In a touching moment before the 2023 NFL Draft officially got underway, the league honored the lives of Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry by making them the night’s first picks. The trio of Virginia football players were killed in a shooting in Charlottesville last November, sending a ripple through the community and the world of college football.
MORE: UVA shooting survivor Mike Hollins gets first carry of spring football game
Virginia alums Melissa Stark and D’Brickashaw Ferguson took to the stage to pay tribute to the three young men. Ferguson talked about each player individually, remembering the legacies they left on and off the field.
Commissioner Roger Goodell welcomed the families of each player on stage before naming Chandler, Davis and Perry the first picks of a ceremonial draft. Each family was then presented with a jersey.
Tonight, the NFL honored and celebrated the lives of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry by having a special ceremonial draft to forever enshrine them in the NFL.
#UVAStrong | @NFL | @NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/ExCdCYj8NM— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) April 28, 2023
The NFL honored D'Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler to open up the draft ❤️ pic.twitter.com/nlQiVAd8sg
— ESPN (@espn) April 27, 2023
It was a beautiful moment to honor the lives and legacies of three men and their families and kick off the 2023 NFL Draft.