The 1974 NFL draft took place at the Americana Hotel in New York City, New York, on January 29–30, 1974. Each of the 26 NFL teams were granted 17 selections for a total of 442 picks.
Many experts consider the Pittsburgh Steelers to have had the best draft class in NFL history as they selected four players later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster). A fifth Hall of Famer, Donnie Shell, was signed by Pittsburgh after going unselected in the draft. The closest any other team has come to this success in a draft is the Dallas Cowboys' 1964 draft, when three Hall of Famers were taken (Roger Staubach, Mel Renfro, and Bob Hayes. The Green Bay Packers also selected three Hall of Famers in 1958 (Jim Taylor, Ray Nitschke, and Jerry Kramer).
The Houston Oilers had the first pick in the 1974 draft based on their one-win record in 1973, but they traded the first overall pick—as well as the first pick of the third round, #53 overall—to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for defensive end Tody Smith and wide receiver Billy Parks. Dallas used the two picks to select two future Pro Bowlers, defensive end Ed "Too Tall" Jones and quarterback Danny White.
This was the first NFL draft since 1938 to not have any quarterbacks taken in the first round, and one of only six. Along with 1988, it is the only draft where no quarterback was taken in the first two rounds, and 1974 is generally regarded as one of the worst quarterback draft classes of all time, with only Danny White (the first quarterback taken, with the first pick in the third round) and fourth round pick Mike Boryla reaching the Pro Bowl, and even Boryla was out of the NFL by 1978.
In the seventeenth round, the Green Bay Packers selected wide receiver Randy Woodfield of Portland State (428th overall). Cut in training camp, he later became a convicted serial killer, known as the 'I-5 killer'.
The last remaining active player in the NFL from the 1974 draft class was center Mike Webster, who retired after the 1990 season.
Player selections * = compensatory selection † = Pro BowlerPlayers are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career. ‡= Hall of FamerPlayers are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Round 1–12
Round 13
Pick # NFL team Player Position College313Houston OilersDan DixonGuardBoise State314San Diego ChargersBrian VertefeuilleTackleIdaho State315New York GiantsDennis ColvinTackleSouthwest Texas State316Chicago BearsJoe BarnesQuarterbackTexas Tech317Baltimore ColtsRandy HallDefensive backIdaho318New York JetsJohn TateLinebackerJackson State319St. Louis CardinalsJimmy PoulosRunning backGeorgia320New Orleans SaintsMike TruaxLinebackerTulane321New England PatriotsPhil BennettRunning backBoston College322San Francisco 49ersTom OwenQuarterbackWichita State323Philadelphia EaglesLars DitlevDefensive endSouth Dakota Tech324Green Bay PackersEmmanuel ArmstrongLinebackerSan Jose State325Detroit LionsFred RothwellCenterKansas State326Denver BroncosJohn ClerkleyDefensive tackleFort Valley State327Cleveland BrownsMike SeifertDefensive endWisconsin328Kansas City ChiefsNorm RomagnoliLinebackerKentucky State329Atlanta FalconsRalph PowellRunning backNebraska330Oakland RaidersMike DenneryLinebackerSouthern Mississippi331Buffalo BillsEd GatewoodLinebackerTennessee State332Washington RedskinsStu O'DellLinebackerIndiana333Pittsburgh SteelersFrank KolchQuarterbackEastern Michigan334Dallas CowboysFred LimaKickerColorado335Cincinnati BengalsTed JornovLinebackerIowa State336Los Angeles RamsPete SolversonTackleDrake337Minnesota VikingsGary KellerDefensive tackleUtah338Miami DolphinsClayton HeathRunning backWake Forest
