# 1965 American Football League draft

The 1965 American Football League draft took place on November 28, 1964. Held via telephone conference call, it remained the only draft in major professional football history to be held without a central location until the 2020 NFL draft. The NFL draft was held the same day.
With the first overall pick, the New York Jets selected quarterback Joe Namath.

## Player selections

| = AFL All-Star | = Hall of Famer |

### Round one

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | New York Jets | Joe Namath | Quarterback | Alabama |
| 2 | Houston Oilers | Larry Elkins | Wide receiver | Baylor |
| 3 | Oakland Raiders | Harry Schuh | Defensive tackle | Memphis State |
| 4 | New York Jets (from Denver Broncos) | Tom Nowatzke | Fullback | Indiana |
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | Gale Sayers | Running back | Kansas |
| 6 | San Diego Chargers | Steve DeLong | Defensive end | Tennessee |
| 7 | Boston Patriots | Jerry Rush | Defensive tackle | Michigan State |
| 8 | Buffalo Bills | Jim Davidson | Tackle | Ohio State |

### Round two

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 9 | Denver Broncos | Dick Butkus | Linebacker | Illinois |
| 10 | Houston Oilers | Malcolm Walker | Center | Rice |
| 11 | Oakland Raiders | Fred Biletnikoff | Wide receiver | Florida State |
| 12 | New York Jets | John Huarte | Quarterback | Notre Dame |
| 13 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jack Chapple | Linebacker | Stanford |
| 14 | San Diego Chargers | Roy Jefferson | Linebacker | Utah |
| 15 | Houston Oilers (from Boston Patriots) | Ralph Neely | Tackle | Oklahoma |
| 16 | Kansas City Chiefs (from Buffalo Bills) | Ronnie Caveness | Linebacker | Arkansas |

### Round three

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 17 | Denver Broncos | Glenn Ressler | Offensive guard | Penn State |
| 18 | Houston Oilers | Ernie Koy | Running back | Texas |
| 19 | Oakland Raiders | Bob Svihus | Defensive tackle | USC |
| 20 | New York Jets | Verlon Biggs | Defensive end | Jackson State |
| 21 | Kansas City Chiefs | Mike Curtis | Linebacker | Duke |
| 22 | San Diego Chargers | Allen Brown | Tight end | Mississippi |
| 23 | Boston Patriots | Jim Whalen | Tackle | Boston College |
| 24 | Buffalo Bills | Al Atkinson | Linebacker | Villanova |

### Round four

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 25 | Denver Broncos | George Donnelly | Defensive back | Illinois |
| 26 | Houston Oilers | Bobby Maples | Center | Baylor |
| 27 | Oakland Raiders | Gus Otto | Linebacker | Missouri |
| 28 | New York Jets | Bob Schweickert | Quarterback | Virginia Tech |
| 29 | Kansas City Chiefs | Otis Taylor | Linebacker | Prairie View A&M |
| 30 | San Diego Chargers | Steve Tensi | Quarterback | Florida State |
| 31 | Boston Patriots | Ellis Johnson | Halfback | Southeastern Louisiana |
| 32 | Kansas City Chiefs (from Buffalo Bills) | Frank Pitts | Wide receiver | Saginaw Valley State |

### Round five

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 33 | Denver Broncos | Bob Breitenstein | Tackle | Tulsa |
| 34 | Houston Oilers | Frank Molden | Defensive tackle | Jackson State |
| 35 | Denver Broncos (from Oakland Raiders) | Max Leetzow | Defensive end | Idaho |
| 36 | New York Jets | Glenn Sasser | Defensive end | North Carolina State |
| 37 | Kansas City Chiefs | Smith Reed | Halfback | Alcorn State |
| 38 | San Diego Chargers | Rick Redman | Linebacker | Washington |
| 39 | Boston Patriots | Corwyn Aldredge | End | Northwestern State |
| 40 | Buffalo Bills | Dave Simmons | Linebacker | Georgia Tech |

