The 2016 NFL draft was the 81st annual draft of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football players. As in 2015, the draft took place at the Auditorium Theatre and Grant Park in Chicago. The draft began with the first round on Thursday, April 28, and ended on Saturday, April 30. The Tennessee Titans, the team with the fewest wins in the NFL for the 2015 season, traded the right to the top pick in the draft to the Los Angeles Rams, the first time the top pick was traded before the draft since 2001 when the San Diego Chargers traded their first pick to the Atlanta Falcons. Ohio State became the second school to have three players drafted in the top ten and to have five players drafted in the first round.
Ninety-six underclassmen announced their intention to enter the 2016 NFL draft as underclassmen, which primarily includes juniors and redshirt sophomores who are forgoing future years of college eligibility. In order to be eligible to enter the draft, players must be at least three years removed from high school. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft was January 18, 2016.
Overview
The following is the breakdown of the 253 players selected by position:
Quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, taken as the top two picks in the draft, both made the Pro Bowl and helped both of their initial teams to Super Bowl appearances. However, both have since been traded.
First-round running back Ezekiel Elliott, taken 4th overall by Dallas, is a three-time Pro-Bowler, two-time All-Pro and two-time rushing leader.Joey Bosa, selected third overall by San Diego, was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season and has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times.
Defensive tackles Kenny Clark (27th overall by Green Bay) and Chris Jones (37th overall by Kansas City) have been named to multiple Pro Bowls.
Second-round pick Derrick Henry, taken 45th overall by Tennessee, has broken multiple rushing records and is one of nine members of the 2,000-yard club.
Michael Thomas (top, 47th overall pick by New Orleans) set the record for most receptions by a wide receiver in a single season in 2019, while Tyreek Hill (bottom, 165th selection overall by Kansas City) has been named to six Pro Bowls and the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
(PD) indicates trades completed prior to the start of the draft (i.e. Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades which took place during the 2016 draft.
Round 1
↑No. 1: Tennessee → Los Angeles (PD).Tennessee traded first-, fourth- and sixth-round selections (1st, 113th and 177th overall) to Los Angeles in exchange for a first-round selection, two second-round selections and a third-round selection (15th, 43rd, 45th and 76th overall), and 2017 first- and third-round selections.
↑No. 2: Cleveland → Philadelphia (PD).Cleveland traded a first-round selection (2nd overall) and a conditional 2017 fifth-round selection (this selection would be upgraded to a fourth-round compensatory selection if the Browns received one in 2017) to Philadelphia in exchange for first-, third- and fourth-round selections (8th, 77th and 100th overall), a 2017 first-round selection and a 2018 second-round selection.
↑No. 8: Miami → Philadelphia → Cleveland → Tennessee. Multiple trades: Miami → Philadelphia (PD).Miami traded a first-round selection (8th overall) to Philadelphia in exchange for a first-round selection (13th overall), LB Kiko Alonso and CB Byron Maxwell. Philadelphia → Cleveland (PD). See Round 1: Cleveland → Philadelphia. Cleveland → Tennessee (D).Cleveland traded first- and sixth-round selections (8th and 176th overall) to Tennessee in exchange for first- and third-round selections (15th and 76th overall), and a 2017 second-round selection.
↑No. 9: Tampa Bay → Chicago (D).Tampa Bay traded a first-round selection (9th overall) to Chicago in exchange for first- and fourth-round selections (11th and 106th overall).
↑No. 15: Los Angeles → Tennessee → Cleveland. Multiple trades: Los Angeles → Tennessee (PD). See Round 1: Tennessee → Los Angeles. Tennessee → Cleveland (D). See Round 1: Cleveland → Tennessee.
↑No. 21: Washington → Houston (D).Washington traded a first-round selection (21st overall) to Houston in exchange for a first-round selection (22nd overall) and a 2017 sixth-round selection.
↑No. 26: Seattle → Denver (D).Seattle traded a first-round selection (26th overall) to Denver in exchange for first- and third-round selections (31st and 94th overall).
↑No. 36: Baltimore → Jacksonville (D).Baltimore traded a second-round selection (36th overall) to Jacksonville in exchange for second- and fifth-round selections (38th and 146th overall).
↑No. 38: Jacksonville → Baltimore → Miami. Multiple trades: Jacksonville → Baltimore (D). See Round 2: Baltimore → Jacksonville. Baltimore → Miami (D).Baltimore traded a second-round selection (38th overall) to Miami in exchange for second- and fourth-round selections (42nd and 107th overall).
