Ahead of the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the league welcomed the three University of Virginia football players who died in a shooting on November 13 to the NFL family as honorary draft picks.
D’Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler lost their lives after former UVA football player Christopher Jones Jr. allegedly opened fire on a charter bus that had just returned to campus from a field trip to Washington, D.C.
D’Brickashaw Ferguson, a three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle with the New York Jets who played in Virginia before being drafted in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, spoke about each player before commissioner Roger Goodell announced the top draft picks. draft.
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The 2023 NFL Draft logo on the Union Station Main Stage (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)
«To make it official, with the top picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, we welcome University of Virginia D’Sean Perry, Lavel Davis and Devin Chandler to the NFL family,» Ferguson said.
VIRGINIA FOOTBALL PLAYERS KILLED IN SHOOTING AWARDED POSTHUMOUS TITLES
The families of each player took the stage to receive the jerseys.
Perry’s family has been given a Miami Dolphins jersey since he grew up in Miami. Davis Jr. was from Dorchester, SC, but his family received a Baltimore Ravens jersey. Chandler’s family, who was from Huntersville, North Carolina, received a Jacksonville Jaguars jersey.
A detailed view of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Chandler and Davis were wide receivers for the Cavaliers. Chandler played two seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers before transferring to Virginia for his junior season. He never got to play for Virginia last season.
Davis played in eight games as a senior last season, racking up 16 receptions for 371 yards with two touchdowns.
Perry played three seasons with the Cavaliers at linebacker, making nine tackles and recording one sack with a pick-six in eight games.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)
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After the shooting, the NFL was quick to honor the fallen players. The Washington Commanders added decals to their helmets with each player’s number: 1, 15, and 41.