1944 NFL draft

The 1944 NFL draft was held on April 19, 1944, at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Perhaps as a tip of the hat to wartime sensibilities, the 1944 draft was officially called the "1943 Preferred Negotiations List" by the league.

With the first overall pick of the draft, the Boston Yanks selected quarterback Angelo Bertelli.

Although there were 32 rounds in the 1944 draft, each of the league's 11 teams selected 30 players, for a total of 330 players picked. The five worst-finishing teams picked alone in rounds 2 and 4, while the five best-finishing teams plus the expansion Yanks picked alone in rounds 31 and 32.

By agreement of league owners, the new Yanks franchise received the first pick of the first round and then dropped to 11th in the order of draft selection, making their next choice at 27. As a mechanism for reestablishing the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers as individual entities after their wartime merger-of-convenience as the so-called Phil-Pitt Steagles in 1943, these teams selected fourth and ninth alternately in the 1943 draft. This had the effect of giving Pittsburgh picks 10, 15, 31, and 41 at the top of the draft and Philadelphia picks 5, 20, and 36.

Hall of Famers

 * Otto Graham, quarterback from Northwestern taken 1st round 4th overall by the Detroit Lions.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1965.


 * Steve Van Buren, halfback from LSU taken 1st round 5th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1965.


 * Bob Waterfield, quarterback from UCLA taken 5th round 42nd overall by the Cleveland Rams.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1965.


 * Ed Sprinkle, guard/defensive end from Navy taken undrafted by the Chicago Bears.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2020.