The 1943 NFL draft was held on April 8, 1943, at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. With the first overall pick of the draft, the Detroit Lions selected halfback Frank Sinkwich. This draft is the first NFL draft not to produce a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Each of the league's ten teams selected a total of 30 players. As an equalizing measure the five worst finishing teams from the 1942 season allowed to pick alone in rounds 2 and 4 with the five top finishers relegated to sole participation in the 31st and 32nd rounds.
Player selections = Hall of Famer †= Pro Bowler
Round 1
Pick # NFL team Player Position College1Detroit LionsFrank SinkwichHalfbackGeorgia2Philadelphia EaglesJoe MuhaFullbackVMI3Chicago CardinalsGlenn DobbsTailbackTulsa4Brooklyn DodgersPaul GovernaliQuarterbackColumbia5Cleveland RamsMike HolovakFullbackBoston College6New York GiantsSteve FilipowiczFullbackFordham7Pittsburgh SteelersBill Daley FullbackMinnesota8Green Bay PackersDick WildungTackleMinnesota9Chicago BearsBob SteuberHalfbackMissouri10Washington RedskinsJack JenkinsFullbackVanderbilt
Round 2
Pick # NFL team Player Position College11Detroit LionsDave SchreinerEndWisconsin12Philadelphia EaglesLamar "Racehorse" DavisBackGeorgia13Brooklyn DodgersJ.T. "Blondy" BlackBackMississippi State14Chicago CardinalsJohn GrigasBackHoly Cross15Cleveland RamsTom FarmerBackIowa
Round 3
Pick # NFL team Player Position College16Detroit LionsDick AshcomTackleOregon17Philadelphia EaglesRoy "Monk" GaffordBackAuburn18Chicago CardinalsDon CurrivanEndBoston College19Brooklyn DodgersGeorge CeithamlBackMichigan20Cleveland RamsFred NaumetzCenterBoston College21New York Giants Dewey Proctor BackFurman22Pittsburgh SteelersJack RussellEndBaylor23Green Bay Packers Irv Comp Back Benedictine24Chicago BearsFred "Dippy" EvansBack Notre Dame25Washington RedskinsBill DuttonBackPittsburgh
Round 4
Pick # NFL team Player Position College26Detroit LionsRalph HamerBackFurman27Philadelphia EaglesBob KennedyBackWashington State28Brooklyn Dodgers Joe Domnanovich CenterAlabama29Chicago CardinalsAl HustEndTennessee30Cleveland RamsChuck TaylorGuardStanford
Round 5
Pick # NFL team Player Position College31Detroit LionsLloyd WickettTackleOregon State32Philadelphia EaglesAl "Ox" WistertTackleMichigan33Chicago CardinalsGeorge HechtGuardAlabama34Brooklyn DodgersMarty ComerEndTulane35Cleveland RamsClyde JohnsonTackleKentucky36New York GiantsVal CulwellGuardOregon37Pittsburgh SteelersHarry ConnollyBackBoston College38Green Bay PackersRoy McKayBackTexas39Chicago BearsEd StammTackleStanford40Washington RedskinsBob DoveEndNotre Dame
Round 6
Pick # NFL team Player Position College41Detroit LionsJim JonesBackUnion (TN)42Philadelphia EaglesBruno BanducciGuardStanford43Brooklyn DodgersHarvey "Stud" JohnsonBackWilliam & Mary44Chicago CardinalsAl KlugTackleMarquette45Cleveland RamsLes HorvathQuarterbackOhio State46New York GiantsJim ReynoldsBackAuburn47Pittsburgh SteelersLou SossamonCenterSouth Carolina48Green Bay PackersNick SusoeffEndWashington State49Chicago BearsDerrell PalmerTackleTCU50Washington RedskinsWally ZiembaCenterNotre Dame
Round 7
Pick # NFL team Player Position College51Detroit LionsPaul SizemoreEndFurman52Philadelphia EaglesWalt HarrisonCenterWashington53Chicago CardinalsStan MauldinTackleTexas54Brooklyn DodgersJohn MatisiTackleDuquesne55Cleveland RamsBill HendersonEndTexas A&M56New York GiantsLou PalazziCenterPenn State57Pittsburgh SteelersAl RattoCenterSt. Mary's (CA)58Green Bay PackersKen SnellingBackUCLA59Chicago BearsMilt VucinichCenterStanford60Washington RedskinsLou RymkusTackleNotre Dame
Round 8
