1999 NFL expansion draft

The Cleveland Browns had spent three years with its operations suspended after Art Modell had relocated the Browns' organization and players to Baltimore, Maryland to form the Baltimore Ravens at the end of the 1995 NFL season. Upon returning to the league, in order to become competitive with existing teams, the Browns were awarded the first pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, and the league gave the Browns the opportunity to select current players from the other teams. That selection was provided by the 1999 National Football League expansion draft, held on February 9, 1999. 150 players were left unprotected by their teams for the Browns to draft.[1][2]

1999 NFL expansion draft
General information
SportAmerican football
Date(s)February 9, 1999
LocationPro Football Hall of Fame
Canton, Ohio
Overview
LeagueNFL
Expansion teamsCleveland Browns
(reactivated team)
Expansion season1999

Format

Each of the 30 existing teams were required to expose five players to the draft. Cleveland was allowed to select between 30 and 42 players. No more than two players could be drafted from a single team; after drafting one player from a team, that team had the option to remove up to two of the remaining four players from the draft pool.[1]

Reception

Three years later The New York Times said that the Houston Texans would use the 1999 draft as an example of what not to do in the 2002 NFL expansion draft: "The Browns went for the usual mix of promising young players and veterans who were not over the hill. Apparently, Cleveland did not draft much of either. Only three of the 37 players the Browns took are still with the team and they all play on special teams." The team had the opportunity to draft quarterback Kurt Warner, that 1999 season's eventual NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion, but declined to do so. However, prior to the 1999 season Warner not yet started an NFL game and only had four completions in 11 passing attempts in the league.[3][4]

Player selections

PickPlayerPositionOriginal NFL team
1Jim PyneCDetroit Lions
2Hurvin McCormackDEDallas Cowboys
3Scott RehbergOTNew England Patriots
4Damon GibsonWRCincinnati Bengals
5Steve GordonCSan Francisco 49ers
6Tarek SalehLBCarolina Panthers
7Jeff BuckeyGMiami Dolphins
8Jason KyleLSSeattle Seahawks
9Rod ManuelDEPittsburgh Steelers
10Lenoy JonesLBTennessee Titans
11Tim McTyerCBPhiladelphia Eagles
12Elijah AlexanderLBIndianapolis Colts
13Pete SwansonOTKansas City Chiefs
14Gerome WilliamsSSan Diego Chargers
15Marlon ForbesSChicago Bears
16Justin ArmourWRDenver Broncos
17Paul WigginsOTWashington Redskins
18Duane ButlerSMinnesota Vikings
19Fred BrockWRArizona Cardinals
20Kory BlackwellCBNew York Giants
21Kevin DevineCBJacksonville Jaguars
22Raymond JacksonCBBuffalo Bills
23Jim BundrenGNew York Jets
24Ben CavilGBaltimore Ravens
25Michael BlairRBGreen Bay Packers
26Antonio AndersonDTDallas Cowboys
27Orlando BoboGMinnesota Vikings
28James WilliamsLBSan Francisco 49ers
29Scott MilanovichQBTampa Bay Buccaneers
30Eric StokesSSeattle Seahawks
31Ronald MooreRBMiami Dolphins
32Clarence WilliamsRBBuffalo Bills
33Freddie SolomonWRPhiladelphia Eagles
34Brandon SandersSNew York Giants
35Mike ThompsonNTCincinnati Bengals
36Jerris McPhailRBDetroit Lions
37Antonio LanghamCBSan Francisco 49ers

References

  1. Pennington, Bill (January 16, 1999). "N.F.L. Roundup—Expansion Draft; 130 Veteran Faces For the Browns". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2008.
  2. "1999 Cleveland Expansion Draft".
  3. "Kurt Warner Player Profile on NFL.com".
  4. Pennington, Bill (January 23, 2002). "Pro Football; N.F.L. Expansion Draft: Big Names on the List". New York Times. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
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