The exact mechanism for the rookie salary cap is set out in the NFL's [[collective bargaining agreement]] (CBA) with the [[National Football League Players Association]] (NFLPA). (Those numbers represent the cap hits that each rookie's salary may contribute, not the total amount of money paid out.)

The drafted players are paid salaries commensurate with the position in which they were drafted. High first-round picks get paid the most, and low-round picks get paid the least. There is a de facto pay scale for drafted rookies. After the draft, non-drafted rookies may sign a contract with any team in the league. These rookie free-agents are not usually paid as well as drafted players, nearly all of them signing for the predetermined rookie minimum and a small signing bonus.

Two other facets of the rookie salary cap affect the makeup of rosters. First, the base salaries of rookie free agents do ''not'' count towards the rookie salary cap, though certain bonuses do. Second, if a rookie is traded, his cap allotment remains with the team that originally drafted him, which make trades involving rookie players relatively rare. (This rule does not apply, however, to rookies that are waived by the teams that drafted them.)

Teams used to be able to agree to a contract with a draft-eligible player before the draft itself starts. They could only do this if they have the first overall pick, as by agreeing to terms with a player the team has already "selected" which player they will draft. The last example of this was quarterback [[Matthew Stafford]] and the [[Detroit Lions]] in the [[2009 NFL draft]]: the Lions picked Stafford with the first overall selection in the draft, and had agreed to a six-year, $78 million deal ($41.7 million guaranteed) with Stafford a day before the draft officially started.

Since 2011, all rookies that are drafted, even those drafted first overall, now have their compensation and duration predetermined each year before the draft occurs, and can no longer negotiate beforehand.

===Forfeiture===
The [[NFL commissioner]] has the authority to forfeit picks any team is allotted in a draft for rules violations. A total of 28 selections have been forfeited since 1980 for 23 rules violations by 15 teams, while three other selections have been moved down from their original position. The [[New England Patriots]] have been the most penalized team, losing five draft picks for four violations. The [[Denver Broncos]], [[Las Vegas Raiders]] (as the Oakland Raiders), [[New Orleans Saints]] and [[San Francisco 49ers]] have each committed two violations.<ref>{{cite web |author=Fenelon, Andy |date=May 11, 2015 |title=Draft picks that have been stripped from NFL teams since 1980 |work=NFL.com |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/draft-picks-that-have-been-stripped-from-nfl-teams-since-1980-0ap3000000492229 |access-date=September 4, 2019}}</ref> The [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], who have forfeited only one pick since 1980 (a third rounder in 2001 due to trying to circumvent the [[salary cap]] involving offensive lineman [[Will Wolford]] in 1998), have also forfeited multiple picks, with the other one coming in the form of a third-rounder in 1979 for the now-infamous 1978 [[Shouldergate]] controversy.<ref name="Punishment">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HUENAAAAIBAJ&dq=pads%20draft%20steelers&pg=4141%2C3968058|title=Tarnish on the Black and Gold Reputation|last=Musick|first=Phil|date=June 27, 1978|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|page=9|access-date=April 2, 2010}}</ref> Teams selecting a player in a supplemental draft will forfeit the corresponding selection in the following year's NFL draft.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Draft !! Team !! Pick(s) !! Reason
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1980 NFL draft|1980]] || [[1980 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]] || 3rd || Holding an illegal tryout
|-
| [[1980 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] || 4th || Exceeding player limit
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1981 NFL draft|1981]]|| [[1981 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] || 3rd || Contract violations involving DB [[Bill Thompson (American football)|Bill Thompson]]
|-
| [[1981 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] || 5th || Illegally sequestering players in [[1978 Oakland Raiders season|1978]]
|-
| [[1986 NFL draft|1986]] || [[1986 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] || 3rd || Illegal use of injured-reserve list
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1995 NFL draft|1995]] || rowspan="2" | [[1995 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina Panthers]] || 2nd || rowspan="2" | Tampering with DC [[Dom Capers]], who was under contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, about the Panthers' head coaching job
|-
| 6th
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[2001 NFL draft|2001]] || [[2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 3rd || Exceeding the salary cap in [[1998 Pittsburgh Steelers season|1998]]
|-
| [[2001 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] || 5th || rowspan="2" | Violations of salary cap rules
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[2002 NFL draft|2002]] || [[2002 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] || 3rd 
|-
| [[2002 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] || 3rd || rowspan="2" | Violations of the salary cap in 1996–1998
|-
| [[2005 NFL draft|2005]] || [[2005 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] || 3rd 
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[2008 NFL draft|2008]] || [[2008 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] || 1st || [[Spygate (NFL)|Illegally videotaping]] New York Jets coaches' signals on the sideline during a [[2007 New England Patriots season|2007 game]]
|-
| [[2008 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] || 5th{{efn|In addition to forfeiting their 5th round selection, the 49ers were required to swap 3rd-round selections with the Bears (moving the 49ers down and the Bears up six spots).}} || Tampering with LB [[Lance Briggs]], who was under contract with the [[Chicago Bears]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[2012 NFL draft|2012]] || [[2012 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] || 2nd || Paying "[[New Orleans Saints bounty scandal|bounties]]" for injuring opposing players 
|-
| [[2012 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 6th{{efn|In addition to forfeiting their 6th round selection, the Lions were required to swap [[2011 NFL draft|2011]] 5th-round selections with the Chiefs (moving the Lions down and the Chiefs up 14 spots).}} || Tampering with S [[Jarrad Page]], who was under contract with the [[Kansas City Chiefs]]
|-
| [[2013 NFL draft|2013]] || [[2013 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] || 2nd || Paying "bounties" for injuring opposing players
|-
|rowspan="3"| [[2016 NFL draft|2016]] || [[2016 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] || 1st || [[Deflategate|Deflating footballs]] used in the 2014 AFC Championship Game
|-
| [[2016 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] || 3rd || Violations of the NFL's anti-tampering policy during the [[2015 NFL season|2015]] free agency period
|-
| [[2016 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]] || 5th || Pumping artificial noise into their stadium
|-
|rowspan="3"| [[2017 NFL draft|2017]] || [[2017 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] || 4th || Deflating footballs used in the 2014 AFC Championship Game
|-
| [[2017 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] || 5th || Violation of off-season workout policies
|-
| [[2017 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] || 6th || Violation of the NFL's anti-tampering policy during the 2015 free agency period
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[2021 NFL draft|2021]] || [[2021 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] || 3rd || Illegally filming the field and sidelines during a [[Cincinnati Bengals|Cincinnati]]–[[Cleveland Browns|Cleveland]] game in December 2019 (by the team's television crew)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29380577/new-england-patriots-fined-11-million-lose-draft-pick-film-crew-fallout |title=New England Patriots fined $1.1 million, lose draft pick in film crew fallout |website=ESPN |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=June 28, 2020 |access-date=December 29, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[2021 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] || 7th || Violation of salary cap rules in 2019 regarding a practice squad player<ref>{{cite web|last=Craig|first=Mark|date=March 19, 2021|title=Vikings lose seventh-round draft pick for salary-cap violation|url=https://www.startribune.com/vikings-lose-seventh-round-draft-pick-for-salary-cap-violation/600036383/|access-date=March 20, 2021|work=StarTribune}}</ref>
|-
| [[2022 NFL draft|2022]] || [[2022 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]]|| 6th || Repeated violations of COVID-19 protocols during the 2020 season<ref>{{cite web |author=Smith, Michael |date=March 20, 2021 |title=Saints forfeit 2022 draft pick for COVID-19 violations |work=NBC Sports |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/03/20/saints-forfeit-2022-draft-pick-for-covid-19-violations/ |access-date=June 11, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2|[[2023 NFL draft|2023]] || [[2023 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] || 1st || Punishment for multiple violations of the league's anti-[[Tampering (sport)|tampering]] policy in conversations with quarterback [[Tom Brady]] and [[Don Yee]], the agent for then-New Orleans Saints coach [[Sean Payton]] (as well as Brady)<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 2, 2022|title=NFL strips Miami Dolphins of 2023 first-round pick, fines Stephen Ross $1.5M for tampering with Tom Brady, Sean Payton|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34334514/nfl-strips-miami-dolphins-2023-first-round-pick-fines-stephen-ross-15m-tampering-tom-brady-sean-payton|access-date=August 2, 2022|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[2023 Houston Texans season|Houston Texans]] || 5th || Salary cap reporting violation by providing then-Texan [[Deshaun Watson]] with undisclosed compensation<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 9, 2023|title=Texans forfeit 2023 fifth-round pick, fined 175K for salary cap reporting violation|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/texans-forfeit-2023-fifth-round-pick-fined-175k-for-salary-cap-reporting-violati|access-date=March 18, 2023|website=NFL }}</ref>
|-
| [[2024 NFL draft|2024]] || [[2024 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] || 3rd || Forfeited with their 2023 pick forfeiture.
|-
| rowspan=2|[[2025 NFL draft|2025]] || [[2025 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] || 5th || Punishment for administrative payroll accounting errors that occurred during the [[2022 San Francisco 49ers season|2022 season]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 18, 2024|title=Niners to forfeit 2025 fifth-round pick as result of administrative payroll accounting errors|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/niners-to-forfeit-2025-fifth-round-pick-as-result-of-administrative-payroll-accounting-errors|access-date=February 20, 2025|website=NFL }}</ref>
|-
| [[2025 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]] || 5th || Violation of the league's anti-tampering policy by having "improper contact" with QB [[Kirk Cousins]], WR [[Darnell Mooney]] and TE [[Charlie Woerner]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 13, 2024|title=Falcons forfeit draft pick, fined for tampering; Eagles cleared|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40341876/nfl-penalizes-falcons-tampering-eagles-cleared|access-date=February 20, 2025|website=ESPN }}</ref>
|}

