No wide receiver was selected in the first round for the first time since the common draft began, even though wide receiver was the most commonly drafted position overall (35 total). Also, there were a record 34 trades made during the draft itself.[2]
Changes for 2008
The schedule for the draft was changed: day one began at 3:00 PM EDT, instead of noon, and consisted of just two rounds. Day two began with round three at 10:00 AM EDT, instead of 11:00 AM. Moreover, the time limits for day one selections were reduced, from 15 minutes to ten for first-round picks and from ten minutes to seven in the second. The limit remained five minutes for all picks in rounds three through seven.[3]
The draft also marked the official debut of a new NFL shield logo,[4] replacing the old shield logo which had been used since 1970.
Colts to 49ers. The Indianapolis Colts traded their first-round selection in 2008 to San Francisco, as well as the 126th overall selection in 2007 (used to select Dashon Goldson) in exchange for the 42nd overall selection in 2007 (used to select Tony Ugoh).[7]
Chargers to Bears. San Diego traded their third-round selection in 2008 to the Chicago Bears, as well as the 62nd, 93rd, and 167th overall selections in 2007 (used to select Dan Bazuin, Garrett Wolfe and Kevin Payne, respectively) in exchange for the 37th overall selection in 2007 (used to select Eric Weddle).[7]
Raiders to Patriots. Oakland traded their third-round selection in 2008 to New England, as well as the 211th overall selection in 2007 (used to select Oscar Lua) in exchange for the 91st overall selection in 2007 (used to select Mario Henderson).[14]
Broncos to Vikings to Chiefs. The Denver Broncos traded their third-round selection in 2008 to Minnesota, as well as the 176th and 233rd overall selections in 2007 for the 121st selection in 2007 (used to select DT Marcus Thomas).[16] This selection was later sent to Kansas City as part of the Jared Allen trade.[8]
49ers/Bears swap. As penalty for tampering with Bears linebacker Lance Briggs, Goodell ordered that the 49ers and Bears would swap third-round selections in this year's draft, and the 49ers would also forfeit their fifth-round selection.[18]
Vikings to Chiefs. As part of the Jared Allen trade mentioned earlier, Kansas City also received Minnesota's original third round selection.[8]
Redskins to Broncos. The Washington Redskins traded their fourth-round selection in 2008, and their third-round selection in 2007 (used to select Ryan Harris) to Denver as part of a three-team trade in which Washington received T.J. Duckett and Atlanta received Ashley Lelie. (This was the result of a formula which could have had Denver and Washington swapping 2007 first-round selections.)[20]
Jets to Panthers. As noted earlier, the Jets traded their third and fifth-round selections to Carolina in the Kris Jenkins deal.
Dolphins to Chiefs. Miami conditionally traded its fifth-round selection to Kansas City for Trent Green. The selection would have been upgraded to a fourth-round selection if Green had met certain performance criteria.[23] However, Green was injured in a game against the Houston Texans and would up on the injured reserve list for the remainder of the season.
Bears to Bills. Chicago conditionally traded their fifth-round selection to Buffalo in exchange for Darwin Walker. The round of the selection was dependent on Walker's playing time.[24]
Panthers to Bears. Carolina traded their fifth-round selection to Chicago in exchange for Chris Harris.[25]
Raiders to Broncos. Oakland (conditionally) traded their fifth-round selection to Denver in exchange for Gerard Warren.[26]
Bills to Jaguars. As part of the Marcus Stroud trade, Buffalo traded their third- and fifth-round selections to Jacksonville.
