THIRD AND DATA

NFL draft

NorthwesternWildcats

The last 5 drafts, newest on the right. A draft year runs one behind its football season — the 2026 draft is the 2025 team.

Draft
‹
›Current

2002–2006

Selections per draft

10 across 5 drafts

Counted from zero, so the height of a point is its share of this team's best draft here.

31033

Selections by position

10 across 2002–2006

Color is the side of the ball; each segment is a position group. Offense 5 · Defense 5.

Draft selections by position group across 2002–2006: Running backs 1, Receivers 1, Offensive line 3, Defensive line 2, Linebackers 3

2002

2001 Randy Walker

3 selections

  1. 1-23Napoleon Harris—No recruiting profile foundLinebacker
  2. 4-03Kevin Bentley—No recruiting profile foundLinebacker
  3. 5-35Sam Simmons—No recruiting profile foundWide Receiver

2003

2002 Randy Walker

1 selection

  1. 4-36Austin King—No recruiting profile foundCenter

2004

2003 Randy Walker

0 selections

No selections.

2005

2004 Randy Walker

3 selections

  1. 1-28Luis Castillo—No recruiting profile foundDefensive Tackle
  2. 3-29Trai Essex—No recruiting profile foundOffensive Tackle
  3. 7-30Noah Herron—No recruiting profile foundRunning Back

2006

2005 Randy Walker

3 selections

  1. 4-27Barry Cofield—No recruiting profile foundDefensive Tackle
  2. 7-02Zach Strief—No recruiting profile foundOffensive Tackle
  3. 7-13Tim McGarigle—No recruiting profile foundLinebacker

Stars are the player's recruiting rating, matched back to his high-school profile by athlete id — not a draft grade. Only 0 of 10 picks in this range could be matched: CFBD's links between draft picks and recruiting profiles thin out before the 2013 draft and are absent before 2009, so an em dash here usually means the link is missing rather than that the player was unrated.