1973 NFL draft
The 1973 National Football League Draft was the 38th annual player selection meeting held by the league's franchises to choose eligible amateur players, primarily from colleges, and assign them to teams. It took place over two days, January 30 and 31, at the Americana Hotel in New York City, and consisted of 17 rounds in which 442 players were selected.[1][2] The Houston Oilers held the first overall pick and used it to select defensive end John Matuszak from the University of Tampa, though he was traded to the Oakland Raiders before the season without playing for Houston.[3] This draft is particularly noted for yielding multiple Pro Football Hall of Famers and standout performers who shaped the 1970s NFL landscape, including guard John Hannah (selected fourth overall by the New England Patriots out of Alabama, widely regarded as one of the greatest offensive linemen in history), quarterback Bert Jones (second overall by the Baltimore Colts from LSU, who led the Colts to three straight AFC East division titles from 1975-77 and earned the 1976 NFL MVP award), punter Ray Guy (first round, 23rd overall by the Oakland Raiders from Southern Mississippi, a three-time Super Bowl champion and the only pure punter in the Hall of Fame), and quarterback Dan Fouts (third round, 64th overall by the San Diego Chargers from Oregon, who led the league in passing yards four times and was key to the Air Coryell offense).[2][3][4] Other impactful first-round selections included tackle Jerry Sisemore (third overall, Philadelphia Eagles from Texas), defensive tackle Dave Butz (fifth overall, St. Louis Cardinals from Purdue, who later won two Super Bowls with Washington), tight end Charle Young (sixth overall, Eagles from USC, a five-time Pro Bowler), defensive tackle Wally Chambers (eighth overall, Chicago Bears from Eastern Kentucky, the 1973 Defensive Rookie of the Year), and running back Otis Armstrong (ninth overall, Denver Broncos from Purdue, a three-time Pro Bowler who rushed for over 1,000 yards in 1974).[3][5] The draft's success for several teams, such as the Patriots and Raiders, contributed to their contention in subsequent seasons, with Hannah anchoring New England's line during their late-1970s playoff runs and Guy providing elite special teams support for Oakland's dynasty.[2] One unusual aspect was a technicality in the later rounds: the Los Angeles Rams passed on their 15th-round pick, causing the next selection (Kurt Matter) to be listed as the 393rd overall in the 16th round.[3] Overall, the 1973 draft exemplified the era's emphasis on building through the trenches and versatile skill players.[2]Background
Eligibility and Rules
The 1973 NFL Draft adhered to the league's established eligibility criteria for amateur players, primarily targeting college athletes. Eligible participants included seniors who had exhausted their four years of college eligibility or underclassmen—such as juniors with at least three years of enrollment—who received special approval through a hardship waiver process. This waiver was granted on a case-by-case basis for demonstrated financial need, family hardships, or other exceptional circumstances, though such approvals were uncommon in the early 1970s and did not significantly expand the player pool for that draft.[6] The draft consisted of 17 rounds, resulting in 442 total selections distributed among the 26 NFL teams. To promote competitive balance, the selection order rewarded teams with the poorest records from the previous season; the Houston Oilers, who finished 1-13 in 1972, were awarded the first overall pick. Additional compensatory picks were not a formal mechanism at the time, but the reverse-order format provided extra early-round opportunities to struggling franchises.[3] Teams retained the option for territorial picks, allowing them to select local or regional college players prior to the regular draft without those choices counting against their allotted selections. However, following the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, such territorial claims had diminished, and no significant territorial picks were made in 1973, reflecting the unified national player pool. The merger itself had stabilized the draft structure by combining talent scouting across former AFL and NFL territories but did not modify core eligibility or operational rules.[7]Pre-Draft Context
The 1972 NFL season, marked by the Miami Dolphins' historic undefeated campaign, highlighted stark disparities across the league, prompting widespread rebuilding efforts among struggling franchises heading into the 1973 draft. With 10 teams finishing below .500 and several posting dismal records, including the Houston Oilers' league-worst 1-13 mark, general managers prioritized bolstering defenses and key offensive positions to counter the evolving emphasis on aerial attacks. League-wide passing yards reached 51,792, reflecting a gradual shift toward more sophisticated passing schemes that exposed vulnerabilities in secondary and front-seven units for many teams.[8][9] The Houston Oilers, coming off a campaign where they ranked second-to-last in points scored (164) and allowed (380), desperately sought defensive reinforcements, particularly along the line, to halt their skid of 18 consecutive losses spanning the 1972 and 1973 seasons. Similarly, the Baltimore Colts, who limped to a 5-9 finish in the third year of their post-Johnny Unitas transition, identified quarterback as a franchise cornerstone need, with signal-callers like Marty Domres unable to fully stabilize the offense amid a 4-5 record in his nine starts. These team-specific gaps shaped scouting priorities, funneling resources toward defensive ends and mobile quarterbacks capable of extending plays in an era of tightening pass defenses.[10][11][12] Pre-draft evaluations centered on all-star showcases like the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game, where top prospects demonstrated pro-ready skills against elite competition. John Matuszak, the 6-foot-8, 280-pound defensive end from Tampa, emerged as the consensus top talent after a dominant college career that included All-American honors, positioning him as the projected No. 1 overall pick to address pass-rush deficiencies. Likewise, LSU quarterback Bert Jones, lauded for his arm strength and poise without relying on an agent, impressed evaluators as a blue-chip heir apparent for quarterback-needy teams, with scouts forecasting a high first-round selection. Mock projections from outlets like The New York Times reinforced this outlook, favoring defensive linemen and signal-callers early due to the league's talent imbalances.[13][14][15] Amid these preparations, minor controversies arose over the growing role of player agents, with the NFL Players Association filing 11 complaints in early January 1973 against certified representatives for alleged misconduct, prompting a league investigation that influenced contract negotiation strategies. Discussions of potential holdouts, particularly for high-profile draftees seeking guarantees amid rising salaries, added tension, as teams like the Oilers braced for protracted talks with their anticipated top selection. These dynamics underscored the draft's high stakes, blending talent evaluation with emerging labor tensions.[16]Draft Event
