1995 NFL draft
The 1995 NFL Draft was the procedure by which the league's 30 franchises selected eligible amateur players, primarily from colleges, to replenish their rosters for the upcoming season. Held over two days on April 22 and 23 at the Paramount Theatre within Madison Square Garden in New York City, the event marked the first time the draft occurred on a weekend to boost fan engagement and attendance.[1][2] The draft featured seven rounds and a total of 249 selections, including supplemental picks for the league's two newest expansion teams, the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars.[3] In the first round, the Cincinnati Bengals selected running back Ki-Jana Carter from Penn State with the No. 1 overall pick, acquired via trade from the Panthers in exchange for the Bengals' first- and second-round selections plus additional future picks.[4] The Jaguars, as an expansion franchise, followed by drafting offensive tackle Tony Boselli from USC at No. 2, who became the cornerstone of their offensive line and a three-time All-Pro selection.[4] Other early highlights included the Houston Oilers choosing quarterback Steve McNair from Alcorn State at No. 3, a future Pro Bowl performer and co-NFL MVP in 2003, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selecting defensive tackle Warren Sapp from the University of Miami at No. 12, who later earned four All-Pro honors and a Super Bowl title.[4] The Buccaneers doubled down on defensive talent by picking linebacker Derrick Brooks from Florida State at No. 28, another future Hall of Famer with 11 Pro Bowl appearances.[4] Beyond the first round, the draft yielded additional Pro Football Hall of Famers, including running back Terrell Davis (No. 20 overall, Denver Broncos from Georgia) and running back Curtis Martin (No. 74 overall, New England Patriots from Pittsburgh), a five-time Pro Bowler who ranks sixth all-time in NFL rushing yards.[4][5] Standout non-Hall of Famers like wide receiver Joey Galloway (No. 8, Seattle Seahawks from Ohio State) and quarterback Kerry Collins (No. 5, Carolina Panthers from Penn State) also emerged, contributing to dynamic offenses in the late 1990s and early 2000s.[4] Overall, the 1995 class is regarded as one of the stronger drafts of its era due to its depth in defensive stars and skill-position talent, helping shape contending teams like the Buccaneers' defense—which marked a turning point as the first draft under new Glazer family ownership delivering Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks[6]—and the Jaguars' inaugural rosters.[7]Overview
Event Details
The 1995 NFL Draft was held over two days, April 22 and 23, at the Paramount Theatre within Madison Square Garden in New York City. This venue hosted the annual selection event for the 30 NFL teams, marking a traditional gathering spot for league executives, scouts, and media in the heart of Manhattan. The draft's proceedings unfolded in a theater setting that accommodated the growing spectacle of the event, with teams communicating picks via phone lines to league offices.[2][8] Broadcast coverage was provided nationally by ESPN, which aired the draft live for an extensive duration, including 17 hours across both days on its main network and ESPN2. The telecast featured host Chris Berman, draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., and analysts such as Joe Theismann and Chris Mortensen, delivering real-time commentary on selections and team strategies. This marked ESPN's continued role in televising the draft since 1980, helping to popularize the event among a broader audience.[9][10] The draft comprised 249 total selections distributed across seven rounds, incorporating standard team picks along with compensatory selections awarded to teams that lost key free agents in the prior offseason. These compensatory picks added depth to the later rounds, providing opportunities for additional talent evaluation. The event concluded with the 249th overall pick, traditionally dubbed "Mr. Irrelevant," awarded to defensive back Michael Reed from Boston College by the expansion Carolina Panthers; Reed, a cornerback, embodied the lighthearted tradition associated with the final selection.[11][12][13]Format and Rules
The 1995 NFL Draft consisted of seven rounds, during which each of the league's 30 teams, including the two new expansion franchises, was allotted one selection per round unless picks were traded away. A total of 249 players were chosen across these rounds.[3] The order of selections followed the reverse standings from the 1994 NFL season, prioritizing teams with the worst records to promote competitive balance. Ties in records were resolved primarily by strength of schedule, calculated as the combined winning percentage of a team's opponents from the prior year; teams facing weaker opponents received higher picks to ensure fairness in difficulty.[14] Player eligibility was governed by the NFL's three-year rule, requiring prospects to be at least three years removed from high school graduation. College seniors were automatically eligible upon exhausting their eligibility, while underclassmen—most commonly juniors who had completed three years of college enrollment—could petition to enter the draft early by submitting an affidavit irrevocably forfeiting their remaining collegiate eligibility by a deadline in late January. In 1995, this process saw numerous underclassmen declare, reflecting the growing trend since the rule's introduction in 1990.[15][16] Compensatory picks were granted to teams that net lost unrestricted free agents in the 1994 offseason, based on factors such as the agents' prior salaries, playing time, and postseason honors. For the 1995 draft, these resulted in 25 additional selections distributed exclusively in rounds 3 through 7, providing targeted roster support without altering early-round dynamics.[17] A distinctive feature of the 1995 draft was the priority given to the expansion Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars to accelerate their franchise development. Through a lottery system—a coin flip held prior to the event—the teams were assigned the first and second overall picks in each of the seven rounds, alternating order starting with the coin-flip winner (the Panthers) in Round 1. This special allocation totaled 14 picks per team before any trades, enabling rapid roster construction for their debut seasons.[18][19]Background