===Team policies===
Teams vary greatly in their selection methodologies. Owners, general managers, coaches, and others may or may not participate. For example, in the [[1983 NFL draft|1983 draft]], Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach [[Chuck Noll]] had what team executive [[Art Rooney, Jr.]] later described as "the final say" over picks, even over his father, team owner [[Art Rooney]]. This infamously led to the team drafting [[Gabriel Rivera]] over Rooney's favorite, [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|local product]] and [[Oakland (Pittsburgh)]] native [[Dan Marino]], which later came back to haunt the Steelers due to Rivera only playing six games before becoming paralyzed in a drunk-driving crash. [[Terry Bradshaw]]'s sudden retirement the following year and Marino's eventual [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] career with the Dolphins lead to the elder Rooney reminding his sons daily until his death in 1988 that the team "should've drafted Marino".

New England Patriots head coach [[Ron Meyer]], by contrast, later stated that the team, led by owner [[Billy Sullivan (American football)|Billy Sullivan]], excluded the coaching staff from any personnel-related decisions, even prohibiting him from reading scouting reports. Meyer claimed that had he possessed the decision-making authority, he would not have chosen [[Tony Eason]] in the first round of the 1983 draft.<ref name="30for30">{{cite episode | title=Elway to Marino | series=30 for 30 | network=ESPN | airdate=April 23, 2013 | season=2}}</ref>

