The 2008 NFL draft was the 73rd annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, on April 26 and April 27, 2008.[1][2] For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so. Of the 252 selections,[3] 220 were regular selections in rounds one through seven, and 32 were compensatory selections,[4] distributed among rounds three through seven.[5] As of the end of the 2018 season, 27 players have been selected to the Pro Bowl.
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For the first time since the common draft began, no wide receiver was selected in the first round. For the first time ever, the first two picks had the same last name (Jake and Chris Long; they were unrelated). Also, a then-record 34 trades were made during the draft itself.[6] The number of trades was later broken in 2017.
As of 2024, there are only 4 remaining active players in the NFL from the 2008 draft class: Duane Brown, Calais Campbell, Joe Flacco, and Josh Johnson, although Johnson was absent from 2014 to 2017, from 2019 to 2020, and again in 2023.
The schedule for the draft was changed: day one began at 3:00 PM.EDT (1900 UTC), instead of noon, and consisted of just two rounds. Day two began with round three at 10:00 AM EDT (1400 UTC), instead of 11:00 AM. Moreover, the time limits for day one selections were reduced, from 15 minutes to ten for first-round picks and from ten minutes to seven in the second. The limit remained five minutes for all picks in rounds three through seven.[7]
The draft also marked the official debut of a new NFL shield logo, replacing the old shield logo which had been used since 1970, featuring eight white stars to represent each of the league's eight divisions, and a football rotated to the same angle as the one on the top of the Vince Lombardi Trophy given to the Super Bowl champion.[8]
The following is the breakdown of the 252 players by position:
In the explanations below, (PD) indicates trades completed prior to the start of the draft (i.e. Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2008 draft.
- Round one
#7: multiple trades:
- #7: San Francisco → New England (PD). San Francisco traded its first-round selection in 2008 and a fourth-round selection in the 2007 draft (No. 110, traded to the Oakland Raiders for Randy Moss, used to select John Bowie), to New England for one of its first-round selections in 2007 (No. 28, used to select Joe Staley).[source 1]
- #7: New England → New Orleans (D). New England traded its first- and fifth-round selections (No. 7 and 164) to New Orleans for New Orleans' first- and third-round selections (No. 10 and 78).[source 2][source 3]
#8: Baltimore → Jacksonville (D). Baltimore traded its first-round selection to Jacksonville for Jacksonville's first-round selection, two third-round selections, and fourth-round selection (No. 26, 71, 89, 125).[source 2]
#15: Detroit → Kansas City (D). Detroit traded its first- and third-round selections (No. 15 and 76) to Kansas City for Kansas City's second first-round selection, first third-round selection, and first fifth-round selection (No. 17, 66, and 136).[source 2]
#17: multiple trades:
- #17: Minnesota → Kansas City (PD). Minnesota traded its first-round selection and their two third-round selections (No. 73 and 82) and pick 182 to Kansas City for defensive end Jared Allen and pick 187.[source 4]
- #17: Kansas City → Detroit (D). See #15: Detroit → Kansas City above.[source 2]
#18: Houston → Baltimore (D). Houston traded its first-round selection to Baltimore for the first-round and (second) third-round selections Baltimore acquired from Jacksonville, and a sixth-round selection (No. 26, 89, and 173).[source 2]
#19: Philadelphia → Carolina (D). Philadelphia traded its first-round selection to Carolina for Carolina's second- and fourth-round selections in 2008 (No. 43 and 109), and Carolina's first-round pick in 2009.
#21: Washington → Atlanta (D). Washington traded its first-, third-, and fifth-round selections (No. 21, 84, and 154) to Atlanta for two of Atlanta's second-round selections and its fourth-round selection (No. 34, 48, and 103).[source 2]
#22: Cleveland → Dallas (PD). Cleveland traded its first-round selection in 2008 and a second-round selection in 2007 (No. 36, later traded to Philadelphia, who selected Kevin Kolb) for Dallas' first-round selection in 2007 (No. 22, used to select Brady Quinn).[source 5]
#25: Seattle → Dallas (D). Seattle traded its first-round selection to Dallas for Dallas' remaining first-round selection (No. 28) and its fifth- and seventh-round selections (No. 163 and 235).[source 2]
#29: Indianapolis → San Francisco (PD). Indianapolis traded its first-round selection in 2008 and a fourth-round selection in 2007 (No. 126, used to select Dashon Goldson) to San Francisco for San Francisco's second-round selection in 2007 (No. 42, used to select Tony Ugoh)[source 6]
#30: Green Bay → New York Jets (D). Green Bay traded its first-round selection to the Jets for the Jets' second- and fourth-round selections (No. 36 and 113).
