2005 NFL draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the 70th annual player selection meeting held by the National Football League (NFL) franchises to choose eligible American football players.[1] It took place on April 23–24, 2005, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.[2][3] The event featured seven rounds and a total of 255 selections, including 32 compensatory picks distributed among various teams.[3] The San Francisco 49ers held the first overall pick and selected quarterback Alex Smith from the University of Utah, marking the team's effort to rebuild after a 2–14 season in 2004.[4] The draft order was primarily determined by the previous season's reverse order of finish, with the 49ers earning the top spot due to their league-worst record.[1] This draft is notably remembered for the dramatic fall of quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the University of California, who was widely expected to be a top-10 selection but waited until the 24th pick before being chosen by the Green Bay Packers. The NFL commemorated the 20th anniversary of this iconic selection on April 23, 2025.[5][6] Other standout first-round picks included running back Ronnie Brown (2nd, Miami Dolphins, Auburn), wide receiver Braylon Edwards (3rd, Cleveland Browns, Michigan), running back Cadillac Williams (5th, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Auburn), linebacker DeMarcus Ware (11th, Dallas Cowboys, Troy), linebacker Shawne Merriman (12th, San Diego Chargers, Maryland), linebacker Derrick Johnson (15th, Kansas City Chiefs, Texas), wide receiver Roddy White (27th, Atlanta Falcons, Alabama-Birmingham), and guard Logan Mankins (32nd, New England Patriots, Fresno State).[4] Later selections that proved highly impactful included offensive tackle Michael Roos (41st overall, 2nd round, Tennessee Titans, Eastern Washington), who anchored the Titans' line for a decade;[7] running back Frank Gore (65th overall, 3rd round, San Francisco 49ers, Miami).[4] The class contributed significantly to future Super Bowl contenders, with multiple players earning Pro Bowl honors and at least one, DeMarcus Ware, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, though it was criticized at the time for prioritizing running backs early.[8]Background
Eligibility and draft rules
Eligibility in the National Football League draft requires prospective players to be at least three years removed from their high school graduation date, ensuring a minimum level of maturity and experience.[9] This rule was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2004 in the case of Maurice Clarett v. National Football League, ensuring its application for the 2005 draft.[10] College seniors completing their final year of eligibility are automatically draft-eligible without further action. Underclassmen, typically juniors, may petition the league for special eligibility to enter early, forfeiting remaining college eligibility upon declaration; this process was established following the 1990 collective bargaining agreement and has been a key pathway for top talents.[10] In 2005, a total of 51 underclassmen successfully petitioned and were granted early entry, including prominent juniors such as quarterback Alex Smith from Utah and quarterback Aaron Rodgers from California, who both declared in early January.[11][12] The 2005 draft followed the league's standard seven-round structure, with each of the 32 teams initially allocated one selection per round, yielding 224 base picks. To compensate teams for net losses of unrestricted free agents in the prior offseason, the NFL awarded 32 additional compensatory selections, distributed at the ends of Rounds 3 through 7 based on a formula evaluating player performance and contract value; this brought the total to 255 players selected overall.[3] All trades involving draft picks required approval from the league office to ensure compliance, and teams could negotiate swaps at any time before or during the event, often using picks as currency alongside players or other assets.[13] Under the era's trading regulations, teams frequently exchanged picks from the current draft (2005) and the immediate next draft (2006), with trades for picks further in the future being rare but permitted. Pre-draft trades, which could be conditional or outright, had no formal cutoff date but were typically finalized and announced leading up to the event, with the league facilitating on-site executions during the proceedings. The 2005 draft marked the final one overseen by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who had led the NFL since 1989 and stepped down after the 2005 season, paving the way for Roger Goodell to assume the role in 2006.[14]Pre-draft prospects and expectations
The 2005 NFL draft featured a highly anticipated quarterback class, headlined by Utah's Alex Smith, who was widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick due to his exceptional mobility, accuracy, and quick release that allowed him to excel in both passing and rushing scenarios.[15] Smith's athleticism was underscored by his 4.71-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine, combined with a 67.5% completion rate and 32 touchdown passes during his junior season, making him a prototypical dual-threat prospect in an era emphasizing versatile signal-callers.[16][17] Close behind was California's Aaron Rodgers, whose stock sparked considerable debate among scouts owing to concerns over his interview demeanor and perceived fit in West Coast offenses, despite his precise accuracy and strong arm on intermediate throws.[5] Other notable quarterback prospects included Auburn's Jason Campbell, valued for his prototypical size (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) and arm strength that enabled him to make throws under duress, and Arizona State's Andrew Walter, praised for his powerful deep ball and resilience in high-pressure games, though his slower 4.99-second 40 time raised questions about his mobility.[15] The running back position boasted one of the draft's deepest classes, with Auburn teammates Ronnie Brown and Carnell "Cadillac" Williams standing out as potential top-10 selections for their explosive speed and multifaceted skill sets that included receiving ability and vision in traffic.[18] Both clocked identical 4.43-second 40-yard dashes at pro days, highlighting their breakaway potential, while Brown's superior short-area quickness (1.50-second 10-yard split) and Williams' elusiveness positioned them as versatile backs capable of handling a three-down role in pro schemes.[18] At wide receiver, Michigan's Braylon Edwards emerged as a consensus top talent with his combination of size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) and speed, exemplified by a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the Combine that affirmed his deep-threat prowess and ability to win contested catches.[16] USC's Mike Williams complemented the group as a physically imposing red-zone mismatch, drawing early comparisons to established NFL receivers for his contested-catch radius, though his stock fluctuated due to questions about route polish.[19] Defensive end prospects added edge-rushing firepower to the class, with Troy's DeMarcus Ware generating buzz through his relentless pass-rush production, including 10.5 sacks during his senior year as the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year.[20] Ware's 6-foot-4, 251-pound frame and quick first step made him a disruptive force off the edge, capable of collapsing pockets with power and speed. Mock drafts from outlets like ESPN and Football's Future reinforced these expectations, consistently slotting Smith at No. 1 while projecting a quarterback-heavy first round with up to four signal-callers—potentially including Rodgers and Campbell—selected in the top 25 amid widespread team needs at the position.[21] This anticipation was fueled by early declarations from juniors like Smith and Rodgers, amplifying the pre-draft hype around a class seen as transformative for rebuilding franchises.[12]Draft Event