===Festivities and attendance===
The draft was first televised in 1980 by [[ESPN]]. It would subsequently develop into a major U.S. television event.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schalter |first1=Ty |title=History of the NFL Draft: How Has the Process Evolved over Time? |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1077925-history-of-the-nfl-draft-how-has-the-process-evolved-over-time |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=30 April 2023 |language=en |date=February 24, 2012}}</ref> Despite attaining a sizable television audience, through the 2014 edition its in-person attendance remained limited. Between 1965 and 2014, the draft was held entirely in venues within New York City.<ref name="overLA">{{cite web |last1=Farmer |first1=Sam |title=Chicago gets the nod over L.A. to host 2015 NFL draft – Chicago Tribune |agency=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/la-sp-nfl-draft-2015-chicago-20141002-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=30 April 2023 |date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> However, the NFL grew frustrated with its longtime host venue, [[Radio City Music Hall]], when the 2014 draft needed to be scheduled later than planned in the year due to a scheduling conflict at the venue; this prompted the league to open bidding for a new site to host its 2015 draft. NFL Commissioner [[Roger Goodell]] selected the city of [[Chicago]] over [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="overLA"/><ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Chooses Chicago Over Los Angeles For 2015 Draft |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/nfl-spurns-los-angeles-slates-2015-draft-in-chicago/ |website=CBS News |access-date=30 April 2023 |date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> To host the 2015 event, Chicago reimagined the draft into a much larger event than it previously had been, making the event accessible to large public attendance. While the first three rounds of the draft itself still took place inside an indoor venue (the [[Auditorium Theatre]]), across the street from the theater in [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]] Chicago erected a large free-admission multi-day fan festival dubbed "Draft Town" that drew 200,000 visitors. Within the grounds of the festival, fans could watch live footage of the first three rounds draft from within the festival, and the final round of the draft was held in an area of the festival dubbed "Selection Square".<ref name="BizBash">{{cite web |last1=Berg |first1=Jenny |title=How Lollapalooza Inspired the 2015 N.F.L. Draft |url=https://www.bizbash.com/venues-destinations/united-states/chicago/media-gallery/13481005/how-lollapalooza-inspired-the-2015-nfl-draft |website=BizBash |access-date=30 April 2023 |date=May 15, 2015}}</ref> The NFL has retained the large-scale attendance and festivities pioneered when Chicago hosted.<ref name="belson1">{{cite web |last1=Belson |first1=Ken |title=For Detroit, the N.F.L. Draft Is Like a Super Bowl |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/25/business/nfl-draft-detroit.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=11 June 2024 |date=25 April 2024}}</ref> The [[2024 NFL draft|2024 draft]] in [[Detroit]] set the all-time attendance record with more than 775,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Altavena |first=Eric D. Lawrence, Paul Egan, Clara Hendrickson, Darcie Moran, Dana Afana, Eric Guzmán and Lily |title=Final day of NFL draft was a victory lap for fans, families and Detroit |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/04/27/detroit-nfl-draft-weekend-breaking-attendance-record/73482236007/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Events leading up to the draft==

===NFL Draft Advisory Board decisions===
{{Main|NFL Draft Advisory Board}}
College football players who are considering entering the NFL draft but who still have eligibility to play football can request an expert opinion from the NFL-created Draft Advisory Board.  The Board, composed of scouting experts and team executives, makes a prediction as to the likely round in which a player would be drafted.  This information, which has proven to be fairly accurate, can help college players determine whether to enter the draft or to continue playing and improving at the college level. There are also many famous reporting scouts, such as [[Mel Kiper Jr.]]

===NFL Scouting Combine===
{{Main|NFL Scouting Combine}}
The NFL Scouting Combine is a six-day assessment of skills occurring every year in late February or early March in [[Lucas Oil Stadium]] in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]]. College football players perform physical and mental tests in front of NFL coaches, general managers, and scouts. With increasing interest in the NFL draft, the scouting combine has grown in scope and significance, allowing personnel directors to evaluate upcoming prospects in a standardized setting. Its origins have evolved from the National, BLESTO, and Quadra Scouting services in 1977 to the media frenzy it has become today.
Athletes attend by invitation only. Implications of one's performance during the Combine can affect perception, draft status, salary, and ultimately his career. The draft has popularized the term "Workout Warrior" (sometimes known as a "Workout Wonder"), describing an athlete who, based on superior measurables such as size, speed, and strength, has increased his "draft stock" despite having a possibly average or subpar college career.<ref name="Cheifetz">Isaac Cheifetz, ''Hiring Secrets of the NFL: How Your Company Can Select Talent Like a Champion'' (2007), 68, available at [https://books.google.com/books?id=w-SWFfqK27IC&q=%22workout+warriors+are%22&pg=PA68 Google Books]</ref><ref name="Eisen">Rich Eisen, ''Total Access: A Journey to the Center of the NFL Universe'' (2007), 128, available at [https://books.google.com/books?id=CUzp-T6ywyUC&dq=%22workout+warrior%22+draft&pg=PA128 Google Books]</ref><ref name="ESPN">[https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=schoenfield/060427 David Schoenfield, ''Page 2: The 100 worst draft picks ever'', ESPN.com, April 26, 2006] (see No. 45, Mike Mamula, a "workout wonder")</ref>

===Pro Day===
Each university has a Pro Day, during which the [[NCAA]] allows NFL scouts to visit the school and watch players participate in NFL Scouting Combine-like events and drills. Some smaller universities join with nearby schools. They are essentially [[job fair]]s for prospective NFL players.<ref name="earley20130322">{{cite news | url=http://hamptonroads.com/2013/03/job-fair-sorts-odu-local-football-players | title=A 'job fair' of sorts at ODU for local football players | work=The Virginian-Pilot | date=March 22, 2013 | access-date=March 27, 2013 | author=Earley, Steve}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=2021 NFL Draft: Scouting Combine invite list released despite no in-person workouts | first=Josh | last=Edwards | date=March 3, 2021 | work=CBS Sports | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2021-nfl-draft-scouting-combine-invite-list-released-despite-no-in-person-workouts/}}</ref>

===Pre-draft visits===
Each NFL team is allowed to transport a maximum of 30 draft-eligible players for the purposes of physical examinations, interviews, and written tests.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/05/breaking-down-the-rules-regarding-pre-draft-rookie-visits/|title=Breaking down the rules regarding pre-draft rookie visits| work=ProFootballTalk| publisher=NBC Sports|date=April 5, 2011|access-date=March 4, 2018}}</ref> If a player attends a school or grew up in the same "[[metropolitan area]]" as the team that is inviting the player, that visit is not counted towards the 30-player limit.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-news/2017/4/5/15181218/how-the-nfl-permits-some-pre-draft-visits-to-not-count-towards-a-teams-total-steelers-pittsburgh|title=How the NFL permits some pre-draft visits to not count towards a team's total|work=Behind the Steel Curtain|date=April 5, 2017|access-date=March 4, 2018}}</ref>

=== All-Star games and events ===
Up until the 2023 season only Seniors or graduates students could participate in the all-star games, but for the [[2024 NFL draft]] the league eased its rules to allow juniors to participate in three college football postseason all-star games: the [[Senior Bowl]], [[East–West Shrine Bowl]] and the [[HBCU Legacy Bowl]], while all other all-star games  will not be allowed to invite underclassmen.<ref>{{Cite web|title=College football all-star games to allow NFL draft-eligible juniors|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38850163/college-football-all-star-games-allow-nfl-draft-eligible-juniors|website=ESPN |date=November 8, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
==== Senior Bowl ====
{{Main|Senior Bowl}}

