2019 NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is the first step to a massive paycheck, Super Bowl rings, MVP awards and many more lifelong achievements. 254 players were selected to play on Sundays this fall.

Football players dream of being in the NFL as kids and all throughout their careers.  Many players we know already for outstanding college seasons include Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray, Alabama defensive end Quinnen Williams, and Michigan Wolverine star Rashan Gary.

The order in which the players are picked is an important indicator of their future careers. Some of the best NFL players of all time have been drafted at number 1. This list includes Peyton Manning, John Elway and Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. The 254th pick, otherwise known as Mr. Irrelevant, has seen success as well.

Kicker Ryan Succop of the Tennessee Titans was picked last in 2009. One of the greatest players of all time, Tom Brady, was picked in the 6th round of the 2000 NFL draft. While he has been with the Patriots, Brady has won 6 Super Bowls. Future stars could be picked anywhere which makes the draft unpredictable.

This not only will be an accomplishment for the 254 players that will be selected, but it is also a critical night for general managers and coaches of all 32 NFL franchises.

The NFL Draft started with the Arizona Cardinals who chose quarterback Kyler Murray.  Murray won the Heisman trophy with Oklahoma this past season. The number 2 pick was defensive end Nick Bosa who will play for San Francisco.  Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams went 3rd to the Jets. The Lions picked 8th and chose tight end T.J. Hockenson. It was a controversial pick by Detroit, due to many other great players still on the board like defensive end Ed Oliver and quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

In addition to Hockenson, the Lions picked inside linebacker Jahlani Tavai, safety Will Harris, defensive end Austin Bryant, cornerback Amani Oruwariye, wide receiver Travis Fulgham, running back Ty Johnson and tight end Isaac Nauta and defensive tackle P.J. Johnson. They had 9 draft picks after all seven rounds.

Two former Michigan Wolverines were drafted in the first round. Inside linebacker Devin Bush was picked 10th by Pittsburgh, and defensive end Rashan Gary was chosen 12th. Other Michigan players chosen were defensive end Chase Winovich, cornerback David Long and tight end Zach Gentry. There were 2 Michigan State Spartans drafted, cornerback Justin Layne went to Pittsburgh with the 83rd pick and safety Khari Willis was drafted 109th by the Colts.

The 2019 NFL Draft was a record setting event. Over 600,000 fans filled Nashville streets to watch the draft live for three days and 47.5 million people viewed it on TV, making it the most-watched NFL Draft in history.