- Round two
#34: multiple trades:
- #34: Oakland → Atlanta (PD). Oakland traded its second-round selection in 2008 and its fifth-round selection in 2009 to Atlanta for cornerback DeAngelo Hall.[source 7]
- #34: Atlanta → Washington (D). See #21: Washington → Atlanta above.
#38: Baltimore → Seattle (D). Baltimore traded its second-round selection (No. 38) to Seattle for Seattle's second- and third-round selections (No. 55 and 86).[source 2]
#43: multiple trades:
- #43: Carolina → Philadelphia (D). See #19: Philadelphia → Carolina above.
- #43: Philadelphia → Minnesota (D). Philadelphia traded its second- and fifth-round selections (No. 43 and 152) to Minnesota for Minnesota's second- and fourth-round selections (No. 47 and 117).
#52: Tampa Bay → Jacksonville (D). Tampa Bay traded its second-round selection to Jacksonville for Jacksonville's second- and fifth-round selections (No. 58 and 158) and a seventh-round selection in 2009.
#56: Cleveland → Green Bay (PD). Cleveland traded its second-round selection to the Green Bay Packers for Corey Williams[source 9]
#57: San Diego → Miami (PD). San Diego traded its second-round selection to Miami for wide receiver Chris Chambers[source 10]
- Round three
#64: Miami → Detroit (D). Miami traded its third-round selection to Detroit for Detroit's third- and sixth-round selections (No. 66 and 176).
#67: New York Jets → Carolina (PD). The New York Jets traded their third-round and fifth-round selections to Carolina for Kris Jenkins[source 11]
#69: multiple trades:
- #69: Oakland → New England (PD). Oakland traded its third-round selection in 2008, and the No. 211 selection in 2007 (used to select Oscar Lua) to New England for the No. 91 selection in 2007 (used to select Mario Henderson).[source 12]
- #69: New England → San Diego (D). New England traded the first of its third-round selections to San Diego for San Diego's fifth-round selection in 2008 (No. 160) and second-round selection in 2009.
#73: multiple trades:
- #73: Denver → Minnesota (PD). Denver traded its third-round selection in 2008, and the No. 176 and 233 selections in 2007 to Minnesota for the No. 121 selection in 2007 (used to select Marcus Thomas).[source 6]
- #73: Minnesota → Kansas City (PD). See #17: Minnesota → Kansas City above.[source 4]
#90: San Diego → Chicago (PD). San Diego traded its third-round selection in 2008, as well as the No. 62, 93, and 167 selections in 2007 (used to select Dan Bazuin, Garrett Wolfe, and Kevin Payne, respectively) to Chicago for the No. 37 selection in 2007 (used to select Eric Weddle).[source 6]
#92: Dallas → Detroit (D). Dallas traded its third-round selection to Detroit for Detroit's fourth-round selection in 2008 (No. 111) and fourth-round selection in 2009.[source 2]
- Round four
#100: multiple trades:
- #100: Miami → Dallas (PD). The Miami Dolphins traded their fourth-round selection in 2008 to the Dallas Cowboys for players Akin Ayodele and Anthony Fasano.[source 16]
- #100: Dallas → Oakland (D). Dallas traded their fourth-round selection (#100 overall) to Oakland for their fourth-round selection (#104 overall) and seventh-round selection (#213 overall).
#102: New York Jets → Green Bay (D). Green Bay traded their fourth round selection (#113 overall) and fifth round selection (#162 overall) to the Jets for New York's fourth round selection (#102 overall).[source 2]
#103: multiple trades:
- #103: Atlanta → Washington (D). See #21: Washington → Atlanta above.}
- #103: Washington → Tennessee (D). Washington traded their fourth-round selection (#103 overall) to Tennessee Titans for their fourth-round selection (#124 overall), and a fifth-round selection (#157 overall).
