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2002 NFL offseason

The 2002 NFL offseason.

A chronological guide to the transactions and decisions surrounding the 2002 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. March 8 · Trade

    Ricky Williams becomes Miami's offensive centerpiece →

    New Orleans sent Williams to Miami for a package centered on two first-round picks, and he immediately delivered a franchise rushing record.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    00TradeMarch 8, 2002To MIAMIAWILLIAMS—2002PICKround assetTo NO20021STround asset20031STround assetRicky Williams to MiamiMIA receives Ricky Williams, 2002 fourth-round pickNO receives 2002 1st-round pick, 2003 1st-round pick4 original assets · 0 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  2. April 20 · NFL Draft

    Houston begins with David Carr at No. 1 →

    The expansion Texans selected Carr first as realignment produced eight four-team divisions and a cleaner conference structure.

    The complete draft board is preserved beside this moment →

    Draft board

    2002 NFL

    01
    1

    First overall selection

    David Carr

    Houston Texans

    Open every pick

  3. April 21 · Trade

    Drew Bledsoe moves within the AFC East →

    New England sent its longtime starter to Buffalo for a 2003 first-round pick after Tom Brady's championship breakthrough.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    00TradeApril 21, 2002To BUFBUFBLEDSOE—To NE20031STround assetDrew Bledsoe to BuffaloBUF receives Drew BledsoeNE receives 2003 1st-round pick2 original assets · 0 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  4. Training camp · League change

    Realignment redraws the standings

    Houston's arrival moved Seattle to the NFC and created the divisional structure the league still uses, making the offseason about geography as much as personnel.