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To be drafted into the National Football League is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thousands of players have experienced that joyful moment since the college draft was instituted by the NFL in 1936. However, only a select number of these drafted players excelled on the NFL gridiron to the point that earned them a bust in Canton. Over the years, Profootballhof.com has sat down and asked some Hall of Famers to relive their draft day.
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| Dante Lavelli |
"You know anyone who can play?"
Dante "Gluefingers" Lavelli began his pro football career in the rival All-America Football Conference with the Cleveland Browns in 1946. The new league didn’t hold a draft until after it had a season under its belt.
"We got players by asking our own players if they knew of anyone in their area, if they were worthy for a tryout," Lavelli said.
However, Lavelli was in fact drafted into the NFL. One would have to carefully screen the draft lists to find that the Los Angeles Rams selected the rights to him in 1947. They used their 12th round pick (103rd overall) on the end from Ohio State.
Lavelli spent his entire pro career with the Browns. The first four of his career took place in the AAFC and then Dante and the Browns joined the NFL in 1950. "Gluefingers" played seven more seasons before retiring after the 1956 season. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975.
Paul Brown signed 'em up. . .
The legendary Paul Brown signed a core of key players to contracts with the Browns in 1946, all of whom ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Aside from Lavelli, the list included Frank Gatski, Otto Graham, Lou Groza, Marion Motley, and Bill Willis. Graham and Lavelli were the only ones of the group who were drafted by the NFL. The Detroit Lions took Graham as the fourth overall pick in the 1944 NFL Draft.
Hall of Famers Taken in the 1946 NFL Draft
George Connor, T, New York Giants - 1st round (5th overall)
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