The 1945 NFL draft was held on April 8, 1945, at the Commodore Hotel in New York City, New York. Perhaps as a tip of the hat to wartime sensibilities, the 1945 draft was officially called the "1944 Preferred Negotiations List" by the league.Strickler (ed.), 1945 Record and Rules Manual, p. 83.
With the first overall pick of the draft, the Chicago Cardinals selected halfback Charley Trippi.
Although there were formally 32 rounds of the draft, each of the 11 teams made a total of 30 selections, with a total of 330 players chosen.George Strickler (ed.), The National Football League Record and Rules Manual, 1945. Chicago: National Football League, 1945; pp. 83-100, passim. A total of 22 players were selected before they became eligible for the draft under league rules. These draft choices were forfeited by the team and are noted below. The actual number of drafted-and-eligible players chosen in the 1945 draft was thus 308.
Player selections = Pro BowlerPlayers are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career. = Hall of Famer
Round 1
Pick # NFL team Player Position College1Chicago CardinalsCharley TrippiHalfbackGeorgia2Pittsburgh SteelersPaul DuhartHalfbackFlorida3Brooklyn TigersJoe RenfroeBackTulane4Boston YanksEddie ProkopBackGeorgia Tech5Cleveland RamsElroy HirschFlankerMichigan6Detroit LionsFrank SzymanskiCenterNotre Dame7Chicago BearsDon LundBackMichigan8Washington RedskinsJim HardyQuarterbackUSC9Philadelphia EaglesJohn YonakorDefensive endNotre Dame10New York GiantsElmer BarbourQuarterbackWake Forest11Green Bay PackersWalt SchlinkmanFullbackTexas Tech
Round 2
Pick # NFL team Player Position College12Pittsburgh SteelersJack DuggerEndOhio State13Brooklyn TigersWayne WilliamsBackMinnesota14Chicago CardinalsPaul CollinsBackMissouri15Boston YanksTom DeanTackleSMU16Cleveland RamsMilan LazetichTackleMichigan
Round 3
Pick # NFL team Player Position College17Brooklyn TigersCecil GrayCenterOregon18Chicago CardinalsWalter WattBackMiami (FL)19Pittsburgh Steelers (Not yet eligible for selection, pick forfeited).Bill DellastatiousBackMissouri20Boston YanksDamon TassosGuardTexas A&M21Cleveland RamsDub WootenEndOklahoma22Chicago BearsCharley AllenBackSMU23Washington RedskinsTree AdamsTackleNotre Dame24Detroit LionsStan MohrbacherGuardIowa25Philadelphia EaglesAlvin DarkBackLSU26New York GiantsGordon ApplebyCenterOhio State27Green Bay PackersClyde GoodnightEndTulsa
Round 4
Pick # NFL team Player Position College28Chicago CardinalsBob DobelsteinGuardTennessee29Pittsburgh Steelers (Not yet eligible for selection, pick forfeited).Roger AdamsCenterFlorida30Brooklyn TigersSteve EnichGuardMarquette31Boston YanksDon DeeksTackleWashington32Cleveland RamsJack ZillyEndNotre Dame
Round 5
Pick # NFL team Player Position College33Pittsburgh SteelersChuck MehelichEndDuquesne34Brooklyn TigersAl KowalskiQuarterbackTulsa35Chicago CardinalsZeke ChronisterEndTCU36Boston Yanks (Not yet eligible for selection, pick forfeited).Johnny StrzykalskiBackMarquette37Cleveland RamsRoger HardingCenterCalifornia38Washington RedskinsGeorge BujanCenterOregon39Detroit LionsBob WieseBackMichigan40Chicago BearsForest MastersonCenterIowa41Philadelphia EaglesPete PihosEndIndiana42New York GiantsEd CastleberryBackWest Texas State43Green Bay PackersJoe GrahamEndFlorida
Round 6
Pick # NFL team Player Position College44Brooklyn TigersDick BarweganGuardPurdue45Chicago CardinalsCorwin ClattBackNotre Dame46Pittsburgh SteelersGregg BrowningEndDenver47Boston YanksJim MelloBackNotre Dame48Cleveland RamsJerry CowhigBackNotre Dame49Detroit LionsGene FeketeBackOhio State50Chicago BearsWayne ShawBackSMU51Washington RedskinsJohnny NorthEndVanderbilt52Philadelphia EaglesChuck DellagoGuardMinnesota53New York GiantsBarney PooleEndOle Miss54Green Bay PackersDon WellsTackleGeorgia
Round 7