Round 14
Pick # NFL team Player Position College339Buffalo BillsPhil LammDefensive backNorth Carolina340New York GiantsMike HayesTackleVirginia State341San Diego ChargersGreg BaileyDefensive backLong Beach State342Chicago BearsPaul VellanoDefensive tackleMaryland343New York JetsGreg FountainGuardMississippi State344Baltimore ColtsEd CollinsWide receiverRice345St. Louis CardinalsCharles SmithRunning backYankton346New England PatriotsCecil BowensRunning backKentucky347San Francisco 49ersWalt WilliamsonDefensive endMichigan348New Orleans SaintsKent MarshallDefensive backTexas Christian349Philadelphia EaglesDave SmithLinebackerOklahoma350Green Bay PackersAndrew NelomsDefensive tackleKentucky State351Detroit LionsDavid JonesDefensive backHoward Payne352Cleveland BrownsBob HuntRunning backHeidelberg353Kansas City ChiefsFrank PomaricoGuardNotre Dame354Denver BroncosRich MarksDefensive backNorthern Illinois355Buffalo BillsPhil GurbadaDefensive backMayville356Atlanta FalconsJohn GivensGuardVillanova357Oakland RaidersDon WillinghamRunning backWisconsin–Milwaukee358Pittsburgh SteelersBruce HenleyDefensive backRice359Dallas CowboysDoug RichardsDefensive backBrigham Young360Cincinnati BengalsMike PhillipsTackleCornell361Washington RedskinsDon Van GalderQuarterbackUtah362Los Angeles RamsAnanias CarsonWide receiverLangston363Minnesota VikingsAlan DixonRunning backHarding364Miami DolphinsSam JohnsonLinebackerArizona State
Round 15
Pick # NFL team Player Position College365Houston OilersBilly JohnsonWide receiverWidener366San Diego ChargersCharles AnthonyLinebackerUSC367New York GiantsLarry JonesWide receiverN.E. Missouri368Chicago BearsOliver AlexanderTight endGrambling369Baltimore ColtsPat KellyLinebackerRichmond370New York JetsWillie BristerTight endSouthern371St. Louis CardinalsVince AncellDefensive backArkansas State372San Francisco 49ersLeonard GrayTight endLong Beach State373New Orleans SaintsLarry CipaQuarterbackMichigan374New England PatriotsSam HuntLinebackerStephen F. Austin375Philadelphia EaglesSid BondTackleTexas Christian376Green Bay PackersDave WannstedtTacklePittsburgh377Detroit LionsJohn WellsGuardKansas State378Kansas City ChiefsLem BurnhamLinebackerU.S. International379Denver BroncosPeil PenningtonQuarterbackMassachusetts380Cleveland BrownsRansom TerrellLinebackerArizona381Atlanta FalconsWillie JonesWide receiverIowa State382Buffalo BillsKen WilliamsLinebackerSouthwestern Louisiana383Oakland RaidersGreg MathisDefensive backIdaho State384Dallas CowboysBruce CraftTackleGeneva385Cincinnati BengalsIsaac JacksonRunning backKansas State386San Diego ChargersGreg MeczkaTight endBowling Green387Pittsburgh SteelersLarry HuntDefensive tackleIowa State388Los Angeles RamsBob ThomasKickerNotre Dame389Minnesota VikingsKurt WachtlerDefensive tackleSt. John's390Miami DolphinsLarry GatesDefensive backWestern Michigan
Round 16
Pick # NFL team Player Position College391Houston OilersMatthew WilliamsRunning backN.E. Louisiana392New York GiantsBuddy BrownGuardAlabama393San Diego ChargersNeal SkarinDefensive endArizona State394Chicago BearsRandy GeistDefensive backColorado395New York JetsJazz JacksonRunning backWestern Kentucky396Baltimore ColtsDave MargavageTackleKentucky397St. Louis CardinalsAlonzo EmeryRunning backArizona State398New Orleans SaintsDon ColemanLinebackerMichigan399New England PatriotsLucious SelmonDefensive tackleOklahoma400San Francisco 49ersJack ConnersDefensive backOregon401Philadelphia EaglesJim SmithLinebackerMonmouth402Green Bay PackersMark CooneyLinebackerColorado403Detroit LionsMyron WilsonDefensive backBowling Green404Denver