The Senior Bowl takes place 3–4 weeks after the [[NCAA Division I Football Championship]] in Mobile, Alabama. The purpose of this game is for college football players to show off their skills for NFL scouts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Game |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/the-game |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=Senior Bowl |language=en}}</ref> Kevin Faulk, Von Miller, Dak Prescott, Phillip Rivers, and Patrick Willis were some of the players who had successful NFL careers after playing in the Senior Bowl.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hall Of Fame |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/hall-of-fame |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=Senior Bowl |language=en}}</ref>

==== East-West Shrine Bowl ====
{{Main|East–West Shrine Bowl}}
Started in 1925, the East-West Shrine Bowl is the oldest running college all-star game. The game is played by college players who plan on joining the NFL draft. The East-West Shrine Bowl gives coaches and players an opportunity to show off their abilities and learn from NFL coaches and players, and also raises money for [[Shriners Hospitals for Children]]. Popular East-West Shrine Bowl alumni include Tom Brady, John Elway, and Brett Favre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us – East West Shrine Bowl |url=https://shrinebowl.com/about-us/ |access-date=2022-08-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== HBCU Legacy Bowl ====
{{Main|HBCU Legacy Bowl}}
Started at 2022, it's intended for [[National Football League draft|NFL draft]]-eligible players from [[historically black colleges and universities]] (HBCU). The game is played at [[Yulman Stadium]] in [[New Orleans, Louisiana]] and it's usually the last all-star game in the draft cycle. It's also hosts the NFL's HBCU Combine, which was previously held at the [[Senior Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/college/hbcu/football/hbcu-legacy-bowl-will-host-the-nfls-hbcu-combine|title=HBCU Legacy Bowl Will Host the NFL's HBCU Combine|website=SI.com |date=August 31, 2022 |accessdate=August 31, 2022}}</ref>

==== Hula Bowl ====
{{Main|Hula Bowl}}
A [[Hawaii]] based post-season [[college football]] [[all-star game]] held annually, usually in January, with the purpose that players to show off their skills for NFL scouts. Some popular Hula Bowl alumni are [[Mike Ditka]], [[Larry Csonka]], [[Jack Ham]] and [[Dan Marino]].

==== Tropical Bowl ====
{{Main|Tropical Bowl (all-star game)}}
Held since 2016 in [[Florida]], with over 350 alumni playing in the NFL.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tropicalbowl.com/alumni |title=Alumni |website=tropicalbowl.com |accessdate=January 15, 2022}}</ref>

==== College Gridiron Showcase ====
{{Main|College Gridiron Showcase}}
An independently operated annual post-season college football event held since 2015 in [[Texas]] for small college players from [[NCAA Division I Football Championship|FCS]], [[NCAA Division II]], [[NCAA Division III]], and the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]]. and select players from around the world, designed to get these players in front of NFL teams and other professional leagues. The event originated as a post-season all star game in 2015, but switched to its current drill showcase and "controlled scrimmage" format in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-11-25|title=Press Release: College Gridiron Showcase is back for 2016|url=https://cgsallstar.com/2015/11/press-release-college-gridiron-showcase-is-back-for-2016/|access-date=2020-10-21|website=College Gridiron Showcase|language=en-US}}</ref> In addition to on-field drills, the event also features educational seminars to educates players on the business side of an pro career.

==== Other smaller events ====
Some of the smaller post-season [[college football]] [[all-star game]]s which are held annually are:
* '''[[FCS Bowl]]''' and '''[[National Bowl Game]]''' - Two independently operated annual post-season college football all-star games, played each December in [[Florida]] since 2014. The games are open exclusively to NFL draft prospects from [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|FCS]] and lower divisions (respectively) with both played as a doubleheader.
* '''[[Dream Bowl (all-star game)|Dream Bowl]]''' - Held since 2013, is an independent All-Star Showcase for players from the [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|FCS]] and lower divisions, that sent multiple players to pro leagues.<ref>{{Cite web|title=College bowl games attract NFL hopefuls, large crowds to Roanoke|url=https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/local-news/college-bowl-games-attract-nfl-hopefuls-large-crowds-to-roanoke/|website=WFXR |date=January 17, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dream Bowl Alumni With Pro Shots!|url=https://www.dreambowl.net/dream-bowlers-in-the-pros|website=Dream Bowl |language=en-US}}</ref> The game is always held on [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] Day weekend to celebrate his legacy and to follow after this iconic "[[I Have a Dream]]" speech. The event was first held in [[Roanoke, Virginia]] but since moved to the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]] in [[Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Redmond and Meints compete in the Dream Bowl|url=https://thesimpsonian.com/27084/sports/redmond-and-meints-compete-in-the-dream-bowl/|website=The Simpsonian |language=en-US}}</ref> Between 2017 and 2022 it ran a separate event called '''HBCU Spirit of America Bowl''' which featured [[Historically Black Colleges and Universities]] players and was played a day before the "Dream Bowl".
* '''[[HBCU Pigskin Showdown]]''' - A [[historically black colleges and universities|HBCU]] dedicated all-star game which is played each December in [[Selma, Alabama]] since 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/2022-hbcu-pigskin-showdown-from-the-march-to-the-football-field/|title=2022 HBCU Pigskin Showdown: From the March to the Football Field|website=NBCsports.com |date=December 15, 2022 |accessdate=December 15, 2022}}</ref>