### Round six

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 41 | Denver Broncos | Tom Wilhelm | Tackle | Syracuse |
| 42 | Houston Oilers | Dennis Murphy | Defensive tackle | Florida |
| 43 | Houston Oilers (from Oakland Raiders) | Russell Wayt | Linebacker | Rice |
| 44 | New York Jets | Don Hoovler | Linebacker | Ohio |
| 45 | Kansas City Chiefs | John Wilbur | Offensive guard | Stanford |
| 46 | San Diego Chargers | Will Beasley | Fullback | North Carolina A&T |
| 47 | Boston Patriots | Justin Canale | Offensive guard | Mississippi State |
| 48 | Buffalo Bills | Lance Rentzel | Wide receiver | Oklahoma |

### Round seven

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 49 | Denver Broncos | Jim Garcia | Defensive end | Purdue |
| 50 | Kansas City Chiefs (from Houston Oilers) | Gloster Richardson | Wide receiver | Jackson State |
| 51 | New York Jets (from Oakland Raiders) | Archie Roberts | Quarterback | Columbia |
| 52 | New York Jets | Jim Harris, Jr. | Defensive tackle | Utah State |
| 53 | Kansas City Chiefs | Lou Bobich | Defensive back | Michigan State |
| 54 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Snow | Wide receiver | Notre Dame |
| 55 | Boston Patriots | Tom Neville | Defensive tackle | Mississippi State |
| 56 | Buffalo Bills | Marty Schottenheimer | Linebacker | Pittsburgh |

### Round eight

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 57 | Denver Broncos | Jon Hohman | Offensive guard | Wisconsin |
| 58 | Houston Oilers | Ray Ogden | Tight end | Alabama |
| 59 | Houston Oilers (from Oakland Raiders) | Roy Hilton | Defensive end | Jackson State |
| 60 | New York Jets | Rick McCurdy | Defensive end | Oklahoma |
| 61 | Kansas City Chiefs | Danny Thomas | Quarterback | SMU |
| 62 | San Diego Chargers | Clancy Williams | Defensive back | Washington State |
| 63 | Boston Patriots | Fred Brown | Defensive tackle | Miami (FL) |
| 64 | Buffalo Bills | Ray Rissmiller | Offensive tackle | Georgia |

### Round nine

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 65 | Denver Broncos | Gerry Bussell | Defensive back | Georgia Tech |
| 66 | Houston Oilers | George Kinney | Defensive end | Wiley |
| 67 | Oakland Raiders | Rich Zecher | Defensive tackle | Utah State |
| 68 | New York Jets | Jimmy Sidle | Running back | Auburn |
| 69 | Kansas City Chiefs | Joe Cerne | Center | Northwestern |
| 70 | San Diego Chargers | Jerry Whelchel | Quarterback | Massachusetts |
| 71 | Boston Patriots | Bob Malone | Tackle | Louisiana Tech |
| 72 | Buffalo Bills | Al Nelson | Defensive back | Cincinnati |

### Round ten

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 73 | Denver Broncos | Gene Jeter | Linebacker | Texas Southern |
| 74 | Houston Oilers | Maxie Williams | Offensive guard | Southeastern Louisiana |
| 75 | Oakland Raiders | Craig Morton | Quarterback | California |
| 76 | New York Jets | Frank Lambert | Punter | Mississippi |
| 77 | Kansas City Chiefs | Bob Howard | Defensive back | Stanford |
| 78 | San Diego Chargers | Gene Foster | Running back | Arizona State |
| 79 | Buffalo Bills (Boston Patriots) | Chuck Mercein | Running back | Yale |
| 80 | Buffalo Bills | Floyd Hudlow | Defensive back | Arizona |

