The History of the NFL Draft

Mar 3, 2025

2 min read

Updated: 6 hours ago

The NFL Draft began as a way to distribute new playing talent more evenly. Before it existed, prospects could negotiate with any club, helping established teams compete for the same desirable players.

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High angle view of an enthusiastic crowd at a modern NFL Draft event — A crowded stadium filled with excited fans at a modern NFL Draft event.

Eagles owner Bert Bell proposed giving weaker teams earlier access. Owners approved his plan in 1935, and the first draft took place the following year. Bell later became NFL commissioner; he did not hold that role when he proposed the draft.

Philadelphia, 1936

The first NFL Draft was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia on February 8, 1936. The Eagles selected University of Chicago halfback and Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger first overall.

Philadelphia later traded his rights to Chicago, but Berwanger never played in the NFL. Being selected gave a club negotiating rights, not a guarantee that the player would sign or become a professional.

That distinction survives in modern form: the drafted rookie signing deadline concerns rights and negotiations, while a roster place must still be earned.

Changing the selection process

The inaugural draft had nine rounds. The number expanded and contracted over time. Rival professional leagues also competed for players; the AFL and NFL held separate drafts through 1966 before beginning a common draft in 1967.

The current draft uses seven rounds, with order, trades and compensatory selections governed by league rules. A team can therefore possess more or fewer selections than one per round.

From meeting room to broadcast

ESPN first televised the selection process in 1980. Coverage turned choices once followed through reports into events fans could watch as they happened. Analysis, mock drafts and trade discussions became part of the public experience.

The Scouting Combine is one visible evaluation stage, but the draft also reflects game film, medical information, interviews and each team’s needs. An impressive workout does not guarantee an early selection or a successful career.

The central tension remains the same: teams choose future potential with incomplete information. Earlier access can help a struggling club, but player development, coaching, health and later roster decisions determine what those selections become.