History of NFL draft in Timeline
The NFL Draft is an annual event held from the fourth Thursday to the fourth Saturday of April. It's the primary way NFL teams recruit players. Teams are ordered inversely by their previous season's record, with the worst team picking first and the Super Bowl champion last. Teams can draft a player or trade their draft position for other picks or players. The process continues until all teams have made their selection or traded their pick. The draft has been held annually since its inception in 1936.
1925: East-West Shrine Bowl Started
In 1925, the East-West Shrine Bowl, the oldest running college all-star game, was started.
December 1934: NFL Introduced Waiver Rule
In December 1934, the NFL introduced a waiver rule to prevent teams from trading players to playoff-bound teams, allowing any player released during the season to be claimed by other teams in inverse order to their standings.
1934: Stan Kostka Led Minnesota Gophers to Undefeated Season
In 1934, Stan Kostka had an excellent college career as a University of Minnesota running back, leading the Minnesota Gophers to an undefeated season.
May 18, 1935: Bert Bell Proposed a Draft
On May 18, 1935, Bert Bell proposed the institution of a draft at a league meeting to enhance competitive parity in the NFL and ensure the financial viability of all franchises; his proposal was adopted unanimously that day.
August 25, 1935: Stan Kostka Signed with Brooklyn Dodgers
On August 25, 1935, Stan Kostka, after a nine-month holdout, signed a $5,000 contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the league's highest-paid player.
1935: Eagles Finished Last
In the 1935 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles finished in last place with a 2–9 record, securing themselves the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
February 8, 1936: First NFL Draft Took Place
On February 8, 1936, the first NFL draft took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, lasting for nine rounds with no media coverage; Jay Berwanger was the first player selected.
1936: Giants Drafted Tuffy Leemans
In 1936, Wellington Mara's extensive research on college players led to the Giants drafting Tuffy Leemans, while the draft's exclusivity in negotiating with picks altered the salary structure of the NFL, leading to reduced salaries for new players.
1936: NFL Instituted the Draft
In 1936, the NFL instituted the draft as a response to the bidding war for Stan Kostka, who held out for the highest possible offer.
1936: First NFL Draft Held
In 1936, the first NFL draft was held, marking the beginning of a yearly tradition for player recruitment in the National Football League.
1937: New York City Draft Year
New York City hosted the NFL draft in 1937.
1938: Steelers Drafted Byron "Whizzer" White
In 1938, Art Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Byron "Whizzer" White in the first round and gave him a guaranteed contract of $15,000, but he also declared that he would start working on his Rhodes scholarship.
1939: Kenny Washington Viewed as One of the Greatest College Football Players
In 1939, Kenny Washington was viewed as one of the greatest college football players of all time.
1939: Wellington Mara in Charge of Drafting Players for the Giants
In 1939, Wellington Mara was put in charge of drafting players for the Giants for the first time and he selected Walt Nielsen, a player not on the list of players that any franchise had submitted.
1939: New York City Draft Year
New York City hosted the NFL draft in 1939.
1940: Kenny Washington Was Not Drafted
In the 1940 NFL draft, Kenny Washington, an African-American player viewed as one of the greatest college football players, was not drafted by any team.
1941: Washington, D.C. Draft Year
Washington, D.C. hosted the NFL draft in 1941.
1942: "Bullet Bill" Dudley Drafted
In the 1942 draft, "Bullet Bill" Dudley was the first overall pick and eventually became the first player picked first overall in the draft to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
1945: New York City Draft Year
New York City hosted the NFL draft in 1945.
1946: Eddie Kotal became the first player scout
In 1946, Eddie Kotal became the first player scout when he was hired by Dan Reeves of the Los Angeles Rams.
1947: Competitive Parity Didn't Quickly Arrive
In 1947, competitive parity did not quickly arrive in the NFL as perennial losers, such as the Eagles and Chicago Cardinals, standings' did not improve until 1947.
1947: Temporary Institution of a Bonus Pick
In 1947, the NFL temporarily instituted a bonus pick system due to competition with the All-America Football Conference (AAFC); the first overall selection was awarded by a random draw, with the winner forfeiting its final-round pick and being excluded from future draws.
1947: New York City Draft Year
New York City hosted the NFL draft in 1947.
