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The history of the NFL Draft is a fascinating journey

The NFL draft’s first-ever pick was from the University of Chicago — and he never played in the NFL
The NFL draft’s first-ever pick was from the University of Chicago — and he never played in the NFL

The NFL Draft is an annual event where National Football League (NFL) teams select eligible college football players to join their teams. The draft serves as a mechanism to maintain a competitive balance among the teams and provides a pathway for college players to enter the professional league. The history of the NFL Draft is a fascinating journey that has evolved significantly since its inception.

Here’s a brief overview of its history:

Early Beginnings:

  • The concept of the NFL Draft was first introduced in 1935 by Bert Bell, co-owner and coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Bell proposed the idea of holding a draft to address the issue of competitive imbalance in the league.

The First Draft:

  • The first NFL Draft took place on February 8, 1936, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia.
  • It consisted of nine rounds, with each team given a chance to make a selection in each round. The Philadelphia Eagles had the first overall pick and selected Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger, who never played in the NFL.

Growth and Changes:

  • In the early years, the draft was relatively informal, with teams making selections via conference calls or mail. It wasn’t the grand spectacle it is today.
  • Over time, the draft grew in popularity and became a more structured and organized event.
  • The number of rounds varied from year to year, and the draft’s format evolved to accommodate the growing number of teams and players.

Draft Format and Modernization:

  • In 1967, the draft was standardized to a 17-round format.
  • The draft order was determined by the reverse order of the previous year’s standings. This means that the team with the worst record had the first pick, and the Super Bowl champions had the last pick in each round.
  • In 1970, the NFL and AFL merged, and the modern NFL Draft was established, including a common draft for both leagues.
  • The draft order was further modified to include playoff teams, with the teams eliminated in the earliest rounds of the playoffs picking first, followed by teams eliminated in later rounds, and finally the Super Bowl champions.

Draft Location and Coverage:

  • The draft was initially a low-key event, held in hotel conference rooms. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the draft began to be held in larger venues, often open to the public.
  • Starting in the 1980s, the draft received extensive television coverage, bringing it to a much larger audience.

Modern Era and Changes:

  • In recent years, the draft has become a marquee event, attracting enormous attention from fans and the media.
  • The draft was shortened to seven rounds in 1994, where it stands today.
  • In 2015, the NFL Draft was moved from its traditional New York City location and began to rotate to different cities each year.

The NFL Draft has become a significant moment in the NFL calendar, with teams carefully evaluating talent and making decisions that can shape the future of their franchises. It remains an essential aspect of the league’s structure and continues to evolve to meet the needs of the ever-changing NFL landscape.

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