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1996 NFL draft
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| 1996 NFL draft | |
|---|---|
![]() | |
| General information | |
| Date | April 20–21, 1996 |
| Location | Paramount Theatre at MSG in New York City, New York |
| Network | ESPN |
| Overview | |
| 254 total selections in 7 rounds | |
| League | NFL |
| First selection | Keyshawn Johnson, WR New York Jets |
| Mr. Irrelevant | Sam Manuel, LB San Francisco 49ers |
| Most selections (13) | New England Patriots |
| Fewest selections (5) | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Hall of Famers | |
The 1996 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996, at the Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.[1][2] No teams chose to claim any players in the supplemental draft that year. As a result of the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy, all draft rights held by the deactivated Cleveland Browns franchise were transferred to the new Baltimore Ravens franchise.
On draft day, the St. Louis Rams traded running back Jerome Bettis and a third-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a second round pick for that year, as well as a fourth round pick the following year. The trade was made immediately after the Rams drafted Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips. Bettis went on to have a successful career with the Steelers as well as being one of the team's most popular players, while the Rams did not have another feature back until they traded for Marshall Faulk three years later due to Phillips's off-field problems.
The draft also saw one of the longest waits for a player in attendance of the draft, as Leeland McElroy waited until being selected in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals with the 32nd pick. McElroy, who ended up being a draft bust, would set the precedent for later players who have waited while in attendance, including Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers, who unlike McElroy would go on to successful NFL careers.
This draft is considered one of the best draft classes ever for the position of wide receiver.[3] Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Eddie Kennison, Marvin Harrison, Eric Moulds, Bobby Engram, Terrell Owens, Muhsin Muhammad, Amani Toomer, Jermaine Lewis, and Joe Horn have all achieved success in the pros, with all except Kennison, Engram, and Toomer having reached the Pro Bowl at least once, and a total of 26 Pro Bowl appearances for the group. In addition to the class having had several successful receivers, none of the five wide receivers drafted in the first round have been busts, as all of them spent at least a reasonable amount of time as starters in the NFL. Combined, 1996 wide receivers (through the end of the 2006 season) have totalled 7,646 receptions for 105,866 yards, eclipsing any other class by more than 1,000 receptions and 10,000 yards.[4]
It was also one of the best draft years for middle linebackers, with Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Zach Thomas selected. Lewis won Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens and was selected MVP of that game. Lewis also won Super Bowl XLVII in the final game of his career and made 13 Pro Bowls along with being a seven-time first-team All-Pro, while Zach Thomas made seven Pro Bowls, and was a five-time first-team All-Pro. Other linebackers who made at least one Pro Bowl from this draft are Tedy Bruschi, Kevin Hardy, Simeon Rice, John Mobley, and Donnie Edwards. Randall Godfrey, Earl Holmes, and Carlos Emmons also had solid careers in the league. Ironically, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper said before the draft that it was one of the weakest for the position, which he would ultimately be proven wrong.
In contrast to its successes at wide receiver and linebacker, the 1996 draft had often been rated as the worst for quarterbacks.[5] None of the eight drafted quarterbacks made the Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team and half did not play. As of 2022[update], this remains the last draft without a quarterback selected in the first round. Previously, the 1988 draft had been the last with no quarterback selected in the first round.[note 1]
The last remaining active player in the NFL from the 1996 draft class was Ray Lewis, who retired after the 2012 season, right after winning Super Bowl XLVII as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
Player selections
[edit]
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Notable undrafted players
[edit]| † | = Pro Bowler[note 2] |
| ‡ | = Hall of Famer[note 3] |
Hall of Famers
[edit]- Jonathan Ogden, offensive tackle from UCLA, taken 1st round 4th overall by the Baltimore Ravens.
- Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2013.
- Marvin Harrison, wide receiver from Syracuse, taken 1st round 19th overall by the Indianapolis Colts.
- Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2016.
- Ray Lewis, linebacker from Miami (FL), taken 1st round 26th overall by the Baltimore Ravens.
- Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2018.
- Brian Dawkins, safety from Clemson, taken 2nd round 61st overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2018.
- Terrell Owens, wide receiver from Chattanooga, taken 3rd round 89th overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
- Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2018.
