From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
National Football League draft
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]
^ a b May sometimes be referred to as an edge rusher (EDGE)
^ Also known as offensive guard (OG)
^ Also known as placekicker (PK)
^ Also known as inside linebacker (ILB)
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
238
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bruce Welch
Guard
Texas A&M
239
Seattle Seahawks
Bob Bos
Tackle
Iowa State
240
New Orleans Saints
Warren Peiffer
Defensive tackle
Iowa
241
Buffalo Bills
Jeff Turner
Linebacker
Kansas
242
Cleveland Browns
James Reed
Running back
Mississippi
243
New England Patriots
Doug Beaudoin
Defensive back
Minnesota
244
New York Jets
Ronnie Moore
Wide receiver
Virginia Military Inst.
245
Green Bay Packers
Jim Gueno
Linebacker
Tulane
246
Atlanta Falcons
Phil McKinnely
Tackle
UCLA
247
Philadelphia Eagles
Mike Hogan
Running back
Tennessee-Chattanooga
248
Philadelphia Eagles
Richard Osborne
Tight end
Texas A&M
249
Kansas City Chiefs
Tim Collier
Defensive back
East Texas State
250
San Francisco 49ers
Ken Harrison
Wide receiver
Southern Methodist
251
San Diego Chargers
Glynn Harrison
Running back
Georgia
252
Denver Broncos
Jim Czirr
Center
Michigan
253
Detroit Lions
Leanell Jones
Tight end
Long Beach State
254
Washington Redskins
Curtis Akins
Guard
Hawaii
255
Buffalo Bills
Bob Kotzur
Defensive tackle
Southwest Texas State
256
Houston Oilers
Art Stringer
Linebacker
Ball State
257
Miami Dolphins
Norris Thomas
Defensive back
Southern Mississippi
258
Baltimore Colts
Stu Levenick
Tackle
Illinois
259
Cincinnati Bengals
Lonnie Allgood
Wide Receiver
Syracuse
260
Denver Broncos
Jim Lisko
Linebacker
Arkansas State
261
Cleveland Browns
Craig Nagel
Quarterback
Purdue
262
Minnesota Vikings
Isaac Hagins
Wide Receiver
Southern
263
Los Angeles Rams
Jeb Church
Defensive back
Stanford
264
Dallas Cowboys
Beasley Reece
Defensive back
North Texas State
265
Pittsburgh Steelers
Wentford Gaines
Defensive back
Cincinnati
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
266
Seattle Seahawks
Randy Coffield
Linebacker
Florida State
267
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sid Smith
Linebacker
Brigham Young
268
San Diego Chargers
Jeff Perlinger
Defensive end
Michigan
269
New Orleans Saints
Junior Hardin
Linebacker
Eastern Kentucky
270
New England Patriots
Ricky Feacher
Wide receiver
Mississippi Valley State
271
Cleveland Browns
Doug Kleber
Tackle
Illinois
272
Washington Redskins
Paul Strohmeier
Linebacker
Washington
273
Philadelphia Eagles
Herb Lusk
Running back
Long Beach State
274
Green Bay Packers
Jessie Green
Wide receiver
Tulsa
275
San Francisco 49ers
Robin Ross
Tackle
Washington State
276
New York Giants
John Thomas
Running back
Valley City State
277
Kansas City Chiefs
Whitney Paul
Defensive end
Colorado
278
Denver Broncos
Art Gilliam
Defensive end
Grambling
279
Detroit Lions
Bill Bowerman
Defensive back
New Mexico State
280
Buffalo Bills
Keith Moody
Defensive back
Syracuse
281
Miami Dolphins
Gary Fencik
Safety
Yale
282
Miami Dolphins
Don Testerman
Running back
Clemson
283
Baltimore Colts
Tim Baylor
Defensive back
Morgan State
284
Houston Oilers
Steve Kincannon
Quarterback
Humboldt State
285
St. Louis Cardinals
Randy Walker
Running back
Bethune-Cookman
286
Oakland Raiders
Dwight Lewis
Defensive back
Purdue
287
Cincinnati Bengals
Tom Klaban
Kicker
Ohio State
288
Los Angeles Rams
Freeman Johns
Wide receiver
Southern Methodist
289
Minnesota Vikings
Bill Salmon
Quarterback
Northern Iowa
290
Dallas Cowboys
Leroy Cook
Defensive end
Alabama
291
Pittsburgh Steelers
Gary Campbell
Linebacker
Colorado
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
292
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Melvin Washington
Defensive back
Colorado State
293
Seattle Seahawks
Keith Muehr
Punter
Southwestern Louisiana
294
New Orleans Saints
Greg Kokal
Quarterback
Kent State
295
San Diego Chargers
