A Look @ The 1996 NFL Draft (A Ten Year Anniversery Retrospective)

And I know exactly what the first post will be - 1996 wasn't ten drafts ago. Yes it was, I'm not going to fight about in...96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 make nine, with 2005 as number ten. You don't start your life at one years old. That's all I'm going to say about that, all other such queries can be directed to that brick wall.

Okay, with that out of the way (and an hour of office hours left to go), here's a look at the 1996 draft, ten years (minus 2 weeks) later.

1. JETS - Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC
The first wideout taken first overall since Nebraska's Irving Fryar in the early 1980s, Keyshawn was heaped with immediate expectations. Because even as a pup he could be covered by a linebacker, he never met most of those expectations. He has been a dependable possession receiver for a decade with 3 different teams, which is pretty good. He was trade here four years later because of a salary dispute.
BOOM OR BUST? PUSH.

2. JAGS - Kevin Hardy, LB, Illinois
Remember when Illinois had a football team? Anyway, Hardy was the pick, and he was expected to lead the Jags defense. He was bounced around all 3 linebacker positions early in his career and never developed into the kind of player you expect with the #2 pick. He was last seen in Cinci, where he is a servicable SLB.
BOOM OR BUST? MINOR BUST.

3. CARDS - Simeon Rice, DE, Illinois
Remember when Illinois had a GOOD football team? Anyway, Rice broke the then rookie sack record and has been terrorizing QBs ever since. Though he will never be a stout run stuffer, he is underrated and like Keyshawn, has a place near to our Bucfan hearts.
BOOM OR BUST? BOOM.

4. RAVENS - Jon Ogden, OT, UCLA
He might be the best player in the league, regardless of position, and he is certainly the best LT IMHO, with only Walter Jones within a country mile.
BOOM OR BUST ? MAJOR BOOM.

5. GMEN - Cedric Jones, DE, OU
Who? Oh, I vaguely remember him. He wasn't very good.
BOOM OR BUST? MAJOR BUST.

6. RAMS - Lawrence Phillips, RB, NEBRASKA
Ahh, Larry. Prince of Lincoln. I really think he will turn it around if given another chance. A horrible pick, especially because character aside, those Husker lines made backs look better than they were. Even worse when you consider the Bettis trade. On a positive note, I hear Gruden is going to sign him to the vet minimum, Darrell Russell style.
BOOM OR BUST? MAJOR BUST

7. PATS - Terry Glenn, WR OSU
Never again matched an electric rookie year. Still looks like the kinda guy, even a decade later, who could tear it up if he wanted to. Got booted out of town for bad attitude. Most famous for being called "she".
BOOM OR BUST? MINOR BUST

8. CATS - Tim Biakabutuka, RB MICHIGAN
This really wasn't a good draft for the Big Ten. TB, so called because I'm not spelling it again, looked like he could have been a great one, but he once blew out a knee playing basketball - on his playstation.
BOOM OR BUST? BUST

9. RAIDAHS - Rickey Dudley, TE OSU
See earlier comments about Big Ten, and being close to our bucfan hearts. Rickey Dudley seemed like something out of "The Replacements." You know, the chisled TE who can't catch? Another Gruden retreat.
BOOM OR BUST? BUST

10. BUNGLES - Willie Anderson, OT AUBURN
Surprise, surprise, the Bengals make perhaps the shrewdest pick in the draft. Anderson has been one of the top five RTs in the game for the better part of the decade.
BOOM OR BUST? MAJOR BOOM

11. AINTS - Alex Molden, CB, OREGON
A wholly unspectacular NFL pro. He gets points for sticking around for a decade, but certainly not what you want with the 11th overall pick.
BOOM OR BUST? BUST

12. BUCS - Regan Upshaw, DE, Cal
An attempt to further bolster our young defensive line. Upshaw lack strength at the point of attack and speed to get around the corner. But at least he committed a LOT of penalties.
BOOM OR BUST? BUST

13. BEARS - Walt Harris, CB, Mississippi State
A better version of Molden. Though he's not a shutdown guy, he's still a starter in this league.
BOOM OR BUST? MINOR BOOM

14. OILERS - Eddie George, RB, OSU
Sure, he burned out quick, but he was the Earl Campbell of a new generation and was a major part of the Oilers/Titans always being competitive that decade. Props to the powerback.
BOOM OR BUST? MAJOR BOOM

15. BRONCS - John Mobley, LB, KUTZTOWN (?)
Maybe the highest pick ever of a player who went to a college which doesn't exist. Mobley was the Lynchpin of two Superbowl winning defenses, and seems like a class guy. His career ended (prolly) last year with a neck injury.
BOOM OR BUST? MAJOR BOOM

16. VIKES - Duane Clemons, DE, CAL
See Buccaneers Pick. Exactly.
BOOM OR BUST? BUST

17. LIONS - Reggie Brown, LB TA&M
Promising career ended way too early by nasty spinal injury.
BOOM OR BUST? N/A

18. RAMS - Eddie Kennison, WR, LSU
I have no idea what to say to him. On one hand, he's played for about 20 NFL teams. On the other, he's still a starter, on a high powered offense, and he can still make a corner look silly when he feels like it. He gets hurt by the guy picked one pick later.
BOOM OR BUST? PUSH

