View source for 2002 NFL expansion draft

{{Short description|Selection of players for the Houston Texans}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox sports draft
| name        = 2002 NFL expansion draft
| image       = 
| caption     = 
| logo        = Texansexpdraft.gif
| logosize    = 180px
| sport       = American football
| date        = February 18, 2002
| location    = [[George R. Brown Convention Center]] <br> [[Houston, Texas]]
| network     = 
| league      = NFL
| teams       = 
| first       = 
| territorial = 
| prev        = [[1999 NFL expansion draft|1999]]
| next        = 
| expansion_teams = [[Houston Texans]]
| expansion_season = [[2002 NFL season|2002]]
}}

The '''2002 National Football League expansion draft''' is the most recent [[National Football League]] (NFL) [[NFL draft|draft]] in which a new [[expansion team]], named the [[Houston Texans]], selected its first players.  On October 6, 1999, in [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], NFL owners had unanimously voted to award the 32nd NFL franchise and [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]] to the city of [[Houston, Texas]].<ref name=hoftexans>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/team.jsp?franchise_id=13 |title=Houston Texans – Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=October 1, 2008 |work=Pro Football Hall of Fame| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080923215440/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/team.jsp?franchise_id=13| archive-date= 23 September 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>  In order for the Texans to become competitive with existing teams, the league awarded them the first pick in the [[2002 NFL draft]] and gave them the opportunity to select current players from existing teams.  That selection was provided by the [[expansion draft]], held on February 18, 2002.<ref name=texans>{{cite web|title=2000-2002 Texans Transactions |url=http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Transactions2000_2002.asp |access-date=December 9, 2015 |work=Houston Texans |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105042519/http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Transactions2000_2002.asp |archive-date=January 5, 2008 }}</ref><ref name=pfwresults>{{cite web| url= http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives2001/features_2001/expansion_draftpicks.asp| date= February 18, 2002| title= 2002 expansion draft: Veteran players drafted by Houston Texans| work= ProFootballWeekly| access-date= October 3, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080904233046/http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives2001/features_2001/expansion_draftpicks.asp| archive-date= 4 September 2008| url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2002/02/18/texans_expansion_picks|title=Houston Texans Expansion Draft Choices|access-date=October 3, 2008|date=September 5, 2002|magazine=Sports Illustrated|archive-date=March 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304031105/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2002/02/18/texans_expansion_picks/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=KGTV>{{cite news |url=http://www.10news.com/sports/1240874/detail.html |title=Boselli Leads Texans' Expansion Draft |date=February 18, 2002 |publisher=CBS-KGTV San Diego |access-date=4 October 2008  |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520024759/http://www.10news.com/sports/1240874/detail.html |archive-date=20 May 2011 }}</ref>

In this draft, held months before the regular draft, the existing franchises listed players from which the Texans could select to switch to the new team.  This was the third expansion draft after the NFL had instituted the [[Salary cap#Salary cap in the NFL|salary cap]], which limited the total amount teams could spend on their roster of players.  Teams placed many quality players on the list who had large contracts, as the Texans were required to assume the contracts of those players if selected.<ref name=DMNdraft>{{cite news |first=Rick |last=Gosselin |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?s_hidethis=no&p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_siteloc=&s_dispstring=As%20Texans%20expand,%20others%27%20caps%20shrink&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(As%20Texans%20expand,%20others%27%20caps%20shrink)&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |title=As Texans expand, others' caps shrink |date=January 6, 2002 |work=Dallas Morning News |access-date=September 24, 2008 |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102194327/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?s_hidethis=no&p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_siteloc=&s_dispstring=As%20Texans%20expand,%20others%27%20caps%20shrink&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(As%20Texans%20expand,%20others%27%20caps%20shrink)&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=nytimesdraft>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/23/sports/pro-football-nfl-expansion-draft-big-names-on-the-list.html |title=Pro Football; N.F.L. Expansion Draft: Big Names on the List |last=Pennington |first=Bill |date=January 23, 2002 |work=New York Times |access-date=24 September 2008 <!--DASHBot--> |archive-date=June 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609120732/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/23/sports/pro-football-nfl-expansion-draft-big-names-on-the-list.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The list included 155 NFL players,<ref name=pfwlist>{{cite web |url=http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives2001/features_2001/expansion_draftlist.asp |date=February 18, 2002 |title=List of players exposed to Houston expansion draft |work=Pro Football Weekly |access-date=October 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720104949/http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives2001/features_2001/expansion_draftlist.asp |archive-date=July 20, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2002/01/25/expansion_list|date=February 17, 2002|title=Houston Texans Expansion Draft List|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=October 3, 2008|archive-date=May 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504154744/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2002/01/25/expansion_list/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 25 of whom were [[Pro Bowl]] players.  The draft took place live and aired on [[ESPN]]. The Texans drafted a total of 19 players.<ref name=texans/><ref name=pfwresults/><ref name=KGTV/><ref name=pfw>{{cite news |last=Buchsbaum |first=Joel |date=February 25, 2002 |title=Player-by-player analysis of Texans' expansion draft |work=Pro Football Weekly |url=http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives2001/features_2001/buchsbaum_022502.asp |access-date=4 October 2008  |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807131542/http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives2001/features_2001/buchsbaum_022502.asp |archive-date=7 August 2008 }}</ref> They selected three players with a total salary-cap value of $14.9 million from the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]], who were $23 million over the cap; three players with a total salary-cap value of $14.1 million from the [[New York Jets]], who were $16 million over the cap; and two players with a total salary-cap value of $7.1 million from the [[Baltimore Ravens]], who were $23 million over the cap.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nfl-texans-draft-boselli-wuerffel-1.318189 |title=NFL Texans draft Boselli, Wuerffel |access-date=October 13, 2008 |work=CBC News |date=February 19, 2002 |archive-date=December 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202004408/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2002/02/19/texans020218.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Rules of the draft==