Ray Preston
Linebacker
Syracuse
296
New York Jets
Lawrence Pillers
Defensive end
Alcorn State
297
Cleveland Browns
Chuck Celek
Defensive end
Kent State
298
New England Patriots
Donnie Thomas
Linebacker
Indiana
299
Chicago Bears
Norman Andersen
Wide receiver
UCLA
300
Philadelphia Eagles
Mike Gilbert
Defensive tackle
San Diego State
301
Green Bay Packers
Curtis Leak
Wide receiver
Johnson C. Smith
302
Atlanta Falcons
Chuck Brislin
Tackle
Mississippi State
303
New York Giants
Craig Brantley
Wide receiver
Clemson
304
Kansas City Chiefs
Bob Squires
Tight end
Hastings
305
San Francisco 49ers
Paul Hofer
Running back
Mississippi
306
Denver Broncos
Greg Pittman
Linebacker
Iowa State
307
Detroit Lions
Gary Shugrue
Defensive end
Villanova
308
Washington Redskins
Dean Gissler
Defensive end
Nebraska
309
Buffalo Bills
Forry Smith
Wide receiver
Iowa State
310
Baltimore Colts
Rick Gibney
Defensive tackle
Georgia Tech
311
Houston Oilers
Skip Walker
Running back
Texas A&M
312
Miami Dolphins
Dexter Pride
Running back
Minnesota
313
Oakland Raiders
Rick Jennings
Running back
Maryland
314
Cincinnati Bengals
Melvin Morgan
Defensive back
Mississippi Valley State
315
St. Louis Cardinals
Marty Akins
Defensive back
Texas
316
Minnesota Vikings
Steve Kracher
Running back
Montana State
317
Los Angeles Rams
Brian Nemeth
Tight end
South Carolina
318
Dallas Cowboys
Cornelius Greene
Quarterback
Ohio State
319
Pittsburgh Steelers
Rolland Fuchs
Running back
Arkansas
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
320
Seattle Seahawks
Ron Barnett
Wide receiver
Texas-Arlington
321
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
George Ragsdale
Running back
North Carolina A&T
322
San Diego Chargers
Ron Lee
Defensive back
Oregon
323
New Orleans Saints
Milton Butts
Tackle
North Carolina
324
Houston Oilers
Larry Bell
Tackle
East Texas State
325
New England Patriots
Nathaniel Bell
Defensive tackle
Tulane
326
New York Jets
Don Buckey
Wide receiver
North Carolina State
327
New York Jets
Dave Buckey
Quarterback
North Carolina State
328
Green Bay Packers
Melvin Jackson
Guard
USC
329
Atlanta Falcons
Pat Bolton
Kicker
Montana State
330
Chicago Bears
John O'Leary
Running back
Nebraska
331
Kansas City Chiefs
Harold Porter
Wide receiver
Southwestern Louisiana
332
San Francisco 49ers
Gerald Loper
Guard
Florida
333
New York Giants
Jerry Golsteyn
Quarterback
Northern Illinois
334
Denver Broncos
Randy Moore
Defensive tackle
Arizona State
335
Detroit Lions
Mike McCabe
Center
South Carolina
336
Buffalo Bills
Joe Lowery
Running back
Jackson State
337
Washington Redskins
Walter Tullis
Defensive back
Delaware State
338
San Diego Chargers
Herman Harris
Defensive back
Mississippi Valley State
339
Miami Dolphins
Randy Young
Tackle
Iowa State
340
Baltimore Colts
Frank Stavroff
Kicker
Indiana
341
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Dale Harris
Wide receiver
Alabama
342
Miami Dolphins
Darryl Brandford
Defensive tackle
Northwestern
343
Oakland Raiders
Cedric Brown
Defensive back
Kent State
344
Los Angeles Rams
Jim Jodat
Running back
Carthage
345
Minnesota Vikings
Robert Sparks
Defensive back
San Francisco State
346
Dallas Cowboys
Charles McShane
Linebacker
Cal Lutheran
347
Pittsburgh Steelers
Bill Carroll
Wide receiver
East Texas State
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
348
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brad Jenkins
Tight end
Nebraska
349
Seattle Seahawks
Andy Reid
Running back
Georgia
350
New Orleans Saints
Kenny Downing
Defensive back
Missouri
351
San Diego Chargers
John Lee
Defensive tackle
Nebraska
352
New England Patriots
James Jones
Defensive back
Central Michigan
353
Philadelphia Eagles
Terry Tautolo
Linebacker
UCLA
354
Cleveland Browns
Brian Murray
Tackle
Arizona
355
Green Bay Packers
Bradley Bowman
Defensive back
Southern Mississippi
356
Atlanta Falcons
Mike Williams
Tackle
Florida
357
Chicago Bears
Dale Kasowski
Running back
North Dakota
358
Philadelphia Eagles
Steve Ebbecke