Pick # NFL team Player Position College55Chicago CardinalsZiggy CzarobskiTackleNotre Dame56Pittsburgh SteelersMike WolakBackDuquesne57Brooklyn TigersLouie FutrellBackFresno State58Boston YanksMarty SilovichCenterMarquette59Cleveland RamsFred NegusCenterWisconsin60Chicago BearsGlen BurgeisTackleTulsa61Washington RedskinsJohn SteberGuardGeorgia Tech62Detroit LionsMike JarmolukTackleTemple63Philadelphia EaglesGonzalo MoralesBackSt. Mary's (CA)64New York GiantsJack MeadEndWisconsin65Green Bay PackersCasey StephensonBackTennessee
Round 8
Pick # NFL team Player Position College66Pittsburgh SteelersTom HughesTackleMissouri67Brooklyn TigersJohn DoddsGuardCalifornia68Chicago CardinalsJohn HarringtonEndMarquette69Boston YanksEllis JonesGuardTulsa70Cleveland RamsJohnny AugustBackAlabama71Washington RedskinsArt PorterEndTulane72Detroit LionsJack LowtherBackDetroit73Chicago BearsPat O'BrienTacklePurdue74Philadelphia EaglesSam RobinsonBackWashington75New York GiantsNick VodickBackNorthwestern76Green Bay PackersToby CollinsTackleTulsa
Round 9
Pick # NFL team Player Position College77Brooklyn TigersElting JohnsonBackBucknell78Chicago CardinalsGene MeeksBackKentucky79Pittsburgh SteelersLeon PenseBackArkansas80Boston YanksEarl LambertBackManhattan81Cleveland RamsDick HuffmanTackleTennessee82Detroit LionsLes JoopTackleIllinois83Chicago BearsBill MaytherCenterOregon84Washington RedskinsCurt KuykendallBackAuburn85Philadelphia EaglesForrest HallBackSan Francisco86New York GiantsJohn RudanBackMarquette87Green Bay PackersLamar DinglerEndArkansas
Round 10
Pick # NFL team Player Position College88Chicago CardinalsBill HuberEndNotre Dame89Pittsburgh SteelersArt BrandauCenterTennessee90Brooklyn TigersRoy CrossEndTennessee91Boston YanksDon KasprzakBackDartmouth92Cleveland RamsVern WaltersBackAlma93Chicago BearsBill PoeBackClemson94Washington RedskinsFrank BroggerEndMichigan State95Detroit LionsPaul WalkerEndYale96Philadelphia EaglesJoe SadonisTackleFordham97New York GiantsVic SmithBackUCLA98Green Bay PackersHal HelscherBackLSU
Round 11
Pick # NFL team Player Position College99Pittsburgh SteelersRay BallBackHoly Cross100Brooklyn TigersEarl HauryTackleKansas State101Chicago CardinalsHalley HeardTackleLSU102Boston YanksBen JonesEndArkansas103Cleveland RamsTom FearsEndUCLA104Washington RedskinsMack CregerBackNorthwestern105Detroit LionsHowie HansenTackleUtah State106Chicago BearsChuck AveryBackMinnesota107Philadelphia EaglesRudy MobleyBackHardin–Simmons108New York GiantsJim YoungTackleArkansas109Green Bay PackersRalph HammondCenterPittsburgh
Round 12
Pick # NFL team Player Position College110Brooklyn TigersJohn MartinBackEast Tennessee State111Chicago CardinalsBob CowanBackIndiana112Pittsburgh Steelers (Not yet eligible for selection, pick forfeited).Frank BasiloneBackDuquesne113Boston YanksHerb ColemanCenterNotre Dame114Cleveland RamsJoe WinklerCenterPurdue115Detroit LionsMike KasapTackleIllinois116Chicago BearsJack BoydBackUCLA117Washington RedskinsPaul McKeeEndSyracuse118Philadelphia EaglesJim NewmeyerTackleSt. Vincent119New York GiantsBilly BevisBackTennessee120Green Bay PackersEd PodgorskiTackleLafayette
Round 13
Pick # NFL team Player Position College121Chicago CardinalsBuddy LuperBackDuke122Pittsburgh SteelersJohn MonahanEndDartmouth123Brooklyn TigersGeorge McDonaldTackleSouth Carolina124Boston YanksJoe PezelskiBackVillanova125Cleveland RamsJack AlandTackleAlabama126Chicago BearsRalph EllsworthBackTexas127Washington RedskinsCharlie ConerlyQuarterbackOle Miss128Detroit LionsWally HoppBackNebraska129Philadelphia EaglesBill ChambersTackleUCLA130New York GiantsBob BoozerTackleArkansas131Green Bay PackersBill HackettGuardOhio State
Round 14
Pick # NFL team Player Position College132Pittsburgh SteelersMel OdelliBackDuquesne133Brooklyn TigersHal SelfBackAlabama134Chicago CardinalsSolon BarnettGuardBaylor135Boston YanksJohn DiGangiTackleHoly Cross136Cleveland RamsChuck UknesBackIowa137Washington RedskinsJohn PutnikEndUtah State138Detroit LionsBen TrickeyBackIowa139Chicago BearsFrank MattioliGuardPittsburgh140Philadelphia EaglesJohn DudaBackVirginia141New York GiantsStan RhoadesBackMississippi State142Green Bay PackersMarv LindseyBackArkansas
