History of NFL draft in Timeline
The National Football League draft is an annual event where teams select players entering the league. The draft order is determined by the previous season's standings, with the worst team selecting first and the Super Bowl champion last. Teams can draft a player or trade their position for other picks, players, or a combination of both. The first NFL draft took place in 1936 and has been held annually ever since.
1925: East-West Shrine Bowl
The East-West Shrine Bowl, the oldest running college all-star game, started in 1925.
December 1934: NFL Introduces Waiver Rule
In December 1934, the NFL introduced a waiver rule to prevent teams from giving up players to other teams for non-monetary reasons. This rule established that any player released by a team during the season could be claimed by other teams in reverse order of their standings.
1934: Stan Kostka's Undefeated Season
In 1934, Stan Kostka led the University of Minnesota Gophers to an undefeated season.
May 18, 1935: Bert Bell Proposes NFL Draft
On May 18, 1935, Bert Bell, co-owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, proposed the NFL Draft to ensure competitive parity and financial viability for all franchises. The proposal was unanimously adopted.
August 25, 1935: Stan Kostka Signs with Brooklyn Dodgers
On August 25, 1935, Stan Kostka signed a $5,000 contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, making him the highest-paid player in the league at the time. This bidding war for Kostka was a major factor in the NFL's decision to institute the draft in 1936.
1935: Philadelphia Eagles Secure First Draft Pick
The Eagles finished the 1935 NFL season in last place, securing them the first pick in the upcoming draft.
February 8, 1936: The First NFL Draft
The first NFL draft was held on February 8, 1936, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia. The draft lasted for nine rounds, with ninety names written on a blackboard from which teams could choose. There was no media coverage and only 24 of the 81 players selected chose to play in the NFL that year.
1936: The NFL Draft's Impact on Player Salaries
In 1936, the institution of the NFL draft significantly impacted player salaries. The draft gave franchises exclusivity in negotiating with draft picks, which led to the reduction or stagnation of new player salaries. This sparked criticism, with some accusing the draft of being anti-labor.
1936: NFL Draft Instituted
In response to the bidding war for Stan Kostka, the NFL instituted the draft in 1936.
1937: NFL Draft in New York City
The NFL Draft took place in New York City in 1937.
1938: Byron "Whizzer" White's Record-Breaking Contract
In the 1938 NFL draft, Art Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, drafted Byron "Whizzer" White in the first round despite White's intention to pursue his Rhodes Scholarship. Rooney secured White's services for the 1938 season by offering a then-unprecedented $15,000 contract, double the amount any other NFL player had earned. This move drew criticism from other owners, who argued it would inflate the salary expectations of future draftees.
1939: Kenny Washington's Undrafted Status
Despite being regarded as one of the greatest college football players of all time, Kenny Washington was not selected in the 1940 NFL draft. This occurred after at least one franchise owner became aware of Washington's African-American heritage.
1939: Wellington Mara's Unconventional Draft Pick
In the 1939 NFL draft, Wellington Mara, responsible for the New York Giants' draft picks, made an unexpected move. In the first round, he selected Walt Nielsen, a player not on the list submitted by any franchise, highlighting Mara's unconventional approach to the draft.
1939: NFL Draft in New York City
The NFL Draft took place in New York City in 1939.
1940: Kenny Washington Undrafted
Kenny Washington, widely considered one of the best college football players of his time, was not drafted by any NFL team in 1940. This was largely attributed to racial prejudice, as it came to light that Washington was African-American.
1940: NFL Draft in Milwaukee
The NFL Draft took place in Milwaukee in 1940.
1941: NFL Draft in Washington, D.C.
The NFL Draft took place in Washington, D.C. in 1941.
1942: "Bullet Bill" Dudley Becomes First Overall Pick
"Bullet Bill" Dudley was selected as the first overall pick in the 1942 NFL Draft. Dudley would later become the first first overall pick to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
1944: NFL Draft in Philadelphia
The NFL Draft took place in Philadelphia in 1944.
1945: NFL Draft in New York City
The NFL Draft took place in New York City in 1945.
1946: Eddie Kotal: The First NFL Scout
In 1946, Eddie Kotal made history by becoming the first player scout in the NFL, hired by Dan Reeves of the Los Angeles Rams. This marked the beginning of a formalized scouting system in professional football.
1947: Delayed Competitive Parity in the NFL
Despite the implementation of the draft, competitive balance in the NFL was not immediately achieved. Persistently underperforming teams like the Eagles and Chicago Cardinals did not see significant improvements in their standings until 1947, demonstrating that the draft's impact on parity was not instant.
1947: The Introduction of the Bonus Pick
In 1947, the NFL introduced a 'bonus pick' system for the draft due to competition from the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). This system awarded the first overall pick via a random draw, with the last-place team picking second, and so on. The lottery winner then forfeited their last-round pick. This system was abolished in 1958 after each of the twelve teams had received a bonus pick.
