The 1988 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24–25, 1988, at the Marriot Marquis in New York City, New York. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.
With the first overall pick of the draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected linebacker Aundray Bruce. Notably, the first player selected at the quarterback position did not come until the third round (68th overall) with Tom Tupa (by the Phoenix Cardinals), who was also selected because of his ability as a punter. This is the last draft in which the first quarterback was selected this late. In fact, only one draft since – 1996 – has gone without a quarterback being drafted in the first round.
Player selections
Round one
Round two
Round three
Round four
Round five
Round six
Round seven
Round eight
Round nine
Round ten
Round eleven
Round twelve
Hall of Famers
Michael Irvin, wide receiver from Miami, taken 1st round 11th overall by Dallas Cowboys Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2007 Randall McDaniel, offensive guard from Arizona State, taken 1st round 19th overall by Minnesota Vikings Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2009 Thurman Thomas, running back from Oklahoma State, taken 2nd round 40th overall by Buffalo Bills Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2007 Dermontti Dawson, center from Kentucky, taken 2nd round 44th overall by Pittsburgh Steelers Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2012 Tim Brown, wide receiver from Notre Dame, taken 1st round 6th overall by Los Angeles Raiders Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2015