Pick # NFL team Player Position College61Detroit LionsGeorge PoschnerEndGeorgia62Philadelphia EaglesBruce AlfordEndTCU63Brooklyn DodgersJohn FergusonEndCalifornia64Chicago CardinalsBill GodwinCenterGeorgia65Cleveland RamsBill ParkerEndIowa66New York GiantsLarry VisnicGuardBenedictine67Pittsburgh SteelersRay CurryEndSt. Mary's (CA)68Green Bay PackersLester GatewoodCenterBaylor69Chicago BearsAlyn BealsEndSanta Clara70Washington RedskinsTony LeonGuardAlabama
Round 9
Pick # NFL team Player Position College71Detroit LionsJack IrishTackleArizona72Philadelphia EaglesRocco CanaleGuardBoston College73Chicago CardinalsMoffatt StorerBackDuke74Brooklyn DodgersRay RasonGuardSMU75Cleveland RamsAl SolariBackUCLA76New York GiantsDoyle CarawayGuardTexas Tech77Pittsburgh SteelersEd MurphyEndHoly Cross78Green Bay PackersNorm VerryTackleUSC79Chicago BearsJim JurkovichBackCalifornia80Washington RedskinsBob MotlEndNorthwestern
Round 10
Pick # NFL team Player Position College81Detroit LionsJack FentonBackMichigan State82Philadelphia EaglesBill ConolyTackleTexas83Brooklyn DodgersVic SchleichTackleNebraska84Chicago CardinalsFondren MitchellBackFlorida85Cleveland RamsHomer SimmonsTackleOklahoma86New York GiantsBill PiccoloCenterCanisius87Pittsburgh SteelersDick DwelleBackRice88Green Bay PackersSolon "Bobo" BarnettGuardBaylor89Chicago BearsWalt "Dub" LambEndOklahoma90Washington RedskinsWalt McDonaldBackTulane
Round 11
Pick # NFL team Player Position College91Detroit LionsDick RenfroBackWashington State92Philadelphia EaglesJohn BillmanGuardMinnesota93Chicago CardinalsEmil LussowEndDubuque94Brooklyn DodgersJoe SabasteanskiCenterFordham95Cleveland RamsTom RoblinBackOregon96New York GiantsGlenn KnoxEndWilliam & Mary97Pittsburgh SteelersAl WukitsCenterDuquesne98Green Bay PackersBob ForteBackArkansas99Chicago BearsRay "Duke" HammettBackStanford100Washington RedskinsGeorge PerpichTackleGeorgetown
Round 12
Pick # NFL team Player Position College101Detroit LionsBob KolesarGuardMichigan102Philadelphia EaglesJack DonaldsonTacklePenn103Brooklyn DodgersLou ThomasBackTulane104Chicago CardinalsPaul HirsbrunnerTackleWisconsin105Cleveland RamsBill VickroyCenterOhio State106New York GiantsWalt DominaBackNorwich107Pittsburgh SteelersJoe RepkoTackleBoston College108Green Bay PackersVan DavisEndGeorgia109Chicago BearsAl ZikmundBackNebraska110Washington RedskinsDan WoodCenterOle Miss
Round 13
Pick # NFL team Player Position College111Detroit LionsDel HuntsingerBackPortland112Philadelphia EaglesBill EricksonCenterGeorgetown113Chicago CardinalsBill BaumgartnerEndMinnesota114Brooklyn DodgersBert StiffBackPenn115Cleveland RamsTom AlberghiniGuardHoly Cross116New York GiantsDon McCaffertyTackleOhio State117Pittsburgh SteelersPete BoltrekTackleNC State118Green Bay PackersTom BrockCenterNotre Dame119Chicago BearsClark WoodTackleKentucky120Washington RedskinsHarry WrightGuardNotre Dame
Round 14
Pick # NFL team Player Position College121Detroit LionsEllard DernoncourtEndSt. Louis122Philadelphia EaglesGeorge WeeksEndAlabama123Brooklyn DodgersJohn FeketeBackOhio124Chicago CardinalsGarrard "Buster" RamseyGuardWilliam & Mary125Cleveland RamsSam SharpEndAlabama126New York GiantsJay StovesBackWashington State127Pittsburgh SteelersMort ShiekmanGuardPenn128Green Bay PackersRalph TateBackOklahoma A&M129Chicago BearsLoyd ArmsTackleOklahoma A&M130Washington RedskinsOscar BrittGuardOle Miss
Round 15
Pick # NFL team Player Position College131Detroit LionsDick WoodwardEndColorado132Philadelphia EaglesRuss CraftBackAlabama133Chicago CardinalsEarl DolowayBackIndiana134Brooklyn DodgersFloyd RheaGuardOregon135Cleveland RamsDick KieppeBackMichigan State136New York GiantsHoward CurrieTackleGeneva137Pittsburgh SteelersMilt CrainBackBaylor138Green Bay PackersDon CarlsonTackleDenver139Chicago BearsLyle SturdyBackWichita140Washington RedskinsDick WeberGuardSyracuse
Round 16