### Round eleven

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 81 | Denver Broncos | Tom Vaughn | Defensive back | Iowa State |
| 82 | Houston Oilers | Kent McCloughan | Cornerback | Nebraska |
| 83 | Oakland Raiders | Bill Minor | Linebacker | Illinois |
| 84 | New York Jets | Jim Gray | Defensive back | Toledo |
| 85 | Kansas City Chiefs | Al Piraino | Tackle | Wisconsin |
| 86 | San Diego Chargers | Veran Smith | Guard | Utah State |
| 87 | Boston Patriots | John Frechette | Tackle | Boston College |
| 88 | Buffalo Bills | Doug Goodwin | Running back | Maryland Eastern Shore |

### Round twelve

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 89 | Denver Broncos | Tom Myers | Quarterback | Northwestern |
| 90 | Houston Oilers | Bob Reed | Guard | Tennessee State |
| 91 | Buffalo Bills (from Oakland Raiders) | Chuck Hurston | Defensive end | Auburn |
| 92 | New York Jets | John Berrington | Linebacker | Iowa State |
| 93 | Kansas City Chiefs | Mike Cox | Linebacker | Iowa State |
| 94 | San Diego Chargers | Jim Allison | Running back | San Diego State |
| 95 | Boston Patriots | Jim Weatherly | Defensive back | Mississippi |
| 96 | Buffalo Bills | Pete Mills | Wide receiver | Wichita State |

### Round thirteen

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 97 | Denver Broncos | Mike Strofolino | Linebacker | Villanova |
| 98 | Houston Oilers | Bobby Felts | Halfback | Florida A&M |
| 99 | Oakland Raiders | Wally Mahle | Defensive back | Syracuse |
| 100 | New York Jets | Sonny Utz | Fullback | Virginia Tech |
| 101 | Kansas City Chiefs | Bob Bonds | Defensive back | San Jose State |
| 102 | San Diego Chargers | Bill Quigley | Linebacker | Villanova |
| 103 | Boston Patriots | Charlie Green | Quarterback | Wittenberg |
| 104 | Buffalo Bills | Bob Timberlake | Kicker | Michigan |

### Round fourteen

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 105 | Denver Broncos | John Frick | Offensive guard | Ohio |
| 106 | Houston Oilers | Norm Evans | Defensive tackle | TCU |
| 107 | Oakland Raiders | Loren Hawley | Defensive back | California |
| 108 | New York Jets | Gary Plumlee | Defensive tackle | New Mexico |
| 109 | Kansas City Chiefs | Fred Dotson | Defensive back | Wiley |
| 110 | San Diego Chargers | Don Floyd | End | Florida State |
| 111 | Boston Patriots | Jay Cunningham | Defensive back | Bowling Green |
| 112 | Buffalo Bills | Lyn Hart | Defensive back | Virginia State |

### Round fifteen

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 113 | Denver Broncos | Jeff Jordan | Defensive back | Tulsa |
| 114 | Houston Oilers | Tony Guillory | Linebacker | Lamar |
| 115 | Oakland Raiders | Bill Cronin | Tight end | Boston College |
| 116 | New York Jets | Jim Burt | Defensive back | Western Kentucky |
| 117 | Kansas City Chiefs | Dave Powless | Offensive guard | Illinois |
| 118 | San Diego Chargers | Mike Howell | Defensive back | Grambling State |
| 119 | Boston Patriots | Ted Rodosovich | Offensive guard | Cincinnati |
| 120 | Buffalo Bills | John Meyer | Linebacker | Notre Dame |

### Round sixteen

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 121 | Denver Broncos | Brian Schweda | Defensive end | Kansas |
| 122 | Houston Oilers | Junior Coffey | Running back | Washington |
| 123 | Oakland Raiders | Fred Hill | Tight end | USC |
| 124 | New York Jets | Seth Cartwright | Defensive tackle | Prairie View A&M |
| 125 | Kansas City Chiefs | Stan Irvine | Tackle | Colorado |
| 126 | San Diego Chargers | John Godden | Linebacker | San Diego State |
| 127 | Boston Patriots | George Pyne III | Defensive tackle | Olivet |
| 128 | Buffalo Bills | Bruce Airheart | Halfback | North Dakota State |

