1976 NFL draft
1976 NFL draft
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1976 NFL draft

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1976 NFL draft
Roosevelt Hotel (location of the draft), photographed in 2008
General information
DateApril 8–9, 1976
LocationRoosevelt Hotel
in New York City, New York
Overview
487 total selections in 17 rounds
LeagueNFL
First selectionLee Roy Selmon, DE
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mr. IrrelevantKelvin Kirk, WR
Pittsburgh Steelers
Most selections (25)Seattle Seahawks
Fewest selections (11)Washington Redskins
Hall of Famers
5
← 1975
1977 →

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

[edit]
= Pro Bowler[6] = Hall of Famer
* = compensatory selection
† = Pro Bowler[6]
‡ = Hall of Famer[7]
Positions key
Offense Defense Special teams
  1. ^ Includes nose tackle (NT)
  2. ^ Includes middle linebacker (MLB/MIKE), weakside linebacker (WILL), strongside linebacker (SAM), off-ball linebacker, and outside linebacker (OLB)
  3. ^ Includes free safety (FS) and strong safety (SS)
  4. ^ Also known as a placekicker (PK)
  5. ^ Includes kickoff and punt returners

Round 1–14

[edit]
Rnd. Pick Team Player Pos. College Notes
1 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Lee Roy Selmon‡† DE Oklahoma
Expansion Pick
1 2 Seattle Seahawks Steve Niehaus  DT Notre Dame
Expansion Pick
1 3 New Orleans Saints Chuck Muncie † RB California
1 4 San Diego Chargers Joe Washington † RB Oklahoma
1 5 New England Patriots Mike Haynes‡† CB Arizona State
1 6 New York Jets Richard Todd  QB Alabama
1 7 Cleveland Browns Mike Pruitt † RB Purdue
1 8 Chicago Bears Dennis Lick  T Wisconsin
from Green Bay via Los Angeles through Detroit
1 9 Atlanta Falcons Bubba Bean  RB Texas A&M
1 10 Detroit Lions James Hunter  CB Grambling State
from Chicago
1 11 Cincinnati Bengals Billy Brooks  WR Oklahoma
1 12 New England Patriots Pete Brock  C Colorado
1 13 New York Giants Troy Archer  DE Colorado
1 14 Kansas City Chiefs Rod Walters  G Iowa
1 15 Denver Broncos Tom Glassic  G Virginia
1 16 Detroit Lions Lawrence Gaines  RB Wyoming
1 17 Miami Dolphins Larry Gordon  LB Arizona State
1 18 Buffalo Bills Mario Clark  CB Oregon
1 19 Miami Dolphins Kim Bokamper † LB San Jose State
1 20 Baltimore Colts Ken Novak  DT Purdue
1 21 New England Patriots Tim Fox † S Ohio State
Houston via San Francisco
1 22 St. Louis Cardinals Mike Dawson  DT Arizona
1 23 Green Bay Packers Mark Koncar  T Colorado
from Oakland
1 24 Cincinnati Bengals Archie Griffin  RB Ohio State
1974 and 1975 Heisman Trophy winner[8]
1 25 Minnesota Vikings James White  DT Oklahoma State
1 26 Los Angeles Rams Kevin McLain  LB Colorado State
1 27 Dallas Cowboys Aaron Kyle  CB Wyoming
1 28 Pittsburgh Steelers Bennie Cunningham  TE Clemson
2 29 Seattle Seahawks Sammy Green  LB Florida
Expansion Pick
2 30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jimmy DuBose  RB Florida
Expansion Pick
2 31 San Diego Chargers Don Macek  G Boston College
2 32 New Orleans Saints Tony Galbreath  RB Missouri
2 33 New York Jets Shafer Suggs  S Ball State
2 34 Oakland Raiders Charles Philyaw  DT Texas Southern
from Cleveland
2 35 New England Patriots Ike Forte  RB Arkansas
2 36 Atlanta Falcons Sonny Collins  RB Kentucky
2 37 Pittsburgh Steelers Ray Pinney  G Washington
from Chicago
2 38 Cincinnati Bengals Glenn Bujnoch  G Texas A&M
from Philadelphia
2 39 Los Angeles Rams Pat Thomas † CB Texas A&M
from Green Bay
2 40 Dallas Cowboys Jim Jensen  RB Iowa
from N. Y. Giants
2 41 Kansas City Chiefs Cliff Frazier  DT UCLA
2 42 San Francisco 49ers Randy Cross † C UCLA
2 43 Denver Broncos Kurt Knoff  S Kansas
2 44 Detroit Lions Ken Long  G Purdue
2 45 Buffalo Bills Ken Jones  G Arkansas State
2 46 Detroit Lions David Hill  TE Texas A&I
From Washington through San Diego
2 47 Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Kruczek  QB Boston College
from Baltimore
2 48 Houston Oilers Mike Barber  TE Louisiana Tech
2 49 Miami Dolphins Loaird McCreary  TE Tennessee State
2 50 Oakland Raiders Jeb Blount  QB Tulsa
2 51 Cincinnati Bengals Chris Bahr  K Penn State
2 52 Buffalo Bills Joe Devlin  T Iowa
from St. Louis
2 53 Los Angeles Rams Ron McCartney  LB Tennessee
2 54 Minnesota Vikings Sammy White † WR Grambling State
2 55 Dallas Cowboys Jim Eidson  G Mississippi State
2 56 Pittsburgh Steelers Files, JamesJames Files  C McNeese State
2 57 San Francisco 49ers Eddie Lewis  DB Kansas
From Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Expansion Pick)
2 58 Seattle Seahawks Sherman Smith  RB Miami (OH)
Expansion Pick
2 59 Seattle Seahawks Steve Raible  WR Georgia Tech
Expansion Pick
2 60 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Dewey Selmon  DT Oklahoma
Expansion Pick
3 61 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Steve Young  T Colorado
3 62 Seattle Seahawks Jeff Lloyd  DE West Texas A&M
3 63 Kansas City Chiefs Keith Simons  DT Minnesota
from New Orleans via San Francisco
3 64 San Diego Chargers Larry Dorsey  WR Tennessee State
3 65 Cleveland Browns Dave Logan  WR Colorado
3 66 Chicago Bears Brian Baschnagel  WR Ohio State
from New England
3 67 New York Jets Greg Buttle  LB Penn State
3 68 Detroit Lions Russ Bolinger  T Long Beach State
from Chicago
3 69 Cincinnati Bengals Danny Reece  CB USC
from Philadelphia
3 70 Pittsburgh Steelers Ron Coder  DT Penn State
from Green Bay
3 71 Atlanta Falcons Dave Scott  T Kansas
3 72 Green Bay Packers Mike McCoy  CB Colorado
from Kansas City
3 73 Dallas Cowboys Duke Fergerson  WR San Diego State
from San Francisco
3 74 Kansas City Chiefs Gary Barbaro † S Nicholls State
from N. Y. Giants via Green Bay
3 75 Dallas Cowboys John Smith  RB Boise State
from Denver
3 76 Detroit Lions John Woodcock  DT Hawaii
3 77 New Orleans Saints Bob Simmons  T Texas
from Washington via San Diego
3 78 Buffalo Bills Ben Williams † DE Ole Miss
3 79 Kansas City Chiefs Henry Marshall  WR Missouri
from Houston
3 80 Miami Dolphins Duriel Harris  WR New Mexico State
3 81 Baltimore Colts Ed Simonini  LB Texas A&M
3 82 Cincinnati Bengals Reggie Williams  LB Dartmouth
3 83 St. Louis Cardinals Brad Oates  T BYU
3 84 Oakland Raiders Rik Bonness  C Nebraska
3 85 Minnesota Vikings Wes Hamilton  G Tulsa
3 86 Los Angeles Rams Jackie Slater‡† T Jackson State
3 87 Dallas Cowboys Butch Johnson  WR UC Riverside
3 88 Pittsburgh Steelers Ernie Pough  WR Texas Southern
3 89 Seattle Seahawks Rick Engles  P Tulsa
3 90 Baltimore Colts Ron Lee  RB West Virginia
3 91 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Steve Maughan  LB Utah State
3 92 Seattle Seahawks Don Bitterlich  K Temple
4 93 Seattle Seahawks Steve Myer  QB New Mexico
4 94 Los Angeles Rams Taylor, GeraldGerald Taylor  WR Texas A&I
from Tampa Bay
4 95 San Diego Chargers Bob Horn  LB Oregon State
4 96 New Orleans Saints Tinker Owens  WR Oklahoma
4 97 Cleveland Browns Gene Swick  QB Toledo
from New England via Philadelphia
4 98 Miami Dolphins Melvin Mitchell  G Tennessee State
from N. Y. Jets via Chicago
4 99 Cleveland Browns Richard St. Clair  DE Grambling State
4 100 San Francisco 49ers Steve Rivera  WR California
from Philadelphia
4 101 Green Bay Packers Tom Perko  LB Pittsburgh
4 102 Atlanta Falcons Brett, WaltWalt Brett  DE Montana
4 103 Chicago Bears John Sciarra  S UCLA
4 104 New York Giants Gordon Bell  RB Michigan
4 105 New York Giants Harry Carson‡† LB South Carolina State
4 106 Cincinnati Bengals Tony Davis  RB Nebraska
from Kansas City
4 107 Denver Broncos Craig Penrose  QB San Diego State
4 108 Chicago Bears Rhodes, WayneWayne Rhodes  DB Alabama
from Detroit via Miami
4 109 Buffalo Bills Dan Jilek  LB Michigan
4 110 Oakland Raiders Herb McMath  LB Morningside
from Washington via San Diego
4 111 Philadelphia Eagles Smith, MikeMike Smith  DE Florida
from Miami
4 112 Pittsburgh Steelers Wonder Monds  DB Nebraska
from Baltimore
4 113 San Diego Chargers Ron Singleton  TE Grambling State
from Houston via Oakland
4 114 St. Louis Cardinals Pat Tilley † WR Louisiana Tech
4 115 San Diego Chargers Artie Owens  WR West Virginia
from Oakland
4 116 Cincinnati Bengals Greg Fairchild  G Tulsa
4 117 Houston Oilers Steve Largent‡† WR Tulsa
from Los Angeles via Philadelphia through Green Bay
4 118 Minnesota Vikings Leonard Willis  WR Ohio State
4 119 Dallas Cowboys Tom Rafferty  G Penn State
4 120 Pittsburgh Steelers Theo Bell  WR Arizona
4 121 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Appleby, RichardRichard Appleby  WR Georgia
4 122 Seattle Seahawks Randy Johnson  G Georgia
4 123 Seattle Seahawks Andrew Bolton  RB Fisk
4 124 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Everett Little  G Houston
5 125 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kelson, MichaelMichael Kelson  DB West Texas State