#104: multiple trades:
- #104: Oakland → Dallas (D). See #100: Dallas → Oakland above.
- #104: Dallas → Cleveland (D). Dallas traded their fourth-round selection (#104 overall) to Cleveland for their fourth-round selection (#122 overall), and fifth-round selection (#155 overall).
#110: Chicago → Miami (D). Chicago traded their fourth round selection (#110 overall) to the Dolphins for Miami's fourth round selection (#115 overall) and seventh round selection (#208 overall).[source 2]
#111: multiple trades:
- #111: Detroit → Dallas (D). See #92: Dallas → Detroit above.
- #111: Dallas → Cleveland (D). Dallas traded their fourth-round selection (#111 overall) to Cleveland for their 2009 NFL draft third-round selection.[source 17]
#115: multiple trades:
- #115: Philadelphia → Miami (D). Philadelphia traded their fourth-round selection (#115 overall) to Miami for running back Lorenzo Booker.
- #115: Miami → Chicago (D). See #110: Chicago → Miami above.
- #115: Chicago → Tampa Bay (D). Tampa Bay traded their fourth-round selection (#120 overall) and fifth-round selection (#158 overall) to Chicago for their fourth-round selection (#115 overall) and sixth-round selection (#175 overall).
#119: Washington → Denver (PD). The Washington Redskins traded their fourth-round selection in 2008, and their third-round selection in 2007 (used to select Ryan Harris) to Denver as part of a three-team trade in which Washington received T. J. Duckett and Atlanta received Ashley Lelie. (This was the result of a formula which could have had Denver and Washington swapping 2007 first-round selections.)[source 19]
#123: Pittsburgh → New York Giants (D). Pittsburgh traded their fourth-round selection (#123 overall) to New York Giants for their fourth-round selection (#130 overall), and a sixth-round selection (#194 overall).[source 2]
#125: multiple trades:
- #125: Jacksonville → Baltimore (D). See #8: Baltimore → Jacksonville above.
- #125: Baltimore → Oakland (D). Baltimore traded the fourth-round selection obtained from Jacksonville in Round 1 (#125 overall) to the Oakland Raiders for CB Fabian Washington.
#128: Green Bay → St. Louis (D). Green Bay traded its fourth-round selection to St. Louis for their fifth-round selection in 2008 (No. 137) and seventh-round selection in 2008 (No. 217).[source 2]
- Round five
#136: multiple trades:
- #136: Miami → Kansas City (PD). Miami conditionally traded its fifth-round selection to Kansas City for Trent Green. The selection would have been upgraded to a fourth-round selection if Green had met certain performance criteria.[source 21] However, Green was injured in a game against the Houston Texans and would up on the injured reserve list for the remainder of the season.
- #136: Kansas City → Detroit (D). See #15: Detroit → Kansas City above.
#137: multiple trades:
- #137: St. Louis → Green Bay (D). See #128: Green Bay → St. Louis above.
- #137: Green Bay → Minnesota (D). Minnesota traded their fifth round pick (150) and seventh round pick (209) to Green Bay for their fourth round pick (137).
#139: Oakland → Denver (PD). Oakland (conditionally) traded their fifth-round selection to Denver in exchange for Gerard Warren.[source 22]
#142: Carolina → Chicago (PD). Carolina traded their fifth-round selection to Chicago in exchange for Chris Harris.[source 23]
#143: multiple trades:
- #143: Chicago → Buffalo (PD). Chicago conditionally traded their fifth-round selection to Buffalo in exchange for Darwin Walker. The round of the selection was dependent on Walker's playing time.[source 24]
- #143: Buffalo → Jacksonville (PD). See #71: Buffalo → Jacksonville above.[source 15]
- #143: Jacksonville → Dallas (D). Jacksonville traded its fifth-round selection (#143 overall) to Dallas for its fifth-round selection (#155 overall) and seventh-round selection (#213 overall).