1947: NFL Draft in New York City
The NFL Draft took place in New York City in 1947.
1948: NFL Draft in Pittsburgh
The NFL Draft took place in Pittsburgh in 1948.
1949: Breaking Racial Barriers in the NFL Draft
The 1949 NFL draft was a watershed moment for racial integration in the league. George Taliaferro became the first African-American player drafted when the Chicago Bears selected him in the thirteenth round, though he ultimately signed with an AAFC team. Wally Triplett, chosen in the nineteenth round, became the first African-American player both drafted and signed by an NFL team. That same year, Paul "Tank" Younger was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Rams, making him the first NFL player from a historically black college. Eddie Robinson, Younger's coach at Grambling, emphasized the significance of Younger's success, stressing that it would heavily influence the future recruitment and drafting of players from historically black institutions.
1949: NFL Draft in Philadelphia
The NFL Draft took place in Philadelphia in 1949.
1952: NFL Draft in New York City
The NFL Draft took place in New York City in 1952.
1955: NFL Draft in New York City
The NFL Draft took place in New York City in 1955.
1956: Los Angeles Hosts NFL Draft
Los Angeles hosted the NFL draft in 1956.
1958: Bonus Pick System Abolished
In 1958, the NFL's bonus pick system, instituted in 1947 to address competition from the AAFC, was abolished. By this time, all twelve teams in the league had received a bonus pick, fulfilling the system's initial purpose.
1960: The AFL's Impact on the NFL Draft
The 1960 NFL draft marked a significant turning point in its history. The impending arrival of the American Football League (AFL) transformed the draft into a fiercely competitive event with much higher stakes for NFL teams.
1960: NFL Draft in Minneapolis
The NFL Draft took place in Minneapolis in 1960.
1964: Last NFL Draft in Chicago Before 2015
Chicago last hosted the NFL Draft in 1964 before the bidding process began in 2015.
1964: NFL Draft in New York
The NFL Draft took place in New York in 1964.
1965: NFL Draft Held in New York City
Between 1965 and 2014, the NFL draft was held at various venues in New York City.
1965: NFL Draft Conducted by Telephone
The NFL Draft was conducted by telephone in 1965.
1966: NFL Draft in New York
The NFL Draft took place in New York in 1966.
1976: "Mr. Irrelevant" is Coined
In 1976, former NFL wide receiver Paul Salata coined the term "Mr. Irrelevant" to denote the final player chosen in the NFL draft. This playful moniker has since become an enduring tradition, bringing lighthearted attention to the last pick.
1977: Introduction of the NFL Supplemental Draft
In 1977, the NFL introduced the supplemental draft to accommodate players who did not enter the regular draft.
1977: Origins of the NFL Scouting Combine
The NFL Scouting Combine originated in 1977 from the National, BLESTO, and Quadra Scouting services.
1979: Pittsburgh Steelers Forfeit Third-Round Pick
In 1979, the Pittsburgh Steelers forfeited a third-round pick due to the 1978 Shouldergate controversy.
1980: ESPN's First Live Broadcast of the NFL Draft
In 1980, Chet Simmons, the president of the newly established ESPN, secured permission from NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle to broadcast the NFL draft live. Despite Rozelle's skepticism about its entertainment value, the decision to air the draft marked a significant step in its growing popularity and media coverage.
1980: First Televised NFL Draft
In 1980, the NFL draft was televised for the first time by ESPN.
1980: Start of Draft Pick Forfeitures for Rules Violations
Since 1980, the NFL has forfeited 28 draft selections for rules violations by 15 teams.
1983: Bernie Kosar Leads Miami to National Championship
Bernie Kosar led the University of Miami to its first national championship in 1983.
1983: Ron Meyer's Exclusion from Draft Decisions
In 1983, New England Patriots head coach Ron Meyer was excluded from draft decisions by team owner Billy Sullivan, leading to the selection of Tony Eason in the first round, a decision Meyer disagreed with.
1983: Chuck Noll's Draft Decision
In the 1983 draft, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll had the final say on draft picks, leading to the selection of Gabriel Rivera over Dan Marino.
1984: Additional NFL Draft for USFL and CFL Players
The NFL held an additional draft in 1984 for players under contract with either USFL or CFL teams.
1985: Controversial Supplemental Draft and Bernie Kosar Case
The 1985 supplemental draft was particularly controversial due to the case of quarterback Bernie Kosar, who wanted to turn pro after earning his academic degree as a junior at the University of Miami in 1983.
1987: ESPN Begins Broadcasting Sunday Night Football
ESPN began airing Sunday Night Football games in 1987, marking the network's entry into prime-time NFL coverage.