Location, date, and format
The 2005 NFL draft, the 70th annual player selection meeting in National Football League (NFL) history, took place over two days, April 23 and 24, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.[22][23] This marked the first time the draft was held at the Javits Center, a shift from the previous decade's venue at Madison Square Garden, prompted by disputes with the arena's owner Cablevision over logistics and costs.[24] The move maintained the event's New York roots.[25] The draft adhered to a two-day structure, with rounds 1 through 3 conducted on Saturday, April 23, and rounds 4 through 7 on Sunday, April 24.[4] Live coverage aired on ESPN starting at 12:00 p.m. ET for the opening day, continuing through the third round, followed by ESPN2 coverage on Sunday beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET until completion.[26] NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue led the proceedings from the stage, announcing each pick in his customary role, joined by team executives who presented jerseys to selected players.[5] A notable innovation was the invitation of six top prospects to the green room adjacent to the stage, enabling live televised captures of their reactions, which amplified the broadcast's emotional intensity—particularly amid the heavy focus on quarterback selections.[27] The event incorporated large video boards to display real-time player highlights, scouting footage, and pick announcements, enhancing both in-venue and remote viewing experiences.[28]Opening proceedings and quarterback focus
The 2005 NFL Draft opened on April 23 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, with NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue taking the podium to commence the proceedings and announce the initial selections.[12][29] The event carried significant anticipation around quarterback prospects, as multiple teams sought long-term solutions at the position following a series of underwhelming performances by recent draftees league-wide.[5][12] With the first overall pick, the San Francisco 49ers selected quarterback Alex Smith from the University of Utah, aligning with widespread pre-draft projections and resolving uncertainty about whether the team would opt for Smith or his top rival, California's Aaron Rodgers.[4][30] Smith's selection fulfilled expectations for an immediate quarterback focus, given the 49ers' need for a franchise leader after years of instability.[5] The ensuing picks, however, diverged from the anticipated quarterback surge, as the Miami Dolphins chose running back Ronnie Brown from Auburn second overall, followed by the Cleveland Browns selecting wide receiver Braylon Edwards from Michigan third.[4] This early pivot to non-quarterbacks highlighted a surprising deviation from pre-draft hype, where experts forecasted multiple signal-callers in the top five due to widespread team needs.[12] The shift underscored the draft's thematic emphasis on quarterback evaluation, yet set up an anomalous wait for the position's next selections. Rodgers' prolonged slide became a defining narrative of the opening round, as he remained available until the Green Bay Packers selected him 24th overall, followed immediately by the Washington Redskins taking Auburn's Jason Campbell 25th—marking just the third quarterback chosen in the round despite the class's strong billing.[4][30] Passed by 23 teams, Rodgers' fall stemmed from concerns over his throwing mechanics, such as a high ball carriage, and perceptions of an overly confident demeanor during pre-draft interviews that alienated some evaluators.[5][12] As Rodgers joined Tagliabue onstage, the commissioner offered encouragement, remarking, "Good things come to those who wait," encapsulating the unexpected drama that defined the draft's quarterback storyline.[5]Main Selections
First round picks
The first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, conducted on April 23 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, emphasized offensive skill players amid teams' efforts to address immediate roster gaps following a season marked by quarterback instability and running back turnover across the league. With 32 picks distributed among all 32 teams, selections reflected a draft class deep in wide receivers and defensive backs, though only three quarterbacks were taken despite widespread positional needs at the position. A striking feature was the early run on running backs, with three selected among the first five picks—an NFL draft first—highlighting the premium placed on ground-game contributors at the time.[4][31] The San Francisco 49ers, who finished 2–14 in 2004 and sought a long-term solution at quarterback after cycling through multiple starters, opened the round by selecting Alex Smith from Utah. The Miami Dolphins followed, targeting running back Ronnie Brown from Auburn to rebuild their rushing attack after Ricky Williams' abrupt retirement earlier that year. The Cleveland Browns, aiming to provide weapons for their young quarterback, picked wide receiver Braylon Edwards from Michigan third overall, while the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers rounded out the top five with running backs Cedric Benson from Texas and Carnell "Cadillac" Williams from Auburn, respectively, to inject youth into aging backfields.[32][33][4]
The positional distribution underscored the draft's offensive tilt, with wide receivers (6), quarterbacks (3), and running backs (3) comprising 12 of the 32 selections, while defensive backs (5 cornerbacks) and pass rushers (4 defensive ends and 4 linebackers) filled out much of the back half to address secondary and edge needs for rebuilding teams. Later in the round, the Green Bay Packers capitalized on quarterback Aaron Rodgers' unexpected slide from projected top-10 status to select him 24th overall, a moment that highlighted evaluators' concerns over his unconventional delivery despite his strong arm and mobility. Offensive line reinforcements appeared sparingly but strategically, as teams like the Saints and Cowboys invested in tackles to protect emerging offenses.[4][12]