5 126 Seattle Seahawks Don Dufek  S Michigan
5 127 New Orleans Saints Parrish, ScottScott Parrish  T Utah State
5 128 Los Angeles Rams Carl Ekern † LB San Jose State
from San Diego
5 129 New York Jets King, SteveSteve King  T Michigan
5 130 Cleveland Browns Henry Sheppard  T SMU
5 131 San Diego Chargers Woodrow Lowe  LB Alabama
from New England
5 132 Green Bay Packers Aundra Thompson  RB East Texas State
5 133 Minnesota Vikings Steve Wagner  S Wisconsin
from Atlanta
5 134 Baltimore Colts Sanders Shiver  LB Carson-Newman
from Chicago via Miami through Chicago
5 135 Philadelphia Eagles Greg Johnson  DT Florida State
5 136 New York Giants Melvin Wilson  DB Cal State Northridge
5 137 Kansas City Chiefs Willie Lee  DT Bethune-Cookman
5 138 Cincinnati Bengals Willie Shelby  RB Alabama
from San Francisco
5 139 Denver Broncos Lonnie Perrin  RB Illinois
5 140 San Francisco 49ers Tony Leonard  CB Virginia Union
from Detroit
5 141 St. Louis Cardinals Wayne Morris  RB SMU
from Washington
5 142 Buffalo Bills Fred Coleman  TE Northeast Louisiana
5 143 Baltimore Colts Mike Kirkland  QB Arkansas
5 144 Kansas City Chiefs Jimbo Elrod  LB Oklahoma
from Houston
5 145 Detroit Lions Scavella, SteadmanSteadman Scavella  LB Miami (FL)
from Miami
5 146 Oakland Raiders Fred Steinfort  K Boston College
5 147 Cincinnati Bengals Scott Perry  CB Williams
5 148 Washington Redskins Hughes, MikeMike Hughes  G Baylor
from St. Louis
5 149 Minnesota Vikings Barnette, KeithKeith Barnette  RB Boston College
5 150 Los Angeles Rams Ken Bordelon  DE LSU
5 151 Dallas Cowboys Wally Pesuit  T Kentucky
5 152 Pittsburgh Steelers Norton, RodneyRodney Norton  LB Rice
5 153 Seattle Seahawks Ernie Jones  CB Miami (FL)
5 154 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Steve Wilson  T Georgia
5 155 Los Angeles Rams Dwight Scales  WR Grambling State
from Tampa Bay
5 156 Seattle Seahawks Bates, LarryLarry Bates  RB Miami (FL)
6 157 Seattle Seahawks Alvis Darby  TE Florida
6 158 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Curtis Jordan  S Texas Tech
6 159 Pittsburgh Steelers Gary Dunn  DT Miami (FL)
from San Diego via S. Louis
6 160 New Orleans Saints Terry Stieve  G Wisconsin
6 161 Chicago Bears Dan Jiggetts  T Harvard
from Cleveland
6 162 New York Giants Dan Lloyd  LB Washington
from New England
6 163 New York Jets Bob Martin  LB Nebraska
6 164 Buffalo Bills Leslie Benson  DE Baylor
from Atlanta
6 165 Philadelphia Eagles Johnson, KirkKirk Johnson  T Howard Payne
6 166 Kansas City Chiefs Steve Taylor  SS Kansas
from Green Bay via Houston
6 167 Kansas City Chiefs Gregolunas, BobBob Gregolunas  LB Northern Illinois
6 168 San Francisco 49ers Robert Pennywell  LB Grambling State
6 169 Atlanta Falcons Varner, StanStan Varner  DT BYU
from Denver
6 170 New England Patriots Greg Boyd  DE San Diego State
6 171 Buffalo Bills Scott Piper  WR Arizona
6 172 Kansas City Chiefs Harper, CalvinCalvin Harper  T Illinois State
from Washington
6 173 Houston Oilers Todd Simonsen  T South Dakota State
6 174 Miami Dolphins Gary Davis  RB Cal Poly
6 175 Buffalo Bills Darnell Powell  RB Chattanooga
6 176 Cincinnati Bengals Nelson, OrlandoOrlando Nelson  TE Utah State
6 177 San Francisco 49ers Scott Bull  QB Arkansas
from St. Louis
6 178 San Diego Chargers Lane, CalvinCalvin Lane  DB Fresno State
from Oakland
6 179 Washington Redskins Tom Marvaso  S Cincinnati
from Los Angeles
6 180 Minnesota Vikings Egerdahl, TerryTerry Egerdahl  DB Minnesota-Duluth
6 181 Dallas Cowboys McGuire, GregGreg McGuire  T Indiana
6 182 Pittsburgh Steelers Jack Deloplaine  RB Salem
7 183 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Parnell Dickinson  QB Mississippi Valley State
7 184 Seattle Seahawks Dixon, DickDick Dixon  DT Arkansas State
7 185 Miami Dolphins Ingersoll, JoeJoe Ingersoll  G UNLV
from New Orleans
7 186 Dallas Cowboys Greg Schaum  DT Michigan State
from San Diego
7 187 Cincinnati Bengals Bob Bateman  QB Brown
from New England
7 188 New York Jets Abdul Salaam  DE Kent State
7 189 Cleveland Browns Cassidy, SteveSteve Cassidy  DT LSU
7 190 Chicago Bears Jerry Muckensturm  LB Arkansas State
7 191 Philadelphia Eagles Carl Hairston  DE Maryland Eastern Shore
7 192 Cincinnati Bengals Rome, CarmenCarmen Rome  DB Miami (OH)
from Green Bay
7 193 Atlanta Falcons Karl Farmer  WR Pittsburgh
7 194 San Francisco 49ers Chesley, JayJay Chesley  DB Vanderbilt
7 195 Buffalo Bills Williams, JackieJackie Williams  DB Texas A&M
from N. Y. Giants
7 196 Kansas City Chiefs Wellington, RodRod Wellington  RB Iowa
7 197 Houston Oilers Harris, LarryLarry Harris  DT Oklahoma State
from Denver
7 198 Detroit Lions Garth TenNapel  LB Texas A&M
7 199 New York Jets Richards, JamesJames Richards  RB Florida
from Buffalo
7 200 Miami Dolphins Owens, JamesJames Owens  DE Tennessee State
7 201 New Orleans Saints Bauer, EdEd Bauer  G Notre Dame
from Baltimore via Chicago through Oakland
7 202 New England Patriots Perry Brooks  DT Southern
from Houston
7 203 St. Louis Cardinals Phil Rogers  RB Virginia Tech
7 204 Oakland Raiders Clarence Chapman  WR Eastern Michigan
7 205 Cincinnati Bengals Kuhn, KenKen Kuhn  LB Ohio State
7 206 Minnesota Vikings Larry Brune  DB Rice
7 207 Los Angeles Rams Buie, LarryLarry Buie  DB Mississippi State
7 208 Dallas Cowboys Dave Williams  RB Colorado
7 209 Pittsburgh Steelers Burton, BarryBarry Burton  TE Vanderbilt
8 210 Seattle Seahawks Shipp, LarryLarry Shipp  WR LSU
8 211 New York Jets Davis, JoeJoe Davis  G USC
from Tampa Bay
8 212 San Diego Chargers DiRienzo, TonyTony DiRienzo  K Oklahoma
8 213 New Orleans Saints Craig Cassady  CB Ohio State
8 214 New York Jets Louie Giammona  RB Utah State
8 215 Buffalo Bills Gardner, ScottScott Gardner  QB Virginia
from Cleveland
8 216 Philadelphia Eagles LaFargue, RichardRichard LaFargue  C Arkansas
from New England
8 217 Detroit Lions Sorenson, RichRich Sorenson  K Chico State
from Philadelphia via New England
8 218 Green Bay Packers Jim Burrow  S Nebraska
8 219 Atlanta Falcons Frank Reed  CB Washington
8 220 Oakland Raiders Jerome Dove  CB Colorado State
from Chicago via San Diego
8 221 New York Giants Jordan, JohnJohn Jordan  DT Indiana
8 222 Kansas City Chiefs Orrin Olsen  C BYU
8 223 San Francisco 49ers John Ayers  T West Texas State
8 224 Denver Broncos James Betterson  RB North Carolina
8 225 Detroit Lions Braswell, CharlesCharles Braswell  DB West Virginia
8 226 Buffalo Bills Easter, Bobby JoeBobby Joe Easter  RB Middle Tennessee
8 227 Buffalo Bills Meadowcroft, ArtArt Meadowcroft  G Minnesota
from Washington via Atlanta
8 228 Baltimore Colts Ricky Thompson  WR Baylor
8 229 Houston Oilers Simon, BobbyBobby Simon  T Grambling State
8 230 Miami Dolphins Simpson, BobBob Simpson  T Colorado
8 231 Oakland Raiders Terry Kunz  RB Colorado
8 232 Cincinnati Bengals Ron Hart  T Oregon
8 233 St. Louis Cardinals Randall Burks  WR Southeastern Oklahoma State
8 234 Washington Redskins Brian Fryer  WR Alberta
from Los Angeles
8 235 New England Patriots Betts, StuStu Betts  RB Northern Michigan
from Minnesota
8 236 Dallas Cowboys Laws, HenryHenry Laws  DB South Carolina
8 237 Pittsburgh Steelers Ed McAleney  DT UMass
9 238 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Welch, BruceBruce Welch  G Texas A&M
9 239 Seattle Seahawks Bos, BobBob Bos  T Iowa State
9 240 New Orleans Saints Peiffer, WarrenWarren Peiffer  DT Iowa
9 241 Buffalo Bills Turner, JeffJeff Turner  LB Kansas
from San Diego
9 242 Cleveland Browns Reed, JamesJames Reed  RB Ole Miss
9 243 New England Patriots Doug Beaudoin  S Minnesota
9 244 New York Jets Moore, RonnieRonnie Moore  WR VMI
9 245 Green Bay Packers Jim Gueno  LB Tulane
9 246 Atlanta Falcons Phil McKinnely  T UCLA
9 247 Philadelphia Eagles Mike Hogan  RB Tennessee-Chattanooga
from Chicago
9 248 Philadelphia Eagles Richard Osborne  TE Texas A&M
9 249 Kansas City Chiefs Tim Collier  CB East Texas State
9 250 San Francisco 49ers Ken Harrison  WR SMU
9 251 San Diego Chargers Glynn Harrison  RB Georgia
from N. Y. Giants
9 252 Denver Broncos Czirr, JimJim Czirr  C Michigan
9 253 Detroit Lions Jones, LeanellLeanell Jones  TE Long Beach State
9 254 Washington Redskins Akins, CurtisCurtis Akins  G Hawaii
9 255 Buffalo Bills Kotzur, BobBob Kotzur  DT Southwest Texas State
9 256 Houston Oilers Art Stringer  LB Ball State
9 257 Miami Dolphins Norris Thomas  CB Southern Miss
9 258 Baltimore Colts Levenick, StuStu Levenick  T Illinois
9 259 Cincinnati Bengals Allgood, LonnieLonnie Allgood  WR Syracuse
9 260 Denver Broncos Lisko, JimJim Lisko  LB Arkansas State
from St. Louis
9 261 Cleveland Browns Nagel, CraigCraig Nagel  QB Purdue
from Oakland
9 262 Minnesota Vikings Isaac Hagins  WR Southern
9 263 Los Angeles Rams Church, JebJeb Church  DB Stanford
9 264 Dallas Cowboys Beasley Reece  CB North Texas State