1987: Brian Bosworth Enters Supplemental Draft
In 1987, Brian Bosworth did not declare for the regular NFL draft because he did not want to play for the Indianapolis Colts or the Buffalo Bills, the teams who drafted second and third that year. Instead, he entered the supplemental draft and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks, who signed him to a record-breaking rookie contract.
1988: Art Rooney's Regret
Following Terry Bradshaw's retirement in 1984 and Dan Marino's successful career with the Miami Dolphins, Art Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, expressed regret until his death in 1988 for not drafting Marino in 1983.
1988: NFL Draft Moves to Weekend
In 1988, the NFL made a strategic move by shifting the draft from weekdays to the weekend. This change resulted in a substantial boost in viewership for ESPN's coverage, further solidifying the draft's place as a major sporting event.
1990: Eligibility Rules for Supplemental Draft Changed
As of the 1990 season, only players who had graduated or exhausted their college eligibility were made available for the supplemental draft.
1993: Eligibility Rules for Supplemental Draft Changed Again
Since 1993, only players who had planned to attend college but for various reasons could not have been included in the supplemental draft.
1995: NFL Draft at Madison Square Garden
From 1995 to 2004, the NFL Draft took place at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.
2001: Pittsburgh Steelers Forfeit Third-Round Pick
In 2001, the Pittsburgh Steelers forfeited a third-round pick due to a salary cap violation involving offensive lineman Will Wolford in 1998.
October 2003: NFL Network Launches
The NFL Network launched in October 2003, offering a dedicated channel for NFL-related content. This would later have implications for the NFL draft broadcast landscape.
2003: Minnesota Vikings Miss Pick Due to Time Limit
In the 2003 draft, the Minnesota Vikings were late with their seventh overall pick because they exceeded their allotted time. This allowed the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers to draft before them.
2004: NFL Draft at Madison Square Garden
From 1995 to 2004, the NFL Draft took place at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.
2005: ESPN's Sunday Night Football Coverage Ends
In 2005, ESPN's contract for Sunday Night Football coverage came to an end.
2005: NFL Draft Moves to Javits Convention Center
In 2005, the NFL Draft moved to the Javits Convention Center after a dispute with Madison Square Garden's owners, who opposed the proposed West Side Stadium.
2006: NFL Network Joins Draft Coverage
In 2006, the NFL Network, established in 2003, entered the NFL draft coverage arena, providing an alternative to ESPN's long-standing broadcast. ESPN retained non-exclusive rights to the draft as part of its broader agreement with the NFL, which included the rights to Monday Night Football from 2006 onwards.
2006: NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall
The NFL Draft was held at Radio City Music Hall from 2006 to 2014.
2007: Paul Oliver Selected in Supplemental Draft
In 2007, FS Paul Oliver was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the supplemental draft.
2007: Time Limits for Draft Picks Changed
In 2007, the time limits for draft picks were changed. Until 2007, the limits were 15 minutes in the first round, 10 minutes in the second, and 5 minutes for all subsequent rounds.
2008: Rookie Salary Cap Allotment Disparity
In 2008, there was a significant disparity in the rookie salary cap allotment, with the Kansas City Chiefs receiving $8.22 million for their 12 picks and the Cleveland Browns receiving only $1.79 million for their 5 picks.
2008: Chargers Forfeit Fourth-Round Pick
The Chargers forfeited a fourth-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft as a result of selecting Paul Oliver in the previous year's supplemental draft.
2009: Last Pre-Draft Contract Agreement
In 2009, quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions agreed to a six-year, $78 million contract a day before the draft, marking the last instance of a pre-draft contract agreement. The Lions selected Stafford with the first overall pick.
2010: Three-Day Draft Format Introduced
In 2010, the NFL expanded the draft format to three days. The first round commenced on Thursday evening, followed by the second and third rounds on Friday evening, and the remaining four rounds concluding on Saturday. This move provided greater exposure for the event and enhanced fan engagement.
2010: 2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL draft was for the 2010 NFL season. This is an example of how the draft is colloquially named after the season in which players could begin playing.
2011: Predetermined Rookie Compensation and Duration
Beginning in 2011, all drafted rookies, including the first overall pick, had their compensation and contract duration predetermined before the draft, ending pre-draft negotiations.
2011: Baltimore Ravens Miss Pick Due to Trade Negotiations
In 2011, the Baltimore Ravens were negotiating a trade and exceeded their allotted time. This allowed the Kansas City Chiefs to pick ahead of them.
2012: New York City Bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics
The proposed West Side Stadium, which was opposed by Madison Square Garden's owners, was intended to be a centerpiece of New York City's bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
2014: NFL Draft Held in New York City
Between 1965 and 2014, the NFL draft was held at various venues in New York City.
