April 20 in Jet History: Jets Select Keyshawn at #1 Overall
Apr 20, 2016 6:45:21 GMT -5
Bing© in Buffalo Chairman likes this
Post by Lithfan on Apr 20, 2016 6:45:21 GMT -5
April 20, 1996
For the first time in their history, the Jets held the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft. There was little intrigue in the days leading up to the draft, as it was generally assumed that the Jets would select USC WR Keyshawn Johnson. There were two other players reportedly linked to the Jets in the weeks prior to the draft, Nebraska RB Lawrence Phillips and Illinois LB Kevin Hardy. Phillips, who might have been the Jets pick if not for off field issues, wound up sliding to 6 and the St. Louis Rams.
The Jets reportedly negotiated with Hardy in the days leading up to the draft, but it was generally assumed that was done just for leverage in their pre-draft negotiations with Keyshawn. As the draft approached, little drama was expected with the first few picks.
Keyshawn went to the Jets as expected, but Jacksonville, picking second, chose Hardy, despite the fact that head coach Tom Coughlin was not a big fan of the pick, “He’s got to improve his quickness and some of his technique,” Coughlin said of his new edge rusher. Arizona, who had been linked to UCLA tackle Jonathan Ogden in the weeks leading up to the draft, but instead they chose Hardy’s Illiinois teammate, DE Simeon Rice. Rice had never spoken to anyone on the Arizona staff prior to the draft.
And the big winners in that 1996 draft came up next, the Baltimore Ravens, in their first draft since leaving Cleveland, they passed on the guy they were expected to take in Phillips, and chose Ogden instead. The Ravens also had the 49ers first round pick, 26 overall, the result of a draft day trade a year earlier. They chose Miami LB Ray Lewis. 2 HOFers -- not bad for the first two picks in franchise history.
As a comparison, I believe that the last member of the Hall to be drafted by the Jets was John Riggins way back in 1971 -- although that is certain to change in a few years with Darrelle Revis and maybe Nick Mangold.
As to the Jets, the rest of their draft went like this:
Rnd 2 (31): WR Alex Van Dyke, Nevada
Rnd 3 (62): DB Ray Mickens, Texas A&M
Rnd 5 (133): DB Marcus Coleman Texas Tech
Rnd 6 (168): Hugh Hunter, DE, Hampton
Rnd 7 (210): Chris Hayes, DB, Washington State
For the first time in their history, the Jets held the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft. There was little intrigue in the days leading up to the draft, as it was generally assumed that the Jets would select USC WR Keyshawn Johnson. There were two other players reportedly linked to the Jets in the weeks prior to the draft, Nebraska RB Lawrence Phillips and Illinois LB Kevin Hardy. Phillips, who might have been the Jets pick if not for off field issues, wound up sliding to 6 and the St. Louis Rams.
The Jets reportedly negotiated with Hardy in the days leading up to the draft, but it was generally assumed that was done just for leverage in their pre-draft negotiations with Keyshawn. As the draft approached, little drama was expected with the first few picks.
Keyshawn went to the Jets as expected, but Jacksonville, picking second, chose Hardy, despite the fact that head coach Tom Coughlin was not a big fan of the pick, “He’s got to improve his quickness and some of his technique,” Coughlin said of his new edge rusher. Arizona, who had been linked to UCLA tackle Jonathan Ogden in the weeks leading up to the draft, but instead they chose Hardy’s Illiinois teammate, DE Simeon Rice. Rice had never spoken to anyone on the Arizona staff prior to the draft.
And the big winners in that 1996 draft came up next, the Baltimore Ravens, in their first draft since leaving Cleveland, they passed on the guy they were expected to take in Phillips, and chose Ogden instead. The Ravens also had the 49ers first round pick, 26 overall, the result of a draft day trade a year earlier. They chose Miami LB Ray Lewis. 2 HOFers -- not bad for the first two picks in franchise history.
As a comparison, I believe that the last member of the Hall to be drafted by the Jets was John Riggins way back in 1971 -- although that is certain to change in a few years with Darrelle Revis and maybe Nick Mangold.
As to the Jets, the rest of their draft went like this:
Rnd 2 (31): WR Alex Van Dyke, Nevada
Rnd 3 (62): DB Ray Mickens, Texas A&M
Rnd 5 (133): DB Marcus Coleman Texas Tech
Rnd 6 (168): Hugh Hunter, DE, Hampton
Rnd 7 (210): Chris Hayes, DB, Washington State