BroncosDarrell AustinTackleSouth Carolina405Kansas City ChiefsBarry BeersGuardWilliam & Mary406Buffalo BillsSanford QvaleTackleNorth Dakota State407Cleveland BrownsPreston AndersonDefensive backRice408Atlanta FalconsSylvester McGeeRunning backRhode Island409Oakland RaidersDelario RobinsonWide receiverKansas410Cincinnati BengalsDarryl BishopDefensive backKentucky411Washington RedskinsNate AndersonRunning backEastern Illinois412Pittsburgh SteelersOctavus MorganLinebackerIllinois413Dallas CowboysGene KillianGuardTennessee414Los Angeles RamsDave OttmarPunterStanford415Minnesota VikingsJohn GoebelRunning backSt. Thomas416Miami DolphinsJessie WolfDefensive tacklePrairie View A&M
Round 17
Pick # NFL team Player Position College417Houston OilersBill HedgeTackleNortheast Missouri418San Diego ChargersCharles DeJurnettDefensive tackleSan Jose State419New York GiantsSteve CrosbyRunning backFort Hays State420Chicago BearsCraig HollandQuarterbackTexas-Arlington421Baltimore ColtsTim BerraWide receiverMassachusetts422New York JetsDoug LowreyGuardArkansas State423St. Louis CardinalsJohn MoseleyDefensive backMissouri424New England PatriotsGary HudsonDefensive backBoston College425San Francisco 49ersLevi StanleyGuardHawaii426New Orleans SaintsMarvin WilliamsWide receiverWestern Illinois427Philadelphia EaglesCliff BrownRunning backNotre Dame428Green Bay PackersRandy WoodfieldWide receiverPortland State429Detroit LionsCollis TempleDefensive endLouisiana State430Cleveland BrownsCarlton BuchananDefensive tackleSW Oklahoma State431Kansas City ChiefsDavid LangnerDefensive backAuburn432Denver BroncosBoyd BrownTight endAlcorn A&M433Atlanta FalconsAl DavisGuardBoise State434Buffalo BillsSal CasolaKickerCincinnati435Oakland RaidersJames MorrisDefensive tackleMissouri Valley College436Baltimore ColtsBuzzy LewisDefensive backFlorida State437Pittsburgh SteelersLarry MooreDefensive endAngelo State438Dallas CowboysLawrie SkolroodTackleNorth Dakota439Cincinnati BengalsJim SmithRunning backNorth Carolina Central440Los Angeles RamsWillie TownsendWide receiverNotre Dame441Minnesota VikingsEarl GarrettDefensive backBoston State College442 This last selection is commonly referred to as Mr. Irrelevant. Miami DolphinsKen DickersonDefensive backTuskegee
Notable undrafted players †Pro BowlerHall of Famer
Hall of Famers Jack Lambert, linebacker from Kent State, taken 2nd round 46th overall by Pittsburgh Steelers Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1990.List of 1990s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com Mike Webster, center from Wisconsin, taken 5th round 125th overall by Pittsburgh Steelers Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1997. Lynn Swann, wide receiver from Southern California, taken 1st round 21st overall by Pittsburgh Steelers Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2001.List of 2000s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com Dave Casper, tight end from Notre Dame, taken 2nd round 45th overall by Oakland Raiders Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2002. John Stallworth, wide receiver from Alabama A&M, taken 4th round 82nd overall by Pittsburgh Steelers Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2002. Donnie Shell, safety from South Carolina State, undrafted and signed by Pittsburgh Steelers Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2020. Randy Gradishar, linebacker from Ohio State, taken 1st round 14th overall by Denver Broncos Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2024.
References
External links NFL.com – 1974 Draft
Pro Football Hall of Fame 1974 NFL Draft Listing at Pro Football Reference