↑No. 41: Chicago → Buffalo (D).Chicago traded a second-round selection (41st overall) to Buffalo in exchange for second- and fourth-round selections (49th and 117th overall), and a 2017 fourth-round selection.
↑No. 43: Philadelphia → Los Angeles → Tennessee. Multiple trades: Philadelphia → Los Angeles (PD).Philadelphia traded a second-round selection (43rd overall), a 2015 fourth-round selection and QB Nick Foles to Los Angeles in exchange for a 2015 fifth-round selection and QB Sam Bradford. The trade also included a conditional fourth-round selection in this year's draft that Philadelphia would have received if Bradford took less than 50 percent of the snaps in 2015; Bradford took the majority of snaps for Philadelphia in 2015, so the fourth-round pick was returned to Los Angeles. Los Angeles → Tennessee (PD). See Round 1: Tennessee → Los Angeles.
↑No. 48: Indianapolis → Green Bay (D).Indianapolis traded a second-round selection (48th overall) to Green Bay in exchange for second-, fourth- and seventh-round selections (57th, 125th and 248th overall).
↑No. 49: Buffalo → Chicago → Seattle. Multiple trades: Buffalo → Chicago (D). See Round 2: Chicago → Buffalo. Chicago → Seattle (D).Chicago traded a second-round selection (49th overall) to Seattle in exchange for second- and fourth-round selections (56th and 124th overall).
↑No. 50: Atlanta → Houston (D).Atlanta traded a second-round selection (50th overall) to Houston in exchange for second- and sixth-round selections (52nd and 195th overall).
↑No. 59: Kansas City → Tampa Bay (D).Kansas City traded a second-round selection (59th overall) to Tampa Bay in exchange for third- and fourth-round selections (74th and 106th overall).
↑No. 61: Arizona → New England → New Orleans. Multiple trades: Arizona → New England (PD).Arizona traded a second-round selection (61st overall) and G Jonathan Cooper to New England in exchange for DE Chandler Jones. New England → New Orleans (D).New England traded a second-round selection (61st overall) to New Orleans in exchange for third- and fourth-round selections (78th and 112th overall).
↑No. 76: Los Angeles → Tennessee → Cleveland. Multiple trades: Los Angeles → Tennessee (PD). See Round 1: Tennessee → Los Angeles. Tennessee → Cleveland (D). See Round 1: Cleveland → Tennessee.
↑No. 77: Detroit → Philadelphia → Cleveland → Carolina. Multiple trades: Detroit → Philadelphia (PD).Detroit traded a third-round selection (77th overall) to Philadelphia in exchange for a 2015 fourth-round selection. Philadelphia → Cleveland (PD). See Round 1: Cleveland → Philadelphia. Cleveland → Carolina (D).Cleveland traded third- and fifth-round selections (77th and 141st overall) to Carolina in exchange for third-, fourth- and fifth-round selections (93rd, 129th and 168th overall).
↑No. 86: Minnesota → Miami (D).Minnesota traded a third-round selection (86th overall) to Miami in exchange for a sixth-round selection (186th overall), and 2017 third- and fourth-round selections.
↑No. 100: Tennessee → Philadelphia → Cleveland → Oakland. Multiple trades: Tennessee → Philadelphia (PD).Tennessee traded a fourth-round selection (100th overall) to Philadelphia in exchange for a fourth-round selection (113th overall) and RB DeMarco Murray. Philadelphia → Cleveland (PD). See Round 1: Cleveland → Philadelphia. Cleveland → Oakland (D).Cleveland traded a fourth-round selection (100th overall) to Oakland in exchange for fourth- and fifth-round selections (114th and 154th overall).
↑No. 106: Chicago → Tampa Bay → Kansas City. Multiple trades: Chicago → Tampa Bay (D). See Round 1: Tampa Bay → Chicago. Tampa Bay → Kansas City (D). See Round 2: Kansas City → Tampa Bay.
↑No. 113: Philadelphia → Tennessee → Los Angeles → Chicago. Multiple trades: Philadelphia → Tennessee (PD). See Round 4: Tennessee → Philadelphia. Tennessee → Los Angeles (PD). See Round 1: Tennessee → Los Angeles. Los Angeles → Chicago (D).Los Angeles traded a fourth-round selection (113th overall) to Chicago in exchange for fourth- and sixth-round selections (117th and 206th overall).
↑No. 117: Buffalo → Chicago → Los Angeles. Multiple trades: Buffalo → Chicago (D). See Round 2: Chicago → Buffalo. Chicago → Los Angeles (D). See Round 4: Los Angeles → Chicago.
↑No. 120: Washington → New Orleans (D).Washington traded a fourth-round selection (120th overall) to New Orleans in exchange for a fifth-round selection (152nd overall) and a 2017 fifth-round selection.
