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Wikipedia / 1988 NFL draft

The 1988 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24–25, 1988, at the Marriot Marquis in New York City, New York. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.

With the first overall pick of the draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected linebacker Aundray Bruce. The first player selected at the quarterback position was not selected until the third round (68th overall) with Tom Tupa (by the Phoenix Cardinals), who was also selected for his punting capabilities. This remains the latest point in NFL history in which the first quarterback has been selected. Since then, the 1996 NFL draft is the only other instance in which no quarterback was selected in the first round!

Player selections

Supplemental draft

Notable undrafted players

Hall of Famers

  • Michael Irvin, wide receiver from Miami, taken 1st round 11th overall by Dallas Cowboys

  • Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2007

  • Randall McDaniel, offensive guard from Arizona State, taken 1st round 19th overall by Minnesota Vikings

  • Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2009

  • Thurman Thomas, running back from Oklahoma State, taken 2nd round 40th overall by Buffalo Bills

  • Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2007

  • Dermontti Dawson, center from Kentucky, taken 2nd round 44th overall by Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2012

  • Tim Brown, wide receiver from Notre Dame, taken 1st round 6th overall by Los Angeles Raiders

  • Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2015

  • Sterling Sharpe, wide receiver from South Carolina, taken 1st round 7th overall by Green Bay Packers

  • Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2025

  • Eric Allen, cornerback from Arizona State, taken 2nd round 30th overall by Philadelphia Eagles

  • Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2025

Trades

In the explanations below, (D) denotes trades that took place during the 1988 Draft, while (PD) indicates trades completed pre-draft.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 11

Round 12

Forfeited picks

Three selections in the 1988 draft were forfeited:

References