- Zach Thomas, linebacker from Texas Tech, taken 5th round 154th overall by the Miami Dolphins.
- Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2023.
- Adam Vinatieri, placekicker from South Dakota State, undrafted.
- Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2026.
Trades
[edit]In the explanations below, (D) denotes trades that took place during the 1994 Draft, while (PD) indicates trades completed pre-draft.
- Round one
- ^ No. 6: Washington → St. Louis (PD). Washington traded its first-round selection (6th) to St. Louis in exchange for DT Sean Gilbert.
- ^ No. 9: Houston → Oakland (D). Houston traded its first-round selection (9th) to Oakland in exchange for Oakland's first- second- and fourth-round selections (17th, 48th and 109th)
- ^ No. 13: St. Louis → Chicago (D). St. Louis traded its first-round selection (13th) to Chicago in exchange for Chicago's first-, third- and sixth-round selections (18th, 83rd and 201st)
- ^ No. 14: Seattle → Houston (D). Seattle traded its first-round selection (14th) to Houston in exchange for Houston's first-round selection (17th) and DT Glenn Montgomery
- ^ No. 17: multiple trades:
No. 17: Oakland → Houston (D). see No. 9: Houston → Oakland.
No. 17: Houston → Seattle (D). see No. 14: Seattle → Houston.
No. 17: Seattle → Detroit (D). Seattle traded this first-round selection (17th) to Detroit in exchange for Detroit's first- and third-round selections (21st and 91st). - ^ No. 18: Chicago → St. Louis (D). see No. 13: St. Louis → Chicago.
- ^ No. 19: Atlanta → Indianapolis (PD). Atlanta traded its first-round selection (19th) and first- and third-round selections (7th and 83rd) in 1994 to Indianapolis in exchange for QB Jeff George
- ^ No. 21: multiple trades:
No. 21: San Diego → Detroit (PD). San Diego traded its first-round selection (21st) to Detroit in exchange for Detroit's second-round selection in 1995.
No. 21: Detroit → Seattle (D). see No. 17: Seattle → Detroit. - ^ No. 22: Indianapolis → Tampa Bay (PD). Indianapolis traded its first-round selection (22nd) to Tampa Bay in exchange for QB Craig Erickson
- ^ No. 26: San Francisco → Baltimore (PD). San Francisco traded its first-round selection (26th) and first-, third- and fourth round selections (30th, 94th and 119th) in 1995 to Cleveland in exchange for Cleveland's first-round selection in 1995 and this pick was then inherited by Baltimore following the Browns' relocation to Baltimore.
- ^ No. 30: Dallas → Washington (D). Dallas traded its first-round selection (30th) to Washington in exchange for Washington's second- and third-round selections (37th and 67th).
- Round two
- ^ No. 35: Baltimore → Tampa Bay (PD). Baltimore traded its second-round selection (35th) to Tampa Bay in exchange for TE Harold Bishop
- ^ No. 37: Washington → Dallas (D). see No. 30: Dallas → Washington.
- ^ No. 41: Tampa Bay → San Diego (D). Tampa Bay traded its second-round selection (41st) to San Diego in exchange for San Diego's first-round selection in 1997
- ^ No. 46: Oakland → San Francisco (PD). Oakland traded its second-round selection (46th) to San Francisco in exchange for San Francisco's second- and fourth-round selections (57th and 124th)
- ^ No. 48: multiple trades:
No. 48: Atlanta → Oakland (PD). Atlanta traded its second-round selection (48th) to Oakland in exchange for S Patrick Bates.
No. 48: Oakland → Houston (D). see No. 9: Houston → Oakland. - ^ No. 49: Miami → Dallas (D). Miami traded its second-round selection (49th) to Dallas in exchange for Dallas' second- and fourth-round selections (60th and 99th)
- ^ No. 55: multiple trades:
No. 55: Detroit → Denver (PD). Detroit traded its second-round selection (55th) to Denver in exchange for RB Glyn Milburn.
No. 55: Denver → Baltimore (D). Denver traded this second-round selection (55th) to Baltimore in exchange for Baltimore's third-, fourth- and seventh-round selections (65th, 100th and 213rd). - ^ No. 57: multiple trades:
No. 57: San Francisco → Oakland (PD). see No. 46: Oakland → San Francisco.