2014: Teams with Identical Records Cycle Picks in Subsequent Rounds
In 2014, 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. In subsequent rounds, these teams cycled picks so that the team picking last in a round would pick first in the next round.
2014: Scheduling Conflict at Radio City Music Hall
In 2014, the NFL experienced scheduling conflicts with Radio City Music Hall, prompting the league to seek a new venue for the draft.
2015: Small College All-Star Game and Showcase
An independent post-season college football event began in Texas in 2015, showcasing players from smaller colleges (FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA) and select international players.
2015: Chicago Hosts NFL Draft and Introduces "Draft Town"
In 2015, Chicago was selected to host the NFL draft. The city created a fan festival called "Draft Town" in Grant Park, expanding the draft into a larger public event.
2015: Time for Seventh-Round Selections Shortened
In 2015, the time for seventh-round selections was shortened from five to four minutes.
2015: NFL Draft Bidding Process Begins
Starting in 2015, the NFL began determining future draft locations through a yearly bidding process.
2015: NFL Draft Bidding Process Begins; Chicago Hosts
Starting in 2015, the NFL 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: Unnamed All-Star Game Held in Florida
An independent post-season college football all-star game started in Florida in 2016, with over 350 alumni reaching the NFL.
2016: Shift to Drill Showcase and Controlled Scrimmage Format
In 2016, the small college all-star event transitioned from a traditional game format to a drill showcase and "controlled scrimmage" format.
2016: NFL Draft Bidding Process Begins; Chicago Hosts
Starting in 2015, the NFL 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: NFL Allows Trading of Compensatory Picks
In 2017, the NFL started allowing compensatory selections to be traded.
2017: Philadelphia Hosts NFL Draft
The NFL Draft moved to Philadelphia in 2017.
2017: NFL Draft in Philadelphia
The NFL Draft took place in Philadelphia in 2017.
2018: First NFL Draft Broadcast on Television
In 2018, the NFL draft was broadcast on television for the first time. Fox and NFL Network simulcast the first two nights, and ESPN provided its own coverage.
2018: Fox/NFL Network Simulcast Ends
The Fox/NFL Network simulcast of the NFL draft ended in 2018 after just one year.
2019: ABC Acquires Broadcast Rights
In 2019, ABC acquired the broadcast television rights for all three days of the NFL draft, ending the Fox/NFL Network simulcast.
2019: Nashville Hosts NFL Draft
The NFL Draft moved to Nashville in 2019, continuing the trend of increasing attendance numbers.
2019: NFL Draft in Nashville
The NFL Draft took place in Nashville in 2019.
November 2020: Resolution JC-2A Passed to Reward Teams for Developing Minority Coaching and GM Candidates
In November 2020, the NFL passed Resolution JC-2A, rewarding teams with draft picks if they develop minority candidates who are hired as head coaches or general managers by other teams.
2020: New Formula for Compensatory Picks Revealed
The 2020 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) publicly revealed a new formula for determining compensatory picks, which primarily relies on player salary.
2020: Virtual NFL Draft Due to COVID-19
The 2020 NFL Draft, initially planned for Las Vegas, was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Team coaches and general managers participated remotely using phone and internet connections.
2020: NFL Draft Conducted Remotely
The NFL Draft was conducted remotely in 2020.
2021: NFL Network Returns to Producing Draft Coverage
In 2021, NFL Network returned to producing its own coverage of the NFL draft after a one-year hiatus. ESPN and ABC continued to carry separate feeds.
2022: Trade Eligibility for Draft Picks
In 2022, only picks through the 2024 draft could be traded prior to the draft. Once the 2022 draft started, picks from the 2025 draft became eligible for trading.
2022: Draft in Las Vegas
The 2022 NFL draft was held in Las Vegas after a two-year wait.
2022: HBCU Legacy Bowl
The HBCU Legacy Bowl, started in 2022, showcases NFL draft-eligible players from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
2023: Kansas City Hosts NFL Draft
Kansas City hosted the NFL draft in 2023.
2023: NFL Draft Eligibility Rules for All-Star Games
Until the 2023 season, only seniors or graduate students could participate in all-star games.
2024: Detroit Hosts NFL Draft
Detroit is scheduled to host the NFL draft in 2024.
2024: Trade Eligibility for Draft Picks
In 2022, only picks through the 2024 draft could be traded prior to the draft.
2024: Eased NFL Draft Eligibility Rules for All-Star Games
Starting in the 2024 NFL Draft, the NFL eased its rules to allow juniors to participate in three specific all-star games: the Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Bowl, and the HBCU Legacy Bowl.
2025: Trade Eligibility for Draft Picks
In 2022, once the 2022 draft started, picks from the 2025 draft became eligible for trading.
