Editing NFL draft (section)

===Scouting era begins (1946–1959)===
[[Eddie Kotal]] became the first player [[talent scout|scout]] in 1946 when he was hired by [[Dan Reeves (NFL owner)|Dan Reeves]] of the [[Los Angeles Rams]].<ref>{{cite news | first = Pete | last = Dougherty | title = Rams ushered in modern era of with help from former Packers player, coach Eddie Kotal | date = October 14, 2011 | url = http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111014/PKR07/111014148/Pete-Dougherty-column-Ex-Packer-Kotal-helped-Rams-transform-NFL-scouting | work = [[Green Bay Press-Gazette]] | access-date = October 28, 2011 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120717172928/http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111014/PKR07/111014148/Pete-Dougherty-column-Ex-Packer-Kotal-helped-Rams-transform-NFL-scouting | archive-date = July 17, 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="MacCambridge, 2005, pp. 55-57.">MacCambridge, 2005, pp. 55–57.</ref>

The NFL's competition with the [[All-America Football Conference]] (AAFC) in 1947 resulted in a temporary institution of a ''bonus pick''. Under this system, the first overall selection was awarded as a bonus pick by a random draw, while the last place team picked second, and so on. The team that won this draft lottery then forfeited its selection in the final round of the draft. The winner was then also eliminated from the draw in future years. By 1958, all twelve clubs in the league at the time had received a bonus choice and this system was abolished.<ref>{{cite book |title=Official 2013 National Football League Record & Fact Book |year=2013 |publisher=[[National Football League]] |location=New York |isbn=978-1-603-20980-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/official2013nati0000unse/page/525 |editor1-last=Zimmer |editor1-first=John |editor2-last=Marini |editor2-first=Matt |access-date=October 11, 2013 |format=PDF |page=[https://archive.org/details/official2013nati0000unse/page/525 525] |url-access=registration }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Draft History: 1940's |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1940s.aspx |publisher=[[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001024342/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1940s.aspx |archive-date=October 1, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Competitive parity did not, however, quickly arrive in the NFL  as perennial losers, such as the Eagles and [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]], standings' did not improve until 1947.<ref name="Coenen, 2005. p. 90."/><ref name="MacCambridge, 2005, p. 41.">MacCambridge, 2005, p. 41.</ref>

In the [[1949 NFL draft]], [[George Taliaferro]] became the first African-American selected when he was chosen in the thirteenth round. He however, chose to sign with an AAFC team. [[Wallace Triplett|Wally Triplett]] was chosen in the nineteenth and he would be the first African-American to be selected in the draft and make an NFL team.<ref name="AA in pro football">{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/african-americans.aspx |title=African-Americans in Pro Football: Pioneers, Milestones and Firsts|access-date=October 10, 2011}}</ref> After the draft and prior to the start of the season, [[Paul "Tank" Younger]] was signed by the [[Los Angeles Rams]] as a [[free agent]] and became the first NFL player from an [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black college]].<ref name="MacCambridge, 2005, pp. 55-57."/><ref name="AA in pro football"/> [[Eddie Robinson (American football coach)|Eddie Robinson]], Younger's coach at [[Grambling State University|Grambling]], promptly and unequivocally, impressed upon him that the future of the recruitment and drafting of his colleagues at other black colleges lay in the balance based on his success with the Rams.<ref name="Levy, 2003, p. 102.">Levy incorrectly writes Younger was drafted by the Rams. Levy 2003, p. 102.</ref>