1952 NFL draft

The 1952 NFL draft was held on January 17, 1952, at Hotel Statler in New York. Selections made by New York Yanks were assigned to the new Dallas Texans.

This was the sixth year that the first overall pick was a bonus pick determined by lottery, with the previous five winners (Chicago Bears in 1947, Washington Redskins in 1948, Philadelphia Eagles in 1949, Detroit Lions in 1950, and New York Giants in 1951) ineligible from the draw; it was won by the Los Angeles Rams, who selected quarterback Bill Wade.

The Washington Post sportswriter Mo Siegel later claimed that Washington Redskins owner George Preston Marshall let him choose a late-round pick. Siegel, he said, chose Tennessee Tech's Flavious Smith to force the first black player onto the all-white Redskins. If true, Marshall likely persuaded NFL Commissioner Bert Bell to remove the choice from the official records. (Smith, who did not hear the story until years later, was white.)

Hall of Famers

 * Hugh McElhenny, halfback from Washington taken 1st round 9th overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1970.


 * Gino Marchetti, defensive end from San Francisco taken 2nd round 14th overall by the New York Yanks.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1972.


 * Ollie Matson, halfback from San Francisco taken 1st round 3rd overall by the Chicago Cardinals.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1972.


 * Dick "Night Train" Lane, defensive back attending Junior College was undrafted and signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Rams.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1974.


 * Frank Gifford, halfback from USC taken 1st round 11th overall by the New York Giants.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1977.


 * Yale Lary, defensive back from Texas A&M taken 3rd round 34th overall by the Detroit Lions.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1979.


 * Les Richter, linebacker from California taken 1st round 2nd overall by the New York Yanks.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2011.


 * Bobby Dillon, defensive back from Texas taken 3rd round 28th overall by the Green Bay Packers.
 * Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2020.


 * George Young, tackle from Bucknell taken 26th round 302nd overall by the New York Yanks.
 * Inducted: For his Executive achievements Professional Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020.