9 265 Pittsburgh Steelers Wentford Gaines  CB Cincinnati
10 266 Seattle Seahawks Randy Coffield  LB Florida State
10 267 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Smith, SidSid Smith  LB BYU
10 268 San Diego Chargers Perlinger, JeffJeff Perlinger  DE Michigan
10 269 New Orleans Saints Hardin, JuniorJunior Hardin  LB Eastern Kentucky
10 270 New England Patriots Ricky Feacher  WR Mississippi Valley State
10 271 Cleveland Browns Kleber, DougDoug Kleber  T Illinois
10 272 Washington Redskins Strohmeier, PaulPaul Strohmeier  LB Washington
10 273 Philadelphia Eagles Herb Lusk  RB Long Beach State
10 274 Green Bay Packers Jessie Green  WR Tulsa
10 275 San Francisco 49ers Ross, RobinRobin Ross  T Washington State
10 276 New York Giants John Thomas  RB Valley City State
10 277 Kansas City Chiefs Whitney Paul  DE Colorado
10 278 Denver Broncos Gilliam, ArtArt Gilliam  DE Grambling
10 279 Detroit Lions Bowerman, BillBill Bowerman  DB New Mexico State
10 280 Buffalo Bills Keith Moody  DB Syracuse
10 281 Miami Dolphins Gary Fencik † S Yale
10 282 Miami Dolphins Don Testerman  RB Clemson
10 283 Baltimore Colts Tim Baylor  DB Morgan State
10 284 Houston Oilers Kincannon, SteveSteve Kincannon  QB Humboldt State
10 285 St. Louis Cardinals Walker, RandyRandy Walker  RB Bethune–Cookman
10 286 Oakland Raiders Lewis, DwightDwight Lewis  DB Purdue
10 287 Cincinnati Bengals Klaban, TomTom Klaban  K Ohio State
10 288 Los Angeles Rams Freeman Johns  WR SMU
10 289 Minnesota Vikings Salmon, BillBill Salmon  QB Northern Iowa
10 290 Dallas Cowboys Leroy Cook  DE Alabama
10 291 Pittsburgh Steelers Gary Campbell  LB Colorado
11 292 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Washington, MelvinMelvin Washington  DB Colorado State
11 293 Seattle Seahawks Muehr, KeithKeith Muehr  P Southwestern Louisiana
11 294 New Orleans Saints Kokal, GregGreg Kokal  QB Kent State
11 295 San Diego Chargers Ray Preston  LB Syracuse
11 296 New York Jets Lawrence Pillers  DE Alcorn State
11 297 Cleveland Browns Celek, ChuckChuck Celek  DE Kent State
11 298 New England Patriots Donnie Thomas  LB Indiana
11 299 Chicago Bears Andersen, NormanNorman Andersen  WR UCLA
11 300 Philadelphia Eagles Gilbert, MikeMike Gilbert  DT San Diego State
11 301 Green Bay Packers Leak, CurtisCurtis Leak  WR Johnson C. Smith
11 302 Atlanta Falcons Brislin, ChuckChuck Brislin  T Mississippi State
11 303 New York Giants Brantley, CraigCraig Brantley  WR Clemson
11 304 Kansas City Chiefs Squires, BobBob Squires  TE Hastings
11 305 San Francisco 49ers Paul Hofer  RB Ole Miss
11 306 Denver Broncos Pittman, GregGreg Pittman  LB Iowa State
11 307 Detroit Lions Shugrue, GaryGary Shugrue  DE Villanova
11 308 Washington Redskins Gissler, DeanDean Gissler  DE Nebraska
11 309 Buffalo Bills Forry Smith  WR Iowa State
11 310 Baltimore Colts Gibney, RickRick Gibney  DT Georgia Tech
11 311 Houston Oilers Skip Walker  RB Texas A&M
11 312 Miami Dolphins Pride, DexterDexter Pride  RB Minnesota
11 313 Oakland Raiders Rick Jennings  RB Maryland
11 314 Cincinnati Bengals Melvin Morgan  DB Mississippi Valley State
11 315 St. Louis Cardinals Marty Akins  DB Texas
11 316 Minnesota Vikings Kracher, SteveSteve Kracher  RB Montana State
11 317 Los Angeles Rams Nemeth, BrianBrian Nemeth  TE South Carolina
11 318 Dallas Cowboys Cornelius Greene  QB Ohio State
11 319 Pittsburgh Steelers Fuchs, RollandRolland Fuchs  RB Arkansas
12 320 Seattle Seahawks Barnett, RonRon Barnett  WR Texas–Arlington
12 321 Tampa Bay Buccaneers George Ragsdale  RB North Carolina A&T
12 322 San Diego Chargers Ron Lee  DB Oregon
12 323 New Orleans Saints Butts, MiltonMilton Butts  T North Carolina
12 324 Houston Oilers Bell, LarryLarry Bell  T East Texas State
12 325 New England Patriots Bell, NathanielNathaniel Bell  DT Tulane
12 326 New York Jets Don Buckey  WR NC State
12 327 New York Jets Buckey, DaveDave Buckey  QB NC State
12 328 Green Bay Packers Melvin Jackson  G USC
12 329 Atlanta Falcons Bolton, PatPat Bolton  K Montana State
12 330 Chicago Bears John O'Leary  RB Nebraska
12 331 Kansas City Chiefs Porter, HaroldHarold Porter  WR Southwestern Louisiana
12 332 San Francisco 49ers Loper, GeraldGerald Loper  G Florida
12 333 New York Giants Jerry Golsteyn  QB Northern Illinois
12 334 Denver Broncos Moore, RandyRandy Moore  DT Arizona State
12 335 Detroit Lions McCabe, MikeMike McCabe  C South Carolina
12 336 Buffalo Bills Lowery, JoeJoe Lowery  RB Jackson State
12 337 Washington Redskins Walter Tullis  DB Delaware State
12 338 San Diego Chargers Harris, HermanHerman Harris  DB Mississippi Valley State
12 339 Miami Dolphins Randy Young  T Iowa State
12 340 Baltimore Colts Stavroff, FrankFrank Stavroff  K Indiana
12 341 Cincinnati Bengals Harris, Joe DaleJoe Dale Harris  WR Alabama
12 342 Miami Dolphins Brandford, DarrylDarryl Brandford  DT Northwestern
12 343 Oakland Raiders Cedric Brown  DB Kent State
12 344 Los Angeles Rams Jim Jodat  RB Carthage
12 345 Minnesota Vikings Sparks, RobertRobert Sparks  DB San Francisco State
12 346 Dallas Cowboys Charles McShane  LB Cal Lutheran
12 347 Pittsburgh Steelers Carroll, BillBill Carroll  WR East Texas State
13 348 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Brad Jenkins  TE Nebraska
13 349 Seattle Seahawks Andy Reid  RB Georgia
13 350 New Orleans Saints Downing, KennyKenny Downing  DB Missouri
13 351 San Diego Chargers John Lee  DT Nebraska
13 352 New England Patriots Jones, JamesJames Jones  DB Central Michigan
13 353 Philadelphia Eagles Terry Tautolo  LB UCLA
13 354 Cleveland Browns Murray, BrianBrian Murray  T Arizona
13 355 Green Bay Packers Bowman, BradleyBradley Bowman  DB Southern Miss
13 356 Atlanta Falcons Williams, MikeMike Williams  T Florida
13 357 Chicago Bears Kasowski, DaleDale Kasowski  RB North Dakota
13 358 Philadelphia Eagles Ebbecke, SteveSteve Ebbecke  DB Villanova
13 359 San Francisco 49ers Brumfield, LarryLarry Brumfield  DB Indiana State
13 360 New York Giants Caswell, RickRick Caswell  WR Western Kentucky
13 361 Kansas City Chiefs Bruner, JoeJoe Bruner  QB Northeast Louisiana
13 362 Denver Broncos McGraw, DonnieDonnie McGraw  DB Houston
13 363 Detroit Lions Jacobs, MelMel Jacobs  WR San Diego State
13 364 Washington Redskins Wayman Britt  DB Michigan
13 365 Buffalo Bills Wilcox, WillWill Wilcox  G Texas
13 366 Miami Dolphins Head, BernieBernie Head  C Tulsa
13 367 Oakland Raiders Crnick, CraigCraig Crnick  DE Idaho
13 368 Houston Oilers O'Rourke, DanDan O'Rourke  WR Colorado State
13 369 St. Louis Cardinals Brewton, GregGreg Brewton  DT Michigan State
13 370 Oakland Raiders Young, MarkMark Young  T Washington State
13 371 Cincinnati Bengals Randy Walker  DB Miami (OH)
13 372 Minnesota Vikings Paulson, GaryGary Paulson  DE Colorado State
13 373 Los Angeles Rams Hamilton, SteveSteve Hamilton  QB Emporia State
13 374 Dallas Cowboys Mark Driscoll  QB Colorado State
13 375 Pittsburgh Steelers Kain, LarryLarry Kain  TE Ohio State
14 376 Seattle Seahawks Blinks, JarvisJarvis Blinks  DB Northwestern State
14 377 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Carl Roaches † WR Texas A&M
14 378 San Diego Chargers Jones, EdEd Jones  G Cincinnati
14 379 New Orleans Saints Hucke, RichRich Hucke  DE Western Montana
14 380 New York Jets Gluchoski, AlAl Gluchoski  C West Virginia
14 381 Cleveland Browns Smalzer, JoeJoe Smalzer  TE Illinois
14 382 New England Patriots Quehl, DavidDavid Quehl  WR Holy Cross
14 383 Atlanta Falcons Husfloen, MarkMark Husfloen  DE Washington State
14 384 Chicago Bears Cuie, RonRon Cuie  RB Oregon State
14 385 Chicago Bears Shy, MelvinMelvin Shy  DB Tennessee State
14 386 Green Bay Packers Henson, JohnJohn Henson  RB Cal Poly
14 387 New York Giants Mullane, JerryJerry Mullane  LB Lehigh
14 388 Kansas City Chiefs Thurman, RickRick Thurman  T Texas
14 389 San Francisco 49ers Miller, JohnnyJohnny Miller  LB Livingstone
14 390 Denver Broncos Larry Evans  LB Mississippi College
14 391 Detroit Lions Elston, LeonardLeonard Elston  WR Kentucky State
14 392 Buffalo Bills Williams, TonyTony Williams  WR Middle Tennessee
14 393 Washington Redskins Quinn Buckner  DB Indiana
14 394 Baltimore Colts Cummings, JeremiahJeremiah Cummings  DE Albany State
14 395 Houston Oilers Reimer, JohnJohn Reimer  T Wisconsin
14 396 Miami Dolphins Gissler, BobBob Gissler  LB South Dakota State
14 397 Oakland Raiders Young, CalvinCalvin Young  RB Fresno State
14 398 Cincinnati Bengals Greg Coleman  P Florida A&M
14 399 St. Louis Cardinals Crosier, RaymondRaymond Crosier  DE Abilene Christian
14 400 Los Angeles Rams Al Burleson  DB Washington
14 401 Minnesota Vikings Stapleton, JeffJeff Stapleton  T Purdue
14 402 Dallas Cowboys Mushinskie, LarryLarry Mushinskie  TE Nebraska
14 403 Pittsburgh Steelers Field, WayneWayne Field  DB Florida