No. 57: Oakland → New England (PD). Oakland traded this second-round selection (57th) to New England in exchange for OT Pat Harlow.
No. 57: New England → Oakland (D). New England traded this second-round selection (57th) to Oakland in exchange for Oakland's third-, fourth- and fifth-round selections (76th, 124th and 149th). - ^ No. 59: Pittsburgh → St. Louis (PD). Pittsburgh traded its second- and fourth-round selections (59th and 121st) to St. Louis in exchange for RB Jerome Bettis and St. Louis' third-round selection (72nd).
- ^ No. 60: multiple trades:
No. 60: Dallas → Miami (D). see No. 49: Miami → Dallas.
No. 60: Miami → Jacksonville (D). Miami traded this second-round selection (60th) and its fourth-round selection (99th) to Jacksonville in exchange for Jacksonville's third-, two fourth- and fifth-round selections (79th, 98th, 134th and 150th).
- Round three
- ^ No. 65: Baltimore → Denver (D). see No. 55: Denver → Baltimore.
- ^ No. 67: Washington → Dallas (D). see No. 30: Dallas → Washington.
- ^ No. 68: New England → Kansas City (PD). New England traded its third-round selection (68th) to Kansas City in exchange for Kansas City's fourth-round selection (112th) in 1995.
- ^ No. 72: St. Louis → Pittsburgh (PD). see No. 59: Pittsburgh → St. Louis.
- ^ No. 76: multiple trades:
No. 76: Oakland → New England (D). see No. 57: New England → Oakland.
No. 76: New England → Detroit (D). New England traded this third-round selection (76th) to Detroit in exchange for Detroit's third-, fourth- and sixth round selections (86th, 119th and 195th). - ^ No. 79: Jacksonville → Miami (D). see No. 60: Miami → Jacksonville.
- ^ No. 83: Chicago → St. Louis (D). see No. 13: St. Louis → Chicago.
- ^ No. 86: Detroit → New England (D). see No. 76: New England → Detroit.
- ^ No. 91: multiple trades:
No. 91: Kansas City → Detroit (D). Kansas City traded its third-round selection to Detroit in exchange for S Will White.
No. 91: Detroit → Seattle (D). see No. 21: Seattle → Detroit.
- Round four
- ^ No. 96: N.Y. Jets → Tampa Bay (PD). N.Y. Jets traded its fourth-round selection (96th) to Tampa Bay in exchange for DT Marc Spindler.
- ^ No. 97: Arizona → Minnesota (D). Arizona traded its fourth-round selection (97th) to Minnesota in exchange for Minnesota's fourth- and fifth-round selections (112th and 137th).
- ^ No. 98: multiple trades:
No. 98: Jacksonville → Miami (D). see No. 60: Miami → Jacksonville.
No. 98: Miami → Kansas City (D). Miami traded this fourth-round selection and a seventh-round selection (98th and 214th) to Kansas City in exchange for two fourth-round selections (113th and 125th). - ^ No. 99: multiple trades:
No. 99: N.Y. Giants → Dallas (PD). Dallas received the Giants' fourth-round selection (99th) as compensation for the Giants signing restricted free agent G Ron Stone.
No. 99: Dallas → Miami (D). see No. 49: Miami → Dallas.
No. 99: Miami → Jacksonville (D). see No. 60: Miami → Jacksonville.
No. 99: Jacksonville → Seattle (D). Jacksonville traded this fourth-round selection to Seattle in exchange for Seattle's fourth- and fifth-round selections (110th and 146th). - ^ No. 100: Baltimore → Denver (D). see No. 55: Denver → Baltimore.
- ^ No. 109: Oakland → Houston (D). see No. 9: Houston → Oakland.
- ^ No. 110: Seattle → Jacksonville (D). see No. 99: Jacksonville → Seattle.
- ^ No. 111: Denver → Carolina (D). Denver traded its fourth-round selection (111th) to Carolina in exchange for Carolina's fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round selections (122nd, 159th and 235th).
- ^ No. 112: Minnesota → Arizona (D). see No. 97: Arizona → Minnesota.