Seahawks to Jaguars. The Seattle Seahawks traded their fifth-round selection to Jacksonville for running back Alvin Pearman and the Jaguars' seventh-round pick.[citation needed]
Sixth round
Seahawks to Browns. Seattle traded their sixth-round selection to Cleveland in exchange for Charlie Frye.[27]
Packers to Giants. Green Bay traded their sixth-round selection to the New York Giants in exchange for running back Ryan Grant.[28]
Broncos to Rams. Denver traded their sixth-round selection to the St. Louis Rams for defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy.[29] The trade occurred after the Broncos had tried to trade the same pick to Miami for defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson; that trade was voided.[30]
Browns to Eagles. Cleveland traded their sixth-round selection to Philadelphia for center Hank Fraley. The trade was conditional on games started by Fraley, and could have fallen to a seventh-round pick, but Fraley started all 16 games.[31]
Cowboys to Dolphins. Dallas and Miami exchanged their sixth-round selections in a trade with Jason Ferguson going to the Dolphins as part of the deal.[32]
Jaguars to Vikings. Jacksonville traded their sixth-round selection to Minnesota for Troy Williamson.[33]
Texans to Broncos. Houston traded their sixth-round selection to Denver for Chris Myers.[34]
Seahawks to Eagles. Seattle traded their seventh-round selection to Philadelphia for fullback Josh Parry.[36]
Eagles to Bills. Philadelphia traded their seventh-round selection, and defensive tackle Darwin Walker, to Buffalo for linebacker Takeo Spikes and quarterback Kelly Holcomb.[37]
Rams to Vikings. St. Louis traded their seventh-round selection to Minnesota for offensive tackle Adam Goldberg.[38]
Giants to Chiefs. The Giants traded their seventh-round selection to Kansas City for kicker Lawrence Tynes.[39]
Vikings to Jets. Minnesota traded their seventh-round selection to the Jets in exchange for Brooks Bollinger[40].
Bengals to Rams. Cincinnati traded their seventh-round selection to St. Louis in exchange for Ryan Fitzpatrick[41]
Jaguars to Seahawks. As noted above, the Jaguars exchanged their seventh-round pick along with running back Alvin Pearman to Seattle for the Seahawks' fifth-round selection.
Buccaneers to Broncos. Tampa Bay traded a conditional 2008 draft pick to Denver for the rights to quarterback Jake Plummer. If Plummer, who is currently retired, had reported to the Buccaneers before the first pick of the 2008 draft was made, Tampa Bay would have sent the Broncos their fourth-round selection. Since Plummer did not report, Denver will receive Tampa's seventh-round selection.[42]
Draft day trades
First round
Patriots to Saints. New England traded their first- and fifth-round selections (7th and 164th overall) to New Orleans for New Orleans' first- and third-round selections (10th and 78th).
Ravens to Jaguars. Baltimore traded their first-round selection (8th overall) to Jacksonville for Jacksonville's first-round selection, two third-round selections, and fourth-round selection (26th, 71st, 89th, and 125th).
Lions to Chiefs. Detroit traded their first- and third-round selections (15th and 76th overall) to Kansas City for Kansas City's second first-round selection, first third-round selection, and first fifth-round selection (17th, 66th, and 136th).
Texans to Ravens. Houston traded their first-round selection (18th overall) to Baltimore for the first-round and (second) third-round selections Baltimore acquired from Jacksonville earlier, along with a sixth-round selection (26th, 89th, and 173rd).
Eagles to Panthers. Philadelphia traded their first-round selection (19th overall) to Carolina for Carolina's second- and fourth-round selections (43rd and 109th), and Carolina's 2009 first-round pick.
Redskins to Falcons. Washington traded their first-, third-, and fifth-round selections (21st, 84th, and 154th overall) to Atlanta for two of Atlanta's second-round selections and their fourth-round selection (34th, 48th, and 103rd).
Seahawks to Cowboys. Seattle traded their first-round selection (25th overall) to Dallas for Dallas' remaining first-round selection, and their fifth- and seventh-round selections (28th, 163rd, and 235th).
Packers to Jets. Green Bay traded their first-round selection (30th overall) to the NY Jets for the Jets' second- and fourth-round selections (36th and 102nd).
Second round
Panthers to Eagles. See first-round trade above.
Falcons to Redskins. See first-round trade above.
Jets to Packers. See first-round trade above.
Ravens to Seahawks. Baltimore traded their second-round selection (38th overall) to Seattle for Seattle's second and third-round selections (55th and 86th).
Eagles to Vikings. Philadelphia traded their second- and fifth-round selections (43rd and 152nd overall) to Minnesota for Minnesota's second- and fourth-round selections (47th and 117th).
Third round
Dolphins to Lions. Miami traded its third-round selection (64th overall) to Detroit for their third-round and sixth-round selections (#66 and #176 overall).
Patriots to Chargers. New England traded the first of its third-round selections (69th overall) to San Diego for San Diego's fifth-round selection (160th overall) and their second-round selection in 2009.
