The 2006 NFL Draft will best be remembered for the great debate over who the Houston Texans should select with the top overall pick. While many believed Houston would take Texas quarterback Vince Young or USC running back Reggie Bush, the Texans ultimately selected North Carolina State Mario Williams. In fact, Williams agreed to a deal with the Texans the night before the 2006 NFL Draft.
2006 NFL Draft Top Ten
After the Texans selected Williams, the other two big names came off the board quickly. Bush went to the New Orleans Saints at number two, while the Tennessee Titans took Young third overall. At number four, the New York Jets selected offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson. The Green Bay Packers rounded out the top five with the selection of linebacker A.J. Hawk.
The top 10 was rounded out by:
- San Francisco 49ers – Vernon Davis (TE, Maryland)
- Oakland Raiders – Michael Huff (S, Texas)
- Buffalo Bills – Donte Whitner (S, Ohio State)
- Detroit Lions – Ernie Sims (LB, Florida State)
- Arizona Cardinals – Matt Leinart (QB, USC)
A number of future Pro Bowlers were taken in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, including Jay Cutler, Haloti Ngata, Chad Greenway, Antonio Cromartie, Tamba Hali, Davin Joseph, Jonathan Joseph, DeAngelo Williams, Marcedes Lewis, Nick Mangold and Joseph Addai.
Other notable Pro Bowlers selected in the second round include Greg Jennings, Devin Hester, and Maurice Jones-Drew. Six future Pro Bowlers also went undrafted in 2006, including Miles Austin, Matt Prater and Brent Grimes.
Notes from the 2006 NFL Draft
A total of 255 players were selected in the 2006 NFL Draft, including 33 wide receivers. Thirty-one linebackers, 26 safeties, 23 defensive tackles and 23 cornerbacks also came off the board. “Mr. Irrelevant” was Maine wide receiver Kevin McMahan, who was taken by the Raiders with the 255th pick. McMahan never appeared in an NFL regular season game.
Download: 2006 NFL Draft