NFL player selection
The 1974 NFL draft took place at the Americana Hotel in New York City , New York , on January 29–30, 1974.[ 1] [ 2] Each of the 26 NFL teams were granted 17 selections for a total of 442 picks.[ 3]
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.[ 4] 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 .[ 5] 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 .[ 6] 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 five. 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.[ 7]
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'.[ 8]
The last remaining active player in the NFL from the 1974 draft class was center Mike Webster , who retired after the 1990 season .
^ a b May sometimes be referred to as an edge rusher (EDGE)
^ Also known as offensive guard (OG)
^ Also known as placekicker (PK)
^ Also known as inside linebacker (ILB)
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
313
Houston Oilers
Dan Dixon
Guard
Boise State
314
San Diego Chargers
Brian Vertefeuille
Tackle
Idaho State
315
New York Giants
Dennis Colvin
Tackle
Southwest Texas State
316
Chicago Bears
Joe Barnes
Quarterback
Texas Tech
317
Baltimore Colts
Randy Hall
Defensive back
Idaho
318
New York Jets
John Tate
Linebacker
Jackson State
319
St. Louis Cardinals
Jimmy Poulos
Running back
Georgia
320
New Orleans Saints
Mike Truax
Linebacker
Tulane
321
New England Patriots
Phil Bennett
Running back
Boston College
322
San Francisco 49ers
Tom Owen
Quarterback
Wichita State
323
Philadelphia Eagles
Lars Ditlev
Defensive end
South Dakota Tech
324
Green Bay Packers
Emmanuel Armstrong
Linebacker
San Jose State
325
Detroit Lions
Fred Rothwell
Center
Kansas State
326
Denver Broncos
John Clerkley
Defensive tackle
Fort Valley State
327
Cleveland Browns
Mike Seifert
Defensive end
Wisconsin
328
Kansas City Chiefs
Norm Romagnoli
Linebacker
Kentucky State
329
Atlanta Falcons
Ralph Powell
Running back
Nebraska
330
Oakland Raiders
Mike Dennery
Linebacker
Southern Mississippi
331
Buffalo Bills
Ed Gatewood
Linebacker
Tennessee State
332
Washington Redskins
Stu O'Dell
Linebacker
Indiana
333
Pittsburgh Steelers
Frank Kolch
Quarterback
Eastern Michigan
334
Dallas Cowboys
Fred Lima
Kicker
Colorado
335
Cincinnati Bengals
Ted Jornov
Linebacker
Iowa State
336
Los Angeles Rams
Pete Solverson
Tackle
Drake
337
Minnesota Vikings
Gary Keller
Defensive tackle
Utah
338
Miami Dolphins
Clayton Heath
Running back
Wake Forest
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
339
Buffalo Bills
Phil Lamm
Defensive back
North Carolina
340
New York Giants
Mike Hayes
Tackle
Virginia State
341
San Diego Chargers
Greg Bailey
Defensive back
Long Beach State
342
Chicago Bears
Paul Vellano
Defensive tackle
Maryland
343
New York Jets
Greg Fountain
Guard
Mississippi State
344
Baltimore Colts
Ed Collins
Wide receiver
Rice
345
St. Louis Cardinals
Charles Smith
Running back
Yankton
346
New England Patriots
Cecil Bowens
Running back
Kentucky
347
San Francisco 49ers
Walt Williamson
Defensive end
Michigan
348
New Orleans Saints
Kent Marshall
Defensive back
Texas Christian
349
Philadelphia Eagles
Dave Smith
Linebacker
Oklahoma
350
Green Bay Packers
Andrew Neloms
Defensive tackle
Kentucky State
351
Detroit Lions
David Jones
Defensive back
Howard Payne
352
Cleveland Browns
Bob Hunt
Running back
Heidelberg
353
Kansas City Chiefs
Frank Pomarico
Guard
Notre Dame
354
Denver Broncos
Rich Marks
Defensive back
Northern Illinois
355
Buffalo Bills
Phil Gurbada
Defensive back
Mayville
356
Atlanta Falcons
John Givens
Guard
Villanova
357
Oakland Raiders
Don Willingham
Running back
Wisconsin–Milwaukee
358
Pittsburgh Steelers
Bruce Henley
Defensive back
Rice
359
Dallas Cowboys
Doug Richards
Defensive back
Brigham Young
360
Cincinnati Bengals
Mike Phillips
Tackle
Cornell
361