- ^ No. 113: multiple trades:
No. 113: Jacksonville → Kansas City (PD). Jacksonville traded this fourth-round selection (113rd) and first-, third- and fourth-round selections (31st, 97th and 134th) in 1995 to Kansas City in exchange for Kansas City's first-round selection (19th) in 1995.
No. 113: Kansas City → Miami (D). see No. 98: Miami → Kansas City. - ^ No. 119: Detroit → New England (D). see No. 76: New England → Detroit.
- ^ No. 122: Denver → Carolina (D) see No. 111: Denver → Carolina.
- ^ No. 124: multiple trades:
No. 124: San Francisco → Oakland (PD). see No. 46: Oakland → San Francisco.
No. 124: Oakland → New England (D). see No. 57: New England → Oakland. - ^ No. 125: Kansas City → Miami (D). see No. 98: Miami → Kansas City.
- ^ No. 127: Dallas → Carolina (PD). Dallas traded its fourth- and fifth-round selections (127th and 164th) to Atlanta in exchange for S Roger Harper.
- Round five
- ^ No. 134: Jacksonville → Miami (D). see No. 60: Miami → Jacksonville.
- ^ No. 135: Arizona → Kansas City (D). Arizona traded its fifth-round selection (135th) to Kansas City in exchange for Kansas City's two fifth-round selections (161st and 162nd).
- ^ No. 136: Baltimore → New Orleans (PD). Baltimore traded its fifth-round selection (136th) to New Orleans in exchange for CB Reggie Jones.
- ^ No. 137: multiple trades:
No. 137: N.Y. Giants → Minnesota (PD). N.Y. Giants traded its fifth-round selection (137th) and sixth-round selection (189th) in 1995 to Minnesota in exchange for S Vencie Glenn and Minnesota's sixth-round selection (182nd).
No. 137: Minnesota → Arizona (D). see No. 97: Arizona → Minnesota. - ^ No. 146: Seattle → Jacksonville (D). see No. 99: Jacksonville → Seattle.
- ^ No. 147: Denver → Philadelphia (PD). Denver traded its fifth-round selection (147th) to Philadelphia in exchange for CB Ben Smith.
- ^ No. 149: Oakland → New England (D). see No. 57: New England → Oakland.
- ^ No. 150: Jacksonville → Miami (D). see No. 60: Miami → Jacksonville.
- ^ No. 153: Atlanta → Baltimore (PD). Atlanta traded its fifth-round selection (153rd) to Baltimore in exchange for G Gene Williams.
- ^ No. 157: multiple trades:
No. 157: Philadelphia → Baltimore (PD). Philadelphia traded its fifth-round selection (157th) and fifth-round selection in 1995 to Cleveland in exchange for Cleveland's fourth-round selection in 1995. This pick was inherited by Baltimore when the Browns relocated to Baltimore.
No. 157: Baltimore → Dallas (D). Baltimore traded this fifth-round selection (157th) to Dallas in exchange for Dallas' fourth-round selection in 1997. - ^ No. 159: Denver → Carolina (D) see No. 111: Denver → Carolina.
- ^ No. 161: multiple trades:
No. 161: Green Bay → Kansas City (PD). Green Bay traded its fifth-round selection (161st) to Kansas City in exchange for G Lindsay Knapp.
No. 161: Kansas City → Arizona (D). see No. 135: Arizona → Kansas City. - ^ No. 162: Kansas City → Arizona (D) see No. 135: Arizona → Kansas City.
- ^ No. 164: Dallas → Atlanta (PD) see No. 127: Dallas → Atlanta.
- Round six
- ^ No. 176: Carolina → Kansas City (PD). Carolina traded its sixth-round selection (176th) to Kansas City in exchange for Carolina's sixth-round selection (191st) in 995.
- ^ No. 186: Jacksonville → Baltimore (PD). Jacksonville traded this sixth-round selection (186th) and its fifth-round selection in 1995 to Cleveland in exchange for Cleveland's fourth-round selection in 1995. This pick was inherited by Baltimore when the Browns relocated to Baltimore.
- ^ No. 192: multiple trades:
No. 192: Carolina → Pittsburgh (PD). Carolina traded its sixth-round selection (192nd) to Pittsburgh in exchange for RB Barry Foster.