==== Past major events ====
* '''[[Chicago College All-Star Game]]''' - The game was played from 1934 to 1976 (except for 1974, due to that year's NFL strike) between the NFL champions and a team of star college seniors from the previous year, and was run by [[Chicago Tribune]]. The game was the prominent college all-star game while played. In the 42 College All-Star Games, the defending pro champions won 31, the All-Stars won nine, and two were ties, giving the collegians a {{winning percentage|9|31|2}} winning percentage. The 1976 College All-Star Game remains the last time an NFL team has played any team from outside the league.<ref name=Grogan>{{cite journal |last=Grogan |first=John |title=The College All-Star Football Classic |journal=The Coffin Corner |year=2000 |volume=22 |issue=2 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/22-02-841.pdf |access-date=January 30, 2012 |publisher=[[Professional Football Researchers Association]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218181543/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/22-02-841.pdf |archive-date=December 18, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''[[Blue–Gray Football Classic]]''' - Annual college football all-star game held in [[Montgomery, Alabama]] from 1939 to 2003, usually in late December and often on [[Christmas Day]]. The format pitted players who attended college in the states of the former [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]], the "Grays", who wore white jerseys, against players who attended school in the northern half of the country, the "Blues", who wore blue jerseys, and also sometimes including players from western teams. Both teams wore gray pants. It was the first game who paid players for their participation.
* '''[[North–South Shrine Game]]''' - Annual postseason college football all-star game played each December from 1948 to 1973 in [[Miami, Florida]], with a final game in 1976 in [[Pontiac, Michigan]]. The game was sponsored by the [[Fraternal organization|fraternal]] group [[Shriners|Shriners International]], with proceeds used to support the [[Shriners Hospitals for Children|Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children]], and was similar game to the [[East–West Shrine Game]], which still active and has been played since 1925.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Lu4vAAAAIBAJ&pg=3692,4429255 |title=North–South Game Canceled |newspaper=[[Lakeland Ledger]] |location=Lakeland, Florida |agency=Associated Press|date=August 16, 1974}}</ref>
* '''[[Japan Bowl]]''' - All-star game played in [[Japan]] each January from 1976 to 1993, which showcased East and West all-star teams made up of college football players from the [[United States]]. The bowl featured various famous participants, including [[Heisman Trophy]] winners [[Bo Jackson]] and [[Ty Detmer]], who both received MVP awards. 
* '''[[NFLPA Collegiate Bowl]]''' - The event was founded in 2012 by the [[National Football League Players Association]] (NFLPA) as a post-season [[college football]] all-star game for [[National Football League draft|NFL draft]]-eligible college players. Players predominantly, but not exclusively, were from teams within the [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|Football Bowl Subdivision]] (FBS) and the [[Football Championship Subdivision]] (FCS). Starting with the 2018 edition, the game has been held at the [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]] in [[Pasadena, California]]. The event was established in part to prepare draft-eligible college football players for a career in the [[National Football League|NFL]]. During the week preceding the game, the NFLPA provides an introduction to the players union and educates players on the business side of an NFL career. Current and former NFL players are invited to attend the week's events to share their NFL experiences with the draft eligible players.<ref name=Alper11>{{cite news |title=NFLPA will hold pre-draft game in Los Angeles |author=Josh Alper |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/11/07/nflpa-will-hold-pre-draft-game-in-los-angeles/ |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=7 November 2011 |access-date=29 May 2013}}</ref><ref name=Hoffarth13>{{cite news |title=Q&A with Dick Vermeil: Former UCLA, NFL coach becomes teacher again with NFLPA Collegiate Bowl |author=Tom Hoffarth |url=http://www.sgvtribune.com/sports/ci_22380163/tom-hoffarths-q-dick-vermeil-former-ucla-football |work=[[San Gabriel Valley Tribune]] |date=15 January 2013 |access-date=29 May 2013}}</ref><ref name=Berkes12>{{cite news |title=ESPN, NFLPA announce multiyear agreement for Collegiate Bowl |author=Peter Berkes |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2012-nfl-draft/2012/12/18/3781408/nflpa-collegiate-bowl-espn |work=[[SB Nation]] |date=18 December 2012 |access-date=5 June 2013}}</ref> In 2023 the NFLPA decided to cancel the game after 12 years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NFLPA scraps its postseason bowl game|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nflpa-scraps-its-postseason-bowl-game|website=NBC Sports |date=August 8, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Tickets==
Tickets to the NFL draft are free and made available to fans on a first-come first-served basis. The tickets are distributed at the box office the morning of the draft, one ticket per person.<ref>{{cite web|title=NFL Draft Basics: Fan Tickets| url=http://www.draftnotebook.com/draft_basics.htm|access-date =January 4, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080103084157/http://www.draftnotebook.com/draft_basics.htm |archive-date = January 3, 2008}}</ref>

==Host venues==
From the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s, the draft was held in various [[Northeastern United States|Northeastern]], [[Midwest United States|Midwestern]], [[Mid-Atlantic United States|Mid-Atlantic]], and [[Western United States|Western]] cities with NFL franchises.

Between 1965 and 2014, the NFL held the draft at various venues in [[New York City]]. The [[Theater at Madison Square Garden]] hosted the event for a ten-year period from 1995 to 2004, before it was moved to [[Javits Convention Center]] in 2005 following a dispute with the [[Cablevision]]-owned arena, who were opposing the [[West Side Stadium]], which would have served as home of the [[New York Jets]] and the centerpiece of the [[New York City bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics]], because the new stadium would have competed with the Garden for concerts and other events.<ref>{{cite news |title=N.F.L. Is Seeking New Home for Draft |first=Damon |last=Hack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/11/sports/football/11draft.html |newspaper=New York Times |date=February 11, 2005 |access-date=January 18, 2010}}</ref> The draft was then held at [[Radio City Music Hall]] from 2006 to 2014.

Starting in 2015, the league opened the draft location to a bidding process. Chicago won the bidding in both 2015 and 2016, hosting the draft for the first time since 1964.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-nfl-draft-what-other-city-would-host-20170428-story.html|title=Majority of NFL teams interested in hosting the draft|last=Wilner|first=Barry|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=February 12, 2018}}</ref> These drafts marked the transformation of the draft into an event featuring festivities and attendance by large public crowds. After these drafts in Chicago, the NFL has held the draft in different cities each year.<ref name="belson1"/>

The [[2020 NFL draft|2020 draft]] was originally scheduled to be held in [[Las Vegas]] was held virtually due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]], with teams conducting it via telecommunication.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 NFL Draft will proceed in fully virtual format |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001108454/article/2020-nfl-draft-will-proceed-in-fully-virtual-format |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406202011/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001108454/article/2020-nfl-draft-will-proceed-in-fully-virtual-format |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 6, 2020 |website=NFL.com |access-date=April 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chiari |first1=Mike |title=NFL Announces 2020 Draft Will Be 'Fully Virtual' with Team Facilities Closed |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2882384-nfl-announces-2020-draft-will-be-fully-virtual-with-team-facilities-closed |website=Bleacher Report}}</ref>

===Future venues===
Future venues are as follows:

* [[Pittsburgh]], [[2026 NFL draft|2026]]
* [[Washington, D.C.]], [[2027 NFL draft|2027]]

