My NFL Draft Experience | NFL Football Operations

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style="background-color: rgba(192,57,43,0.35);"></div> </div> <div class="content"> <h1><span>My NFL Draft Experience</span></h1> <p><p><span>Troy Vincent, Sr., Executive Vice President, NFL Football Operations, shares his memories from his NFL Draft day</span></p></p> </div> </div> <div id="trigger"> <div aria-haspopup="true" class="social-share"> <h3>Share This Page</h3> <ul> <li><a class="share" href="#">Share</a></li> <li> <a class="facebook" href="#" data-method="feed" data-link="https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/my-nfl-draft-experience/" data-picture="https://operations.nfl.com/media/1695/troy-emmitt-smith_ap02092208121.jpg?rxy=0.49586776859504134,0.22&width=627&height=410&v=1db3451e85d1010&quality=85" data-name="My NFL Draft Experience" data-caption="Troy Vincent, Sr., Executive Vice President, NFL Football Operations, shares his memories from his NFL Draft day">Facebook</a> </li> <li><a class="twitter" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=RT%20My%20NFL%20Draft%20Experience&url=https%3A%2F%2Foperations.nfl.com%2Fjourney-to-the-nfl%2Fthe-nfl-draft%2Fmy-nfl-draft-experience%2F">Twitter</a></li> <li><a class="email" href="mailto:?subject=My NFL Draft Experience&body=Troy Vincent, Sr., Executive Vice President, NFL Football Operations, shares his memories from his NFL Draft day https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/my-nfl-draft-experience/">Email</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="subnav-inline-container "> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="category-container"> <span class="icon players"></span> <h3><span>The NFL Draft</span></h3> </div> <div class="subnav-container"> <div class="wrapper-dropdown"> <button id="subnav-dropdown">Explore This Section</button> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a class="" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-history-of-the-draft/" title="The History of the Draft"><span>The History of the Draft</span></a></li> <li><a class="" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/" title="The Rules of the Draft"><span>Draft Rules</span></a></li> <li><a class="active" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/my-nfl-draft-experience/" title="My NFL Draft Experience"><span>My NFL Draft Experience</span></a></li> <li><a class="" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/nfl-draft-stories/" title="NFL Draft Stories"><span>NFL Draft Stories</span></a></li> <li><a class="" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/to-the-nfl-rookie-class-of-2024/" title="To the NFL Rookie Class of 2024"><span>To the NFL Rookie Class of 2024</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-block article-half "> <div class="content"> <div class="full-width"> <h5>A lot has happened since April 26, 1992 — the day the Miami Dolphins called my name as the seventh overall pick in the 1992 NFL draft. </h5> </div> <figure class="right"> <img alt="NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent, Sr., poses with his grandmother Julia and former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue after he was selected out of Wisconsin with the seventh pick in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins in April, 1992. (AP Photo/Richard Harbus)" src="/media/1698/troy-draft-commish_ap489722912204.jpg?mode=max&width=995"> <figcaption><p class="regdt">NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent, Sr., poses with his grandmother Julia and former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue after he was selected out of Wisconsin with the seventh pick in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins in April, 1992. (AP Photo/Richard Harbus)</p></figcaption> </figure> <p>It was one of the most cherished and memorable milestones in my career, and certainly one of the greatest moments in my family’s history. But it was only the beginning for me.</p> <p>I had been projected by many experts as an early first-round pick, so I was invited to attend the draft. I made the quick trip to New York City from Trenton, N.J., to sit with other top prospects in the “green room,” where we waited for our names to be called.</p> <p>When the Dolphins selected me with the 7th pick, I realized that all of my hard work and dreams had paid off. The investments my family, my coaches and community members had made in me over the years were validated.</p> <p>But the draft experience is far more than the excitement of hearing your name called, shaking hands with the commissioner and holding up your new team’s jersey as you pose for pictures. It’s the beginning of one of the most intense and challenging phases of your life.