#153: Tampa Bay → New England (D). New England traded fifth-round and seventh-round selections (#160 and #238 overall) to Tampa Bay for its fifth-round selection (#153 overall).[source 2]
#158: multiple trades:
- #158: Seattle → Jacksonville (PD). The Seattle Seahawks traded their fifth-round selection to Jacksonville for running back Alvin Pearman and the Jaguars' seventh-round pick.
- #158: Jacksonville → Tampa Bay (D). See #52: Tampa Bay → Jacksonville above.[source 2]
- Round six
#167: Miami → Dallas (PD). Dallas and Miami exchanged their sixth-round selections in a trade with Jason Ferguson going to the Dolphins as part of the deal.[source 25]
#180: multiple trades:
- #180: Denver → St. Louis (PD). Denver traded their sixth-round selection to the St. Louis Rams for defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy.[source 26] The trade occurred after the Broncos had tried to trade the same pick to Miami for defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson; that trade was voided.[15]
#189: Tennessee → Seattle (PD). The Tennessee Titans traded their sixth-round selection to Seattle for defensive end Bryce Fisher.
#190: Seattle → Cleveland (PD). Seattle traded their sixth-round selection to Cleveland in exchange for Charlie Frye.[source 28]
#191: multiple trades:
- #191: Cleveland → Philadelphia (PD). Cleveland traded their sixth-round selection to Philadelphia for center Hank Fraley. The trade was conditional on games started by Fraley, and could have fallen to a seventh-round pick, but Fraley started all 16 games.[source 29]
#194: multiple trades:
- #194: Green Bay → New York Giants (PD). Green Bay traded their sixth-round selection to the New York Giants in exchange for running back Ryan Grant.[source 31]
- Round seven
#209: multiple trades:
- #209: St. Louis → Minnesota (PD). St. Louis traded their seventh-round selection to Minnesota for offensive tackle Adam Goldberg.[source 32]
#217: multiple trades:
- #217: Cincinnati → St. Louis (PD). Cincinnati traded their seventh-round selection to St. Louis in exchange for Ryan Fitzpatrick[source 33]
#224: Philadelphia → Buffalo (PD). Philadelphia traded their seventh-round selection, and defensive tackle Darwin Walker, to Buffalo for linebacker Takeo Spikes and quarterback Kelly Holcomb.[source 34]
#226: multiple trades:
- #226: Minnesota → New York Jets (PD). Minnesota traded their seventh-round selection to the Jets in exchange for Brooks Bollinger.[source 35]
#227: Tampa Bay → Denver (PD). Tampa Bay traded a conditional 2008 draft pick to Denver for the rights to quarterback Jake Plummer. If Plummer, who is currently retired, had reported to the Buccaneers before the first pick of the 2008 draft was made, Tampa Bay would have sent the Broncos their fourth-round selection. Since Plummer did not report, Denver will receive Tampa's seventh-round selection.[source 36]
#230: Seattle → Philadelphia (PD). Seattle traded their seventh-round selection to Philadelphia for fullback Josh Parry.[source 37]
#232: Pittsburgh → Atlanta (PD). The Pittsburgh Steelers traded their seventh-round selection to Atlanta for kick/punt returner Allen Rossum.[source 38]
#239: New York Giants → Kansas City (PD). The Giants traded their seventh-round selection to Kansas City for kicker Lawrence Tynes.[source 39]
Draft day trades
- Fifth round
- Redskins to Rams. Washington traded fifth-round and seventh-round selections (#157 and #228 overall) to St. Louis for its two sixth-round selections (#168 and #180 overall).
- Sixth round
- Ravens to Texans. See first-round trade above.
- Steelers to Giants. See fourth-round trade above.
- Eagles to Browns. Philadelphia traded to Cleveland the 6th round selection they had previously received from the Browns for Hank Fraley (#191 overall). (see Pre-Draft Trades above) In return, the Browns gave the Eagles their 5th round pick in the 2009 draft.
- Seventh round
- Cowboys to Seahawks. See first-round trade above.
- Raiders to Cowboys. See fourth-round trade above.
- Cowboys to Jaguars. See fifth-round trade above.
- Packers to Vikings. See fifth-round trade above.
- Patriots to Buccaneers. See fifth-round trade above.