Date and Location
The 1973 NFL Draft took place over two days, January 30 and 31, at the Americana Hotel in New York City.[17][18] This venue, specifically the Versailles Room, hosted the proceedings as part of New York City's long-standing tradition of serving as the draft's home base for NFL events until 2015.[19][20] The event followed an in-person format typical of the era, with representatives from all 26 NFL teams gathered to make selections on behalf of their organizations. On the first day, January 30, the draft covered the initial seven rounds, while the second day, January 31, encompassed the remaining 10 rounds (8 through 17), resulting in a total of 442 players chosen.[17] NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle presided over the announcements from the podium, underscoring the league's centralized administration of the process.[19] Media coverage was limited compared to modern standards, with no live television broadcast available, as the NFL Draft would not receive its first national TV airing until 1980. Instead, reports were disseminated through radio updates and wire services, enabling real-time dissemination of picks to newspapers and outlets across the country. Key NFL executives and team personnel filled the room, contributing to the draft's atmosphere as a professional networking and decision-making gathering.Selection Process and Trades
The selection order for the 1973 NFL Draft followed the standard procedure of the era, with teams picking in reverse order of their 1972 regular-season standings, beginning with the Houston Oilers, who had finished with the league's worst record of 1-13.[3] Ties in records were broken by strength of schedule, calculated as the combined winning percentage of each team's opponents from the prior season. This system ensured that the most successful teams from 1972, such as the Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins, selected last in the first round at pick No. 26. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle presided over the draft, held over two days on January 30-31 at the Americana Hotel in New York City, where he announced each selection into a microphone as team representatives submitted their choices.[14] Verbal agreements on trades were binding under league rules, requiring immediate notification to Rozelle to adjust the order accordingly, which facilitated a fluid process amid ongoing negotiations. Trades were a prominent feature of the event, with approximately 20 transactions involving 1973 draft picks executed around the draft period, many focusing on quarterback-needy teams seeking to move up for prospects like Bert Jones of LSU.[17] A key example occurred just before the first round when the New Orleans Saints traded their No. 2 overall pick to the Baltimore Colts in exchange for defensive end Billy Newsome and a fourth-round selection (No. 86 overall), allowing the Colts to select Jones.[17] In the mid-rounds, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired additional picks for future drafts through swaps, such as trading running back Norm Bulaich to the Dallas Cowboys for a 1973 fourth-rounder (No. 83 overall) and a 1974 second-rounder.[17] The Houston Oilers retained their No. 1 overall pick to select defensive end John Matuszak of Tampa.[14] Unlike later drafts, the 1973 event featured no major supplemental selections, as the NFL's formal supplemental draft process for players entering via unique circumstances, such as Canadian football or legal issues, did not begin until 1977.Player Selections
First Round
The first round of the 1973 NFL Draft, held on January 30, 1973, featured 26 selections as the league consisted of 26 teams, with picks allocated in reverse order of the previous season's standings. Teams focused on addressing immediate needs in the trenches and backfield, selecting a total of four offensive linemen, four running backs, and multiple tight ends and defensive linemen to fortify lines amid the era's emphasis on physical, run-oriented play. One notable trade reshaped selections late in the round: the Chicago Bears acquired the 19th overall pick from the Detroit Lions in exchange for their 17th overall pick (used by the Lions on defensive end Ernie Price from Texas A&M-Kingsville) and a third-round choice, with tight end Craig Cotton sent to the Lions. The New England Patriots then traded running back Carl Garrett to the Bears for the 19th pick, allowing them to draft wide receiver Darryl Stingley from Purdue and giving them three impactful first-round selections: John Hannah (4th), Sam Cunningham (11th), and Stingley (19th).[17] The following table lists all first-round selections, including pick number, player name, position, college, and drafting team:
Key highlights underscored team strategies for immediate impact. The Houston Oilers, who finished 1-13 in 1972 and earned the top pick, targeted defensive end John Matuszak to initiate a defensive rebuild; the 6-foot-8, 280-pound All-American from Tampa had dominated as a pass rusher in college, earning MVP honors in the Lions All-American Bowl after a standout career that included a Tangerine Bowl victory.[14][21] The Baltimore Colts followed by selecting quarterback Bert Jones second overall as a long-term solution at the position following the trade of veteran Johnny Unitas; the 6-foot-3, 210-pound gunslinger from LSU had completed 55% of his passes for 3,255 yards and 28 touchdowns over three seasons, including a senior-year output of 1,446 yards and 14 touchdowns that earned him fourth place in Heisman voting.[14][22][23]
The Philadelphia Eagles prioritized the offensive line with third overall pick Jerry Sisemore, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound tackle from Texas who had anchored the Longhorns' lines during three Southwest Conference titles and a 30-game unbeaten streak as a sophomore in 1970, earning two-time All-American status. The New England Patriots then took guard John Hannah fourth overall to strengthen their interior line; the 6-foot-2, 265-pound Alabama standout, a two-time All-American and winner of the 1972 Jacobs Blocking Trophy for top SEC lineman, had helped the Crimson Tide to a 27-8-1 record over three seasons while also excelling in track with SEC records in shot put and discus. Rounding out the top five, the St. Louis Cardinals selected defensive tackle Dave Butz fifth overall for front-seven depth; the 6-foot-7, 291-pound Purdue product was a first-team All-American with 108 career tackles, including 21 for loss, and was named defensive MVP of the 1972 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl.[24][25][26][27][28][29]