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1999 NFL expansion draft

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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
← 1995
2002 →

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]

Format

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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

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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 had not yet started an NFL game and only had four completions in 11 passing attempts in the league.[3][4]

Player selections

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Pick Player Position Original NFL team
1 Jim Pyne C Detroit Lions
2 Hurvin McCormack DE Dallas Cowboys
3 Scott Rehberg OT New England Patriots
4 Damon Gibson WR Cincinnati Bengals
5 Steve Gordon C San Francisco 49ers
6 Tarek Saleh LB Carolina Panthers
7 Jeff Buckey G Miami Dolphins
8 Jason Kyle LS Seattle Seahawks
9 Rod Manuel DE Pittsburgh Steelers
10 Lenoy Jones LB Tennessee Titans
11 Tim McTyer CB Philadelphia Eagles
12 Elijah Alexander LB Indianapolis Colts
13 Pete Swanson OT Kansas City Chiefs
14 Gerome Williams S San Diego Chargers
15 Marlon Forbes S Chicago Bears
16 Justin Armour WR Denver Broncos
17 Paul Wiggins OT Washington Redskins
18 Duane Butler S Minnesota Vikings
19 Fred Brock WR Arizona Cardinals
20 Kory Blackwell CB New York Giants
21 Kevin Devine CB Jacksonville Jaguars
22 Raymond Jackson CB Buffalo Bills
23 Jim Bundren G New York Jets
24 Ben Cavil G Baltimore Ravens
25 Michael Blair RB Green Bay Packers
26 Antonio Anderson DT Dallas Cowboys
27 Orlando Bobo G Minnesota Vikings
28 James Williams LB San Francisco 49ers
29 Scott Milanovich QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30 Eric Stokes S Seattle Seahawks
31 Ronald Moore RB Miami Dolphins
32 Clarence Williams RB Buffalo Bills
33 Freddie Solomon WR Philadelphia Eagles
34 Brandon Sanders S New York Giants
35 Mike Thompson NT Cincinnati Bengals
36 Jerris McPhail RB Detroit Lions
37 Antonio Langham CB San Francisco 49ers

References

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  1. ^ a b 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.