No. 192: Pittsburgh → San Diego (D). Pittsburgh traded this sixth-round selection (192nd) and seventh-round selection in 1997 to San Diego in exchange for San Diego's fifth-round selection in 1997. - ^ No. 195: Detroit → New England (D). see No. 76: New England → Detroit.
- ^ No. 197: Green Bay → Philadelphia (PD). Green Bay traded this sixth-round selection (197th) to Philadelphia in exchange for OL Joe Sims.
- ^ No. 199: Philadelphia → Kansas City (PD). Kansas City traded this sixth-round selection (197th) and second-round selection (50th) in 1995 to Philadelphia in exchange for WR Victor Bailey and Philadelphia's fourth-round selection in 1995.
- ^ No. 201: multiple trades:
No. 201: Dallas → Chicago (PD). Dallas traded its sixth-round selection (201st) to Chicago in exchange for LB Jim Schwantz.
No. 201: Chicago → St. Louis (D). see No. 13: St. Louis → Chicago.
- Round seven
- ^ No. 213: Baltimore → Denver (D). see No. 55: Denver → Baltimore.
- ^ No. 220: New Orleans → Oakland (PD). New Orleans traded its seventh-round selection (220th) to Oakland in exchange for DT Willie Broughton.
- ^ No. 235: Carolina → Denver (D) see No. 111: Denver → Carolina.
- ^ No. 236: Detroit → Denver (PD). see No. 55: Detroit → Denver.
- ^ No. 238: Philadelphia → Baltimore (PD). Philadelphia traded its seventh-round selection (238th) to Baltimore in exchange for DT Ronnie Dixon.
Notes
[edit]- ^ The first quarterback in the 1988 draft wasn't selected until the third round.
- ^ a b Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
- ^ a b Players are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
References
[edit]- ^ "NFL Draft Locations". FootballGeography.com. October 2, 2014. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ^ Salomone, Dan (October 2, 2014). "NFL Draft headed to Chicago in 2015". Giants.com. New York Giants. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
- ^ Barnwell, Bill (April 11, 2019). "The best (and worst) NFL draft classes at every position: All-time ranking – Wide receiver". ESPN.
- ^ Football Prospectus 2007, p. 461
- ^ NFL Draft History: Quarterback Draft Class Facts and Figures
- ^ "At Trinity, QB Getting His Shot". Chicago Tribune. November 11, 1995. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
External links
[edit]1996 NFL draft
View on GrokipediaBackground
Eligibility Rules and Draft Order
Eligibility for the 1996 NFL Draft required players to be at least three years removed from their high school graduation date, allowing college juniors and seniors who met this threshold to declare by formally renouncing any remaining collegiate eligibility.[9] This rule, established by the NFL in 1990, applied uniformly to all amateur players, though the vast majority of draftees were from NCAA programs.[10] The draft order followed the league's standard procedure of inverse standings from the prior season, the 1995 NFL campaign, with non-playoff teams prioritized from worst to best record before playoff participants ordered by postseason elimination.[10] Ties in records were resolved first by strength of schedule (combined winning percentage of opponents faced), followed by head-to-head results, conference record, and other factors if needed.[10] The New York Jets secured the No. 1 overall pick after compiling the league-worst 1–15 record in 1995.Pre-Draft Evaluations and Expectations
The 1996 NFL Draft was anticipated as a deep class offering quality talent across multiple positions, with analysts projecting strong value extending beyond the first round. Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z forecasted a robust selection of prospects, emphasizing the availability of high-caliber players at premium positions like wide receiver and offensive line.[11] Pre-draft scouting reports highlighted a lack of elite quarterback talent, resulting in expectations of no first-round selections at that position, a rarity that held true.[2] Keyshawn Johnson, wide receiver from USC, emerged as the consensus top prospect, praised for his dynamic playmaking ability and projected as the likely first overall pick by the New York Jets.[11] Dr. Z specifically identified Johnson as the most dynamic player in the draft, capable of immediate NFL impact due to his route-running precision and physicality.[11] Jonathan Ogden, offensive tackle from UCLA, received high evaluations for his exceptional size—6 feet 9 inches and 315 pounds—and agility, positioning him as a cornerstone left tackle prospect for teams like the expansion Baltimore Ravens.[11] Lawrence Phillips, running back from Nebraska, generated significant pre-draft intrigue as one of the most talented backs available, with potential to be drafted in the top four despite documented off-field incidents.[11] Teams conducted extensive evaluations, including psychological assessments that flagged maturity concerns, yet his on-field production—1,722 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in 1995—led many to prioritize his athletic gifts over risks.[12][13] The NFL Scouting Combine in February underscored athletic benchmarks, though standout performances were limited; for instance, wide receiver Bryan Still recorded a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, bolstering speed evaluations for skill-position players.[14] Overall, mock drafts and scout consensus pointed to a wide receiver-heavy top tier, setting expectations for a talent-rich opening round focused on offensive skill and protection.[15]Draft Proceedings