===Process===
Each NFL team listed five players that the Texans could select,<ref name=DMNdraft/><ref name=nytimesdraft/><ref name=pfwlist/> and the Texans were required to claim either 30 players<ref name=DMNdraft/><ref name=nytimesdraft/><ref name=pfwlist/> or $27.2 million in contracts (38% of the 2002 salary cap).<ref name=nytimesdraft/><ref name=pfwlist/><ref name=ESPNdraft>{{cite web |url=http://static.espn.go.com/nfl/s/2002/0214/1332544.html |title=NFL – Rules of expansion |access-date=September 24, 2008 |last=Clayton |first=John |author-link=John Clayton (sportswriter) |date=February 14, 2002 |work=ESPN |archive-date=May 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504165919/http://static.espn.go.com/nfl/s/2002/0214/1332544.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  After the Texans selected a player from an existing team, that team could remove a player from their remaining list.<ref name=nytimesdraft/><ref name=pfwlist/><ref name=ESPNdraft/>  If a second player was taken, the existing team could then pull back its remaining players.<ref name=nytimesdraft/><ref name=pfwlist/><ref name=ESPNdraft/>  However, teams were not required to remove players from the draftable list, resulting in three Jets and three Jaguars being drafted to the Texans. The Texans were prohibited from selecting a player from a team and trading the player back to that club.<ref name=ESPNdraft/>

===Player limitations===
Existing teams were not allowed to put punters or kickers on the list,<ref name=nytimesdraft/><ref name=pfwlist/> nor any player from their 2001 roster who would have become an unrestricted free agent in 2002.<ref name=nytimesdraft/> They could not list players who went on injured reserve during the 2001 summer's training camp<ref name=nytimesdraft/><ref name=pfwlist/> nor any player who would become a restricted free agent after the [[2001 NFL season|2001 season]].<ref name=nytimesdraft/>  Their list could include only one player with more than 10 years' experience.<ref name=nytimesdraft/><ref name=pfwlist/>

At least one player who met two of those exemptions (placekicker and restricted free agent) still ended up with the Texans, as the team signed [[Kris Brown]] to a contract after his old team, the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], chose not to match his offer sheet after Brown struggled the year before in the Steelers first season at [[Acrisure Stadium|Heinz Field]]. Brown would be the Texans primary place kicker through the [[2009 NFL season|2009 season]], while the Texans did not draft anyone from the Steelers unprotected list in the expansion draft.

===Salary cap ramifications===
Some teams used the expansion draft as a way to eliminate expensive veteran players from their salary caps,{{r|nytimesdraft}} because the Texans assumed the contracts of the players they selected, including all future portions of their signing bonuses and any guarantees or other terms.<ref name=ESPNdraft/> Notable players that teams exposed to the draft included five-time [[Pro Bowl]]er [[Tony Boselli]], [[Randall McDaniel]], and [[Willie Roaf]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Texans select Boselli with top pick |url=https://www.deseret.com/2002/2/19/19638535/texans-select-boselli-with-top-pick/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Deseret News|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> The Jets left [[Aaron Glenn]] unprotected although it wanted to keep him, because the team hoped that the Texans would not want Glenn's $8 million salary-cap figure for 2002; the Texans ultimately selected and kept Glenn through the [[2004 NFL season|2004 season]], though Glenn (after retiring as a player and going into coaching) eventually returned to the Jets in [[2025 NFL season|2025]] as their [[head coach]].{{r|nytimesdraft}}

If the Texans cut a selection and he re-signed with his old team, the existing team re-assumed his signing bonus. Extra bonuses that did not count against the Texans' salary cap were given to veteran players who were selected. Those selected received $10,000 immediately, an additional $20,000 bonus for reporting to training camp, and another $30,000 for making the active roster during the regular season.<ref name=ESPNdraft/>