### Round seventeen

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 129 | Denver Broncos | John Fouse | End | Arizona |
| 130 | Houston Oilers | Jim Grisham | Fullback | Oklahoma |
| 131 | Oakland Raiders | Garry Porterfield | Defensive end | Tulsa |
| 132 | New York Jets | Charlie Browning | Halfback | Washington |
| 133 | Kansas City Chiefs | Don Croftcheck | Offensive guard | Indiana |
| 134 | San Diego Chargers | Leon Hardy | Tackle | Texas Southern |
| 135 | Boston Patriots | White Graves | Defensive back | LSU |
| 136 | Buffalo Bills | John Henderson | Wide receiver | Michigan |

### Round eighteen

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 137 | Boston Patriots | David Lee | End | Louisiana Tech |
| 138 | Houston Oilers | Russ Mundy | Halfback | West Texas A&M |
| 139 | Oakland Raiders | John Dugan | Tackle | Holy Cross |
| 140 | New York Jets | Larry Dupree | Halfback | Florida |
| 141 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jerry Smith | Tight end | Arizona State |
| 142 | San Diego Chargers | Bob Evans | Defensive end | Texas A&M |
| 143 | Boston Patriots | Ed Meixler | Linebacker | Boston University |
| 144 | Buffalo Bills | Ray Hinze | Tackle | Texas A&M |

### Round nineteen

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 145 | Denver Broncos | Ron Oelschlager | Halfback | Kansas |
| 146 | Houston Oilers | Frank Fox | Tackle | Sam Houston State |
| 147 | Oakland Raiders | Frank McClendon | Tackle | Alabama |
| 148 | New York Jets | Mitch Dudek | Tackle | Xavier |
| 149 | Kansas City Chiefs | Mike Alford | Center | Auburn |
| 150 | San Diego Chargers | Braden Beck | Kicker | Stanford |
| 151 | Boston Patriots | Jim Nance | Running back | Syracuse |
| 152 | Buffalo Bills | Frank Marchlewski | Center | Minnesota |

### Round twenty

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 153 | Denver Broncos | Terry Metchner | Offensive guard | Albion |
| 154 | Houston Oilers | Gus Brezina | Offensive guard | Houston |
| 155 | Oakland Raiders | Bo Scott | Running back | Ohio State |
| 156 | New York Jets | Troy Allen | Defensive back | Western Michigan |
| 157 | Kansas City Chiefs | Bill Symons | Halfback | Colorado |
| 158 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Edwards | Center | Florida State |
| 159 | Boston Patriots | Fred Fugazzi | Fullback | Missouri Valley |
| 160 | Buffalo Bills | John Henry | Defensive tackle | Boston University |

## Red shirt draft
### Red shirt round one

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | Houston Oilers | Donny Anderson | Halfback | Texas Tech |
| 2 | Denver Broncos | Miller Farr | Halfback | Wichita State |
| 3 | Oakland Raiders | Larry Todd | Halfback | Arizona State |
| 4 | New York Jets | Johnny Roland | Halfback | Missouri |
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | Al Dotson | Tackle | Grambling State |
| 6 | San Diego Chargers | Gary Garrison | End | San Diego State |
| 7 | Boston Patriots | Dave McCormick | Tackle | Louisiana State |
| 8 | Buffalo Bills | Ken Ambrusko | Halfback | Maryland |

### Red shirt round two

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 9 | Denver Broncos | Walter Johnson | Guard | Cal State Los Angeles |
| 10 | Houston Oilers | Glen Ray Hines | Tackle | Arkansas |
| 11 | Oakland Raiders | Jim Harvey | Tackle | Mississippi |
| 12 | New York Jets | John McGuire | Tight End - Defensive End | Syracuse |
| 13 | Kansas City Chiefs | Frank Cornish | Defensive Tackle | Grambling State |
| 14 | San Diego Chargers | Larry Martin | Tackle | San Diego State |
| 15 | Boston Patriots | Bob Kowalkowski | Tackle | Virginia |
| 16 | Buffalo Bills | Gary Lane | Quarterback | Missouri |

