| 1979 NFL draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Date(s) | May 3–4, 1979 |
| Location | Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, NY |
| Overview | |
| 330 total selections in 12 rounds | |
| League | NFL |
| First selection | Tom Cousineau, LB Buffalo Bills |
| Mr. Irrelevant | Mike Almond, WR Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Most selections (17) | New York Jets |
| Fewest selections (5) | Washington Redskins |
| Hall of Famers | 4
|
The 1979 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 May 3–4, 1979, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York.[1][2] The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.
The Buffalo Bills held the first overall pick in the draft, acquired from the San Francisco 49ers in the trade which sent O. J. Simpson to his hometown team. The Bills' selection at No. 1, Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau, refused to sign with the Bills and instead signed a lucrative deal with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.