Jubilation and tears of joy during virtual NFL draft - in pictures

Cincinnati Bengals select quarterback Joe Burrow with first pick of the draft

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It was an emotional day for players and families across the United States as the 'virtual' NFL Draft was held.

The draft was due to be held in Las Vegas, but took place virtually owing to the pandemic with teams sending their picks to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who announced them from his basement.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected quarterback Joe Burrow with the first pick of this season's draft.

The three-day event is the second biggest on the NFL calendar – after the Super Bowl – as the 32 teams select 255 newly eligible players.

Burrow won the Heisman Trophy as the best player in NCAA football in 2019, with previous winners including Lamar Jackson, Cam Newton and Marcus Mariota.

The Bengals had the first pick after recording the league's worst record of 2-14 in 2019 and Burrow was widely tipped to be the first pick.

"Nobody's allowed to make fun of me tonight none of the barbershops are open," he tweeted before the draft began.

Watching from his family home in Athens County, Ohio, the former LSU player watched Goodell announce his name and donned the cap for his new team.

He told ESPN: "I knew I was going to have a really good season ... but to jump up to No1 overall is crazy to me. But it's a dream come true."

Two Ohio State players went in the second and third picks, with Chase Young and Jeff Okudah heading to the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions respectively.