1949: George Taliaferro and Wally Triplett Drafted
In the 1949 NFL draft, George Taliaferro became the first African-American selected in the thirteenth round, but he chose to sign with an AAFC team. Wally Triplett was chosen in the nineteenth round and he would be the first African-American to be selected in the draft and make an NFL team.
1952: New York City Draft Year
New York City hosted the NFL draft in 1952.
1955: New York City Draft Year
New York City hosted the NFL draft in 1955.
1958: Bonus Pick System Abolished
By 1958, the bonus pick system was abolished after all twelve clubs in the league at the time had received a bonus choice.
1960: Turning Point in the Draft's History
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."
1964: Chicago hosted the draft
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.
1965: Draft in New York City
Between 1965 and 2014, the NFL held the draft at various venues in New York City.
1965: Telephone Draft
In 1965, the NFL draft was held by telephone with no specific location.
1965: New York City Draft Year
New York City hosted the NFL draft in 1965.
1976: "Mr. Irrelevant" Coined
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.
1977: NFL Scouting Combine Origins
In 1977, the origins of the NFL Scouting Combine evolved from the National, BLESTO, and Quadra Scouting services.
1977: Supplemental Draft Started
Since 1977, the NFL has held a supplemental draft to accommodate players who did not enter the regular draft.
1978: Shouldergate controversy
The Pittsburgh Steelers forfeited a third-round pick in 1979 due to the now-infamous 1978 Shouldergate controversy.
1979: Steelers forfeit a third-round pick
In 1979, the Pittsburgh Steelers forfeited a third-round pick due to the now-infamous 1978 Shouldergate controversy.
1980: ESPN Broadcasted Coverage of the Draft
In 1980, Chet Simmons, president of ESPN, asked Pete Rozelle if the network could broadcast coverage of the draft live on ESPN; Rozelle agreed even though he did not believe it would be entertaining television.
1980: Draft Televised
In 1980, ESPN televised the NFL draft for the first time, marking the beginning of its development into a major U.S. television event.
1980: Draft selections forfeited since 1980
Since 1980, a total of 28 selections have been forfeited for 23 rules violations by 15 teams.
1983: Patriots Exclude Coaching Staff from Personnel Decisions in 1983
In 1983, New England Patriots head coach Ron Meyer claimed that the team, led by owner 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.
1983: Steelers draft Gabriel Rivera over Dan Marino
In the 1983 draft, Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach Chuck Noll had "the final say" over picks, which led to the team drafting Gabriel Rivera over Art Rooney's favorite, Dan Marino.
1983: Miami National Championship
Quarterback Bernie Kosar led the University of Miami to its first national championship in 1983.
1984: Supplemental Draft for USFL and CFL Players
In 1984, the NFL held a supplemental draft for players who were under contract with USFL and CFL teams.
1985: Supplemental Draft Controversy
The 1985 supplemental draft was particularly controversial. Quarterback Bernie Kosar wanted to turn pro rather than finish his eligibility at Miami
1987: ESPN Sunday Night NFL
From 1987 to 2005, ESPN had the rights to televise ESPN Sunday Night NFL.
1987: Brian Bosworth Refuses to Declare
In 1987, Brian Bosworth did not declare for the NFL draft because he did not want to play for the Indianapolis Colts or the Buffalo Bills. The Seattle Seahawks later signed him to a 10-year, $11 million contract.
1988: Death of Art Rooney
Art Rooney died in 1988, constantly reminding his sons that the team "should've drafted Marino".
1988: NFL Moved the Draft
In 1988, the NFL moved the draft from weekdays to the weekend and ESPN's ratings of the coverage improved dramatically.
1990: Supplemental Draft Eligibility
As of the 1990 season, only players who had graduated or exhausted their college eligibility were made available for the supplemental draft.
1993: Supplemental Draft Eligibility Change
Since 1993, only players who had planned to attend college but for various reasons could not, have been included in the supplemental draft.
1995: Draft Hosted at Madison Square Garden
From 1995 to 2004, The Theater at Madison Square Garden hosted the NFL draft.
1998: Will Wolford salary cap circumvention
The Pittsburgh Steelers forfeited a third-round pick in 2001 due to trying to circumvent the salary cap involving offensive lineman Will Wolford in 1998.
2001: Steelers forfeit a third-round pick
In 2001, the Pittsburgh Steelers forfeited a third rounder due to trying to circumvent the salary cap involving offensive lineman Will Wolford in 1998.