== Player selections==
{|
|-
|style="background-color:#FFCC00; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:3em;"|
|= Selected to a [[Pro Bowl]] with the Texans
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Texans|border=2}};" | Pick !! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Texans|border=2}};" | Player name !! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Texans|border=2}};" | Position !! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Texans|border=2}};" | Original NFL team !! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Texans|border=2}};" | Salary cap figure
|-
|align="center"|1|||[[Tony Boselli]]||[[Offensive tackle|OT]] ||[[Jacksonville Jaguars]]||align="center"|$6,883,332
|-
|align="center"|2||[[Ryan Young]]||[[Offensive tackle|OT]]||[[New York Jets]]||align="center"|$563,000
|-
|align="center"|3||bgcolor="#FFCC00"|[[Aaron Glenn]]||[[Cornerback|CB]]||[[New York Jets]]||align="center"|$8,013,177
|-
|align="center"|4||bgcolor="#FFCC00"|[[Gary Walker (defensive end)|Gary Walker]]||[[Defensive tackle|DT]]||[[Jacksonville Jaguars]]||align="center"|$5,250,000
|-
|align="center"|5||[[Jamie Sharper]]||[[Linebacker|LB]]||[[Baltimore Ravens]]||align="center"|$2,875,000
|-
|align="center"|6||[[Jermaine Lewis (American football, born 1974)|Jermaine Lewis]]||[[Wide receiver|WR]]||[[Baltimore Ravens]]||align="center"|$4,289,333
|-
|align="center"|7||[[Marcus Coleman]]||[[Cornerback|CB]]||[[New York Jets]]||align="center"|$5,480,750
|-
|align="center"|8||[[Seth Payne]]||[[Defensive tackle|DT]]||[[Jacksonville Jaguars]]||align="center"|$2,775,000
|-
|align="center"|9||[[Matt Campbell (offensive lineman)|Matt Campbell]]||[[Offensive guard|G]] ||[[Washington Redskins]]||align="center"|$875,000
|-
|align="center"|10||[[Matt Stevens (safety)|Matt Stevens]]||[[Safety (American football position)|S]]||[[New England Patriots]]||align="center"|$565,000
|-
|align="center"|11||[[Jeremy McKinney]]||[[Offensive guard|G]]||[[Cleveland Browns]]||align="center"|$405,760
|-
|align="center"|12||[[Ryan Schau]]||[[Offensive tackle|OT]]||[[Philadelphia Eagles]]||align="center"|$563,000
|-
|align="center"|13||[[Charlie Rogers]]||[[Kick returner|KR]] ||[[Seattle Seahawks]]||align="center"|$563,000
|-
|align="center"|14||[[Sean McDermott (long snapper)|Sean McDermott]]||[[Tight end|TE]]||[[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]||align="center"|$300,000
|-
|align="center"|15||[[Jabari Issa]]||[[Defensive end|DE]]||[[Arizona Cardinals]]||align="center"|$397,666
|-
|align="center"|16||[[Avion Black]]||[[Wide receiver|WR]]||[[Buffalo Bills]]||align="center"|$460,000
|-
|align="center"|17||[[Danny Wuerffel]]||[[Quarterback|QB]]||[[Chicago Bears]]||align="center"|$555,760
|-
|align="center"|18||[[Brian Allen (linebacker)|Brian Allen]]||[[Linebacker|LB]]||[[St. Louis Rams]]||align="center"|$452,000
|-
|align="center"|19||[[Johnny Huggins]]||[[Tight end|TE]]||[[Dallas Cowboys]]||align="center"|$300,000
|}

==References==
;General
* {{cite web| url= http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives2001/features_2001/expansion_draftpicks.asp| date= February 18, 2002| title= 2002 expansion draft: Veteran players drafted by Houston Texans| work= Pro Football Weekly| access-date= October 3, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080904233046/http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives2001/features_2001/expansion_draftpicks.asp| archive-date= 4 September 2008| url-status= dead}}
* {{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2002/02/18/texans_expansion_picks |title=Houston Texans Expansion Draft Choices |access-date=October 3, 2008 |date=September 5, 2002 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |archive-date=March 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304031105/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2002/02/18/texans_expansion_picks/ |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite news |url=http://www.10news.com/sports/1240874/detail.html |title=Boselli Leads Texans' Expansion Draft |date=February 18, 2002 |publisher=CBS-KGTV San Diego |access-date=4 October 2008  |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520024759/http://www.10news.com/sports/1240874/detail.html |archive-date=20 May 2011 }}

;Specific
{{reflist}}

{{NFL drafts}}
{{2002 NFL season by team}}
{{Houston Texans}}

{{featured list}}

[[Category:NFL expansion draft|2002]]
[[Category:2002 NFL season|Expansion Draft]]
[[Category:Houston Texans lists]]
[[Category:February 2002 sports events in the United States|NFL expansion draft]]
[[Category:2002 in sports in Texas|NFL expansion draft]]
[[Category:2002 in Houston|NFL expansion draft]]
[[Category:Events in Houston]]