</p> <p>All too often, today’s athletes focus on the immediate celebration — not on what comes next. Once you’re drafted, you enter a world where you’re judged on your production, not your potential. Some people will still tell you how great you are, but now more than ever, other players are working hard, trying to take your job — and your dream — away from you.</p> <p>One of the most memorable experiences for me happened when I returned to Trenton after the draft. My family, friends, and coaches gathered to celebrate with me. They also helped me to put what had happened in perspective: Within a couple of hours, I was back on the old basketball court in the park around the corner, playing a game of pickup.</p> <p></p> <figure class="left-small"> <img alt="Troy Vincent, Sr., poses for his NFL trading card before his rookie season with the Miami Dolphins in&#xA0;1992. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)" src="/media/1700/miami-rookie3_ap755816624565.jpg?mode=max&width=995"> <figcaption><p class="regdt">Troy Vincent, Sr., poses for his NFL trading card before his rookie season with the <span>Miami Dolphins in </span>1992. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)</p></figcaption> </figure> <p>That day, the most important people in my life helped keep me grounded. I realized that my first full day as a top draft pick had to be treated like any other day, and that the true challenge was ahead. I had to compete for, and earn, my job on the Dolphins.</p> <p>My advice to those players about to be drafted, celebrate, but don’t let anyone tell you that being drafted by an NFL team is the pinnacle of your career. Never once did I allow that to settle in my mind. The NFL playing experience is just the next leg of a longer journey.</p> <p>Scripture says that to whom much is given, much is required, and that humility comes before honor. Being drafted by an NFL team is an amazing accomplishment, but one that requires humility. Not only did God bless me with an opportunity to play the greatest game on the biggest stage, but He also blessed me with an awesome responsibility to do something great with it.</p> </div> </div> <div class="content-block related-content"><div class="content"> <div class="related-content-container clear"> <h2 class="header">Related Content</h2> <a class="related-content" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/nfl-development-pipeline/college-advisory-committee/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/kenndhol/ap22116735012106.jpg?rxy=0.5134442222162413,0.14424265627877758&width=352&height=235&v=1d95e5c9da7ead0&quality=85" alt="College Advisory Committee"> </div> <div class="title-container players"> <h3 class="title">College Advisory Committee</h3> <p></p> </div> </a>  <a class="related-content" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/0kjglnyn/nfl-draft-detroit-stage.jpeg?width=352&height=235&v=1db134e510fd310&quality=85" alt="The Rules of the Draft"> </div> <div class="title-container players"> <h3 class="title">The Rules of the Draft</h3> <p>Which team will go first? How long does each team have to make its pick? Who is eligible to be drafted? The NFL has specific rules for each part of the draft process.</p> </div> </a>  <a class="related-content" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-history-of-the-draft/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/2lzccdl0/history-of-the-draft-detroit.jpeg?width=352&height=235&v=1daad1d155db310&quality=85" alt="The History of the Draft"> </div> <div class="title-container players"> <h3 class="title">The History of the Draft</h3> <p>Introducing the next wave of NFL superstars. </p> </div> </a>  </div>  </div></div> <div class="content-block pagetop players"> <div class="content"> <h3><a id="pagetop">Back to Top</a></h3> </div> </div> <div class="footer"> <div class="content"> <a href="/"> <img class="logo" src="/images/logo_nflops-lightbg300@2x.png" alt="NFL Football Operations Logo" style="width: 300px;"> </a> <ul class="footer-links"> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/#gameday--homepage-block">Gameday</a></li> <li><a href="/#learn-the-game-homepage-block">Learn the Game</a></li> <li><a href="/#officiating--homepage-block">Officiating</a></li> <li><a href="/#journey-to-the-nfl-homepage-block">Journey to the NFL</a></li> <li><a href="/#the-rules-homepage-block">The Rules</a></li> <li><a href="/#inside-football-ops-homepage-block">Inside Football Ops</a></li> <li><a href="/updates/">Updates</a></li> <li><a href="/search/">Search</a></li> </ul> <p class="intro-description"> NFL Football Operations’ mission is to establish a culture of clarity, consistency and credibility in all aspects of the greatest game. 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