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1996 NFL offseason

The 1996 NFL offseason.

A chronological guide to the transactions and decisions surrounding the 1996 NFL offseason.

Open the full season →Every offseason by year

In the order it happened

The transaction timeline

The draft, major signings, trades and roster decisions are ordered chronologically. Complete draft boards, trade packages and free-agent jersey changes are embedded at the moment they happened.

  1. April 20 · NFL Draft

    Keyshawn Johnson opens a receiver-rich class →

    The Jets selected Johnson first, but Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens, Ray Lewis, Brian Dawkins and Zach Thomas made the class historically deep.

    The complete draft board is preserved beside this moment →

    Draft board

    1996 NFL

    01
    1

    First overall selection

    Keyshawn Johnson

    New York Jets

    Open every pick

  2. April 20 · Trade

    Jerome Bettis to Pittsburgh →

    Pittsburgh acquired Jerome Bettis and a third-round pick from St. Louis for second- and fourth-round selections.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    16TradeApril 20, 1996To PITPITBETTIS—19963RDround assetTo LAR19962NDround asset1997PICKround assetJerome Bettis to PittsburghPIT receives Jerome Bettis, 1996 3rd-round pickLAR receives 1996 2nd-round pick, 1997 fourth-round pick4 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  3. Spring · Free agency

    Kevin Greene joins Carolina's instant contender

    The veteran pass rusher brought 1990s edge production and unmistakable energy to a second-year expansion team that reached the NFC Championship Game.

    Follow the jersey change beside this moment →

    47Free agencyMay 21, 1996From PITPITGREENE91To CARCARGREENE91Greene energizes Carolina's instant contenderThe expansion Panthers added one of the league's most productive pass rushers after his Super Bowl run in Pittsburgh.Pittsburgh Steelers → Carolina PanthersOpen offseason →