The 2003 National Football League Draft took place on April 26 an April 27, 2003. The draft was broadcast on ESPN beginning at noon on Saturday, April 26 and beginning at 11:00 AM on Sunday, April 27. The draft began with the Cincinnati Bengals selecting Carson Palmer, and ended with Mr. Irrelevant, Ryan Hoag, being chosen by the Oakland Raiders. There were 32 compensatory picks distributed among 15 teams, with 5 of them receiving 4 picks. The colleges most recognized in the draft were Penn State University and the University of Miami, who both had 4 players selected in the first round. The selection of Willis McGahee as the first running back was notable due to the fact that he was recovering from a career-threatening injury. The 262 players chosen in the draft were composed of: