cont'd...
7.
Phil Simms, QB Morehead State
taken by NY Giants, 1979
Andre Ware, QB Houston
taken by Detroit Lions, 1990
Also considered: Champ Bailey, CB Georgia (1999), Troy Vincent, CB Wisconsin (1992), Sterling Sharpe, WR South Carolina (1988)
Like the third pick, the seventh has been a historic graveyard of mediocre selections. Simms is the choice almost by default winning a Super Bowl and taking the Giants to another. There are some fantastic, legendary dogs with the seven from Boston College DE Mike Mamula to Tennessee OL Charles McRae to Penn State QB Todd Blackledge, but Ware is the biggest bust of the bunch throwing for 1,112 yards and five touchdowns with eight interceptions in his four years.
8.
Ronnie Lott, S USC
taken by San Francisco 49ers, 1981
Larry Stegent, RB Texas A&M
taken by St. Louis Cardinals (1970)
Also considered: Willie Roaf, OT Louisiana Tech (1993), Shane Conlan, LB Penn State (1987)
Obvious no doubter on the greatest No. 8 of all-time. For the worst player, there's a bunch of old-timers in the hunt. Mississippi State RB Michael Haddix had a mediocre career with Philadelphia, but his biggest problem was being taken one pick ahead of Bruce Matthews. Larry Stegent's career? One catch for 12 yards before getting hurt.
9.
Bruce Matthews, G USC
taken by Houston Oilers, 1983
Kevin Allen, T Indiana
taken by Philadelphia Eagles, 1985
Also considered: Brian Urlacher, LB New Mexico (2000), Richmond Webb, OT Texas A&M (1990)
Matthews was one of the NFL's all-time rocks on the offensive line. Kevin Allen was the opposite holding the unofficial distinction of being Buddy Ryan's least favorite player of all-time in his total bust of a career. He was later arrested and sent to prison on sexual assault charges.
10.
Rod Woodson, DB Purdue
taken by Pittsburgh Steelers, 1981
David Verser, WR Kansas
taken by Cincinnati Bengals, 1981
Also considered: Marcus Allen, RB USC (1982), Al Toon, WR Wisconsin (1985), Herman Moore, WR Virginia (1991)
How do you possibly choose between Allen and Woodson? Had Al Davis actually used Allen for his whole career, it wouldn't be a debate. Woodson was one of the all-time greats for the Steelers making the NFL's All-Time team. Florida WR Travis Taylor can thank his lucky stars for David Verser who caught 23 passes for 454 yards and three touchdowns in his four year career taken one pick ahead of Keith Van Horne.
11.
Michael Irvin, WR Miami
taken by Dallas Cowboys, 1988
Jerry Tagge, QB Nebraska
taken by Green Bay Packers, 1972
Also considered: Daunte Culpepper, QB UCF (1999), Wilber Marshall, LB Florida (1983)
The Playmaker had a huge career for the Cowboys catching 750 passes for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns. Alcorn State LB John Thierry was in the running for the worst pick, but Tagge blows him away. In three years, the former Husker quarterback threw three touchdown passes and 17 interceptions for the Packers.
12.
Warren Sapp, DT Miami
taken by Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1995
Cade McNown, QB UCLA
taken by Chicago Bears, 1999
Also considered: Chuck Foreman, RB Miami (1967), Warrick Dunn, RB Florida State (1997)
Drug rumors dropped Sapp from being a sure-thing top five pick down to 12. He was the cornerstone of one of the NFL's most dominant defenses (where would Minnesota had been if Dennis Green had taken Sapp instead of Florida State's Derrick Alexander?) McNown was thrown to the wolves too early in Chicago and got eaten alive throwing 16 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions.
13.
Franco Harris, RB Penn State
taken by Pittsburgh Steelers, 1972
Leon Burns, RB Cal-State Long Beach
taken by San Diego Chargers, 1971
Also considered: Kellen Winslow, TE Missouri (1979), Tony Gonzalez, TE California (1997), Keith Jackson, TE Oklahoma (1988)
Tight ends turned out to be the value picks over the years, but Harris and his 12,120 career rushing yards and 100 total touchdowns makes him the pick. Leon Burns gave the Chargers 223 yards and one touchdown.
14.
Jim Kelly, QB Miami
taken by Buffalo Bills, 1983
Derek Brown, TE Notre Dame
taken by NY Giants, 1992
Also considered: Randy Gradishar, LB Ohio State (1974), Eddie George, RB Ohio State (1996)
After a stint with the Houston Gamblers, Kelly turned in a Hall of Fame career leading Buffalo to four Super Bowls (would Kelly be any better a quarterback if Scott Norwood had pushed his kick two feet the other way?) Derek Brown gave New York 11 catches for 87 yards for their 14th pick investment.
15.
Alan Page, DL Notre Dame
taken by Minnesota Vikings, 1967
Ethan Horton, RB North Carolina
taken by Kansas City Chiefs, 1985
Also considered: Dennis Smith, DB USC (1981)
Possibly the worst of all the first round draft slots, the 15th pick is littered with various take-a-flier picks that didn't come close to working out. Alan Page was the obvious exception. It took something special to be the worst 15th pick of all-time, and Ethan Horton was up the challenge. Converted to tight end, he ended up being a Pro Bowl player ... for the hated Raiders. He caught 28 passes for 185 yards and one touchdown for the Chiefs. That's significantly less production than the player taken with the 16th pick in the 1985 draft: Jerry Rice.
16.
Jerry Rice, WR Mississippi Valley St
taken by San Francisco 49ers, 1985
Dan McGwire, QB San Diego State
taken by Seattle Seahawks, 1991
Also considered: Russ Francis, TE Oregon (1975), Jevon Kearse, LB/DE Florida (1999)
The gap in production and talent between Rice and the second best receiver of all-time is possibly greater than any position in any sport. Dan McGwire threw for 745 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions for the Seahawks.
17.
Emmitt Smith, RB Florida
taken by Dallas Cowboys, 1990
Clyde Duncan, WR Tennessee
taken by St. Louis Cardinals, 1984
Also considered: Gene Upshaw, OL Texas A&I (1967), Doug Williams, QB Grambling (1978)
Smith is the NFL's all-time leading rusher. The pick before him? Fresno State DB James Williams to Buffalo, and don't forget that Blair Thomas went second overall to the Jets. Clyde Duncan gave St. Louis four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown in his two years. Used as a kickoff returner, he lost three fumbles.
cont'd...