When the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars made their first draft pick in team history, it wasn't one to sell jerseys. They drafted an offensive lineman.
With the second overall pick in 1995 they took offensive tackle Tony Boselli out of USC. And it turns out, the Jaguars areBoselli went from the first pick in Jaguars history to the first Pro Football Hall of Famer in team history. His candidacy was debated for years, mostly because his health failed him. He played just 91 career games over seven seasons. A shoulder injury finally forced him into retirement.
Those who wanted Boselli in the Hall of Fame would point at a 1996 wild-card playoff game between the Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. Boselli, then in his second season and coming off his first of five straight Pro Bowls, was matched up against NFL defensive player of the year Bruce Smith. Smith had a quiet day with no sacks and the Jaguars beat the Bills. They'd go on to the AFC championship game in just their second year.
But the Smith ordeal was illuminating in a couple ways. Boselli did have a complicated Hall of Fame resume. But at his peak, he was good enough to shut down Smith, the only player in NFL history with 200 official sacks.Boselli was a prototype left tackle. He was 6-7, 324 pounds and light on his feet. He was a great player. The Jaguars say he allowed just 15.5 sacks in seven seasons.