Round 15
Pick # NFL team Player Position College143Brooklyn TigersTom ReillyGuardFordham144Chicago CardinalsGordon CarverBackDuke145Pittsburgh Steelers (Not yet eligible for selection, pick forfeited).George ConnorTackleNotre Dame146Boston YanksChan HighsmithCenterNorth Carolina147Cleveland Rams (Not yet eligible for selection, pick forfeited).Bill LundBackCase Western Reserve148Detroit LionsWindell WilliamsEndRice149Chicago BearsMerle GibsonEndTCU150Washington RedskinsEddie SaenzBackUSC151Philadelphia EaglesBill MontgomeryBackLSU152New York GiantsJack WinkBackWisconsin153Green Bay PackersBuster McClureTackleNevada
Round 16
Pick # NFL team Player Position College154Chicago Cardinals (Not yet eligible for selection, pick forfeited).John CannadyBackIndiana155Pittsburgh SteelersJim UnglesBackKansas State156Brooklyn TigersSkimp HarrisonEndSouth Carolina157Boston YanksMike CostelloEndGeorgetown158Cleveland RamsBob BartonEndHoly Cross159Chicago BearsJohn CreeveyBackNotre Dame160Washington RedskinsDom FusciTackleSouth Carolina161Detroit LionsWayne FlaniganEndDenver162Philadelphia EaglesHoward WernerEndSyracuse163New York GiantsJim LittleTackleKentucky164Green Bay PackersHarry PieperCenterCalifornia
Round 17
Pick # NFL team Player Position College165Pittsburgh SteelersJohn ItzelBackPittsburgh166Brooklyn TigersArnie WeinmeisterDefensive TackleWashington167Chicago CardinalsBen CittadinoEndDuke168Boston YanksPaul DromgooleEndManhattan169Cleveland RamsDick HoernerBackIowa170Washington RedskinsBobby Tom JenkinsBackAlabama171Detroit LionsO.J. KeyBackTulane172Chicago BearsNick SacrintyBackWake Forest173Philadelphia EaglesJim AustinBackMissouri174New York GiantsBob JabbuschGuardOhio State175Green Bay PackersBob KulaBackMinnesota
Round 18
Pick # NFL team Player Position College176Brooklyn TigersVirgil EikenbergBackRice177Chicago CardinalsRalph StrayhornGuardNorth Carolina178Pittsburgh SteelersAlex WizbickiBackHoly Cross179Boston YanksDolph CzekalaTackleSyracuse180Cleveland RamsLee KennonTackleOklahoma181Detroit LionsJim McWhorterBackAlabama182Chicago BearsJim KeaneEndIowa183Washington Redskins (Not yet eligible for selection, pick forfeited).Ed StaccoTackleColgate184Philadelphia EaglesQuentin KlenkTackleUSC185New York GiantsBill ByrdCenterMaryland186Green Bay PackersFrank HazardGuardNebraska
Round 19
Pick # NFL team Player Position College187Chicago CardinalsJohn AndretichBackPurdue188Pittsburgh SteelersJim LandriganTackleDartmouth189Brooklyn TigersAl KasulinBackVillanova190Boston YanksJoe DrummTackleGeorgetown191Cleveland RamsEagle MatulichBackMississippi State192Chicago BearsBruno NiedzielaTackleIowa193Washington RedskinsJim BradshawCenterAuburn194Detroit LionsClyde LeForceBackTulsa195Philadelphia EaglesJoe SpencerTackleOklahoma A&M196New York GiantsGlenn MorriesTackleTexas197Green Bay PackersEd JeffersTackleOklahoma A&M
Round 20
Pick # NFL team Player Position College198Pittsburgh SteelersBill LilienthalTackleVillanova199Brooklyn TigersCharley LivelyTackleArkansas200Chicago CardinalsJack KramerTackleMarquette201Boston YanksMario GiannelliTackleBoston College202Cleveland RamsBill GriffinTackleKentucky203Washington RedskinsBill ShipkeyBackStanford204Detroit LionsMike CastronisGuardGeorgia205Chicago BearsBroughton WilliamsEndFlorida206Philadelphia EaglesLeo PrattTackleOklahoma A&M207New York GiantsPete DavisBackSanta Clara208Green Bay PackersBill PrenticeBackSanta Clara
Round 21
Pick # NFL team Player Position College209Brooklyn TigersTed CurranBackIowa210Chicago CardinalsRed CheekGuardBaylor211Pittsburgh SteelersArt PriceBackRutgers212Boston YanksEric JamisonTackleSan Francisco213Cleveland RamsLeroy EricksonBackOregon214Detroit LionsKen CurrierGuardWisconsin215Chicago BearsWalt StickelTacklePenn216Washington RedskinsSid HallidayTackleSMU217Philadelphia EaglesPhil TeschnerTackleBrown218New York GiantsSam VacantiBackIowa219Green Bay PackersWarren FullerEndFordham
Round 22