Defensive back
Villanova
359
San Francisco 49ers
Larry Brumfield
Defensive back
Indiana State
360
New York Giants
Rick Caswell
Wide receiver
Western Kentucky
361
Kansas City Chiefs
Joe Bruner
Quarterback
N.E. Louisiana
362
Denver Broncos
Donnie McGraw
Defensive back
Houston
363
Detroit Lions
Mel Jacobs
Wide receiver
San Diego State
364
Washington Redskins
Wayman Britt
Defensive back
Michigan
365
Buffalo Bills
Will Wilcox
Guard
Texas
366
Miami Dolphins
Bernie Head
Center
Tulsa
367
Oakland Raiders
Craig Crnick
Defensive end
Idaho
368
Houston Oilers
Dan O'Rourke
Wide receiver
Colorado State
369
St. Louis Cardinals
Greg Brewton
Defensive tackle
Michigan State
370
Oakland Raiders
Mark Young
Tackle
Washington State
371
Cincinnati Bengals
Randy Walker
Defensive back
Miami (OH)
372
Minnesota Vikings
Gary Paulson
Defensive end
Colorado State
373
Los Angeles Rams
Steve Hamilton
Quarterback
Emporia State
374
Dallas Cowboys
Mark Driscoll
Quarterback
Colorado State
375
Pittsburgh Steelers
Larry Kain
Tight end
Ohio State
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
376
Seattle Seahawks
Jarvis Blinks
Defensive back
Northwest Louisiana
377
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carl Roaches
Wide receiver
Texas A&M
378
San Diego Chargers
Ed Jones
Guard
Cincinnati
379
New Orleans Saints
Rich Hucke
Defensive end
Western Montana
380
New York Jets
Al Gluchoski
Center
West Virginia
381
Cleveland Browns
Joe Smalzer
Tight end
Illinois
382
New England Patriots
David Quehl
Wide receiver
Holy Cross
383
Atlanta Falcons
Mark Husfloen
Defensive end
Washington State
384
Chicago Bears
Ron Cuie
Running back
Oregon State
385
Philadelphia Eagles
Melvin Shy
Defensive back
Tennessee State
386
Green Bay Packers
John Henson
Running back
Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
387
New York Giants
Jerry Mullane
Linebacker
Lehigh
388
Kansas City Chiefs
Rick Thurman
Tackle
Texas
389
San Francisco 49ers
Johnny Miller
Linebacker
Livingstone College
390
Denver Broncos
Larry Evans
Linebacker
Mississippi College
391
Detroit Lions
Leonard Elston
Wide receiver
Kentucky State
392
Buffalo Bills
Tony Williams
Wide receiver
Middle Tennessee State
393
Washington Redskins
Quinn Buckner
Defensive back
Indiana
394
Baltimore Colts
Jeremiah Cummings
Defensive end
Albany State
395
Houston Oilers
John Reimer
Tackle
Wisconsin
396
Miami Dolphins
Bob Gissler
Linebacker
South Dakota State
397
Oakland Raiders
Calvin Young
Running back
Fresno State
398
Cincinnati Bengals
Greg Coleman
Punter
Florida A&M
399
St. Louis Cardinals
Raymond Crosier
Defensive end
Abilene Christian
400
Los Angeles Rams
Al Burleson
Defensive back
Washington
401
Minnesota Vikings
Jeff Stapleton
Tackle
Purdue
402
Dallas Cowboys
Larry Mushinskie
Tight end
Nebraska
403
Pittsburgh Steelers
Wayne Field
Defensive back
Florida
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
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
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 ]
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]
^ "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 .
^ NFL Draft History: Quarterback Draft Class Facts and Figures
^ Wire Services. "Bucs Open Draft By Taking Leroy Selmon". The Sarasota Journal. 8 Apr 1976
^ "Drafts delayed by Bucs" . St. Petersburg Times. January 14, 1976. Retrieved February 9, 2009 .
^ a b c d Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
^ Players are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
^ "Heisman Trophy" . Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2008 .
^ This last selection is commonly referred to as Mr. Irrelevant .
^ a b c List of 1990s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com "Pro Football Hall of Fame" . Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2008 .
^ a b List of 2000s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com "Pro Football Hall of Fame" . Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2008 .