Cowboys to Lions. Dallas traded its third-round selection (92nd overall) to Detroit for their fourth-round selection (#111 overall) and a 2009 fourth-round selection.
Saints to Patriots. See first-round trade above.
Jaguars to Ravens. See first-round trade above.
Lions/Chiefs swap. See first-round trade above.
Ravens to Texans. See first-round trade above.
Redskins to Falcons. See first-round trade above.
Fourth round
Jaguars to Ravens. See first-round trade above.
Panthers to Eagles. See first-round trade above.
Falcons to Redskins. See first-round trade above.
Jets to Packers. See first-round trade above.
Vikings to Eagles. See second-round trade above.
Eagles to Dolphins. Philadelphia traded their fourth-round selection (#115 overall) to Miami for running backLorenzo Booker.
Lions to Cowboys. See third-round trade above.
Cowboys to Raiders. Dallas traded their fourth-round selection (#100 overall) to Oakland for their fourth-round selection (#104 overall) and seventh-round selection (#213 overall).
Cowboys to Browns. Dallas traded their fourth-round selection (#104 overall) to Cleveland for their fourth-round selection (#122 overall), and fifth-round selection (#155 overall).
Cowboys to Browns. Dallas traded their fourth-round selection (#111 overall) to Cleveland for their 2009 NFL Draft third-round selection.[43]
Steelers to Giants. Pittsburgh traded their fourth-round selection (#123 overall) to New York Giants for their fourth-round selection (#130 overall), and a sixth-round selection (#194 overall).
Redskins to Titans. Washington traded their fourth-round selection (#103 overall) to Tennessee Titans for their fourth-round selection (#124 overall), and a fifth-round selection (#157 overall).
Fifth round
Patriots to Saints. See first-round trade above.
Chiefs to Lions. See first-round trade above.
Redskins to Falcons. See first-round trade above.
Cowboys to Seahawks. See first-round trade above.
Eagles to Vikings. See second-round trade above.
Jaguars to Cowboys. Jacksonville traded its fifth-round selection (#143 overall) to Dallas for its fifth-round selection (#155 overall) and seventh-round selection (#213 overall).
Packers to Vikings. Green Bay traded its fifth-round selection (#137 overall) to Minnesota for its fifth-round selection (#150 overall) and seventh-round selection (#209 overall).
Patriots to Buccaneers. New England traded fifth-round and seventh-round selections (#160 and #238 overall) to Tampa Bay for its fifth-round selection (#153 overall).
Redskins to Rams. Washington traded fifth-round and seventh-round selections (#157 and #228 overall) to St. Louis for its two sixth-round selections (#168 and #180 overall).
Sixth round
Ravens to Texans. See first-round trade above.
Steelers to Giants. See fourth-round trade above.
Eagles to Browns. Philadelphia traded to Cleveland the 6th round selection they had previously received from the Browns for Hank Fraley (#191 overall). (see Pre-Draft Trades above) In return, the Browns gave the Eagles their 5th round pick in the 2009 draft.
Seventh round
Cowboys to Seahawks. See first-round trade above.
Raiders to Cowboys. See fourth-round trade above.
Cowboys to Jaguars. See fifth-round trade above.
Packers to Vikings. See fifth-round trade above.
Patriots to Buccaneers. See fifth-round trade above.
Selections forfeited
Patriots' first-round. As penalty for videotaping defensive signals in their season opener against the Jets, the Patriots forfeited their first-round selection since they qualified for the playoffs; they would have lost their second- and third-round selections if they had not. (The pick acquired from the 49ers will not be affected.)[44]
Chargers' fourth-round. San Diego used this pick in the 2007 Supplemental Draft to select Paul Oliver.
49ers' fifth-round. As penalty for violating the NFL's anti-tampering rules in an attempt to sign Bears linebacker Lance Briggs, the 49ers forfeited their fifth-round selection and were required to swap third-round selections with the Bears.
Ravens' fifth-round. Baltimore used this pick in the 2007 Supplemental Draft to select Jared Gaither.
^"Selection" is the term used in NFL documentation, although the more-commonly used term--and the term used during the broadcast of the Draft itself is "picks."