Expansion Teams
The Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars entered the NFL as expansion franchises in 1995, marking the league's first additions since the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined in 1976.[20] The draft order between the two expansion teams was determined by a coin flip, with the Panthers winning the first pick in the regular draft and the Jaguars receiving the first selection in the preceding expansion draft.[2] These teams were awarded significant draft advantages to accelerate roster construction, including the first and second selections in every round of the 1995 NFL Draft, with their initial first-round picks positioned early in the order.[21] This structure provided the expansion clubs with 14 total selections across the seven rounds, double the standard allocation for established teams, enabling them to target high-value prospects efficiently.[22] The Panthers faced a setback due to a tampering violation involving their hiring of head coach Dom Capers, who had been the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive coordinator. The NFL fined the franchise $150,000 and stripped it of supplemental picks in the second and sixth rounds as punishment for improper contact with Capers before the 1994 season concluded.[23] Despite this penalty, the expansion framework still offered substantial benefits, as the teams operated under relaxed salary cap rules for their initial years to accommodate building from scratch.[24] The Jaguars adopted a deliberate approach in the draft, emphasizing investments in their offensive line and defensive unit through their priority selections to establish foundational strength.[25] This strategy aligned with the broader goal of creating a competitive core quickly, leveraging the league's concessions for new entrants. Preceding the regular draft, an expansion draft occurred on February 15, 1995, where the Panthers and Jaguars alternated selections from unprotected players across the existing 28 teams, requiring each to claim between 30 and 42 veterans to form initial rosters.[26] However, the April draft represented the primary mechanism for acquiring fresh collegiate talent, serving as the cornerstone of long-term team development for the newcomers.[20]Pre-Draft Expectations
The 1995 NFL draft generated significant anticipation among scouts, analysts, and fans, with Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter widely regarded as the consensus top prospect due to his blend of elite speed, vision, and power from a standout college career that included 1,539 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in 1994.[27] Carter's projected status as the No. 1 overall pick was nearly unanimous in pre-draft evaluations, positioning him as the solution for teams desperate for a transformative ground game.[28] USC offensive tackle Tony Boselli emerged as the top lineman prospect, praised for his size, technique, and ability to dominate pass protection, making him a foundational piece for offensive rebuilds.[28] Miami defensive tackle Warren Sapp stood out as the premier defensive talent, with his quickness and pass-rushing instincts drawing comparisons to elite NFL interior linemen, though his stock fluctuated amid off-field scrutiny.[27] Team strategies centered on addressing critical weaknesses, with the Cincinnati Bengals aggressively pursuing a trade-up to secure a running back after their 1994 rushing offense managed just 88.1 yards per game, one of the league's worst marks, following years of inconsistency at the position.[29] The expansion Jacksonville Jaguars, starting from scratch, focused on fortifying their offensive line to protect a young quarterback and enable a balanced attack, viewing Boselli as an ideal cornerstone for long-term stability.[25] Similarly, the St. Louis Rams aimed to revamp their pass rush, which generated only 31 sacks in 1994—ranking 25th in the NFL—targeting explosive defenders to pressure quarterbacks and elevate a middling defense. Mock draft trends reinforced these expectations, with outlets like Pro Football Weekly and Sports Illustrated consistently projecting Carter to go first overall and Boselli second, often to the Jaguars, while Sapp's potential top-10 placement was tempered by controversy over failed drug tests at the NFL Combine in February 1995, where he tested positive for marijuana, raising character flags that caused some teams to lower him on their boards.[28][30] The Combine itself proved pivotal, as Carter clocked a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and demonstrated exceptional explosiveness in drills, boosting his hype as a generational back; Boselli impressed with his footwork and strength in position-specific workouts, solidifying his elite status despite skipping all-star games to prioritize preparation.[31][32] Sapp's athletic testing highlighted his burst off the line, but the drug test results dominated discussions, leading to projections of a mid-first-round slide.[33] The Senior Bowl in late January further shaped draft boards, with notable performances from defensive prospects influencing evaluations, though top offensive stars like Carter and Boselli largely sat out to avoid injury risks ahead of the Combine.[34] Media outlets amplified the buzz around Carter's speed—highlighted by his sub-4.5 40-yard dash—and Boselli's dominance in college tape, with previews in UPI and the Los Angeles Times portraying the class as rich in immediate-impact players poised to reshape franchises.[27][35]Draft Selections