Washington Redskins
Don Van Galder
Quarterback
Utah
362
Los Angeles Rams
Ananias Carson
Wide receiver
Langston
363
Minnesota Vikings
Alan Dixon
Running back
Harding
364
Miami Dolphins
Sam Johnson
Linebacker
Arizona State
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
365
Houston Oilers
Billy Johnson
Wide receiver
Widener
366
San Diego Chargers
Charles Anthony
Linebacker
USC
367
New York Giants
Larry Jones
Wide receiver
N.E. Missouri
368
Chicago Bears
Oliver Alexander
Tight end
Grambling
369
Baltimore Colts
Pat Kelly
Linebacker
Richmond
370
New York Jets
Willie Brister
Tight end
Southern
371
St. Louis Cardinals
Vince Ancell
Defensive back
Arkansas State
372
San Francisco 49ers
Leonard Gray
Tight end
Long Beach State
373
New Orleans Saints
Larry Cipa
Quarterback
Michigan
374
New England Patriots
Sam Hunt
Linebacker
Stephen F. Austin
375
Philadelphia Eagles
Sid Bond
Tackle
Texas Christian
376
Green Bay Packers
Dave Wannstedt
Tackle
Pittsburgh
377
Detroit Lions
John Wells
Guard
Kansas State
378
Kansas City Chiefs
Lem Burnham
Linebacker
U.S. International
379
Denver Broncos
Peil Pennington
Quarterback
Massachusetts
380
Cleveland Browns
Ransom Terrell
Linebacker
Arizona
381
Atlanta Falcons
Willie Jones
Wide receiver
Iowa State
382
Buffalo Bills
Ken Williams
Linebacker
Southwestern Louisiana
383
Oakland Raiders
Greg Mathis
Defensive back
Idaho State
384
Dallas Cowboys
Bruce Craft
Tackle
Geneva
385
Cincinnati Bengals
Isaac Jackson
Running back
Kansas State
386
San Diego Chargers
Greg Meczka
Tight end
Bowling Green
387
Pittsburgh Steelers
Larry Hunt
Defensive tackle
Iowa State
388
Los Angeles Rams
Bob Thomas
Kicker
Notre Dame
389
Minnesota Vikings
Kurt Wachtler
Defensive tackle
St. John's
390
Miami Dolphins
Larry Gates
Defensive back
Western Michigan
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
391
Houston Oilers
Matthew Williams
Running back
N.E. Louisiana
392
New York Giants
Buddy Brown
Guard
Alabama
393
San Diego Chargers
Neal Skarin
Defensive end
Arizona State
394
Chicago Bears
Randy Geist
Defensive back
Colorado
395
New York Jets
Jazz Jackson
Running back
Western Kentucky
396
Baltimore Colts
Dave Margavage
Tackle
Kentucky
397
St. Louis Cardinals
Alonzo Emery
Running back
Arizona State
398
New Orleans Saints
Don Coleman
Linebacker
Michigan
399
New England Patriots
Lucious Selmon
Defensive tackle
Oklahoma
400
San Francisco 49ers
Jack Conners
Defensive back
Oregon
401
Philadelphia Eagles
Jim Smith
Linebacker
Monmouth
402
Green Bay Packers
Mark Cooney
Linebacker
Colorado
403
Detroit Lions
Myron Wilson
Defensive back
Bowling Green
404
Denver Broncos
Darrell Austin
Tackle
South Carolina
405
Kansas City Chiefs
Barry Beers
Guard
William & Mary
406
Buffalo Bills
Sanford Qvale
Tackle
North Dakota State
407
Cleveland Browns
Preston Anderson
Defensive back
Rice
408
Atlanta Falcons
Sylvester McGee
Running back
Rhode Island
409
Oakland Raiders
Delario Robinson
Wide receiver
Kansas
410
Cincinnati Bengals
Darryl Bishop
Defensive back
Kentucky
411
Washington Redskins
Nate Anderson
Running back
Eastern Illinois
412
Pittsburgh Steelers
Octavus Morgan
Linebacker
Illinois
413
Dallas Cowboys
Gene Killian
Guard
Tennessee
414
Los Angeles Rams
Dave Ottmar
Punter
Stanford
415
Minnesota Vikings
John Goebel
Running back
St. Thomas
416
Miami Dolphins
Jessie Wolf
Defensive tackle
Prairie View A&M
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
417
Houston Oilers
Bill Hedge
Tackle
Northeast Missouri
418
San Diego Chargers
Charles DeJurnett
Defensive tackle
San Jose State
419
New York Giants
Steve Crosby
Running back
Fort Hays State
420
Chicago Bears
Craig Holland
Quarterback
Texas-Arlington
421
Baltimore Colts
Tim Berra
Wide receiver
Massachusetts
422
New York Jets
Doug Lowrey
Guard
Arkansas State
423
St. Louis Cardinals
John Moseley