Round 15

[edit]
Pick # NFL team Player Position College
404 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Bob Dzierzak Defensive tackle Utah State
405 Seattle Seahawks Dan Smith Tackle Washington State
406 New Orleans Saints Steve Seminoff Defensive tackle Wichita State
407 San Diego Chargers Jack Hoffman Defensive tackle Indiana
408 Cleveland Browns Luther Philyaw Defensive back Loyola (CA)
409 New England Patriots Bernard Coleman Wide receiver Bethune-Cookman
410 New York Jets Rick Faulk Punter San Francisco State
411 Chicago Bears Jerry Meyers Defensive tackle Northern Illinois
412 Philadelphia Eagles Brett White Punter UCLA
413 Green Bay Packers Jerry Dandridge Linebacker Memphis State
414 Atlanta Falcons Ron Olson Defensive back Washington
415 Kansas City Chiefs Dave Rozumek Linebacker New Hampshire
416 San Francisco 49ers Howard Stidham Linebacker Tennessee Tech
417 New York Giants Eddie Morgan Defensive tackle Arkansas State
418 Denver Broncos Wilbur Summers Punter Louisville
419 Detroit Lions Trent Smock Wide receiver Indiana
420 St. Louis Cardinals Lee Nelson Defensive back Florida State
421 Buffalo Bills Arnold Robinson Linebacker Bethune-Cookman
422 Houston Oilers Bobby Byars Defensive back Cheyney (PA)
423 Miami Dolphins Ron Holmes Running back Utah State
424 Baltimore Colts Gary Alexander Tackle Clemson
425 Cincinnati Bengals Lynn Hieber Quarterback Indiana (PA)
426 Washington Redskins John Monroe Running back Bluefield State
427 Oakland Raiders Carl Hargrave Defensive back Upper Iowa
428 Minnesota Vikings Ron Groce Running back Macalester
429 Los Angeles Rams Malcolm Campbell Wide receiver Cal State-Los Angeles
430 Dallas Cowboys Dale Curry Linebacker UCLA
431 Pittsburgh Steelers Mel Davis Defensive end North Texas State