Pick # NFL team Player Position College141Detroit LionsMarvin BassTackleWilliam & Mary142Philadelphia EaglesPaul DarlingBackIowa State143Brooklyn DodgersBill BurkettEndIowa144Chicago CardinalsNick BurkeGuardNorthwestern145Cleveland RamsCullen RogersBackTexas A&M146New York GiantsN. A. KeithleyBackTulsa147Pittsburgh SteelersMax KielbasaBackDuquesne148Green Bay PackersMike WelchBackMinnesota149Chicago BearsBuddy TomlinsonTackleHardin–Simmons150Washington RedskinsJoe DayBackOregon State
Round 17
Pick # NFL team Player Position College151Detroit LionsVic PeelishGuardWest Virginia152Philadelphia EaglesWalt GorinskiBackLSU153Chicago CardinalsBill CampbellBackOklahoma154Brooklyn DodgersAl OnofrioBackArizona State155Cleveland RamsWalt RuarkGuardGeorgia156New York GiantsJack ListerEndMissouri157Pittsburgh SteelersNick SkorichGuardCincinnati158Green Bay PackersRon ThomasGuardUSC159Chicago BearsPat PrestonTackleWake Forest160Washington RedskinsFrank DornfieldBackGeorgetown
Round 18
Pick # NFL team Player Position College161Detroit LionsChet MaedaBackColorado A&M162Philadelphia EaglesBob FriedmanTackleWashington163Brooklyn DodgersKen SchoonoverTacklePenn State164Chicago CardinalsClarence BoothTackleSMU165Cleveland RamsBert DavisCenterUtah166New York GiantsDwight HolshouserBackCatawba167Pittsburgh SteelersJackie FieldBackTexas168Green Bay PackersJim PowersTackleSt. Mary's (CA)169Chicago BearsHank NorbergEndStanford170Washington RedskinsJohn BaklarzTackleArizona State
Round 19
Pick # NFL team Player Position College171Detroit LionsBert KuczynskiEndPenn172Philadelphia EaglesJohnny BezemesBackHoly Cross173Chicago CardinalsElvis "Boots" SimmonsEndTexas A&M174Brooklyn DodgersQuentin BarnetteBackWest Virginia175Cleveland RamsJay FidlerTackleBrown176New York GiantsJim LushineTackleMinnesota177Pittsburgh SteelersFelix BucekGuardTexas A&M178Green Bay PackersHal PrescottEndHardin–Simmons179Chicago BearsPat LyonsEndWisconsin180Washington RedskinsLeo MogusEndYoungstown State
Round 20
Pick # NFL team Player Position College181Detroit LionsAl ScanlandBackOklahoma A&M182Philadelphia EaglesChet MutrynBackXavier183Brooklyn DodgersBill BledsoeEndUSC184Chicago CardinalsRoy EricsonGuardVillanova185Cleveland RamsCarl FalkTackleWashington186New York GiantsVeto BerllusEndIdaho187Pittsburgh SteelersJohnny WelshBackPenn188Green Bay PackersEddie ForrestCenterSanta Clara189Chicago BearsMarion ButlerBackClemson190Washington RedskinsDick SecrestBackRochester
Round 21
Pick # NFL team Player Position College191Detroit LionsRoyal "Ace" LohryBackIowa State192Philadelphia EaglesBaptiste ManziniCenterSt. Vincent193Chicago CardinalsGeorge "Locomotive" SmithBackVillanova194Brooklyn DodgersBob CoutchieEndArizona195Cleveland RamsTom CollEndSt. Mary's (CA)196New York GiantsFred MarshallGuardNorth Carolina197Pittsburgh SteelersTony CompagnoBackSt. Mary's (CA)198Green Bay PackersLloyd WasserbachTackleWisconsin199Chicago BearsAl SantucciCenterSanta Clara200Washington RedskinsDon NolanderCenterMinnesota
Round 22
Pick # NFL team Player Position College201Detroit LionsPercy HollandGuardLSU202Philadelphia EaglesBernie GillespieEndScranton203Brooklyn DodgersDon "Bull" ReeceBackMissouri204Chicago CardinalsGeorge SutchBackTemple205Cleveland RamsMark McCorkleBackWashington206New York GiantsJohn KorczowskiBackWilliam & Mary207Pittsburgh SteelersWillie ZapalacBackTexas A&M208Green Bay PackersMark HoskinsBackWisconsin209Chicago BearsOrville JohnsonGuardSMU210Washington RedskinsJohnny BarrettBackGeorgetown
Round 23
Pick # NFL team Player Position College211Detroit LionsMike FitzgeraldGuardMissouri212Philadelphia EaglesJay "Mule" LawhonTackleArkansas213Chicago CardinalsCliff KimseyBackGeorgia214Brooklyn DodgersW.J. GibsonEndNC State215Cleveland RamsEd MoshofskyTackleOregon216New York GiantsGene HoemanEndOklahoma A&M217Pittsburgh SteelersGeorge BainTackleOregon State218Green Bay PackersEarl "Jug" BennettGuardHardin–Simmons219Chicago BearsWally BoudreauBackBoston College220Washington RedskinsTom VohsTackleColgate
Round 24