↑No. 130: Denver → Baltimore (PD).Denver traded a fourth-round selection (130th overall) to Baltimore in exchange for a fifth-round selection (144th overall) and C Gino Gradkowski.
↑No. 142: San Diego → San Francisco (PD).San Diego traded a fifth-round selection (142nd overall), and 2015 first- and fourth-round selections to San Francisco in exchange for a 2015 first-round selection.
↑No. 143: Dallas → Oakland (PD).Dallas traded a conditional fifth-round selection (143rd overall) to Oakland in exchange for a sixth-round selection (189th overall) and WR Brice Butler. Oakland received the pick after the Cowboys had Butler on their 53-man roster for at least six games.
↑No. 147: Miami → New England → Seattle. Multiple trades: Miami → New England (D).Miami traded a fifth-round selection (147th overall) to New England in exchange for two sixth-round selections and a seventh-round selection (196th, 204th and 250th overall). New England → Seattle (D).New England traded fifth- and seventh-round selections (147th and 243rd overall) to Seattle in exchange for a sixth-round selection (225th overall) and a 2017 fourth-round selection.
↑No. 157: NY Jets → Denver → Tennessee. Multiple trades: NY Jets → Denver (PD).NY Jets traded a fifth-round selection (157th overall) to Denver in exchange for a seventh-round selection (235th overall) and OT Ryan Clady. Denver → Tennessee (D).Denver traded fifth- and seventh-round selections (157th and 253rd overall) to Tennessee in exchange for a sixth-round selection (176th overall) and a 2017 sixth-round selection.
↑No. 158: Washington → NY Jets (D).Washington traded a fifth-round selection (158th overall) to the NY Jets in exchange for a 2017 fourth-round selection.
↑No. 162: Seattle → Kansas City (PD).Seattle traded a fifth-round selection (162nd overall) to Kansas City in exchange for S Kelcie McCray.
↑No. 164: Pittsburgh → Philadelphia (PD).Pittsburgh traded a conditional fifth-round selection to Philadelphia in exchange for CB Brandon Boykin. The selection would have become a fourth-rounder if Boykin played 60% of the snaps during the season.
↑No. 166: New England → Houston (PD).New England traded a fifth-round selection (166th overall) to Houston in exchange for a sixth-round selection (196th overall) and WR Keshawn Martin.
↑No. 169: Denver → Detroit (PD).Denver traded a fifth-round selection (169th overall), 2015 first- and fifth-round selections, and OL Manny Ramirez to Detroit in exchange for a 2015 first-round selection.
↑No. 178: Dallas → San Francisco → Kansas City. Multiple trades: Dallas → San Francisco (PD).Dallas traded a sixth-round selection (178th overall) to San Francisco in exchange for a 2015 seventh-round selection. San Francisco → Kansas City (D). See Round 1: Kansas City → San Francisco.
↑No. 186: Miami → Minnesota → Miami. Multiple trades: Miami → Minnesota (D). See Round 3: Minnesota → Miami. Minnesota → Miami (D).Minnesota traded a sixth-round selection (186th overall) to Miami in exchange for sixth- and seventh-round selections (196th and 227th overall).
↑No. 187: New Orleans → Washington (PD).New Orleans traded a sixth-round selection (187th overall) and a 2015 sixth-round selection to Washington in exchange for a 2015 fifth-round selection.
↑No. 188: Philadelphia → Minnesota (D).Philadelphia traded a sixth-round selection (188th overall) to Minnesota in exchange for sixth- and seventh-round selections (196th and 240th overall).
↑No. 193: Atlanta → Tennessee (PD).Atlanta traded a sixth-round selection (193rd overall) to Tennessee in exchange for a conditional future selection and G Andy Levitre.
↑No. 194: Indianapolis → Oakland (PD).Indianapolis traded a sixth-round selection (194th overall) to Oakland in exchange for LB Sio Moore.
↑No. 195: NY Jets → Houston → Atlanta. Multiple trades: NY Jets → Houston (PD). The NY Jets traded a conditional seventh-round selection in the 2016 draft to Houston in exchange for QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. The seventh-round pick could have become a sixth-rounder based on Fitzpatrick's playing time. Houston → Atlanta (D). See Round 2: Atlanta → Houston.
↑No. 196: Houston → New England → Miami → Minnesota → Philadelphia. Multiple trades: Houston → New England (PD). See Round 5: New England → Houston. New England → Miami (D). See Round 5: Miami → New England. Miami → Minnesota (D). See Round 6: Minnesota → Miami. Minnesota → Philadelphia (D). See Round 6: Philadelphia → Minnesota.
