Last player out of NFL Draft 2023 green room in Kansas City got huge ovation from fans
As one of four players invited to Kansas City for the NFL Draft who wasn’t selected in Thursday night’s first round, Alabama cornerback Brian Branch said there was a common theme in the messages he received from family and friends.
“Make them regret it,” Branch said.
That’s what Branch plans to do as a member of the Detroit Lions, who made him the No. 45 overall selection on Friday at Union Station. And, perhaps of some consolation to Branch, the Lions traded up in the second round to draft him.
Not only was Branch not selected among the 17 invitees on hand for the first round, the three others not taken — Penn State cornerback Joey Porter, Kentucky quarterback Will Levis and Georgia Tech edge rusher Keion White — left Kansas City on Friday morning.
All were selected in the second round. Porter and Levis were the first two taken Friday night.
Players who are expected to be selected in the first round are invited to the NFL Draft in order to be part of the festivities. But not getting selected on the first night can obviously be embarrassing.
Branch had plenty of space to stretch out in the KC green room, where the prospects waited to hear their names called and be greeted with a hug by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
A day later than the others, Branch got his chance.
“I felt like being here was important,” Branch said. “Not too many people can do this, shake hands with the commissioner, be in front of the fans like that. The vibe in Kansas City right now, I participated in that.”
As he made his way to the stage, Branch received resounding applause from the fans at Union Station and on the lawn at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. They followed the coverage on the big screens next to the stage.
Now, Branch’s objective is to carry the draft snub to Detroit.
““It’s the chip I needed, not hearing my named called,” he said. “It sucks. I’m ready to prove everybody wrong who passed up on me. I’m blessed the Lions gave me a chance.”
This story was originally published April 28, 2023 at 8:48 PM.