Chat with our AI personalities
By NFL rule, expansion teams are given the first selection in each round of the draft. The last expansion team in the NFL was the Houston Texans who began play in 2002. They were awarded the first selection in each round of the 2002 NFL Draft.
All players who have completed at least three seasons since graduating from high school (meaning the conclusion of the players collegiate true junior or redshirt sophomore season) may declare their eligibility for the NFL Draft. There is, nor has there ever been a limit on the number of "eligible" players.
The team with the worst record from the prior season gets the first pick in every round, the Champion gets the last pick in every round. There are 7 rounds, every team starts out with one pick in each round but is allowed to trade those picks. The NFL awards compensatory picks to teams who lost free agent players, teams are not allowed to trade compensatory picks.
Since each round is timed, they're predictable every year. The first round for 2012 lasted just over 3 hours; the 2013 first round draft lasted about 3 hours, 30 minutes.
The Cowboys have eight picks overall in the 2011 National Football League college draft. They have one pick each in Rounds 1 through 6 and two selections in Round 7.