===Summary by city===
[[File:NFL Draft Chicago 2016 06.JPG|thumb|right|"Selection Square" for the [[2016 NFL draft]] at [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]]'s [[Buckingham Fountain]] in [[Chicago]].]]
'''[[Chicago]]''': ''1938, 1942–1943, 1951, 1962–1964, 2015–2016'' (9)
*[[Auditorium Theatre]] and [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]]: ''[[2015 NFL draft|2015]]'', ''[[2016 NFL draft|2016]]'' (2)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fischer|first1=Bryan|title=New, fan-friendly events planned for 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago| url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000476415t/article/new-fanfriendly-events-planned-for-2015-nfl-draft-in-chicago|website=NFL.com|publisher=NFL Productions LLC|access-date=4 May 2015}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*[[Renaissance Blackstone Hotel|Blackstone Hotel]]: ''[[1951 NFL draft|1951]]'' (1)
*[[InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile|InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile/Sheraton Hotel & Towers]]: ''[[1962 NFL draft|1962]], [[1963 NFL draft|1963]], [[1964 NFL draft|1964]]'' (3)
*[[The Palmer House Hilton|Palmer House Hotel]]: ''[[1942 NFL draft|1942]], [[1943 NFL draft|1943]]'' (2)
*[[Sherman House Hotel]]: ''[[1938 NFL draft|1938]]'' (1)

'''[[Cleveland]]''': ''2021'' (1) <ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/2021-nfl-draft-to-be-hosted-in-cleveland|title=2021 NFL Draft to be hosted in Cleveland|publisher=Cleveland Browns|date=May 22, 2019|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref>
*[[FirstEnergy Stadium]]: ''[[2021 NFL draft|2021]]'' (1)

'''[[Dallas]]''': ''2018'' (1)
*[[AT&T Stadium]] ([[Arlington, Texas]]): ''[[2018 NFL draft|2018]]'' (1)

'''[[Detroit]]''': ''2024'' (1)
*[[Downtown Detroit]]: [[Philip A. Hart Plaza|Hart Plaza]] and [[Campus Martius Park]]: ''[[2024 NFL draft|2024]]'' (1)

'''[[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]]''': ''2025'' (1)
*[[Lambeau Field]]: ''[[2025 NFL draft|2025]]'' (1)

'''[[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]]''': ''2023'' (1)
*[[Kansas City Union Station|Union Station]]:  ''[[2023 NFL draft|2023]]'' (1)

'''[[Las Vegas]]''': ''2022'' (1)
*[[Bellagio (resort)|Bellagio]] ([[Paradise, Nevada]]): ''[[2022 NFL draft|2022]]'' (1)

'''[[Los Angeles]]''': ''1956'' (1)
*[[Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles)|Ambassador Hotel]]: ''[[1956 NFL draft|1956]]<nowiki>*</nowiki>'' (1)

'''[[Milwaukee]]''': ''1940'' (1)
*[[Hilton Milwaukee|Schroeder Hotel]]: ''[[1940 NFL draft|1940]]'' (1)

'''[[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]''': ''2019'' (1)
*[[Broadway (Nashville, Tennessee)|Lower Broadway]]: ''[[2019 NFL draft|2019]]''

[[File:NFL Draft 2010 set at Radio City Music Hall.jpg|thumb|The set for the [[2010 NFL draft]] at [[Radio City Music Hall]] in [[New York City]]]]
'''[[New York City]]''': ''1937, 1939, 1945–1947, 1952, 1955, 1965–2014'' (57)
*[[Americana Hotel]]: ''[[1973 NFL draft|1973]], [[1974 NFL draft|1974]]'' (2)
*[[Belmont Plaza Hotel]]: ''[[1968 NFL draft|1968]], [[1969 NFL draft|1969]], [[1970 NFL draft|1970]], [[1971 NFL draft|1971]]'' (4)
*[[JW Marriott Essex House|Essex House]]: ''[[1972 NFL draft|1972]]'' (1)
*[[Gotham Hotel]]: ''[[1967 NFL draft|1967]]'' (1)
*[[New York Hilton Midtown|Hilton at Rockefeller Center]]: ''[[1975 NFL draft|1975]]'' (1)
*[[Grand Hyatt New York|Commodore Hotel]]: ''[[1945 NFL draft|1945]], [[1946 NFL draft|1946]], [[1947 NFL draft|1947]]'' (3)
*[[Row NYC Hotel|Hotel Lincoln]]: ''[[1937 NFL draft|1937]]'' (1)
*[[Hotel Pennsylvania|Hotel Statler]]: ''[[1952 NFL draft|1952]]'' (1)
*[[Javits Center]]: ''[[2005 NFL draft|2005]]'' (1)
*[[New York Marriott Marquis]]: ''[[1986 NFL draft|1986]], [[1987 NFL draft|1987]], [[1988 NFL draft|1988]], [[1989 NFL draft|1989]], [[1990 NFL draft|1990]], [[1991 NFL draft|1991]], [[1992 NFL draft|1992]], [[1993 NFL draft|1993]], [[1994 NFL draft|1994]]'' (9)
*[[Park Central Hotel|New York Sheraton Hotel/Omni Park Central Hotel]]: ''[[1980 NFL draft|1980]], [[1981 NFL draft|1981]], [[1982 NFL draft|1982]], [[1983 NFL draft|1983]], [[1984 NFL draft|1984]], [[1985 NFL draft|1985]]'' (6)
*[[New Yorker Hotel]]: ''[[1939 NFL draft|1939]]'' (1)
*[[Radio City Music Hall]]: ''[[2006 NFL draft|2006]], [[2007 NFL draft|2007]], [[2008 NFL draft|2008]], [[2009 NFL draft|2009]], [[2010 NFL draft|2010]], [[2011 NFL draft|2011]], [[2012 NFL draft|2012]], [[2013 NFL draft|2013]],  [[2014 NFL draft|2014]]'' (9)
*[[The Roosevelt Hotel (New York)|Roosevelt Hotel]]: ''[[1976 NFL draft|1976]], [[1977 NFL draft|1977]], [[1978 NFL draft|1978]]'' (3)
*[[569 Lexington Avenue|Summit Hotel]]: ''[[1965 NFL draft|1965]], [[1966 NFL draft|1966]]'' (2)
*[[Theater at Madison Square Garden]]: ''[[1995 NFL draft|1995]], [[1996 NFL draft|1996]], [[1997 NFL draft|1997]], [[1998 NFL draft|1998]], [[1999 NFL draft|1999]], [[2000 NFL draft|2000]], [[2001 NFL draft|2001]], [[2002 NFL draft|2002]], [[2003 NFL draft|2003]], [[2004 NFL draft|2004]]'' (10)
*[[Waldorf-Astoria Hotel]]: ''[[1979 NFL draft|1979]]'' (1)
*[[Warwick Hotel (New York)|Warwick Hotel]]: ''[[1955 NFL draft|1955]]'' (1)