19. COLTS - Marvin Harrison, WR, CUSE
The best offensive player in the draft, besides Ogden. A sure fire HOFer who is only hurt by his lack of a ring, so far. Looks like he could play at a high level another 4 years or so.
BOOM OR BUST? MAJOR BOOM

20. FINS - Darryl Gardener, DT BAYLOR
Example #2, after Mike Mamula, as to why not to go ga-ga over workout numbers. A solid but totally uninspiring pro, with a bad attitude to boot.
BOOM OR BUST? PUSH

21. HAWKS - Pete Kendall, G, BC
One of the better G/C of his era, he played at a Pro Bowl level for about seven years.
BOOM OR BUST? BOOM

22. BUCS - Marcus Jones, DL, UNC
Swing and a miss for strike two on first round picks this draft. Had one huge year and never came close again. Last seen in Buffalo.
BOOM OR BUST? BUST

23. LIONS - Jeff Hartings, G, PSU
A rock solid lineman in this league, and (trivia alert), the first player taken by the "new" Browns in their expansion draft.
BOOM OR BUST? PUSH

24. BILLS - Eric Moulds, WR, Mississippi State
Gets overlooked because of wideout heavy draft, but has been in the top ten among wideouts league wide pretty much since his third year.
BOOM OR BUST? MAJOR BOOM

25. EAGLES - Jermaine Mayberry, OL, TA&M Kingsville
Never became the franchise tackle the birds had hoped for, but to this day is a great interior lineman.
BOOM OR BUST? BOOM

26. RAVENS - Ray Lewis, LB, MIAMI
Need I say more?
BOOM OR BUST? SONIC BOOM

27. PACK - Jon Michaels, G, USC
Tell me again how Ron Wolf is a genius? Never made a dent in the league.
BOOM OR BUST? MAJOR BUST

28. CHEFS - Jerome Woods, S, Memphis
Has been a solid part of a lousy defense for a decade. A bit underrated everywhere but KC, where he's vastly overrated.
BOOM OR BUST? PUSH

29. STEELERS - Jamain Stephens, OT, NC A&T
Take THAT Steeler fans! Proof that you should never draft a guy from a school without a football team!
BOOM OR BUST? MAJOR BUST

30. REDSKINS - Andre Johnson, OL PSU
No, not THAT Andre Johnson. This guy was a doughy tackle who never amounted to anything in the show.
BOOM OR BUST? MAJOR BUST


OTHER PICKS OF INTEREST (to me, anyway):
2/3 JAGS - Tony Brackens, DE TEXAS
Their all time sacks leader, to this day.

2/5 BUCS - Mike Alstott, RB, PURDUE
Before you get all excited Buc Nation, look who went one pick later.

2/6 PATS - Lawyer Milloy, S, WASH
One of the best SS ever.

2/13 CATS - M. Muhhamed, WR MSU
Their all time leading receiver, by a mile.

2/31 EAGLES - Brian Dawkins, S, CLEMSON
Perhaps the greatest compensatory pick ever.

3/25 PATS - Tedy Bruschi, LB, ARIZONA
A lynchpin to 3 Superbowl wins.

3/28 NINERS - Terrell Owens, WR, TENN-CHAT
Perhaps the best value pick in the entire draft.

4/7 REDSKINS - Stephen Davis, RB AUBURN
Still a great power back when healthy.

4/14 OILERS - Jon Runyan, OT MICHIGAN
An All Pro against everyone but Michael Strahan.

4/31 STEELERS - Earl Holmes, LB, FLORIDA A&M
Another great Steeler 3-4 linebacker they'd later lose to free agency.

5/1 JETS - Marcus Coleman, DB, TEXAS TECH
Still an upper echelon DB in the league.

5/3 CHEFS - Joe Horn, WR, BUTTHOLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Maybe KC should have given him more of a chance.

5/22 FINS - Zach Thomas, LB, TEXAS TECH
Exhibit #3 as to why workouts are overrated.

5/34 RAIDUHS - La Roi Glover, DT, SD STATE
Had maybe the greatest season ever by a DT with the Saints.

6/33 STEELERS - Orpheus Roye, DE, FSU
One thing the Steelers do better than anyone is finding guys to fit their defensive system

6/41 PACK - MARCO RIVERA, G, PSU
Almost makes up for Jon Michaels.

7/33 STEELERS - Carlos Emmons, LB, Arkansas State
Only a Jamaine Stephens away from having a great draft!

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed avoiding students!

[Bucs Dynasty]

Originally Posted by Leeroy

5/3 CHEFS - Joe Horn, WR, BUTTHOLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LOL!

[Ballin_Since_76]

that was a very very good draft

one of, if not, the best defensive draft in my recent memory

Originally Posted by Ballin_Since_76

that was a very very good draft

one of, if not, the best defensive draft in my recent memory

Not for us.....

