1976 NFL draft explained

1976 NFL draft
Date:April 8–9, 1976
Location:Roosevelt Hotel
in New York City, NY
League:NFL
Mr Irrelevant:Kelvin Kirk, WR
Pittsburgh Steelers
First:Lee Roy Selmon, DE
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fewnum:11
Fewest:Washington Redskins
Mostnum:25
Most:Seattle Seahawks
Overall:487
Rounds:17
Prev:1975

The 1976 NFL draft was an annual player selection meeting held April 8–9, 1976, at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, New York.[1] [2]

The draft lasted 17 rounds, with the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks making the first two selections. The Buccaneers were awarded the first overall pick of the draft after winning a draw over the Seahawks, and used that pick to select defensive tackle Lee Roy Selmon. The expansion teams were also given a pair of extra picks at the end of each of rounds 2–5. The 1976 draft was the final NFL draft to last seventeen rounds; it was reduced to twelve rounds in 1977, and it was the first draft to officially have the infamous unofficial award, "Mr. Irrelevant", for the final player selected. Like 1974, the 1976 draft is generally regarded as one of the worst quarterback draft classes of all time. No quarterback from the 1976 draft class ever reached the Pro Bowl, an All-Pro team or a Super Bowl, and according to the estimate of Eldorado this quarterback class was the second-worst after 1996.[3] Only first round pick Richard Todd, who led the New York Jets to their first postseason appearances since Super Bowl III in 1981 and 1982, was ever a regular starter.

Five teams lost picks as a penalty for illegally signing former World Football League players: the New York Giants and Chicago Bears lost sixth-round picks, the Washington Redskins lost their seventh-round pick, and the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets lost their tenth-round selections.[4]

The college draft was originally scheduled for February 3–4, but was postponed when the owners of the Seahawks and Buccaneers filed a lawsuit against the players' union with worries that the organization would try to prevent the expansion draft. The court case delayed both the expansion draft and the annual college draft.[5]

Player selections

= Pro Bowler [6] = Hall of Famer
= compensatory selection
†= Pro Bowler
‡= Hall of Famer[7]

Round nine

Pick # NFL team Player Position College
238Tampa Bay BuccaneersBruce WelchGuard Texas A&M
239Seattle SeahawksBob BosTackle Iowa State
240New Orleans SaintsWarren PeifferDefensive tackle Iowa
241Buffalo BillsJeff TurnerLinebacker Kansas
242Cleveland BrownsJames ReedRunning back Mississippi
243New England PatriotsDoug BeaudoinDefensive back Minnesota
244New York JetsRonnie MooreWide receiver Virginia Military Inst.
245Green Bay PackersJim GuenoLinebacker Tulane
246Atlanta FalconsPhil McKinnelyTackle UCLA
247Philadelphia EaglesMike HoganRunning backTennessee-Chattanooga
248Philadelphia EaglesRichard OsborneTight endTexas A&M
249Kansas City ChiefsTim CollierDefensive back East Texas State
250San Francisco 49ersKen HarrisonWide receiver Southern Methodist
251San Diego ChargersGlynn HarrisonRunning back Georgia
252Denver BroncosJim CzirrCenter Michigan
253Detroit LionsLeanell JonesTight endLong Beach State
254Washington RedskinsCurtis AkinsGuard Hawaii
255Buffalo BillsBob KotzurDefensive tackle Southwest Texas State
256Houston OilersArt StringerLinebacker Ball State
257Miami DolphinsNorris ThomasDefensive back Southern Mississippi
258Baltimore ColtsStu LevenickTackle Illinois
259Cincinnati BengalsLonnie AllgoodWide ReceiverSyracuse
260Denver BroncosJim LiskoLinebacker Arkansas State
261Cleveland BrownsCraig NagelQuarterback Purdue
262Minnesota VikingsIsaac HaginsWide Receiver Southern
263Los Angeles RamsJeb ChurchDefensive back Stanford
264Dallas CowboysBeasley ReeceDefensive back North Texas State
265Pittsburgh SteelersWentford GainesDefensive back Cincinnati

Round ten

Pick # NFL team Player Position College
266Seattle SeahawksRandy CoffieldLinebacker Florida State
267Tampa Bay BuccaneersSid SmithLinebacker Brigham Young
268San Diego ChargersJeff PerlingerDefensive endMichigan
269New Orleans SaintsJunior HardinLinebacker Eastern Kentucky
270New England PatriotsRicky FeacherWide receiver Mississippi Valley State
271Cleveland BrownsDoug KleberTackle Illinois
272Washington RedskinsPaul StrohmeierLinebacker Washington
273Philadelphia EaglesHerb LuskRunning back Long Beach State
274Green Bay PackersJessie GreenWide receiverTulsa
275San Francisco 49ersRobin RossTackle Washington State
276New York GiantsJohn ThomasRunning back Valley City State
277Kansas City ChiefsWhitney PaulDefensive end Colorado
278Denver BroncosArt GilliamDefensive end Grambling
279Detroit LionsBill BowermanDefensive back New Mexico State
280Buffalo BillsKeith MoodyDefensive back Syracuse
281Miami DolphinsGary FencikSafety Yale
282Miami DolphinsDon TestermanRunning back Clemson
283Baltimore ColtsTim BaylorDefensive back Morgan State
284Houston OilersSteve KincannonQuarterback Humboldt State
285St. Louis CardinalsRandy WalkerRunning back Bethune-Cookman
286Oakland RaidersDwight LewisDefensive back Purdue
287Cincinnati BengalsTom KlabanKicker Ohio State
288Los Angeles RamsFreeman JohnsWide receiver Southern Methodist
289Minnesota VikingsBill SalmonQuarterback Northern Iowa
290Dallas CowboysLeroy CookDefensive end Alabama
291Pittsburgh SteelersGary CampbellLinebacker Colorado

Round eleven

Pick # NFL team Player Position College
292Tampa Bay BuccaneersMelvin WashingtonDefensive back Colorado State
293Seattle SeahawksKeith MuehrPunter Southwestern Louisiana
294New Orleans SaintsGreg KokalQuarterback Kent State
295San Diego ChargersRay PrestonLinebacker Syracuse
296New York JetsLawrence PillersDefensive end Alcorn State
297Cleveland BrownsChuck CelekDefensive end Kent State
298New England PatriotsDonnie ThomasLinebacker Indiana
299Chicago BearsNorman AndersenWide receiver UCLA
300Philadelphia EaglesMike GilbertDefensive tackle San Diego State
301Green Bay PackersCurtis LeakWide receiver Johnson C. Smith
302Atlanta FalconsChuck BrislinTackle Mississippi State
303New York GiantsCraig BrantleyWide receiver Clemson
304Kansas City ChiefsBob SquiresTight endHastings
305San Francisco 49ersPaul HoferRunning backMississippi
306Denver BroncosGreg PittmanLinebackerIowa State
307Detroit LionsGary ShugrueDefensive end Villanova
308Washington RedskinsDean GisslerDefensive end Nebraska
309Buffalo BillsForry SmithWide receiver Iowa State
310Baltimore ColtsRick GibneyDefensive tackle Georgia Tech
311Houston OilersSkip WalkerRunning backTexas A&M
312Miami DolphinsDexter PrideRunning back Minnesota
313Oakland RaidersRick JenningsRunning back Maryland
314Cincinnati BengalsMelvin MorganDefensive backMississippi Valley State
315St. Louis CardinalsMarty AkinsDefensive back Texas
316Minnesota VikingsSteve KracherRunning backMontana State
317Los Angeles RamsBrian NemethTight end South Carolina
318Dallas CowboysCornelius GreeneQuarterback Ohio State
319Pittsburgh SteelersRolland FuchsRunning backArkansas

Round twelve

Pick # NFL team Player Position College
320Seattle SeahawksRon BarnettWide receiverTexas-Arlington
321Tampa Bay Buccaneers George RagsdaleRunning back North Carolina A&T
322San Diego ChargersRon LeeDefensive backOregon
323New Orleans SaintsMilton ButtsTackle North Carolina
324Houston OilersLarry BellTackle East Texas State
325New England PatriotsNathaniel BellDefensive tackle Tulane
326New York JetsDon BuckeyWide receiverNorth Carolina State
327New York JetsDave BuckeyQuarterback North Carolina State
328Green Bay PackersGuard USC
329Atlanta FalconsPat BoltonKicker Montana State
330Chicago BearsJohn O'LearyRunning backNebraska
331Kansas City ChiefsHarold PorterWide receiver Southwestern Louisiana
332San Francisco 49ersGerald LoperGuard Florida
333New York GiantsJerry GolsteynQuarterback Northern Illinois
334Denver BroncosRandy MooreDefensive tackleArizona State
335Detroit LionsMike McCabeCenter South Carolina
336Buffalo BillsJoe LoweryRunning backJackson State
337Washington RedskinsWalter TullisDefensive backDelaware State
338San Diego ChargersHerman HarrisDefensive back Mississippi Valley State
339Miami DolphinsRandy YoungTackle Iowa State
340Baltimore ColtsFrank StavroffKicker Indiana
341Cincinnati BengalsJoe Dale HarrisWide receiver Alabama
342Miami DolphinsDarryl BrandfordDefensive tackle Northwestern
343Oakland RaidersCedric BrownDefensive back Kent State
344Los Angeles RamsJim JodatRunning backCarthage
345Minnesota VikingsRobert SparksDefensive back San Francisco State
346Dallas CowboysCharles McShaneLinebacker Cal Lutheran
347Pittsburgh SteelersBill CarrollWide receiverEast Texas State

Round thirteen

Pick # NFL team Player Position College
348Tampa Bay BuccaneersBrad JenkinsTight endNebraska
349Seattle SeahawksAndy ReidRunning backGeorgia
350New Orleans SaintsKenny DowningDefensive back Missouri
351San Diego ChargersJohn LeeDefensive tackleNebraska
352New England PatriotsJames JonesDefensive backCentral Michigan
353Philadelphia EaglesTerry TautoloLinebacker UCLA
354Cleveland BrownsBrian MurrayTackle Arizona
355Green Bay PackersBradley BowmanDefensive back Southern Mississippi
356Atlanta FalconsMike WilliamsTackle Florida
357Chicago BearsDale KasowskiRunning back North Dakota
358Philadelphia EaglesSteve EbbeckeDefensive back Villanova
359San Francisco 49ersLarry BrumfieldDefensive back Indiana State
360New York GiantsRick CaswellWide receiver Western Kentucky
361Kansas City ChiefsJoe BrunerQuarterback N.E. Louisiana
362Denver BroncosDonnie McGrawDefensive backHouston
363Detroit LionsMel JacobsWide receiver San Diego State
364Washington RedskinsWayman BrittDefensive back Michigan
365Buffalo BillsWill WilcoxGuard Texas
366Miami DolphinsBernie HeadCenter Tulsa
367Oakland RaidersCraig CrnickDefensive end Idaho
368Houston OilersDan O'RourkeWide receiver Colorado State
369St. Louis CardinalsGreg BrewtonDefensive tackle Michigan State
370Oakland RaidersMark YoungTackle Washington State
371Cincinnati BengalsDefensive backMiami (OH)
372Minnesota VikingsGary Paulson Defensive endColorado State
373Los Angeles RamsSteve Hamilton Quarterback Emporia State
374Dallas CowboysQuarterback Colorado State
375Pittsburgh SteelersLarry KainTight end Ohio State

Round fourteen

Pick # NFL team Player Position College
376Seattle SeahawksJarvis BlinksDefensive back Northwest Louisiana
377Tampa Bay BuccaneersCarl RoachesWide receiver Texas A&M
378San Diego ChargersEd JonesGuard Cincinnati
379New Orleans SaintsRich HuckeDefensive end Western Montana
380New York JetsAl GluchoskiCenter West Virginia
381Cleveland BrownsJoe SmalzerTight end Illinois
382New England PatriotsDavid QuehlWide receiver Holy Cross
383Atlanta FalconsMark HusfloenDefensive end Washington State
384Chicago BearsRon CuieRunning back Oregon State
385Philadelphia EaglesMelvin ShyDefensive back Tennessee State
386Green Bay PackersJohn HensonRunning backCal Poly-San Luis Obispo
387New York GiantsJerry MullaneLinebacker Lehigh
388Kansas City ChiefsRick ThurmanTackle Texas
389San Francisco 49ersJohnny MillerLinebacker Livingstone College
390Denver BroncosLarry EvansLinebacker Mississippi College
391Detroit LionsLeonard ElstonWide receiver Kentucky State
392Buffalo BillsTony WilliamsWide receiver Middle Tennessee State
393Washington RedskinsQuinn BucknerDefensive backIndiana
394Baltimore ColtsJeremiah CummingsDefensive end Albany State
395Houston OilersJohn ReimerTackle Wisconsin
396Miami DolphinsBob GisslerLinebacker South Dakota State
397Oakland RaidersCalvin YoungRunning back Fresno State
398Cincinnati BengalsGreg ColemanPunter Florida A&M
399St. Louis CardinalsRaymond CrosierDefensive end Abilene Christian
400Los Angeles RamsAl BurlesonDefensive back Washington
401Minnesota VikingsJeff StapletonTackle Purdue
402Dallas CowboysLarry MushinskieTight endNebraska
403Pittsburgh SteelersWayne FieldDefensive backFlorida

Round fifteen

Pick # NFL team Player Position College
404Tampa Bay BuccaneersBob DzierzakDefensive tackle Utah State
405Seattle SeahawksDan SmithTackle Washington State
406New Orleans SaintsSteve SeminoffDefensive tackle Wichita State
407San Diego ChargersJack HoffmanDefensive tackle Indiana
408Cleveland BrownsLuther PhilyawDefensive back Loyola (CA)
409New England PatriotsBernard ColemanWide receiver Bethune-Cookman
410New York JetsRick FaulkPunter San Francisco State
411Chicago BearsJerry MeyersDefensive tackle Northern Illinois
412Philadelphia EaglesBrett WhitePunterUCLA
413Green Bay PackersJerry DandridgeLinebacker Memphis State
414Atlanta FalconsRon OlsonDefensive backWashington
415Kansas City ChiefsDave RozumekLinebacker New Hampshire
416San Francisco 49ersHoward StidhamLinebacker Tennessee Tech
417New York GiantsEddie MorganDefensive tackle Arkansas State
418Denver BroncosWilbur SummersPunter Louisville
419Detroit LionsTrent SmockWide receiver Indiana
420St. Louis CardinalsLee NelsonDefensive backFlorida State
421Buffalo BillsArnold RobinsonLinebacker Bethune-Cookman
422Houston OilersBobby ByarsDefensive back Cheyney (PA)
423Miami DolphinsRon HolmesRunning back Utah State
424Baltimore ColtsGary AlexanderTackle Clemson
425Cincinnati BengalsLynn HieberQuarterback Indiana (PA)
426Washington RedskinsJohn MonroeRunning back Bluefield State
427Oakland RaidersCarl HargraveDefensive back Upper Iowa
428Minnesota VikingsRon GroceRunning backMacalester
429Los Angeles RamsMalcolm CampbellWide receiverCal State-Los Angeles
430Dallas CowboysDale CurryLinebacker UCLA
431Pittsburgh SteelersMel DavisDefensive end North Texas State

Round sixteen

Pick # NFL team Player Position College
432Seattle SeahawksJeff UrczykGuard Georgia Tech
433Tampa Bay BuccaneersTommy WestLinebacker Tennessee
434San Diego ChargersJack HarrisonGuard California
435New Orleans SaintsGene JonesTackle Bowling Green
436New England PatriotsClifford BrownDefensive tackle Tuskegee
437New York JetsJames GodwinRunning back Fayetteville
438Cleveland BrownsChris LorenzenDefensive tackle Arizona State
439Philadelphia EaglesSteve CampassiRunning backKentucky
440Green Bay PackersMike TimmermansGuard Northern Iowa
441Atlanta FalconsPat CurtoLinebacker Ohio State
442Chicago BearsRonald ParkerTight end Texas Christian
443San Francisco 49ersReggie LewisDefensive end San Diego State
444New York GiantsDavid LawsonKicker Air Force
445Kansas City ChiefsDennis AndersonPunter Arizona
446Denver BroncosJohn HuddlestonLinebacker Utah
447Detroit LionsCraig McCurdyLinebacker William & Mary
448Buffalo BillsGary GorrellLinebacker Boise State
449Baltimore ColtsMike FuhrmanTight end Memphis State
450Miami DolphinsMike GreenPunter Ohio
451Baltimore ColtsSteve LudwigCenter Miami (FL)
452Houston OilersClaude JohnsonLinebacker Florida A&M
453St. Louis CardinalsCecil BeairdWide receiver Fisk
454Oakland RaidersDoug HoganDefensive back USC
455Cincinnati BengalsGeorge DemopoulisTackle Miami (FL)
456Los Angeles RamsRick GageWide receiver Arkansas Tech
457Minnesota VikingsRandy HickelDefensive backMontana State
458Dallas CowboysRick CostanzoTackle Nebraska
459Pittsburgh SteelersRandy ButtsRunning backKearney State

Round seventeen

Pick # NFL team Player Position College
460Tampa Bay BuccaneersJack BerryQuarterback Washington & Lee
461Seattle SeahawksChris RowlandQuarterback Washington
462New Orleans SaintsScott MacDonaldTight end West Virginia
463San Diego ChargersClarence SandersLinebackerCincinnati
464New York JetsDarwin WillieTight endTulane
465Cleveland BrownsTom Fleming Wide receiverDartmouth
466New England PatriotsTodd AndersonCenterStanford
467Green Bay PackersRay HallTight end Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
468Atlanta FalconsTony GreenDefensive backTexas Tech
469Chicago BearsMike MalhamLinebacker Arkansas State
470Philadelphia EaglesAnthony TerryDefensive backCalifornia-Davis
471New York GiantsSteve CurnutteDefensive backVanderbilt
472Kansas City ChiefsRunning back Baylor
473San Francisco 49ersDarryl JenkinsRunning backSan Jose State
474Denver BroncosRandy CozensDefensive end Pittsburgh
475Detroit LionsJim MeeksDefensive backBoise State
476Washington RedskinsChuck WillsDefensive backOregon
477Buffalo BillsBob BergKicker New Mexico
478Oakland RaidersBuddy TateDefensive backTulsa
479Houston OilersAllen MisherWide receiverLouisiana State
480Miami DolphinsJeff GrantzQuarterback South Carolina
481Oakland RaidersNate BeasleyRunning backDelaware
482Cincinnati BengalsScott DannelleyGuard Ohio State
483St. Louis CardinalsDan MyersDefensive backGeorgia Tech
484Minnesota VikingsRich LukowskiDefensive tackle West Virginia
485Los Angeles RamsGary ShawDefensive backBrigham Young
486Dallas CowboysStan WoodfillKicker Oregon
487 [8] Pittsburgh SteelersKelvin KirkWide receiver Dayton
= Pro Bowler = Hall of Famer

Notable undrafted players

†= Pro Bowler

Hall of Famers

Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1995.[9]

Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1995.

Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1997.

Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2001.[10]

Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2006.

References

  1. Web site: NFL Draft Locations . . October 2, 2014 . FootballGeography.com . October 23, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150905090250/http://www.footballgeography.com/nfl-draft-sites/ . 2015-09-05 . dead .
  2. News: Salomone . Dan . NFL Draft headed to Chicago in 2015 . June 3, 2015 . . Giants.com . October 2, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150930065327/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/NFL-Draft-headed-to-Chicago-in-2015/3ac322b1-3b4c-4a16-aba7-6e08d31b1756 . 2015-09-30 . dead .
  3. https://www.eldo.co/analysis/nfl-draft-history-quarterback-draft-class-facts-and-figures NFL Draft History: Quarterback Draft Class Facts and Figures
  4. Wire Services. "Bucs Open Draft By Taking Leroy Selmon". The Sarasota Journal. 8 Apr 1976
  5. News: Drafts delayed by Bucs. St. Petersburg Times. 14 January 1976. 9 February 2009 .
  6. Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
  7. Players are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
  8. This last selection is commonly referred to as Mr. Irrelevant.
  9. List of 1990s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com Web site: Pro Football Hall of Fame . 2008-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080731024937/http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/years.html . 2008-07-31 . dead .
  10. List of 2000s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com Web site: Pro Football Hall of Fame . 2008-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080731024937/http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/years.html . 2008-07-31 . dead .

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