[[File:2017 NFL Draft stage.jpg|thumb|right|The stage for the [[2017 NFL draft]] on [[Eakins Oval]] in front of the [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]]]]
'''[[Philadelphia]]''': ''1936, 1944, 1949–1961, 2017'' (15)
*[[Bellevue-Stratford Hotel]]: ''[[1949 NFL draft|1949]]<nowiki>*</nowiki>, [[1950 NFL draft|1950]], [[1953 NFL draft|1953]], [[1954 NFL draft|1954]], [[1955 NFL draft|1955]], [[1956 NFL draft|1956]]<nowiki>*</nowiki>, [[1957 NFL draft|1957]]<nowiki>*</nowiki>'' (8)
*[[Eakins Oval]]: ''[[2017 NFL draft|2017]]'' (1)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://6abc.com/sports/2017-nfl-draft-to-be-held-in-philly-along-ben-franklin-parkway/1494219/ |title=2017 NFL DRAFT TO BE HELD IN PHILADELPHIA ALONG BEN FRANKLIN PARKWAY |last=Trimble |first=Megan |date=September 1, 2016 |website=6.abc.com |publisher=[[WPVI-TV]] |access-date=January 31, 2016}}</ref>
*[[Racquet Club of Philadelphia]]: ''[[1950 NFL draft|1950]]<nowiki>*</nowiki>'' (1)
*Ritz-Carlton Hotel: ''[[1936 NFL draft|1936]]'' (1)
*[[The Warwick|Warwick Hotel]]: ''[[1944 NFL draft|1944]], [[1957 NFL draft|1957]]<nowiki>*</nowiki>, [[1958 NFL draft|1958]], [[1959 NFL draft|1959]], [[1960 NFL draft|1960]], [[1961 NFL draft|1961]]'' (6)

'''[[Pittsburgh]]''': ''1948–1949'' (2)
*[[Fort Pitt Hotel]]: ''[[1948 NFL draft|1948]]'' (1)
*[[William Pitt Union|Schenley Hotel]]: ''[[1949 NFL draft|1949]]<nowiki>*</nowiki>'' (1)

'''[[Washington, D.C.]]''':  ''1941'' (1)
*[[Willard Hotel]]: ''[[1941 NFL draft|1941]]'' (1)

''<nowiki>*</nowiki>: Year with more than one draft venue''

===AFL draft venues===
Before the [[NFL-AFL merger]], the [[American Football League]] (AFL) held its own draft in several locations.

'''[[Dallas]]''': ''1961–1963'' (3)
*[[Dallas Statler Hilton]] (1961–1963)

'''[[Minneapolis]]''': ''1960'' (1)
*[[Nicollet Hotel]] (1960)

'''New York''': ''1964–1966'' (3)
*[[Waldorf Astoria New York|Waldorf Astoria]] (1964–1966*)

'''No location (by telephone):''' ''1965*'' (1)

''<nowiki>*</nowiki>: Year with more than one draft venue''

''Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20150905090250/http://www.footballgeography.com/nfl-draft-sites/ NFL Draft Locations]''<ref name=fbgeo>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballgeography.com/nfl-draft-sites/ |title=NFL Draft Locations |date=October 2, 2014 |website=www.footballgeography.com |access-date=October 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905090250/http://www.footballgeography.com/nfl-draft-sites/ |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Supplemental draft==
{{main|List of NFL supplemental draft picks}}
Since 1977, the NFL has also held a supplemental draft to accommodate players who did not enter the regular draft. Players generally enter the supplementary draft because they missed the filing deadline for the NFL draft or because issues developed which affected their eligibility (such as academic or disciplinary matters). The supplemental  draft is scheduled to occur at some point after the regular draft and before the start of the next season. In 1984, the NFL held a [[1984 NFL supplemental draft of USFL and CFL players|supplemental draft]] for players who were under contract with USFL and CFL teams.

Draft order is determined by a weighted system that is divided into three groupings. First come the teams that had six or fewer wins last season, followed by non-playoff teams that had more than six wins, followed by the 12 (now 14) playoff teams. In the supplemental draft, a team is not required to use any picks. Instead, if a team wants a player in the supplemental draft, they submit a "bid" to the Commissioner with the round they would pick that player. If no other team places a bid on that player at an earlier spot, the team is awarded the player and has to give up an equivalent pick in the following year's draft.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Supplemental Draft – How does it work?|url=http://www.thedraftthinker.com/1/post/2011/06/the-supplemental-draft-how-does-it-work.html| work=How does the supplemental draft work?|access-date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325175323/http://www.thedraftthinker.com/1/post/2011/06/the-supplemental-draft-how-does-it-work.html|archive-date=March 25, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> (For example, FS [[Paul Oliver (American football)|Paul Oliver]] was taken by the [[San Diego Chargers]] in the fourth round of the supplemental draft in 2007; thus, in the [[2008 NFL draft]], the Chargers forfeited a fourth-round pick.)

The 1985 supplemental draft was particularly controversial. Quarterback [[Bernie Kosar]] who had led the [[University of Miami]] to its first national championship in [[1984 Orange Bowl|1983]] was earning his academic degree as a junior. Rather than finish his eligibility at Miami he wanted to turn pro. At this time college players had to wait for their class unless they themselves graduated early.

Football agent [[AJ Faigin]]<ref>''Miami Herald'', "Sports Weekend" Feb 8, 1985</ref> devised a plan to get Kosar to his preferred team, the [[Cleveland Browns]]. Faigin was representing former University of Miami QB Jim Kelly, then in the USFL, but whose NFL rights were held by the Buffalo Bills. The USFL was in its last days and Kelly would soon be available to the Bills.  Faigin's first step was to ask [[Bill Polian]], the GM of Buffalo, if he would be willing to trade the number one supplemental pick (worth next to nothing at that time) to Cleveland. Polian agreed and Faigin told the Cleveland Browns a trade was available.  He next notified Kosar's father he should not formally submit his son's application for the standard NFL draft that was weeks away and declare only afterward; which would put him into the supplemental draft.

