Roger Goodell honors slain Virginia football players to start 2023 NFL Draft

Roger Goodell announced the three Virginia football players slain in last fall’s on-campus shooting as the symbolic first picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The first selection in the 2023 NFL Draft wasn’t Bryce Young. It wasn’t even made by the Carolina Panthers. It belonged to the NFL, which welcomed in spirit three young men who lost the chance to walk across the NFL Draft stage themselves because of an on-campus shooting last fall.

On Nov. 13, 2022, Virginia football players Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry were killed in a senseless act of violence when a fellow student opened fire.

On Apr. 27, 2023, those three were honored by Roger Goodell and the league at the NFL Draft.

Roger Goodell honors slain Virginia football players to start 2023 NFL Draft

https://twitter.com/UVAFootball/status/1651737477483307014

“To make it official, with the first picks in the 2023 NLF Draft, we welcome to the NFL family, D’Sean Perry, Lavel Davis and Devin Chandler of the University of Virginia,” Goodell said.

He then handed the families of each player a jersey bearing their name. Perry, a linebacker from Miami, was honored with a jersey from his hometown Dolphins. Davis, a wide receiver from South Carolina, had his name on a Ravens jersey. Chandler, a wide receiver from Virginia Beach, received a Jaguars jersey.

It was an emotional way to kick off the draft, one that was widely praised by fans. It’s just sad that such a gesture from the league was necessary.

The NFL got this one right.