First Round Selections
The first round of the 1996 NFL Draft occurred on April 20, 1996, at the Paramount Theatre within Madison Square Garden in New York City.[2] The New York Jets selected wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson from the University of Southern California with the first overall pick.[1] A total of 30 players were chosen in the first round across the league's 30 teams.[1] The selections, ordered by pick number, are listed below:Trades During the Draft
One of the most prominent trades occurred on April 20, 1996, during the first day of the draft, when the St. Louis Rams sent running back Jerome Bettis and their third-round pick (No. 78 overall, used by Pittsburgh to select linebacker Steve Conley) to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for the Steelers' second-round pick (No. 53 overall, used by the Rams to select tight end Ernie Conwell) and a fourth-round pick in the 1997 NFL Draft (No. 109 overall).[16][17] This deal addressed Pittsburgh's need for a power running back, as Bettis went on to rush for over 13,600 yards in his career, earning six Pro Bowl selections and a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while the Rams acquired immediate draft capital to bolster their roster. Another significant transaction on the same day involved the San Diego Chargers trading their 1997 first-round pick (No. 16 overall, later used by Tampa Bay to select wide receiver Reidel Anthony) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the Buccaneers' second-round pick (No. 41 overall, used by the Chargers to select wide receiver Bryan Still).[18] This move allowed San Diego to address immediate needs at wide receiver amid injuries to key players like Andre Coleman, though Still's career yielded only 18 receptions over two seasons, highlighting the risks of mortgaging future assets for mid-round talent. Additional pick swaps facilitated movement in later rounds, such as the New York Jets trading their seventh-round pick (No. 96 overall) to the Buccaneers, enabling Tampa Bay to select defensive back Jerry Blocker.[19] These intra-draft exchanges, typical of the era's fluid proceedings, often involved swapping picks within the same draft to optimize selections without major player involvement beyond the Bettis deal. Overall, trades during the 1996 draft emphasized acquiring established talent like Bettis over speculative picks, influencing team strategies amid the league's expansion and competitive parity efforts.[17]| Trade Date | Teams Involved | Assets Traded |
|---|---|---|
| April 20, 1996 | St. Louis Rams to Pittsburgh Steelers | Rams: RB Jerome Bettis, 1996 3rd-round pick (No. 78) Steelers: 1996 2nd-round pick (No. 53), 1997 4th-round pick (No. 109)[16] |
| April 20, 1996 | San Diego Chargers to Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Chargers: 1997 1st-round pick (No. 16) Buccaneers: 1996 2nd-round pick (No. 41)[18] |
Later Round Selections
The later rounds of the 1996 NFL Draft produced several high-impact players who outperformed their draft positions, including three eventual Pro Football Hall of Famers selected after the first round. Safety Brian Dawkins was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 61st overall pick in the second round out of Clemson University; he recorded 37 interceptions, forced 36 fumbles, and earned nine Pro Bowl selections over 16 NFL seasons, primarily with the Eagles, before his 2018 Hall of Fame induction.[20] Wide receiver Terrell Owens, selected 89th overall in the third round by the San Francisco 49ers from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, accumulated 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns across 15 seasons, securing six Pro Bowl nods and five first-team All-Pro honors en route to his 2018 Hall of Fame enshrinement.[21] Linebacker Zach Thomas stands out as one of the draft's premier late-round values, picked 154th overall in the fifth round by the Miami Dolphins from Texas Tech; despite initial doubts about his size and speed, Thomas led the NFL in tackles in 1998 and 2000, amassed 1,752 combined tackles over 13 seasons (mostly with Miami), and earned seven Pro Bowl selections before his 2023 Hall of Fame induction.[22] These selections underscored the draft's depth, particularly at skill positions and defense, though many other later-round picks, such as running back Ricky Williams (traded into the draft but selected earlier) or various linemen, failed to sustain starter-level production.[1] Overall, the value extracted from rounds two through five highlighted scouting inefficiencies, with Dawkins, Owens, and Thomas combining for over 20 Pro Bowl appearances and contributing to multiple playoff runs for their teams.[8]Selected Players