October 2003: NFL Network Launched
In October 2003, the NFL Network launched.
2003: Minnesota Vikings miss their pick
In the 2003 NFL draft, the Minnesota Vikings were late with their selection as the 7th overall pick. 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.
2004: End of Draft at Madison Square Garden
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.
2005: ESPN Sunday Night NFL Ended
From 1987 to 2005, ESPN had the rights to televise ESPN Sunday Night NFL. In 2006 ESPN started broadcasting Monday Night Football.
2005: Draft Moved to Javits Convention Center
In 2005, the NFL draft was moved to Javits Convention Center following a dispute with the Cablevision-owned arena.
2006: Draft Held at Radio City Music Hall
From 2006 to 2014, the NFL draft was held at Radio City Music Hall.
2006: NFL Network Began to Produce Its Own Draft Coverage
In 2006, ESPN received competition when the NFL Network, which had launched in October 2003, began to produce its own draft coverage.
2007: Paul Oliver Drafted
FS Paul Oliver was taken by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the supplemental draft in 2007.
2007: NFL Draft time limits reduced
Until 2007, time limits in the NFL draft were 15 minutes in the first round, 10 minutes in the second, and 5 minutes for all subsequent rounds.
2008: Rookie Salary Cap Allotments in 2008
In 2008, the Kansas City Chiefs had the highest rookie salary cap allotment at about $8.22 million, while the Cleveland Browns had the lowest at $1.79 million.
2008: Chargers Forfeited Pick
In the 2008 NFL draft, the San Diego Chargers forfeited a fourth-round pick as a result of drafting Paul Oliver in the 2007 supplemental draft.
2008: NFL Draft time limits reduced again
Starting in 2008, the time for first-round selections in the NFL draft was shortened to 10 minutes.
2009: Detroit Lions agree to terms with Matthew Stafford
In the 2009 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions agreed to a six-year, $78 million deal with quarterback Matthew Stafford a day before the draft officially started. The Lions picked Stafford with the first overall selection in the draft.
2010: NFL Moved to a Three-Day Draft
In 2010, the NFL moved to a three-day draft with the first round on Thursday, the second and third rounds on Friday, and the final four rounds on Saturday.
2010: 2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL draft was for the 2010 NFL season. Colloquially, the name of the draft each year takes on the form of the NFL season in which players picked could begin playing.
2011: Baltimore Ravens time expires
In the 2011 NFL draft, 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.
2011: Rookie compensation predetermined
Since 2011, compensation and duration for all drafted rookies, including first overall picks, are predetermined each year before the draft, eliminating pre-draft negotiations.
2012: West Side Stadium Opposed
The Cablevision-owned arena opposed 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.
2014: Draft Moved From New York City
Between 1965 and 2014, the NFL held the draft at various venues in New York City. Radio City Music Hall hosted the event from 2006 to 2014.
2014: Draft Location Frustration
In 2014, the NFL grew frustrated with Radio City Music Hall in New York City, its longtime host venue, because the draft needed to be scheduled later than planned due to a scheduling conflict. This prompted the league to open bidding for a new site to host its 2015 draft.
2014: Tiebreakers in 2014 NFL Draft
In the 2014 NFL draft, teams with identical records "cycled" picks in each subsequent round. For example, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers all finished 4–12. In the first round, the teams selected in that order. In the second round, Jacksonville cycled to the back of the line.
2014: New York City Draft Year
New York City hosted the NFL draft in 2014.
2015: Texas Event Originated
In 2015, an independently operated annual post-season college football event originated as a post-season all-star game in Texas.
2015: Draft in Chicago
In 2015, the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell selected Chicago over Los Angeles to host the draft. Chicago reimagined the draft into a much larger event, making it accessible to large public attendance with the "Draft Town" fan festival.
2015: Draft Location Bidding Process
In 2015, the NFL started determining future draft locations through a yearly bidding process, moving away from its long-time location in New York City.
2015: NFL Draft time limits reduced again
In 2015, the time for seventh-round selections in the NFL draft was shortened from five to four minutes.
2015: League Opened Draft Location
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.
2016: Texas Event Format Changed
In 2016, the Texas event switched to its current drill showcase and "controlled scrimmage" format.
2016: Florida Event Alumni
Since 2016, an event in Florida has seen over 350 alumni playing in the NFL.
2016: Chicago Won the Bidding
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.