Defensive back
Missouri
424
New England Patriots
Gary Hudson
Defensive back
Boston College
425
San Francisco 49ers
Levi Stanley
Guard
Hawaii
426
New Orleans Saints
Marvin Williams
Wide receiver
Western Illinois
427
Philadelphia Eagles
Cliff Brown
Running back
Notre Dame
428
Green Bay Packers
Randy Woodfield
Wide receiver
Portland State
429
Detroit Lions
Collis Temple
Defensive end
Louisiana State
430
Cleveland Browns
Carlton Buchanan
Defensive tackle
SW Oklahoma State
431
Kansas City Chiefs
David Langner
Defensive back
Auburn
432
Denver Broncos
Boyd Brown
Tight end
Alcorn A&M
433
Atlanta Falcons
Al Davis
Guard
Boise State
434
Buffalo Bills
Sal Casola
Kicker
Cincinnati
435
Oakland Raiders
James Morris
Defensive tackle
Missouri Valley College
436
Baltimore Colts
Buzzy Lewis
Defensive back
Florida State
437
Pittsburgh Steelers
Larry Moore
Defensive end
Angelo State
438
Dallas Cowboys
Lawrie Skolrood
Tackle
North Dakota
439
Cincinnati Bengals
Jim Smith
Running back
North Carolina Central
440
Los Angeles Rams
Willie Townsend
Wide receiver
Notre Dame
441
Minnesota Vikings
Earl Garrett
Defensive back
Boston State College
442 [ 12]
Miami Dolphins
Ken Dickerson
Defensive back
Tuskegee
Pro Bowler [ 9]
Hall of Famer
Notable undrafted players [ edit ]
Jack Lambert , linebacker from Kent State, taken 2nd round 46th overall by Pittsburgh Steelers
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1990.[ 13]
Mike Webster , center from Wisconsin, taken 5th round 125th overall by Pittsburgh Steelers
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1997.[ 13]
Lynn Swann , wide receiver from Southern California, taken 1st round 21st overall by Pittsburgh Steelers
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2001.[ 14]
Dave Casper , tight end from Notre Dame, taken 2nd round 45th overall by Oakland Raiders
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2002.[ 14]
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.[ 14]
Donnie Shell , safety from South Carolina State, undrafted and signed by Pittsburgh Steelers
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2020.[ 14]
Randy Gradishar , linebacker from Ohio State, taken 1st round 14th overall by Denver Broncos
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2024.[ 14]
^ "NFL Draft Locations" . FootballGeography.com . October 2, 2014. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2014 .
^ Salomone, Dan (October 2, 2014). "NFL Draft headed to Chicago in 2015" . Giants.com . New York Giants . Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015 .
^ "Noll Seeks First-Round Draft Ace No. 6" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . January 29, 1974. Retrieved October 25, 2011 .
^ Battista, Judy (January 15, 2020). "Pro Football Hall of Fame Centennial Class thick with NFL history" . NFL.com . Retrieved January 15, 2020 .
^ Archer, Todd (April 25, 2016). "Three Hall of Famers make 1964 Cowboys' best draft class" . ESPN . Retrieved January 27, 2022 .
^ "Dallas Cowboys.com: Cowboys Top 50 List: No. 26 Ed Too Tall Jones" . Archived from the original on July 20, 2009.
^ "NFL Draft History: Quarterback Draft Class Facts/Figures" . ELDORADO .
^ "Randall Woodfield, the I-5 killer, former Green Bay Packer" .
^ a b c d Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
^ Players are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
^ "Heisman Trophy" . Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2011 .
^ This last selection is commonly referred to as Mr. Irrelevant .
^ a b List of 1990s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com "Pro Football Hall of Fame" . Retrieved October 25, 2011 .
^ a b c d e List of 2000s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com "Pro Football Hall of Fame" . Retrieved October 25, 2011 .