Round 16

[edit]
Pick # NFL team Player Position College
432 Seattle Seahawks Jeff Urczyk Guard Georgia Tech
433 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tommy West Linebacker Tennessee
434 San Diego Chargers Jack Harrison Guard California
435 New Orleans Saints Gene Jones Tackle Bowling Green
436 New England Patriots Clifford Brown Defensive tackle Tuskegee
437 New York Jets James Godwin Running back Fayetteville
438 Cleveland Browns Chris Lorenzen Defensive tackle Arizona State
439 Philadelphia Eagles Steve Campassi Running back Kentucky
440 Green Bay Packers Mike Timmermans Guard Northern Iowa
441 Atlanta Falcons Pat Curto Linebacker Ohio State
442 Chicago Bears Ronald Parker Tight end Texas Christian
443 San Francisco 49ers Reggie Lewis Defensive end San Diego State
444 New York Giants David Lawson Kicker Air Force
445 Kansas City Chiefs Dennis Anderson Punter Arizona
446 Denver Broncos John Huddleston Linebacker Utah
447 Detroit Lions Craig McCurdy Linebacker William & Mary
448 Buffalo Bills Gary Gorrell Linebacker Boise State
449 Baltimore Colts Mike Fuhrman Tight end Memphis State
450 Miami Dolphins Mike Green Punter Ohio
451 Baltimore Colts Steve Ludwig Center Miami (FL)
452 Houston Oilers Claude Johnson Linebacker Florida A&M
453 St. Louis Cardinals Cecil Beaird Wide receiver Fisk
454 Oakland Raiders Doug Hogan Defensive back USC
455 Cincinnati Bengals George Demopoulis Tackle Miami (FL)
456 Los Angeles Rams Rick Gage Wide receiver Arkansas Tech
457 Minnesota Vikings Randy Hickel Defensive back Montana State
458 Dallas Cowboys Rick Costanzo Tackle Nebraska
459 Pittsburgh Steelers Randy Butts Running back Kearney State

Round 17

[edit]
Pick # NFL team Player Position College
460 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jack Berry Quarterback Washington & Lee
461 Seattle Seahawks Chris Rowland Quarterback Washington
462 New Orleans Saints Scott MacDonald Tight end West Virginia
463 San Diego Chargers Clarence Sanders Linebacker Cincinnati
464 New York Jets Darwin Willie Tight end Tulane
465 Cleveland Browns Tom Fleming Wide receiver Dartmouth
466 New England Patriots Todd Anderson Center Stanford
467 Green Bay Packers Ray Hall Tight end Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
468 Atlanta Falcons Tony Green Defensive back Texas Tech
469 Chicago Bears Mike Malham Linebacker Arkansas State
470 Philadelphia Eagles Anthony Terry Defensive back California-Davis
471 New York Giants Steve Curnutte Defensive back Vanderbilt
472 Kansas City Chiefs Pat McNeil Running back Baylor
473 San Francisco 49ers Darryl Jenkins Running back San Jose State
474 Denver Broncos Randy Cozens Defensive end Pittsburgh
475 Detroit Lions Jim Meeks Defensive back Boise State
476 Washington Redskins Chuck Wills Defensive back Oregon
477 Buffalo Bills Bob Berg Kicker New Mexico
478 Oakland Raiders Buddy Tate Defensive back Tulsa
479 Houston Oilers Allen Misher Wide receiver Louisiana State
480 Miami Dolphins Jeff Grantz Quarterback South Carolina
481 Oakland Raiders Nate Beasley Running back Delaware
482 Cincinnati Bengals Scott Dannelley Guard Ohio State
483 St. Louis Cardinals Dan Myers Defensive back Georgia Tech
484 Minnesota Vikings Rich Lukowski Defensive tackle West Virginia
485 Los Angeles Rams Gary Shaw Defensive back Brigham Young
486 Dallas Cowboys Stan Woodfill Kicker Oregon
487[9] Pittsburgh Steelers Kelvin Kirk Wide receiver Dayton
= Pro Bowler [6] = Hall of Famer

Notable undrafted players

[edit]
† = Pro Bowler[6]
Original NFL team Player Pos. College Notes
Atlanta Falcons Mark Burke  S West Virginia
Buffalo Bills Bob Patton  C Delaware
Chicago Bears Vernon Perry  S Jackson State
Cincinnati Bengals M. L. Harris  TE Kansas State
Cleveland Browns Terry Luck  QB Nebraska
Dallas Cowboys Hank Bauer  RB Cal Lutheran
Dallas Cowboys Tom Moriarty  S Bowling Green
Dallas Cowboys Jay Saldi  TE South Carolina
Denver Broncos Randy Rich  N/A New Mexico
Denver Broncos John Schultz  WR Maryland
Green Bay Packers Ken Starch  RB Wisconsin
New Orleans Saints Ken Brown  C New Mexico
New York Jets Clark Gaines  RB Wake Forest
New York Jets James Rosecrans  LB Penn State
Pittsburgh Steelers Freddie Douglas  WR Arkansas
St. Louis Cardinals Terry Joyce  TE/P Missouri Southern State
San Diego Chargers Charles Aiu  G Hawaii

Hall of Famers

[edit]
  • Steve Largent, wide receiver from Tulsa, taken 4th round 117th overall by Houston Oilers
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1995.[10]
  • Lee Roy Selmon, defensive end from Oklahoma, taken 1st round 1st overall by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1995.[10]
  • Mike Haynes, cornerback from Arizona State, taken 1st round 5th overall by New England Patriots
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1997.[10]
  • Jackie Slater, offensive tackle from Jackson State, taken 3rd round 86th overall by Los Angeles Rams
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2001.[11]
  • Harry Carson, linebacker from South Carolina State, taken 4th round 105th overall by New York Giants
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2006.[11]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

1976 NFL draft

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 1976 NFL Draft was the 41st annual player selection meeting held by the National Football League (NFL) franchises to choose eligible college players, conducted over two days on April 8 and 9 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.[1] The draft consisted of 17 rounds and resulted in 487 total selections across the league's 28 teams, marking the first participation of the expansion franchises Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks.[2] With the first overall pick, the Buccaneers selected defensive end Lee Roy Selmon from the University of Oklahoma, a six-time Pro Bowler, 1979 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Hall of Famer, and the cornerstone of the team's early defense.[3][4][5] This draft is remembered for producing multiple Pro Football Hall of Famers, including cornerback Mike Haynes (fifth overall, New England Patriots), offensive tackle Jackie Slater (161st overall, [Los Angeles Rams](/page/Los Angeles_Rams)), linebacker Harry Carson (105th overall, New York Giants), and wide receiver Steve Largent (117th overall, Houston Oilers), highlighting the event's depth beyond the early rounds. Other notable first-round selections included defensive tackle Steve Niehaus (second overall, Seattle Seahawks), running back Chuck Muncie (third overall, New Orleans Saints), and running back Archie Griffin (24th overall, Cincinnati Bengals), the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice.[5] The proceedings underscored the NFL's growing emphasis on expansion and talent evaluation, with the Buccaneers and Seahawks prioritizing defensive reinforcements to build from the ground up in their inaugural seasons.[6]

Overview

Date and Location

The 1976 NFL Draft was held over two days, on April 8 and 9, 1976.[6][7] The event took place at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, New York.[7] This venue held particular historical significance as a traditional site for NFL drafts in the mid-1970s, serving as the location for the league's annual player selection meetings from 1976 to 1978 and upholding New York's longstanding role as the draft's hub.[7][8]

Draft Format and Total Selections

The 1976 NFL Draft operated under the league's established format, consisting of 17 rounds in total, which marked the final year for this structure before the number of rounds was reduced to 12 beginning in 1977.[9] This extended format allowed for a broader selection of talent, reflecting the era's approach to roster building amid a growing number of professional players entering the league. The draft process followed the standard NFL procedure, with teams selecting players in reverse order of their previous season's standings, and ties broken by head-to-head records or other tiebreaker criteria as defined by league rules.[10] A total of 487 players were selected across all 28 teams during the draft, establishing it as the largest in NFL history by number of picks up to that point. This substantial volume underscored the draft's role in replenishing rosters, with each team typically receiving one pick per round unless trades altered the order. The event's scale highlighted the competitive depth of college football talent available, as teams aimed to address positional needs through this annual mechanism. The 1976 draft also introduced the informal "Mr. Irrelevant" moniker, a lighthearted tradition honoring the final selection, which went to wide receiver Kelvin Kirk from the University of Dayton, picked 487th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.[11] This concept, coined by former NFL player Paul Salata, began as a way to celebrate the last draftee and has since become a enduring part of draft lore, emphasizing the unpredictability of professional opportunities even at the trail's end.[12]

