page_title: 2006 NFL Draft
section_title: Player selections
hierarchical_section_title: 2006 NFL Draft / Player selections
caption_attribution_description: English: Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears
context_page_description: The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City, New York, at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by the NFL Network. Having signed a contract with the Houston Texans on the evening before the draft, Mario Williams, a defensive end from North Carolina State, became the draft's first pick. The selection surprised many commentators, who predicted that the Texans would draft Southern California running back Reggie Bush or Texas quarterback Vince Young. Ohio State produced the most first round selections, while Southern California produced the most overall selections. Twenty-seven compensatory and supplemental compensatory selections were distributed amongst seventeen teams; Tampa Bay, Baltimore, and Tennessee each held three compensatory picks. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season. The 255 players chosen in the draft were composed of:
  33 Wide receivers
  31 Linebackers
  26 Safeties
  23 Defensive tackles
  23 Cornerbacks
caption: Wide receiver Devin Hester was drafted in the second round and holds several NFL records as a return specialist.
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