Pro Football Hall of Famers
The 1996 NFL Draft yielded six inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, tying it for among the most productive draft classes in terms of hall of fame selections.[5] These players spanned multiple positions and were selected across the first five rounds, demonstrating the draft's depth in elite talent.[5] Their collective achievements include multiple Super Bowl appearances, numerous All-Pro honors, and franchise cornerstone performances that defined eras for their teams.[5]| Player | Position | Drafted By (Pick) | College | Induction Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Ogden | OT | Baltimore Ravens (1st round, 4th overall) | UCLA | 2013 |
| Marvin Harrison | WR | Indianapolis Colts (1st round, 19th overall) | Syracuse | 2016 |
| Ray Lewis | LB | Baltimore Ravens (1st round, 26th overall) | Miami (FL) | 2018 |
| Brian Dawkins | S | Philadelphia Eagles (2nd round, 61st overall) | Clemson | 2018 |
| Terrell Owens | WR | San Francisco 49ers (3rd round, 89th overall) | Tennessee-Chattanooga | 2018 |
| Zach Thomas | LB | Miami Dolphins (5th round, 154th overall) | Texas Tech | 2023 |
Other High Achievers
Keyshawn Johnson, chosen first overall by the New York Jets, recorded 814 receptions for 10,571 yards and 64 touchdowns across 11 NFL seasons with the Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, and Carolina Panthers, securing four Pro Bowl nods for his consistent production as a possession receiver. His career highlight included a Super Bowl XXXVII victory with the Buccaneers, where he contributed 28 receptions for 238 yards in the playoffs. Despite leading the Jets in receiving yards multiple times, Johnson fell short of Hall of Fame enshrinement due to competition from era-defining wideouts. Eddie George, selected 14th overall by the Houston Oilers (later Tennessee Titans), earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1996 with 1,368 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns on 335 carries, powering a Titans offense that reached the playoffs. He amassed 10,441 career rushing yards and 64 touchdowns over nine seasons, primarily with Tennessee, including leading the league in yards from scrimmage in 1997 (2,121) and 1998 (2,256), while earning four Pro Bowl selections and a spot on the 2000 All-Pro First Team. George's physical running style defined Titans ground attacks, though knee injuries curtailed his later years. Simeon Rice, the third overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals, claimed Defensive Rookie of the Year with 13 sacks and 71 tackles in 1996, setting the stage for a pass-rushing career totaling 122.5 sacks, the 20th-most in NFL history at retirement. Over 12 seasons with Arizona, Tampa Bay, and briefly Cleveland, he earned four Pro Bowl berths and a Super Bowl XXXVII ring with the Buccaneers, where he added 37.5 sacks in five years alongside elite defenses. Rice's length and burst made him a perennial double-digit sack threat early on, though inconsistent team success limited broader accolades. Terry Glenn, drafted seventh overall by the New England Patriots, compiled 592 receptions for 6,848 yards and 44 touchdowns in eight seasons across New England, Green Bay, Buffalo, and Dallas, highlighted by a 1996 Pro Bowl season with 69 catches for 1,132 yards and 6 scores as a rookie. His career blended speed and route-running precision but was marred by off-field issues and injuries, preventing sustained elite status. Similarly, fourth-rounder Joe Horn, selected 161st overall by the Kansas City Chiefs before starring with New Orleans, notched 539 receptions for 8,744 yards and 58 touchdowns, including five Pro Bowls and iconic celebrations that energized Saints crowds. The 1996 class's wide receiver depth extended to such contributors, underscoring its positional strength beyond Hall inductees.[1]Notable Draft Busts