Pre-Draft Context

League Expansion

In 1976, the National Football League expanded by adding two new franchises, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks, which began play that season as the league's 27th and 28th teams.[13][14] This marked the first league expansion since the addition of the New Orleans Saints in 1967, bringing the total number of teams to 28 following the 1970 NFL-AFL merger.[15] The move aimed to broaden the NFL's geographic reach, with the Buccaneers based in Tampa, Florida, and the Seahawks in Seattle, Washington, to tap into growing markets in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest.[16] To facilitate rapid roster construction for the newcomers, the NFL structured the 1976 draft to provide the expansion teams with advantageous positioning. The Buccaneers and Seahawks secured the first and second overall selections in the first round, respectively, and were granted the first picks in each subsequent round. Additionally, each team received an additional selection at the end of rounds 2 through 5, allowing them to stockpile talent more efficiently and accelerate their transition into competitive play.[17] These measures were designed to help the franchises build foundational rosters without the established teams gaining an overwhelming advantage, ensuring the league's overall balance amid the growth.[16] The expansion presented significant pre-draft challenges for the Buccaneers and Seahawks, particularly in roster building under the era's restrictive player movement rules. With no unrestricted free agency available—players remained perpetually bound to their original teams under the league's reserve clause—the new franchises had limited options beyond the expansion draft and the collegiate player selection.[18] An expansion draft held on March 30–31, 1976, allowed each team to select 39 players from the unprotected players on the lists of the existing 26 franchises, but this primarily yielded veteran cast-offs rather than elite talent.[16] Consequently, the teams relied heavily on the April 8–9 draft to acquire young prospects, navigating a landscape where signing established free agents was virtually impossible without league approval or player releases.[17] This process underscored the deliberate, draft-centric approach required for expansion teams to establish viability in a league dominated by long-tenured rosters.

World Football League Impact

The World Football League (WFL), established as a rival professional football league to the NFL, operated for two seasons from 1974 to 1975 before folding on October 22, 1975 amid severe financial losses exceeding $30 million.[19] This collapse released hundreds of players, including established NFL talent who had jumped leagues and promising rookies, into free agency, significantly expanding the available talent pool for NFL teams entering the 1976 offseason.[20] However, the NFL commissioner imposed penalties on teams accused of tampering by signing WFL players before the league's dissolution, resulting in forfeited draft selections to deter such actions and protect league stability. Specifically, five teams were affected: the New York Giants and Chicago Bears each lost their sixth-round picks, the Philadelphia Eagles forfeited their third-round pick, the New England Patriots lost their fourth-round selection, and the San Diego Chargers surrendered their fifth-round pick.[17] These forfeitures reduced the total number of picks available in the 1976 draft by five, underscoring the NFL's strict enforcement against premature negotiations during the WFL's existence.[1] The WFL's brief tenure strained NFL-WFL relations through aggressive player poaching and contract disputes, ultimately accelerating discussions on player mobility and free agency that shaped future NFL policies, including the eventual introduction of compensatory draft picks to offset talent losses.[20] This competitive pressure also benefited the NFL's 1976 expansion teams, such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks, by providing access to a broader pool of experienced free agents amid the WFL's demise.[19]

Player Selections

Round 1

The first round of the 1976 NFL Draft featured 28 selections, held on April 8–9 in New York City, as the league incorporated expansion franchises Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks, who held the top two picks after a coin flip determined the order, with Tampa Bay selecting first in odd-numbered rounds and Seattle first in even-numbered rounds.[5] This round highlighted a balance between offensive and defensive talent, with 14 picks each side, though expansion teams prioritized defensive linemen to establish foundational strength amid roster builds from the expansion draft.[5] Oklahoma and Colorado each had three first-round selections, the most from any school.[5] One notable trade occurred on draft day: the Chicago Bears acquired the Detroit Lions' No. 8 overall pick in exchange for their No. 10 pick and a third-round selection (No. 68 overall), allowing Chicago to move up for offensive line help while Detroit gained an extra mid-round asset.[17] The complete list of first-round picks is as follows:
PickTeamPlayerPositionCollege
1Tampa Bay BuccaneersLee Roy SelmonDEOklahoma
2Seattle SeahawksSteve NiehausDTNotre Dame
3New Orleans SaintsChuck MuncieRBCalifornia
4San Diego ChargersJoe WashingtonRBOklahoma
5New England PatriotsMike HaynesDBArizona State
6New York JetsRichard ToddQBAlabama
7Cleveland BrownsMike PruittRBPurdue
8Chicago Bears (from Detroit via trade)Dennis LickTWisconsin
9Atlanta FalconsBubba BeanRBTexas A&M
10Detroit Lions (from Chicago via trade)James HunterDBGrambling State
11Cincinnati BengalsBilly BrooksWROklahoma
12New England PatriotsPete BrockCColorado
13New York GiantsTroy ArcherDTColorado
14Kansas City ChiefsRod WaltersGIowa
15Denver BroncosTom GlassicGVirginia
16Detroit LionsLawrence GainesRBWyoming
17Miami DolphinsLarry GordonLBArizona State
18Buffalo BillsMario ClarkDBOregon
19Miami DolphinsKim BokamperLBSan Jose State
20Baltimore ColtsKen NovakDTPurdue
21New England PatriotsTim FoxDBOhio State
22St. Louis CardinalsMike DawsonDTArizona
23Green Bay PackersMark KoncarTColorado
24Cincinnati BengalsArchie GriffinRBOhio State
25Minnesota VikingsJames WhiteDTOklahoma State
26Los Angeles RamsKevin McLainLBColorado State
27Dallas CowboysAaron KyleDBWyoming
28Pittsburgh SteelersBennie CunninghamTEClemson
The Buccaneers, as an expansion team seeking a defensive cornerstone, targeted Selmon, a dominant pass rusher from Oklahoma renowned for his quickness and power, to anchor their front four and address immediate needs in a young roster.[21] Similarly, the Seahawks selected Niehaus, a disruptive interior lineman from Notre Dame, to bolster their defensive line and establish run-stopping presence from the outset of their franchise.[22] The Patriots, holding three first-round picks amid a defensive rebuild following a 3-11 season, led with Haynes, a shutdown corner from Arizona State noted for his speed and coverage skills, aiming to fortify the secondary.[23] The Jets, transitioning from an aging quarterback room, invested in Todd from Alabama as a mobile pocket passer to inject youth and arm strength into their offense.[24] Later picks reflected teams addressing trenches and skill positions, such as the Bears' acquisition of Lick to reinforce their offensive line protection.[17]

