1996 NFL Draft

The 1996 National Football League Draft was held on April 20–21, 1996 and is considered one of the best draft classes ever for the position of wide receiver. Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Eddie Kennison, Marvin Harrison, Eric Moulds, Bobby Engram, Terrell Owens, Muhsin Muhammad, Amani Toomer, and Joe Horn have all achieved success in the pros, with all except Kennison 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 are currently or have recently been starters in the NFL (Keyshawn Johnson retired in 2007). 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 1000 receptions and 10,000 yards [Football Prospectus 2007, p. 461] .

It also was one of the best draft years for middle linebackers, with two potential hall of famers in Ray Lewis and Zach Thomas selected. Ray Lewis has made 9 Pro Bowls while Zack Thomas has made 7. Tedy Bruschi, another middle linebacker, also has been to a Pro Bowl. Other Linebackers who made at least one pro bowl from this draft are Kevin Hardy, John Mobley, and Donnie Edwards. The following have enjoyed solid careers: Randall Godfrey, Earl Holmes, and Carlos Emmons.

Also 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 wouldn't have another feature back until they traded for Marshall Faulk three years later due to Phillips' off-field problems.

Player selections

Round three

Round six

Hall of Famers

None of the drafted players from the 1996 NFL Draft have been inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

References

External links

* [http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=1996 NFL.com - 1996 Draft]
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?lg=NFL&yr=1996 databaseFootball.com - 1996 Draft]
* [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1996.jsp Pro Football Hall of Fame]