Lawrence Phillips, a running back from the University of Nebraska, was selected sixth overall by the St. Louis Rams in the first round after the Rams traded running back Jerome Bettis to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the draft in exchange for the Steelers' second-round pick in 1996 and a fourth-round pick in 1997.[24] Despite high expectations from his college production, including 1,722 rushing yards in 1995, Phillips managed only 634 yards on 199 carries (3.2 average) in 15 games during his 1996 rookie season with the Rams.[25] His NFL career totaled 1,453 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns over 35 games across three teams (Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins), ending after the 1999 season amid repeated off-field legal troubles, including domestic violence incidents that led to his release from the Rams in December 1997.[25] [26] Cedric Jones, a defensive end from the University of Oklahoma, was chosen fifth overall by the New York Giants.[27] Jones recorded 15 sacks in 63 games over five seasons (1996–2000), primarily with the Giants, but chronic eye injuries—stemming from a pre-draft cornea transplant in early 1996 and subsequent re-injury—severely limited his effectiveness and availability.[27] His per-game sack rate of 0.24 ranked below expectations for a top-five pick, contributing to his classification as a disappointment relative to the draft capital invested.[27] Other first-round selections, such as defensive end Regan Upshaw (ninth overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), showed moderate production with 34.5 career sacks across nine seasons but failed to anchor the pass rush as anticipated, rotating through multiple teams without All-Pro recognition.[28] These cases highlight how behavioral red flags, medical vulnerabilities, and inconsistent on-field translation undermined several high investments in the 1996 class.Undrafted Players
Key Undrafted Signings and Successes
The New England Patriots signed kicker Adam Vinatieri from South Dakota State as an undrafted free agent shortly after the 1996 NFL Draft concluded on April 20.[29] Vinatieri, who had kicked for the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe earlier that year, outperformed incumbent Matt Bahr to claim the Patriots' starting role during training camp in July 1996.[30] In his rookie season, he converted 33 of 37 field goal attempts (89.2%) and 86 of 87 extra points, helping New England reach Super Bowl XXXI. Vinatieri's 10-year tenure with the Patriots (1996–2005) yielded three Pro Bowl nods (1999, 2002, 2004), two first-team All-Pro honors (1996, 2004), and victories in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX, where he scored a perfect 18 points in XXXVI and provided clutch kicks across all three.[31] Iconic moments included a 45-yard field goal in a blinding snowstorm during the 2001 AFC Divisional playoff against the Oakland Raiders, securing a 16–13 overtime win, and a 48-yard kick to force overtime in Super Bowl XXXVIII.[30] Following free agency in 2006, Vinatieri joined the Indianapolis Colts, where he added a fourth Super Bowl title (XLI) and three more Pro Bowl selections (2009, 2010, 2014), retiring in 2021 as the NFL's then-all-time leading scorer with 2,673 points from 1,915 extra points and 661 field goals.[32] His career 83.8% field goal accuracy on 822 attempts ranked among the highest for high-volume kickers, demonstrating sustained elite performance despite entering the league without draft pedigree. While other undrafted signings from the 1996 class, such as various depth players across teams, contributed marginally, Vinatieri represented the draft's most enduring post-draft success story.[33]Legacy and Impact
Performance Metrics and Value Analysis
The 1996 NFL draft class generated substantial value across multiple positions, particularly at wide receiver, linebacker, and offensive tackle, contributing to its ranking among the top five draft classes in league history by weighted approximate value metrics.[34] Collective career approximate value (AV) for drafted players totaled approximately 2,800, yielding an average of about 11 AV per pick across 254 selections, a figure indicative of strong depth beyond elite talents.[1] This performance stemmed from 54 Pro Bowl selections and 19 first-team All-Pro honors, reflecting sustained contributions from mid-round picks alongside first-round stars.[1] Key value drivers included exceptional output from the top tier, with the class's top-10 players accounting for over 900 AV, ranking second all-time in top-10 production.[34]| Player | Position | Drafted By | Career AV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Lewis | LB | Baltimore Ravens | 160 |
| Marvin Harrison | WR | Indianapolis Colts | 123 |
| Terrell Owens | WR | San Francisco 49ers | 121 |
| Brian Dawkins | FS | Philadelphia Eagles | 104 |
| Jonathan Ogden | OT | Baltimore Ravens | 95 |

