Nowadays, the first overall selection of the National Football League Draft is guaranteed fame and financial security. When the NFL Draft was founded in 1936, however, that wasn’t the case. So, it was understandable when the first overall selection in the inaugural draft, Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger, chose not to play football. The NFL Draft, which humbly started in a Philadelphia hotel, has changed much between then and now. Here’s a brief history of how it has helped shape the league as we know it today.
The Early Years (1930s-1940s)
Prior to the first-ever NFL Draft, players were free to sign with any team. This freedom of choice tilted the balance of power in favor of a few clubs. The Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and New York Giants combined to win seven NFL championships in the nine years prior to 1936. This inspired Philadelphia Eagles owner Bert Bell to propose the idea of an annual college draft in order to create competitive balance. The draft originally had nine rounds and was expanded to 20 in 1939. The idea presented by Bell, who became commissioner of the league in 1946 and served until his death in 1959, would reshape the NFL.
Unlike Jay Berwanger, the first player selected in the inaugural NFL Draft of 1936, Sam Bradford (pictured) chose to play football after the St. Louis Rams made him the first overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.
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A New Era (1950s-1960s)
The draft played a major role in helping the NFL fight off competition from other leagues. During the 1950s, the Canadian Football League was signing top college players, so from 1956-59 the NFL held the first four rounds of the draft in late November or early December (getting first crack at the top talent) and rounds 5-30 in January. In 1970, the NFL eliminated another competitor by merging with the eight-team American Football League. A joint draft in 1967 preceded the merger. With the two entities no longer competing for talent, the draft became a major part of the league’s growth.
Draft Builders (1970s-1980s)
With the merge of the AFL and NFL complete, teams built through the draft like never before. In 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers laid the foundation for future championships by selecting Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw and HOF defensive end Mel Blount. The draft also helped fuel expansion, as the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined the league in 1976. By the 1980s, the draft had revolutionized the league. The draft class of 1983, for example, forever changed the quarterback position. Six QBs were taken in the first round, including all-time greats John Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly. Additionally, running back Eric Dickerson, offensive lineman Bruce Matthews and cornerback Darrell Green all were taken in ’83 and went on to have Hall of Fame careers.
Premium Picks (1990s-current)
The 1990s saw a reduction in the number of rounds to the draft (down to the current seven in 1994), making picks valuable commodities. The Dallas Cowboys dominated the 1991 draft with 18 picks. Most of those selections helped them win three Super Bowls in the 90s. Trading for picks became more prevalent as the decade of 2000 unfolded; teams tried to acquire multiple first rounders or move up in the draft order. In 2001, the Atlanta Falcons traded up to secure the No. 1 pick and took Michael Vick. The New York Giants traded for the No. 1 pick in 2004, Eli Manning, who led them to victory in Super Bowl XLII. The quarterback position became top priority. As the 2010 era came to a close, signal-caller Sam Bradford was the first overall selection of the St. Louis Rams.
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