2017: Compensatory selections can be traded
Starting with the 2017 NFL draft, compensatory selections can be traded.
2018: 2018 NFL MVP Announcement
In 2018, Patrick Mahomes was announced as the NFL MVP.
2018: Draft Carried on Broadcast Television
In 2018, the draft was first carried on broadcast television. Fox and NFL Network simulcast the first two nights of the draft. ESPN continued to produce its own coverage of the draft, with ESPN2 simulcasting days 1 and 2, and ABC simulcasting day 3.
2019: ABC picks up NFL Draft broadcast rights
In 2019, ABC acquired the broadcast television rights for all 3 days of the NFL draft, replacing the Fox/NFL Network simulcast. The coverage included the College GameDay crew on days 1 and 2, and Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, Patrick Mahomes, and Taylor Swift co-hosting with Rece Davis on day 1. Additionally, Taylor Swift announced the release of her new single "ME!" featuring Brendon Urie.
November 2020: Resolution JC-2A enacted
In November 2020, the NFL enacted Resolution JC-2A, which rewards teams for developing minority candidates for head coach and/or general manager positions.
2020: Mike Greenberg replaces Trey Wingo at ESPN
After Trey Wingo left ESPN in 2020, Mike Greenberg, the host of Get Up!, assumed the role of ESPN's host for the first two nights of the draft.
2020: 2020 NFL Draft goes Virtual
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 NFL draft, originally planned for Las Vegas, transitioned to a virtual format. NFL Network simulcasted ESPN's coverage, featuring personalities like Daniel Jeremiah, Kurt Warner, and Michael Irvin. ABC continued its feed with the College GameDay crew. Most analysts participated remotely, while Trey Wingo, Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer, and Maria Taylor worked from ESPN's Bristol studios. Todd McShay was unable to participate after testing positive for COVID.
2020: Virtual Draft Due to COVID-19
Due to the COVID–19 pandemic, the 2020 NFL draft, originally scheduled to be held in Las Vegas, was held virtually, with teams conducting it via telecommunication.
2020: Details of new compensatory pick formula provided
The 2020 CBA explicitly provided the details of a new formula, still based primarily on salary, for compensatory pick selection.
2021: NFL Network returns to producing their own coverage of the draft
In 2021, after a one-year hiatus, NFL Network resumed producing their own coverage of the NFL draft. ESPN and ABC maintained separate feeds. Mike Greenberg took over as ESPN's host for the first two nights, while Rece Davis hosted ESPN's coverage of Day 3, which was also simulcast on ABC.
2022: NFL Draft Pick Trading Rules
As of the 2022 NFL draft, teams are only allowed to trade picks for the next three draft cycles. Once the 2022 draft starts, picks from the 2025 draft are eligible to be traded.
2022: HBCU Legacy Bowl Started
In 2022, the HBCU Legacy Bowl was started for NFL draft-eligible players from historically black colleges and universities (HBCU).
2022: 2022 NFL Draft heads to Las Vegas
In 2022, the NFL draft was held in Las Vegas after a two-year delay. Adam Schefter missed the draft to attend his son's college graduation, Mel Kiper Jr. participated virtually due to his COVID-19 vaccination status, and Kirk Herbstreit withdrew from ABC's coverage because of blood clots.
2023: Senior and Graduate Student Rule
Up until the 2023 season only Seniors or graduate students could participate in the all-star games.
2024: Juniors Allowed in All-Star Games
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.
2024: NFL Draft Pick Trading Rules
Prior to the 2022 NFL draft, only picks through the 2024 draft could be traded.
2024: Detroit Draft Attendance Record
The 2024 NFL draft in Detroit set the all-time attendance record with more than 775,000 attendees.
2025: Green Bay Draft Year
Green Bay is scheduled to host the NFL draft in 2025.
2025: NFL Draft Pick Trading Rules
Once the 2022 NFL draft starts, picks from the 2025 draft are eligible to be traded.
2026: Pittsburgh Draft Year
Pittsburgh is scheduled to host the NFL draft in 2026.
2026: Event Held on the Fourth Thursday to Saturday of April
Since 2026, the NFL Draft, officially known as the Annual Player Selection Meeting, has been held annually on the fourth Thursday of April to the fourth Saturday of April.
2026: NFL Draft time limits reduced again
Starting in 2026, the time for first-round selections in the NFL draft will be further shortened to 8 minutes.
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