Post by Lithfan on Mar 14, 2016 5:33:29 GMT -5
March 14, 1967
The date of the first combined AFL-NFL draft. Prior to 1967, the draft had taken place in November, immediately following the end of the college football regular season. For the first combined draft, the teams agreed to move the draft to January to hold it after the College Bowl season was over.
In 1967, however, the draft was pushed back about two months due to disagreement between league coaches and owners over how to treat college redshirt players. In the past, redshirts whose class had graduated were eligible to be drafted if his original class had graduated, even if he had eligibility left. In the NFL, they could be drafted with their regular class, but the AFL held a separate redshirt draft. The owners finally agreed that redshirts were no longer eligible to be drafted if they still had eligibility left.
With agreement on the redshirt question, the draft began on March 14, 1967, The Jets selected 12th overall. Several all time greats and hall of famers were picked in the first 11 picks. #1 overall to the Colts (via trade with New Orleans) was Bubba Smith. Also going in the Top 10 were future HOFers Bob Griese and Floyd Little and Pro Bowlers including Gene Washington and Mel Farr. As for the Jets, with the 12th pick they selected Paul Seiler, C, Notre Dame.
Here it is, the Jets Draft Class of 1967:
It was not until the 7th round that the Jets found a solid player, DT John Elliott out of Texas. Their best pick would have to wait until the 12th round, G Randy Rasmussen from Nebraska-Kearney. Elliott, Rasmussen and a whole lot of nothing.
The Jets did sign an undrafted free agent that went on to star for them in the Super Bowl, picking up Randy Beverly, DB out of Colorado State. Beverly, who played 3 season with the Jets, would intercept two passes in the Super Bowl, both picks coming in the end zone to end Colts scoring threats, one off of Earl Morral in the 2nd quarter and the other off Johnny Unitas in the 4th. An argument could be made that Randy Beverly could have been the MVP in SB III, rather than Namath.
The date of the first combined AFL-NFL draft. Prior to 1967, the draft had taken place in November, immediately following the end of the college football regular season. For the first combined draft, the teams agreed to move the draft to January to hold it after the College Bowl season was over.
In 1967, however, the draft was pushed back about two months due to disagreement between league coaches and owners over how to treat college redshirt players. In the past, redshirts whose class had graduated were eligible to be drafted if his original class had graduated, even if he had eligibility left. In the NFL, they could be drafted with their regular class, but the AFL held a separate redshirt draft. The owners finally agreed that redshirts were no longer eligible to be drafted if they still had eligibility left.
With agreement on the redshirt question, the draft began on March 14, 1967, The Jets selected 12th overall. Several all time greats and hall of famers were picked in the first 11 picks. #1 overall to the Colts (via trade with New Orleans) was Bubba Smith. Also going in the Top 10 were future HOFers Bob Griese and Floyd Little and Pro Bowlers including Gene Washington and Mel Farr. As for the Jets, with the 12th pick they selected Paul Seiler, C, Notre Dame.
Here it is, the Jets Draft Class of 1967:
It was not until the 7th round that the Jets found a solid player, DT John Elliott out of Texas. Their best pick would have to wait until the 12th round, G Randy Rasmussen from Nebraska-Kearney. Elliott, Rasmussen and a whole lot of nothing.
The Jets did sign an undrafted free agent that went on to star for them in the Super Bowl, picking up Randy Beverly, DB out of Colorado State. Beverly, who played 3 season with the Jets, would intercept two passes in the Super Bowl, both picks coming in the end zone to end Colts scoring threats, one off of Earl Morral in the 2nd quarter and the other off Johnny Unitas in the 4th. An argument could be made that Randy Beverly could have been the MVP in SB III, rather than Namath.