1988 NFL draft
| 1988 NFL draft | |
|---|---|
 New York Marriott Marquis (draft venue), photographed in 2024 | |
| General information | |
| Date | April 24–25, 1988 |
| Location | New York Marriott Marquis in New York City |
| Network | ESPN |
| Overview | |
| 333 total selections in 12 rounds | |
| League | National Football League |
| First selection | Aundray Bruce, LB Atlanta Falcons |
| Mr. Irrelevant | Jeff Beathard, WR Los Angeles Rams |
| Most selections (14) | Buffalo Bills Chicago Bears Los Angeles Rams New Orleans Saints New York Giants Miami Dolphins |
| Fewest selections (8) | Indianapolis Colts |
| Hall of Famers | |
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!