Originally Posted by Spiderman1314

Not for us.....

true not for us, but man i didnt know that draft put out so many perrenial pro bowlers and potential HOF's interesting, probably the best draft in the last 10-20 yrs...

[Airborne Eagle]

Originally Posted by Leeroy

23. LIONS - Jeff Hartings, G, PSU
A rock solid lineman in this league, and (trivia alert), the first player taken by the "new" Browns in their expansion draft.
BOOM OR BUST? PUSH

Check again (Jim Pyne).

Originally Posted by Leeroy

4/14 OILERS - Jon Runyan, OT MICHIGAN
An All Pro against everyone but Michael Strahan.

He has high profile bad games against him but generally it's a push. He has dominated Strahan as much as Strahan gets the better.

[everardo_7206]

i still would have taken alstott over lawyer milloi or whatever the hell his name is

Originally Posted by everardo_7206

i still would have taken alstott over lawyer milloi or whatever the hell his name is

Yeah I don't regret that at all, there is a couple further down that would have made me think twice though. Terrell Owens! Hmmm? Nah, I'll stick with Mike!

[DeadEagle]

Originally Posted by everardo_7206

i still would have taken alstott over lawyer milloi or whatever the hell his name is

Can you imagine how much better our defnse would have been with Lynch AND Milloy in the same secondary. Scary.

[DeadEagle]

I also would trade our 4th round pick to get a shot at Zach Thomas. Wow!!! what a pick by the 'Phins.

Originally Posted by DeadEagle

Can you imagine how much better our defnse would have been with Lynch AND Milloy in the same secondary. Scary.

I don't know, our free safetys, seems no matter who they were, have performed quite well for us, which I think is product of our system. Though he would also have been great for us. I'm thinking, (and maybe I'm wrong) that some of Lawyers talents may have been wasted in our system.

[HaVoC]

Originally Posted by Leeroy

Simeon Rice is underrated and like Keyshawn, has a place near to our Bucfan hearts.

Please tell me you are kidding about Meshawn.

[england]

1. JETS - Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC
The first wideout taken first overall since Nebraska's Irving Fryar in the early 1980s, Keyshawn was heaped with immediate expectations. Because even as a pup he could be covered by a linebacker, he never met most of those expectations. He has been a dependable possession receiver for a decade with 3 different teams, which is pretty good. He was trade here four years later because of a salary dispute.
BOOM OR BUST? PUSH.

In terms of ability he's a boom

and Eric Moulds is a boom but not a major boom

Originally Posted by england

In terms of ability he's a boom

and Eric Moulds is a boom but not a major boom

I think the only reason he called Keyshawn a "push" is because he was the first player taken. And I don't think he ever lived up to being the top player in the draft. That, compounded by his attitude/personality I believe he deserves the "push" status.

As for Moulds, and him being a first rounder, I agree that he's a boom and not a "major boom".

Overall Leeroy, I think you did a tremendous job with your evaluations...

[BucsMagicUK]

Wow, was that really 10 years ago!?

[Capt Morgan]

No Key = No Super Bowl

period.

[TORONTOBUCFAN]

good read...a whole lotta gems late in the draft!

Originally Posted by BucsMagicUK

Wow, was that really 10 years ago!?

LOL thats what I'm thinking!

The thought of Ray Lewis on this defense a few years ago is just amazing....too bad it didnt happen

[DragnSlayrF31]

Just seeing a team named the Oilers brings back some serious memories - and family disagreements. Nothing like living in a house with a diehard Cowboy fan, a diehard Oiler fan and a diehard Bucs fan. Sundays were interesting but lucky for me - we lived in Tampa. Guess what games were watched?


























The Cowboys thanks to blackouts.

[Clayton80future]

http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2...uldve_1996.htm


I always love these websites. As far as I know, they have the drfat reviews from 1989-2001.

[Bucs Dynasty]

NFL network was talkin about this draft earlier and that it was one of the best WR drafts ever. T.O., Muhammed, Harrison...etc. I agree.

That was an interesting read, thanks for posting it

[vegaboss]

some of these players where just picked by teams thats didnt really need them, so they never panned out. like the saints drafting molden when they didnt even need any secondary players, the rams drafting kennison, who already had isaac bruce, who season before had 1700+season.

biakabutka has to be listed as a major bust, 2500career yards says it all, and brittle as a potato chip.

eric molds is a light boom, a good receiver but never an elite.

and while eddie george is a major boom, comparing him to the tyler rose earl campbell is just crazy. still the only man besides jim brown to win mvp his first 2 season, and the 2nd player ever to lead the league in rushing his first 3seasons, dickerson,earl. still the only back in nfl history to run for 4-200yard games in one season. not to mention the second fastest back in nfl history to rush for 6000yards.

Originally Posted by Spiderman1314

Not for us.....

Dungy was a disaster when it came to his suggestions regarding the draft. All of his drafts stunk. It's too bad the Bucs didnt keep Wyche to do the drafting with McKay. McKay was good, but Dungy's suggestions were killers. Upshaw and Jones that draft when the Bucs already had a decent D line? Stupid.