The result of Kosar's withdrawal resulted in rare, open warfare among NFL teams played out in the newspapers with threats of lawsuits between them, notably the [[Minnesota Vikings]] and [[New York Giants]], who had expressed interest in choosing him in that season's regular draft. But as no rules were broken the Giants and eventually Minnesota had to back down. Following that season, the NFL instituted the current semi-random supplemental draft order.

The strategy devised by A.J. Faigin, to not declare for the NFL until after the regular draft, was subsequently used by other top players for various reasons. In some cases, it was because they did not want to play for the team that would have drafted them in the regular draft. For example, in 1987, [[Brian Bosworth]] did not declare because he did not want to play for the [[Indianapolis Colts]] or the [[Buffalo Bills]], the teams who drafted second and third that year. The Colts had offered him a 4-year, $2.2 million deal before the draft.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1316132.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121104161019/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1316132.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 4, 2012 | title = Colts Insist: No Trade For Rights to No. 1 Pick | access-date =October 9, 2011}}</ref> The [[Seattle Seahawks]] won the right to draft first in the supplemental draft, and later signed him to a 10-year, $11 million contract.<ref>{{cite web | title = Sports Digest | date = August 15, 1987 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kewlAAAAIBAJ&pg=6224,4330985 | work = [[The Telegraph (Nashua)|The Telegraph]] | page = 9 | access-date =October 11, 2011 | quote = He brings to the Seahawks&nbsp;... the potential to be a dominating force inside.}}</ref> At the time that was the largest rookie contract in NFL history.

As of the 1990 season, only players who had graduated or exhausted their college eligibility were made available for the supplemental draft. Since 1993, only players who had planned to attend college but for various reasons could not, have been included in the supplemental draft.

==See also==
* [[Draftnik]]
* [[List of professional American football drafts]]
* [[List of NFL draft broadcasters]]
* [[List of first overall NFL draft picks]]
* [[List of second overall NFL draft picks]]
* [[Mr. Irrelevant]]

== References ==

=== Notes ===
{{notelist}}

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* [https://web.lexis-nexis.com/congcomp/getdoc?HEARING-ID=HRG-1957-HJH-0012 ''Organized Professional Team Sports: Part 3''. (password protected except at participating U.S. library) by United States House Committee on the Judiciary III, Subcommittee on Antitrust (1957).]
* Baldwin, Douglas Owen (2000). ''Football—The NFL'' in ''Sports in North America: A Documentary History, Volume 8, Sports in the Depression, 1930–1940''. Gulf Breeze, Florida: Academic International Press. {{ISBN|0-87569-224-9}}. pp.&nbsp;191–207.
* Coenen, Craig R. (2005). ''From Sandlots to the Super Bowl: The National Football League, 1920–1967''. Knoxville, Tennessee: University of Tennessee Press. {{ISBN|1-57233-447-9}}.
* Davis, Jeff (2005). ''Papa Bear, The Life and Legacy of George Halas''. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill {{ISBN|0-07-146054-3}}.
* DeVito, Carlo (2006). ''Wellington: the Maras, the Giants, and the City of New York''. Chicago, IL: Triumph Books. {{ISBN|978-1-57243-872-9}}.
* Didinger, Ray; with Lyons, Robert S. (2005). ''The Eagles Encyclopedia''. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. {{ISBN|1-59213-449-1}}.
* Levy, Alan H. (2003). ''Tackling Jim Crow, Racial Segregation in Professional Football''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Co., Inc. {{ISBN|0-7864-1597-5}}.
* Lyons, Robert S. (2010). ''On Any Given Sunday, A Life of Bert Bell''. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. {{ISBN|978-1-59213-731-2}}.
* MacCambridge, Michael (2004, 2005), ''America's Game''. New York, NY: Anchor Books. {{ISBN|978-0-307-48143-6}}.
* Maule, Tex (1964). ''The Game; The Official Picture History of the National Football League''. New York: Random House
* Pervin, Lawrence A. (2009). ''Football's New York Giants''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-4268-3}}.
* Ruck, Rob; with Paterson, Maggie Jones and Weber, Michael P. (2010) ''Rooney:a Sporting Life''. Lincoln:University of Nebraska Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8032-2283-0}}
* Peterson, Robert W. (1997). ''Pigskin'' New York, NY: Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0-19-507607-9}}.
* Williams, Pete (2006). ''The Draft: a year inside the NFL's search for talent''. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press. {{ISBN|978-0-312-35438-1}}.
* Willis, Chris (2010). ''The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr''. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-8108-7669-9}}.
* Brown, Paul; with Clary, Jack (1979). ''PB, the Paul Brown Story''. New York, NY: Atheneum.
* Carroll, John M. (1999). ''Red Grange and the Rise of Modern Football''. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. {{ISBN|0-252-02384-6}}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Durham | first1 = Meenakshi G. | last2 = Oates | first2 = Thomas P. | author1-link = Meenakshi Gigi Durham | title = The mismeasure of masculinity: the male body, 'race' and power in the enumerative discourses of the NFL Draft | journal = Patterns of Prejudice | volume = 38 | issue = 3 | pages = 301–320 | doi = 10.1080/0031322042000250475 | year = 2004 | s2cid = 146256628 }}
* Gottehrer, Barry (1963), ''The Giants of New York''. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons.
* Hession, Joseph (1987). ''The Rams: Five Decades of Football''. San Francisco: Foghorn Press.<!-- Need for Eddie Kotal -->
* Knight, Jonathan (2006). "Bernie Comes Home" in ''Sundays in the Pound: The Heroics and Heartbreak of the 1985–89 Cleveland Browns''. Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-87338-866-5}}. pp.&nbsp;15–25.
* Maule, Tex (1964). ''The Game; The Official Picture History of the National Football League''. New York, NY: Random House.
* Staudohar, Paul D. (1986). ''The Sports Industry and Collective Bargaining''.  Ithaca, New York: ILR Press. {{ISBN|0-87546-117-4}}
* Yost, Mark (2006). ''Tailgating, Sacks and Salary Caps.'' Chicago, IL: Kaplan Publishing. {{ISBN|978-1-4195-2600-8}}.
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.nfl.com/draft/}}

{{NFL drafts}}
{{List of NFL team first-round draft picks}}
{{NFL}}

[[Category:NFL draft| ]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1936]]
[[Category:Annual sporting events in the United States]]