Joey Harrington didn’t have to wait long after all.
The Detroit Lions made the former Oregon quarterback the third overall pick Saturday in the NFL Draft, despite speculation that Harrington’s stock had fallen out of the top 10.
“No matter where I was picked, I feel like I am going to be pretty successful (in the NFL) over a long period of time,” Harrington told reporters Saturday. “I’m sure happy I didn’t have to wait very long to get a chance to get started. But I know that if I went (third) or even 103rd, I’m a good player. And that’s what I concentrated on when everyone was talking about me slipping in the (first) round.”
Last week, sources close to the Detroit organization said the Lions were not going to select Harrington with their first-round pick. Confident with second-year quarterback Mike McMahon
— who will be the starter heading into summer camp — it appeared the Lions were prepared to go with Texas defensive back Quentin Jammer with the third pick.
“I was unbelievably surprised,” Harrington said. “Honestly, I had been told five minutes earlier that they were going in another direction. So, I was just about to sit down with my mom and dad and watch the Lions pick someone else, and then I got a phone call.”
Lions President Matt Millen, in a press conference Saturday, said he was convinced within the last week that Harrington was the right pick for Detroit, which finished 2-14 last year.
“He has the intangibles,” Millen said. “The kid has leadership skills, the kid has presence. He has all the things you look for in a quarterback.”
Harrington was one of six Ducks selected to join the NFL ranks this weekend. Former Oregon tight end Justin Peelle, a fourth-round selection (103rd overall) by the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, said he was excited to hear his name called and was also happy for Harrington, his former roommate.
“If anyone deserves it, Joey does,” said Peelle, who had nine touchdown catches from Harrington in 2001. “A lot of the success I’ve had is really because of him.”
Maurice Morris, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards the last two years with the Ducks, was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the 22nd pick in the second round (54th overall). Washington selected defensive back Rashad Bauman with the 14th pick of the third round (79th overall).
Outside linebacker Wesly Mallard, who led Oregon in tackles in 2001, was a sixth round pick by the New York Giants (188th overall). Defensive back Steve Smith, who had three interceptions in the Ducks’ Fiesta Bowl victory over Colorado on Jan. 1, was a seventh-round pick (246 overall) by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“These last two days just continued to prove what a great year it was for our senior class and Oregon football,” Peelle said. “I think this is one of the biggest classes (drafted in the NFL) in Oregon history. It’s just awesome; it’s a great feeling and a great testament to our success.”