The 1997 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 April 19–20, 1997, at the Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. No teams chose to claim any players in the supplemental draft this year.
First-overall pick Orlando Pace, helped the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl Championship, was named to seven Pro Bowls, four All-Pro teams, and broke several franchise and NFL records for yards gained.
Considered by some to be the best tight end in NFL history, Tony Gonzalez was named to 10 Pro Bowl's, 14 All-Pro's, led the league in receptions in 2004, and holds multiple tight-end receiving records
Orlando Lamar Pace is an American former football offensive tackle who played for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the St. Louis Rams. Pace played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he twice received unanimous All-American honors, and was selected by the Rams first overall in the 1997 NFL draft. He spent all but one season of his professional career in St. Louis, concluding his NFL tenure as a member of the Chicago Bears.
Pace in 2018
