With the second overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb. It seems like a smart move, right? Not if you ask the Eagles fans who booed him relentlessly on national TV. They wanted Texas running back Ricky Williams, and McNabb never heard the end of it.
When the Colts drafted Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts with the fifth overall pick in 1994, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. was quick to slam the move. But Colts GM Bill Tobin wasn’t having it. In one of the most iconic on-air moments in NFL Draft history, Tobin fired back:
“Who in the hell is Mel Kiper anyway?”
First-round picks usually shake the commissioner’s hand. Not Danny Shelton. When the Browns selected the 339-pound Washington defensive tackle 12th overall in 2015, Shelton bear-hugged Roger Goodell and lifted him off the ground. The internet had a field day. It was one of the rare moments where the draft felt like WWE—and Shelton instantly won over fans with his enthusiasm (and upper body strength).
In 2018, the NFL Draft took place in Dallas, and the league decided to troll the Cowboys—hard. They sent former Eagles kicker David Akers to the podium to announce Philadelphia’s second-round pick. Akers took his sweet time, yelling,
“The last time you were in the Super Bowl, these draft picks weren’t born!” before announcing TE Dallas Goedert. The crowd exploded with boos. Iconic pettiness. Eagles fans still talk about it with pride.
One of the most controversial quarterback picks ever, the Broncos shocked everyone by trading back into the first round to take Florida’s Tim Tebow at No. 25 in 2010. Tebow was known more for heart than mechanics, and most analysts didn’t peg him as a first-rounder. But Josh McDaniels saw something special. Tebow’s career was short-lived, but he gave fans one magical playoff win in 2012—an 80-yard overtime TD pass to Demaryius Thomas against the Steelers. For that moment alone, Broncos fans will never forget.
Aaron Rodgers entered the 2005 draft expecting to be the first overall pick. Instead, he dropped to the Green Bay Packers at No. 24. Cameras zoomed in on his tense expressions as pick after pick passed him.
Only the Raiders could do this. In 2000, Oakland shocked the NFL by drafting a kicker, Sebastian Janikowski, 17th overall. First-round kickers are practically unheard of, but “Seabass” proved them (mostly) right. He played 18 seasons, booted 63-yard field goals, and remains among the highest-scoring kickers ever. Still, the moment was so wild that fans thought Al Davis had lost his mind. Classic Raiders.
The 2004 Draft gave us one of the most awkward moments in NFL history. Eli Manning, the projected No. 1 pick, made it clear he didn’t want to play for the San Diego Chargers. They picked him anyway. Cue the stiff smile and awkward photo with a Chargers jersey. Minutes later, a trade sent Manning to the Giants for Philip Rivers. Manning went on to win two Super Bowls—and beat Tom Brady both times. Chargers fans are still wondering, “What if?”
Imagine giving up every pick in a draft for one player. That’s precisely what Saints coach Mike Ditka did in 1999 for Texas RB Ricky Williams. The Saints traded all six of their 1999 picks—and two more in 2000—to Washington for the No. 5 slot. Ditka and Williams even posed on a magazine cover in wedding attire. But the marriage didn’t last. Williams struggled in New Orleans and was later traded to Miami. It remains one of the most lopsided draft trades ever.
Yes, this happened. In 2003, the Vikings were on the clock with the seventh pick and failed to submit their card in time. Jacksonville and Carolina jumped ahead, snagging their players while the Vikings scrambled to take Kevin Williams at No. 9. Williams turned into a six-time Pro Bowler, so it worked out. But that chaos? Legendary. Somewhere, a draft official is still yelling, “You’re on the clock!”