### Red shirt round three

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 17 | Houston Oilers | Mike Shinn | Defensive End | Kansas |
| 18 | Denver Broncos | Marv Davis | Defensive End | Wichita State |
| 19 | Oakland Raiders | Steve Mass | Tackle | Arizona |
| 20 | New York Jets | Jimmy Heidel | Defensive Back | Mississippi |
| 21 | Kansas City Chiefs | Henry Carr | Halfback | Arizona State |
| 22 | San Diego Chargers | Stan Dzura | Tackle - Defensive End | California |
| 23 | Buffalo Bills | John Kuzniewski | Fullback | Purdue |
| 24 | Boston Patriots | Bob Cappadona | Fullback | Northeastern State |

### Red shirt round four

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 25 | Denver Broncos | Barry Brown | End | Florida |
| 26 | Houston Oilers | Olie Cordill, Jr. | Quarterback | Memphis State |
| 27 | Oakland Raiders | Mickey Cox | Tackle | Louisiana State |
| 28 | New York Jets | Bob Werl | Defensive End | Miami |
| 29 | Kansas City Chiefs | Steve Cox | Tackle | South Carolina |
| 30 | San Diego Chargers | Doug Woodlief | Linebacker | Memphis State |
| 31 | Boston Patriots | Dick Arrington | Guard | Notre Dame |
| 32 | Buffalo Bills | Roger Davis | Halfback | Virginia |

### Red shirt round five

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 33 | Houston Oilers | Jerry Crumpler | Tackle | Missouri |
| 34 | Denver Broncos | Mike Tilleman | Tackle | Montana |
| 35 | Oakland Raiders | Bob Taylor | Guard | Cincinnati |
| 36 | New York Jets | George Sauer | Flanker | Texas |
| 37 | Kansas City Chiefs | John Thomas | End | USC |
| 38 | San Diego Chargers | Jim Weatherwax | Tackle | Cal State Los Angeles |
| 39 | Boston Patriots | Dennis Smith | Defensive End | Cincinnati |
| 40 | Buffalo Bills | Johnny Boyette | Tackle | Clemson |

### Red shirt round six

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 41 | Denver Broncos | Jerry Inman | Tackle | Oregon |
| 42 | Houston Oilers | Dave Daniels | Tackle | Florida A&M |
| 43 | Oakland Raiders | Greg Kent | Tackle | Utah |
| 44 | New York Jets | Dale Lindsey | Linebacker | Western Kentucky |
| 45 | Kansas City Chiefs | John Wilbur | Guard | Stanford |
| 46 | San Diego Chargers | Tom Good | Linebacker | Marshall |
| 47 | Boston Patriots | Billy Ezell | Defensive Back | Louisiana State |
| 48 | Buffalo Bills | John Strohmeyer | Defensive End | Nebraska |

### Red shirt round seven

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 49 | Houston Oilers | Leo Lowery | Halfback | Texas Tech |
| 50 | Denver Broncos | Dave Tobey | Linebacker | Oregon |
| 51 | Oakland Raiders | John Carrell | Tackle | Texas Tech |
| 52 | New York Jets | Ron Barlow | Fullback | Kansas State |
| 53 | Kansas City Chiefs | Billy Moore | Halfback | Mississippi State |
| 54 | San Diego Chargers | Wayne Waff | End | East Tennessee State |
| 55 | Boston Patriots | John Hankinson | Quarterback | Minnesota |
| 56 | Buffalo Bills | J.R. Wilburn | End | South Carolina |

### Red shirt round eight

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 57 | Denver Broncos | John Maddox | End | Mississippi |
| 58 | Houston Oilers | Len Sears | Tackle | South Carolina |
| 59 | Oakland Raiders | Henry Pickett | Halfback | Baylor |
| 60 | New York Jets | Bob Mallendick | Tackle | Hillsdale |
| 61 | Kansas City Chiefs | Roosevelt Ellerbe | Defensive Back | Iowa State |
| 62 | San Diego Chargers | Roy Shivers | Halfback | Utah State |
| 63 | Boston Patriots | Beau Colle | Defensive Back | Louisiana State |
| 64 | Buffalo Bills | Charley King | Defensive Back | Purdue |

### Red shirt round nine

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 65 | Houston Oilers | Tom Bleick | Halfback | Georgia Tech |
| 66 | Denver Broncos | Phil Vandersea | Fullback | Massachusetts |
| 67 | Oakland Raiders | Frank Pennie | Tackle | Florida State |
| 68 | New York Jets | Rich Kotite | End | Wagner |
| 69 | Kansas City Chiefs | Bruce McLenna | Halfback | Hillsdale |
| 70 | San Diego Chargers | Tony Carey | Halfback | Notre Dame |
| 71 | Boston Patriots | Charlie Brown | Tackle | Tulsa |
| 72 | Buffalo Bills | Earl Hawkins | Halfback | Emory & Henry |

### Red shirt round ten

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 73 | Denver Broncos | Merlin Walet | Fullback | McNeese State |
| 74 | Houston Oilers | George Haffner | Quarterback | McNeese State |
| 75 | Oakland Raiders | Brent Berry | Tackle | San Jose State |
| 76 | New York Jets | Dave Austin | End | Georgia Tech |
| 77 | Kansas City Chiefs | Chuck Drulis, Jr. | End | Duke |
| 78 | San Diego Chargers | Dave Plump | Halfback | Fresno State |
| 79 | Boston Patriots | Dave Hettema | Tackle | New Mexico |
| 80 | Buffalo Bills | Sonny Odom | Halfback | Duke |

### Red shirt round eleven

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 81 | Houston Oilers | Billy Guy Anderson | Quarterback | Tulsa |
| 82 | Denver Broncos | Jerry Fishman | Linebacker | Maryland |
| 83 | Oakland Raiders | Tom Longo | Defensive Back | Notre Dame |
| 84 | New York Jets | Rich Marshall | Tackle | Stephen F. Austin |
| 85 | Kansas City Chiefs | Billy Scott | End | Northeastern State |
| 86 | San Diego Chargers | Jeff White | End | Texas Tech |
| 87 | Boston Patriots | Roy Schmidt | Guard | Long Beach State |
| 88 | Buffalo Bills | Ray Johnson | Guard | Prairie View A&M |

### Red shirt round twelve

| Pick # | NFL team | Player | Position | College |
| 89 | Denver Broncos | Biff Bracy | Halfback | Duke |
| 90 | Houston Oilers | Harlan Lane | Flanker | Baylor |
| 91 | Oakland Raiders | Dennis Duncan | Halfback | Louisiana College |
| 92 | New York Jets | Pat Screen | Quarterback | Louisiana State |
| 93 | Kansas City Chiefs | Lonny Price | Halfback | Louisiana-Lafayette |
| 94 | San Diego Chargers | Mike Ciccolella | Linebacker | Dayton |
| 95 | Boston Patriots | Leon Standridge | End | San Diego State |
| 96 | Buffalo Bills | George Wilson | Quarterback | Xavier (OH) |

## Notable undrafted players

| $^†$ | = AFL All-Star |
| Original NFL team | Player | Pos. | College | Conf. |
| Buffalo Bills | Bill Laskey $^†$ | LB | Michigan | Big Ten |
| Denver Broncos | John Bramlett $^†$ | LB | Memphis State | Ind. (Univ.) |
| Denver Broncos | Nemiah Wilson $^†$ | S | Grambling State | SWAC |
| Houston Oilers | Sammy Weir | WR | Arkansas State | Southland |
| New York Jets | Jim Hudson | S | Texas | SWC |