Rounds 2–14

The rounds 2 through 14 encompassed picks 29 to 360, totaling 332 selections that allowed established NFL teams to add depth while enabling the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks to accelerate their roster building through supplemental choices. As part of the league's accommodation for the new franchises, Tampa Bay and Seattle alternated the first two picks in each round and received the final two picks in rounds 2–5, resulting in each team securing two selections per round during that span.[17] This structure provided the expansion teams with 17 picks across these rounds—eight in rounds 2–5 and nine in rounds 6–14—compared to the standard 13 picks for other franchises, adjusted for trades. For instance, Seattle's second-round selections included linebacker Sammy Green (pick 29, Florida) at the top and running back Sherman Smith (pick 58, Miami (OH)) plus wide receiver Steve Raible (pick 59, Georgia Tech) near the end, while Tampa Bay added defensive end Dewey Selmon (pick 60, Oklahoma) to complement their first-round family pairing. Selections in these mid-rounds emphasized building team depth with versatile contributors, as teams prioritized players who could contribute immediately on special teams or as rotational pieces. Notable examples include the Los Angeles Rams selecting offensive tackle Jackie Slater (round 3, pick 86, Jackson State), who anchored their line for over a decade, and the Houston Oilers drafting wide receiver Steve Largent (round 4, pick 117, Tulsa), a future cornerstone despite being traded early in his career. The New York Giants added linebacker Harry Carson (round 4, pick 105, South Carolina State), whom linebackers coach Marty Schottenheimer selected and convinced to transition successfully from defensive end to middle linebacker, to fortify their defense, highlighting how these rounds unearthed high-value talent overlooked in the first.[25] Other representative picks, such as the San Diego Chargers' Woodrow Lowe (round 5, pick 131, Alabama, LB) and the Minnesota Vikings' Sammy White (round 2, pick 54, Grambling State, WR), underscored the draft's role in addressing positional needs across the league.
RoundOverall PickTeamPlayerPositionCollege
229SEASammy GreenLBFlorida
260TAMDewey SelmonDEOklahoma
365CLEDave LoganWRColorado
386LARJackie SlaterOTJackson State
4104NYGGordon BellRBMichigan
4105NYGHarry CarsonLBSouth Carolina State
4117HOUSteve LargentWRTulsa
5128LARCarl EkernLBSan Jose State
6149SFTony LeonardDBVirginia Union
In rounds 2–7, teams achieved an offensive-defensive balance, with approximately 45% of selections on offense (running backs, wide receivers, and offensive linemen like Randy Cross, round 2, pick 42, G, UCLA to San Francisco) and the rest bolstering defenses through linebackers and defensive backs, reflecting a league-wide emphasis on equilibrium amid recent expansion demands. By rounds 8–14, selections trended toward increasing specialization, with more punters, kickers (e.g., Chris Bahr, round 2, pick 51, K, Penn State to Cincinnati, though early), and niche developmental prospects like quarterbacks for depth or international talents, as teams targeted roster fillers for specific schemes. Trades in these rounds were limited but strategic, often involving future considerations or pick swaps to optimize value. For example, the Chicago Bears traded their fourth-round pick (No. 98, originally acquired from the New York Jets) to the Miami Dolphins for Miami's fourth-round selection (No. 108, originally from the Detroit Lions), enabling Chicago to draft defensive back Wayne Rhodes from Alabama.[17] Such maneuvers, including several in rounds 4 and 6, allowed teams to adjust for immediate needs without disrupting overall draft capital.[17] The influence of World Football League penalties briefly reduced options in round 6 for teams like the Jets, who forfeited certain rights due to prior signings.[17]

Rounds 15–17

The final three rounds of the 1976 NFL draft encompassed picks 404 through 487, enabling the league's 28 teams to add depth to their rosters with late-round prospects, often from smaller programs or in specialized roles such as punters and kickers. These selections followed the established draft order based on the reverse standings from the previous season, with expansion franchises Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks alternating the top two spots in each round to balance their acquisitions. All teams participated fully in these rounds, with no reported forfeits or absences, such as the New York Giants retaining their picks across rounds 15 through 17. No significant trades occurred during these rounds, maintaining the standard selection sequence.[26][27][28] The picks in round 15 (404–431) focused on defensive and offensive linemen, wide receivers, and a few specialists, exemplifying the draft's depth in filling positional needs.
OverallTeamPlayerPosCollege
404Tampa Bay BuccaneersBob DzierzakDTUtah State
405Seattle SeahawksDan SmithOTWashington State
406New Orleans SaintsSteve SeminoffDTWichita State
407San Diego ChargersJack HoffmanDLIndiana
408Cleveland BrownsLuther PhilyawDBLoyola Marymount
409New England PatriotsBernard ColemanWRBethune-Cookman
410New York JetsRick FaulkPSan Francisco State
411Chicago BearsJerry MeyersDENorthern Illinois
412Philadelphia EaglesBrett WhiteKUCLA
413Green Bay PackersJerry DandridgeLBMemphis
414Atlanta FalconsRon OlsonDBWashington
415Kansas City ChiefsDave RozumekLBNew Hampshire
416San Francisco 49ersHoward StidhamLBTennessee Tech
417New York GiantsEddie MorganDTArkansas State
418Denver BroncosWilbur SummersPLouisville
419Detroit LionsTrent SmockWRIndiana
420St. Louis CardinalsLee NelsonDBFlorida State
421Buffalo BillsArnold RobinsonLBBethune-Cookman
422Houston OilersBobby ByarsDBCheyney
423Miami DolphinsRon HolmesRBUtah State
424Baltimore ColtsGary AlexanderOTClemson
425Cincinnati BengalsLynn HieberQBIndiana (PA)
426Washington RedskinsJohn MonroeRBBluefield State
427Oakland RaidersCarl HargraveDBUpper Iowa
428Minnesota VikingsRon GroceRBMacalester
429Los Angeles RamsMalcolm CampbellWRCal State-Los Angeles
430Dallas CowboysDale CurryLBUCLA
431Pittsburgh SteelersMel DavisDENorth Texas
In round 16 (432–459), the selections shifted slightly with Seattle holding the first choice due to the alternating expansion team format, emphasizing linebackers, offensive linemen, and additional defensive backs to round out defenses.[27]
OverallTeamPlayerPosCollege
432Seattle SeahawksJeff UrczykOGGeorgia Tech
433Tampa Bay BuccaneersTommy WestLBTennessee
434San Diego ChargersJack HarrisonOGCalifornia
435New Orleans SaintsGene JonesOTBowling Green
436New England PatriotsClifford BrownDTTuskegee
437New York JetsJames GodwinRBFayetteville State
438Cleveland BrownsChris LorenzenDTArizona State
439Philadelphia EaglesSteve CampassiRBKentucky
440Green Bay PackersMike TimmermansOGNorthern Iowa
441Atlanta FalconsPat CurtoLBOhio State
442Chicago BearsRonald ParkerTETexas Christian
443San Francisco 49ersReggie LewisDESan Diego State
444New York GiantsDavid LawsonKAir Force
445Kansas City ChiefsDennis AndersonDBArizona
446Denver BroncosJohn HuddlestonLBUtah
447Detroit LionsCraig McCurdyLBWilliam & Mary
448Buffalo BillsGary GorrellLBBoise State
449Baltimore ColtsMike FuhrmanTEMemphis
450Miami DolphinsMike GreenPOhio
451Baltimore ColtsSteve LudwigCMiami
452Houston OilersClaude JohnsonLBFlorida A&M
453St. Louis CardinalsCecil BeairdWRFisk
454Oakland RaidersDoug HoganDBSouthern California
455Cincinnati BengalsGeorge DemopoulosCMiami
456Los Angeles RamsRick GageWRArkansas Tech
457Minnesota VikingsRandy HickelDBMontana State
458Dallas CowboysRich CostanzoOTNebraska
459Pittsburgh SteelersRandy ButtsRBNebraska-Kearney
Round 17 (460–487) marked the draft's conclusion, with Tampa Bay regaining the top spot in the alternating pattern and selections leaning toward quarterbacks, running backs, and defensive specialists from Division II and III schools. The Oakland Raiders held two picks due to prior arrangements, contributing to the draft's total of 487 selections. This exhaustive process underscored the 1976 draft's scope, as it was the final one to span 17 rounds before the NFL reduced it to 12 in 1977 amid evolving roster dynamics.[28][5][29]
OverallTeamPlayerPosCollege
460Tampa Bay BuccaneersJack BerryQBWashington & Lee
461Seattle SeahawksChris RowlandQBWashington
462New Orleans SaintsScott MacDonaldTEWest Virginia
463San Diego ChargersClarence SandersLBCincinnati
464Cleveland BrownsTom FlemingWRDartmouth
465New England PatriotsTodd AndersonCStanford
466New York JetsDarwin WillieTETulane
467Green Bay PackersRay HallTECal Poly-S.L.O.
468Atlanta FalconsTony GreenDBTexas Tech
469Chicago BearsMike MalhamLBArkansas State
470Philadelphia EaglesAnthony TerryDBCalifornia-Davis
471New York GiantsSteve CurnutteDBVanderbilt
472Kansas City ChiefsPat McNeilRBBaylor
473San Francisco 49ersDarryl JenkinsRBSan Jose State
474Denver BroncosRandy CozensLBPittsburgh
475Detroit LionsJim MeeksDBBoise State
476Washington RedskinsChuck WillsDBOregon
477Buffalo BillsBob BergKNew Mexico
478Oakland RaidersBuddy TateDBTulsa
479Houston OilersAllen MisherWRLouisiana State
480Miami DolphinsJeff GrantzQBSouth Carolina
481Oakland RaidersNate BeasleyRBDelaware
482Cincinnati BengalsScott DannelleyOTOhio State
483St. Louis CardinalsDan MyersDBGeorgia Tech
484Minnesota VikingsDick LukowskiDTWest Virginia
485Los Angeles RamsGary ShawDBBrigham Young
486Dallas CowboysStan WoodfillKOregon
487Pittsburgh SteelersKelvin KirkWRDayton
The 487th and final selection, wide receiver Kelvin Kirk from Dayton University, earned the inaugural "Mr. Irrelevant" designation, a tradition that began with this draft to honor the last pick.[12]