↑No. 197: Washington → Tampa Bay (PD).Washington traded a sixth-round selection (197th overall) to Tampa Bay in exchange for a seventh-round selection (232nd overall) and S Dashon Goldson.
↑No. 198: Minnesota → San Diego (PD).Minnesota traded a sixth-round selection (198th overall) to San Diego in exchange for G Jeremiah Sirles.
↑No. 201: Pittsburgh → Jacksonville (PD).Pittsburgh traded a sixth-round selection (201st overall) to Jacksonville in exchange for K Josh Scobee.
↑No. 202: Seattle → Detroit (PD).Seattle traded a sixth-round selection (202nd overall) to Detroit in exchange for CB Mohammed Seisay.
↑No. 204: New England → Chicago → New England → Miami. Multiple trades: New England → Chicago (PD).New England traded a sixth-round selection (204th overall) to Chicago in exchange for LB Jon Bostic. Chicago → New England (PD). See Round 4: New England → Chicago New England → Miami (D). See Round 5: Miami → New England
↑No. 206: Carolina → Chicago → Los Angeles. Multiple trades: Carolina → Chicago (PD).Carolina traded a sixth-round selection (206th overall) to Chicago in exchange for DE Jared Allen. Chicago → Los Angeles (D). See Round 4: Los Angeles → Chicago.
↑No. 207: Denver → San Francisco (PD).Denver traded a sixth-round selection (207th overall) and a 2017 sixth-round selection to San Francisco in exchange for a seventh-round selection (228th overall) and TE Vernon Davis.
Round 7
↑No. 223: Cleveland → Miami (D).Cleveland traded a seventh-round selection (223rd overall) to Miami in exchange for a seventh-round selection (250th overall) and CB Jamar Taylor.
↑No. 225: Dallas → Seattle → New England. Multiple trades: Dallas → Seattle (PD).Dallas traded a seventh-round selection (225th overall) to Seattle in exchange for RB Christine Michael. Seattle → New England (D). See Round 5: New England → Seattle.
↑No. 227: Baltimore → Miami → Minnesota. Multiple trades: Baltimore → Miami (PD).Baltimore traded a seventh-round selection (227th overall) to Miami in exchange for CB Will Davis. Miami → Minnesota (D). See Round 6: Minnesota → Miami.
↑No. 229: NY Giants → Pittsburgh (PD). The NY Giants traded a conditional seventh-round selection in the 2016 draft to Pittsburgh in exchange for P Brad Wing.
↑No. 235: Los Angeles → Houston → Denver → NY Jets. Multiple trades: Los Angeles → Houston (PD).Los Angeles traded a seventh-round selection (235th overall) to Houston in exchange for QB Case Keenum. Houston → Denver (PD).Houston traded a seventh-round selection (235th overall) to Denver in exchange for OT Chris Clark. Denver → NY Jets (PD). See Round 5: NY Jets → Denver.
↑No. 240: Buffalo → Minnesota → Philadelphia. Multiple trades: Buffalo → Minnesota (PD).Buffalo traded a seventh-round selection (240th overall) and a 2015 fifth-round selection to Minnesota in exchange for a 2015 sixth-round selection and QB Matt Cassel. Minnesota → Philadelphia (D). See Round 6: Philadelphia → Minnesota.
↑No. 243: Houston → New England → Seattle. Multiple trades: Houston → New England (PD).Houston traded a conditional seventh–round selection (243rd overall) to New England in exchange for QB Ryan Mallett. The pick could have been upgraded to a sixth–round selection if Mallett played 40% of the Texans' snaps in 2014; the condition was not met. New England → Seattle (D). See Round 5: New England → Seattle.
↑No. 250: New England → Miami → Cleveland. Multiple trades: New England → Miami (D). See Round 5: Miami → New England. Miami → Cleveland (D). See Round 7: Cleveland → Miami.
↑No. 251: Arizona → Philadelphia (PD).Arizona traded a conditional seventh-round selection (251st overall) to Philadelphia in exchange for QB Matt Barkley; Arizona would not have had to give up the pick if Barkley was not on Philadelphia's roster for at least six games.
↑New England forfeited its first-round selection and a 2017 fourth-round selection as a result of Deflategate.
↑Kansas City forfeited a third-round selection and a 2017 sixth-round selection for violating the NFL's anti-tampering policy. The team also paid a $250,000 fine.
The 2016 supplemental draft was held on July 14, 2016. For each player selected in the supplemental draft, the team forfeits its pick in that round in the draft of the following season. This year, six players were eligible for selection: