As we move closer to the 2023 NFL Draft (April 27-29), The Big Red Zone is looking back on each of the 28 St. Louis Cardinals drafts (1960-87). This installment focuses on the 1976 Draft, which was held April 8-9 in New York.

If we’re going to lob tomatoes at George Boone for his failed drafts, we need to acknowledge—with golf applause, at least—his successful ones.

And by most measures, the Big Red’s 1976 draft was a hit—even though the Cardinals had picks in only 13 of the 17 rounds.

With three of their first four picks, the Big Red selected a rock-solid defensive lineman (Mike Dawson), a highly productive wide receiver (Pat Tilley) and a first-class running back (Wayne Morris)—all of whom would become starters and major contributors.

Much later in the draft, the Big Red chose a defensive back (Lee Nelson) who would help them for 10 seasons.  

1976 St. Louis Cardinals Draft

Rd-overall	player	position	college
1-22	Mike Dawson	DT	Arizona
3-83	Brad Oates	T	BYU
4-114	Pat Tilley	WR	Louisiana Tech
5-141	Wayne Morris	RB	SMU
7-203	Phil Rogers	RB	Virginia Tech
8-233	Randy Burks	WR	Oklahoma St.
10-285	Randy Walker	RB	Bethune-Cookman
11-315	Marty Akins	DB	Texas
13-369	Greg Brewton	DT	Michigan St.
14-399	Raymond Crosier	DE	Abilene Christian
15-420	Lee Nelson	DB	Florida St.
16-453	Cecil Beaird	WR	Fisk
17-483	Dan Myers	DB	Georgia Tech

*One Big Red administrator said of Mike Dawson: “He’s not the type of guy who’s going to come in and set the world on fire. But …” But, Dawson was a  starting defensive lineman for most of his seven years (1976-82) in St. Louis. He was versatile enough to play tackle in the 4-3 defense, and end and nose tackle in a 3-4 alignment. Dawson played 88 games for the Big Red, starting 83. He was credited with 31 sacks, including eight in ’77 and nine in ’78; recovered four fumbles; and intercepted one pass. After leaving the Cardinals, he played for Detroit (’83) and Kansas City (’84).

*Pat Tilley wasn’t the fastest or biggest receiver, but he was a reliable passing target who, in 147 games for the Cardinals, caught 468 passes for 7,005 yards (15.0-yard average) and 37 touchdowns. From 1978-85, Tilley started every game but four. His best seasons were 1978-81, when he caught 62, 57, 68 and 66 passes for 900, 938, 966 and 1,040 yards. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1980. And who doesn’t remember his spectacular one-handed, back-handed reception for a touchdown in a 1980 victory over the Colts in Baltimore (OK, there may have been a sticky substance involved). “I remember at nut-cutting time, where we needed a first down or needed a score, the guy I would go to was Patty,” former Big Red coach Jim Hanifan said.

*Although Wayne Morris played behind Terry Metcalf first and O.J. Anderson later, he put up some prodigious career numbers in his eight seasons (1976-83) with the Big Red. How about 894 carries for 3,375 yards and 37 touchdowns (a total that still ranks second on the team’s all-time list). Or 151 catches for 1,170 yards and five TDs. In a 1977 game against New Orleans, Morris rushed for 95 yards and four touchdowns. Two weeks later against Minnesota, he rushed for 182 yards and two TDs. In 1978, he started for an injured Jim Otis and rushed a club-record 36 times for 123 yards. Morris went two seasons (1980-81) where he carried the ball a combined 226 times and didn’t fumble once. A quiet, humble player who was a willing blocker and special teams player, Morris’ teammates voted him the team MVP in 1982. “I don’t think he’s ever played a bad football game in his life,” Hanifan once said.

*Lee Nelson played both cornerback and strong safety (1976-85) with the Big Red. He also returned kicks on occasion. Nelson played 135 games (64 starts), had seven interceptions (including four in ’77), nine sacks and nine fumble recoveries—one of which he returned for a touchdown. 

*Brad Oates was primarily a backup offensive lineman who played in 44 games (eight starts) with St. Louis (’76-77, ’79-80). He also played briefly for Detroit, Kansas City, Cincinnati and Green Bay.