Notable Players

Hall of Fame Inductees

The 1976 NFL Draft produced five players who were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, representing a strong class that bolstered defenses and offenses across multiple franchises. These inductees, selected across the first four rounds, exemplified the draft's depth and contributed significantly to their teams' successes, including division titles, playoff appearances, and a Super Bowl victory. Their careers highlight the long-term impact of the draft in building foundational talent for expansion and established teams alike.[30] Lee Roy Selmon, selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a defensive end from Oklahoma, anchored the expansion franchise's defense for nine seasons from 1976 to 1984. He amassed 78.5 sacks—a Buccaneers record—and 742 tackles, earning six consecutive Pro Bowl selections (1980–1985) and NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1979. Selmon's leadership helped the Buccaneers secure two NFC Central Division titles and reach the 1979 NFC Championship Game, establishing the team's defensive identity during its formative years. Inducted in 1995, his impact as the franchise's inaugural pick underscored the draft's role in launching Tampa Bay's competitiveness.[3][30] Mike Haynes, a cornerback from Arizona State taken fifth overall by the New England Patriots, excelled over 14 seasons split between the Patriots (1976–1982) and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1983–1989). He recorded 46 interceptions, including eight as a rookie in 1976 that earned him All-Rookie honors, and contributed to the Raiders' Super Bowl XVIII victory with a key interception. Haynes garnered nine Pro Bowl nods, four All-Pro selections, and a place on the NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team, renowned for his shutdown coverage that limited opponents' passing attacks. His dual-franchise success, including setting Patriots punt return records early on, demonstrated the 1976 draft's versatility in strengthening secondary units. Inducted in 1997, Haynes's career bridged defensive eras for both teams.[31][30] Jackie Slater, an offensive tackle from Jackson State drafted in the third round (86th overall) by the Los Angeles Rams, became a cornerstone of the team's line for 20 seasons (1976–1995), tying for the third-most seasons in NFL history at retirement. He protected quarterbacks in 259 games—an offensive lineman record at the time—and blocked for seven 1,000-yard rushers, notably enabling Eric Dickerson's 1,808-yard rookie season in 1983. Slater earned seven Pro Bowls (1983, 1985–1990), five All-Pro honors, and appeared in Super Bowl XIV, providing stability that supported 107 games with 100+ rushing yards and 27 with 300+ passing yards. His durability and technique solidified the Rams' offensive prowess across two decades. Inducted in 2001, Slater exemplified mid-round value in sustaining a franchise's line integrity.[32][30] Harry Carson, a linebacker from South Carolina State picked in the fourth round (105th overall) by the New York Giants, led the defense for 13 seasons (1976–1988) with 173 games played. He tallied 11 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries, and a career-high 20 solo tackles in a single game, earning nine Pro Bowls (1978, 1979, 1981–1987), six All-Pro selections, and six All-NFC honors. As the middle linebacker in a formidable trio with Lawrence Taylor and Carl Banks, Carson anchored the Giants' run defense and blitz packages, contributing 118 tackles in the 1986 regular season en route to Super Bowl XXI victory, where he added seven tackles. His leadership transformed the Giants into contenders. Inducted in 2006, Carson's late-round selection highlighted the draft's ability to unearth defensive leaders.[33][30] Steve Largent, a wide receiver from Tulsa selected in the fourth round (117th overall) by the Houston Oilers, built a legendary career primarily with the Seattle Seahawks after a preseason trade in 1976. Over 14 seasons (1976–1989), he set NFL records with 819 receptions, 13,089 receiving yards, and 100 touchdown catches, including leading the league in yards twice (1979, 1985). Largent earned seven Pro Bowls (1978–1987), three All-AFC selections, All-Pro honors in 1983, 1985, and 1987, and the 1988 NFL Man of the Year award for his humanitarian work. His precision routes and reliability fueled the Seahawks' passing game, with eight 1,000-yard seasons and 10 with 50+ receptions. Inducted in 1995, Largent's rise from an overlooked pick illustrated the 1976 draft's potential for transformative offensive weapons.[34][30] Collectively, these inductees from the 1976 class elevated their teams' defenses—Selmon and Haynes as pass rushers and cover corners, Carson as a tackling machine—and offenses through Slater's blocking and Largent's receiving prowess, paving pathways to championships and records that endured.[30]

Notable Undrafted Players

Several players eligible for the 1976 NFL draft went undrafted but signed as free agents and carved out meaningful professional careers, often filling critical roles on their teams despite being overlooked in the selection process. These individuals exemplified the value of undrafted talent in an era when teams scouted aggressively for post-draft gems to bolster depth, particularly amid the league's expansion with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Vince Papale, who had no college football experience after starring in track and field at Saint Joseph's University, joined the Philadelphia Eagles through an open tryout in 1976, becoming the oldest non-kicker rookie in modern NFL history at age 30. He appeared in 14 games over three seasons (1976–1978), recording 9 receptions for 121 yards and contributing on special teams before retiring. Papale's story highlighted the rare opportunities for non-traditional prospects in the post-draft market.[35][36] Jay Saldi signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of the University of South Carolina, where he played tight end. Over nine seasons (1976–1984) primarily with Dallas and later the Chicago Bears, Saldi appeared in 112 games, tallying 84 receptions for 913 yards and 7 touchdowns, while also contributing as a blocker. He was part of the Cowboys' Super Bowl XII-winning team in 1978 and scored via a fumble return touchdown that year.[37] Clark Gaines, a running back from Wake Forest University, inked a free-agent deal with the New York Jets after going undrafted. Gaines played six seasons (1976–1981) with the Jets and briefly the Kansas City Chiefs, rushing for 1,709 yards on 438 carries with 8 touchdowns in 74 games, serving as the Jets' lead back during a transitional period for the franchise. His reliability helped stabilize the backfield amid injuries to drafted players.[38][39] Gary Shirk, a tight end from Morehead State University, was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent following brief stints in the World Football League. Shirk enjoyed a seven-year career (1976–1982) with the Giants, starting 58 of 99 games and accumulating 130 receptions for 1,640 yards and 11 touchdowns, emerging as a key red-zone target and consistent starter. His production underscored how undrafted players could anchor offensive lines in the late 1970s.[40] These players collectively amassed over 300 games and more than 3,500 receiving and rushing yards, demonstrating how free-agent signings post-1976 draft addressed roster gaps, particularly at skill positions, without the fanfare of early-round selections.[5]

References

  1. The 1976 Entire NFL Draft Review
  2. 1976 NFL Draft | The Football Database
  3. 1976 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com
  4. The 1976 NFL Draft - Pro Football Hall of Fame
  5. The Timeline: 0-26 Bucs - NFL.com
  6. NFL announces list of draft locations through 2023 - Raiders.com
  7. When and where is the NFL Draft in 2025? Dates, pick order ...
  8. How Many Rounds Are In the NFL Draft, and What's the Total ...
  9. NFL Draft History - Pro Football Hall of Fame
  10. A look back at Mr. Irrelevant - NFL.com
  11. Mr. Irrelevant history in NFL draft: Every final pick since 1976 - ESPN
  12. National Football League Franchise Histories
  13. Bucs to Wear '76 Uniforms in Seattle Against Fellow 1976 ...
  14. A look at the history of expansion and relocation in the NFL | Sports
  15. 1976 NFL Expansion Draft | Pro Football Hall of Fame
  16. 1976 NFL Draft Pick Transactions
  17. The History of NFL Free Agency | NFL Football Operations
  18. The WFL: Drunk practice, bounced checks and 'the biggest disaster ...
  19. The Brief, Influential Life of the World Football League - Mental Floss
  20. Forever #1: The Lee Roy Selmon Pick - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  21. On this date: Steve Niehaus becomes Seahawks' first draft choice
  22. Patriots' best draft class led by Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Haynes
  23. Recalling Richard Todd's Fancy Footwork - New York Jets
  24. 1976 NFL Draft - Round 15 | The Football Database
  25. 1976 NFL Draft - Round 16 | The Football Database
  26. 1976 NFL Draft - Round 17 | The Football Database
  27. When did the NFL draft change to seven rounds? - ESPN
  28. Hall of Famers by Draft Year | Pro Football Hall of Fame
  29. Lee Roy Selmon | Pro Football Hall of Fame
  30. Mike Haynes | Pro Football Hall of Fame
  31. Jackie Slater | Pro Football Hall of Fame
  32. Harry Carson | Pro Football Hall of Fame
  33. Steve Largent | Pro Football Hall of Fame
  34. Vince Papale Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College
  35. Vince Papale: Forty Years Of Invincible - Philadelphia Eagles
  36. Jay Saldi Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College
  37. Clark Gaines Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College
  38. Where Are They Now: Clark Gaines - New York Jets
  39. Gary Shirk Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College
  40. Lee Roy Selmon | Pro Football Hall of Fame
  41. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the Clock | Pro Football Hall of Fame
  42. Ernie Accorsi, Harry Carson share memories of Marty Schottenheimer
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