First Round
The first round of the 1995 NFL Draft featured 32 selections, an expansion from the standard number due to supplemental picks awarded to the new Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars franchises as part of their entry into the league.[4] Held on April 22, 1995, at the Paramount Theatre in New York City, the round emphasized offensive talent early, with running backs and quarterbacks drawing significant attention amid high pre-draft expectations for speed and arm strength at those positions.[36] The draft opened with a blockbuster trade, as the Cincinnati Bengals sent their fifth-overall pick and second-round selection (No. 36) to the Panthers for the No. 1 choice, immediately selecting running back Ki-Jana Carter from Penn State.[22] Carter, a Heisman Trophy runner-up known for his explosive 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, was viewed as an instant franchise savior for the Bengals' stagnant rushing attack, generating immediate buzz among scouts and fans for his potential to transform the team's offense.[37] The expansion Jaguars followed at No. 2 by drafting offensive tackle Tony Boselli from USC, prioritizing protection for a young quarterback in their inaugural season and marking a foundational move for the franchise.[4] An early quarterback surge ensued, with the Houston Oilers picking Steve McNair from Alcorn State third overall, praised for his dual-threat mobility and strong arm that promised to revitalize their passing game.[4] The Panthers, after the trade, used the acquired fifth pick on Kerry Collins from Penn State, another highly touted passer whose poise and size were seen as ideal for an expansion team's quick development.[4] The St. Louis Rams added defensive end Kevin Carter from Florida at sixth, a versatile pass rusher expected to bolster their front seven immediately.[4] The New York Jets selected tight end Kyle Brady from Penn State with the ninth overall pick; this choice drew furious boos from Jets fans, as captured in NFL Films footage, amid expectations that the team would select defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who instead fell to the twelfth pick and was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[4][38] One of the round's biggest surprises came when defensive tackle Warren Sapp from Miami fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 12, despite pre-draft projections as a top-five talent; his slide was attributed to a leaked failed marijuana test, allowing the Buccaneers to secure a disruptive interior lineman at a value spot and sparking debate over the NFL's character evaluations.[39] Later, the Buccaneers doubled down on defense by selecting linebacker Derrick Brooks from Florida State at No. 28, a speedy, instinctive tackler who was immediately projected to anchor their linebacker corps.[4] The round's positional distribution included five running backs, five offensive tackles, four defensive ends, four defensive backs, three wide receivers, two quarterbacks, two tight ends, three defensive tackles, three linebackers, and one guard, reflecting a draft class heavy on skill positions and linemen to support expanding rosters.[4]| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati Bengals | Ki-Jana Carter | RB | Penn State |
| 2 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tony Boselli | OT | USC |
| 3 | Houston Oilers | Steve McNair | QB | Alcorn State |
| 4 | Washington Redskins | Michael Westbrook | WR | Colorado |
| 5 | Carolina Panthers | Kerry Collins | QB | Penn State |
| 6 | St. Louis Rams | Kevin Carter | DE | Florida |
| 7 | Philadelphia Eagles | Mike Mamula | DE | Boston College |
| 8 | Seattle Seahawks | Joey Galloway | WR | Ohio State |
| 9 | New York Jets | Kyle Brady | TE | Penn State |
| 10 | San Francisco 49ers | J.J. Stokes | WR | UCLA |
| 11 | Minnesota Vikings | Derrick Alexander | DE | Florida State |
| 12 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Warren Sapp | DT | Miami (FL) |
| 13 | New Orleans Saints | Mark Fields | LB | Washington State |
| 14 | Buffalo Bills | Ruben Brown | OG | Pittsburgh |
| 15 | Indianapolis Colts | Ellis Johnson | DT | Florida |
| 16 | New York Jets | Hugh Douglas | DE | Central State (OH) |
| 17 | New York Giants | Tyrone Wheatley | RB | Michigan |
| 18 | Oakland Raiders | Napoleon Kaufman | RB | Washington |
| 19 | Jacksonville Jaguars | James Stewart | RB | Tennessee |
| 20 | Detroit Lions | Luther Elliss | DT | Utah |
| 21 | Chicago Bears | Rashaan Salaam | RB | Colorado |
| 22 | Carolina Panthers | Tyrone Poole | CB | Fort Valley State |
| 23 | New England Patriots | Ty Law | CB | Michigan |
| 24 | Minnesota Vikings | Korey Stringer | OT | Ohio State |
| 25 | Miami Dolphins | Billy Milner | OT | Houston |
| 26 | Atlanta Falcons | Devin Bush | CB | Florida State |
| 27 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Mark Bruener | TE | Washington |
| 28 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Derrick Brooks | LB | Florida State |
| 29 | Carolina Panthers | Blake Brockermeyer | OT | Texas |
| 30 | Cleveland Browns | Craig Powell | LB | Ohio State |
| 31 | Kansas City Chiefs | Trezelle Jenkins | OT | Michigan |
| 32 | Green Bay Packers | Craig Newsome | CB | Arizona State |