In Honor of the 75th NFL Draft

[Hostile]

This is a look at perhaps the top player from each Draft class. This is subjective of course. Just for fun. It gets harder for the most recent years since careers are barely underway. Also very hard in years where there is no HOFers to choose from. Pretty easy if they are the only one.

Also note that I am choosing guys for their playing careers, not coaching. So I am not choosing Tom Landry in 1947 or Bear Bryant (especially since his legend was college) in 1936.


Year...Name...Pos...College...Team
1936. Dan Fortman, OG, Colgate, Bears. HOF
1937. Sammy Baugh, QB, TCU, Commanders. HOF
1938. Alex Wojciechowicz, C, Fordham, Lions. HOF
1939. Sid Luckman, QB, Columbia, Bears. HOF

1940. George McAfee, QB, Duke, Eagles. HOF
1941. Tony Canadeo, RB, Gonzaga, Packers. HOF
1942. Bill Dudley, RB, Virginia, Steelers. HOF
1943. Clarence Booth, OT, SMU, Cardinals.
1944. Otto Graham, QB, Northwestern, Lions. HOF
1945. Elroy Hirsch, WR, Michigan, Rams. HOF
1946. George Connor, OT, Notre Dame, Giants. HOF
1947. Art Donovan, OT, Boston College, Giants. HOF
1948. Bobby Lane, QB, Texas, Bears. HOF
1949. Chuck Bednarik, C, Pennsylvania, Eagles. HOF

1950. Ernie Stautner, DT, Boston College, Steelers. HOF
1951. Y.A. Tittle, QB, LSU, 49ers. HOF
1952. Frank Gifford, RB, USC, Giants. HOF
1953. Jim Ringo, C, Syracuse, Packers. HOF
1954. Raymond Berry, WR, SMU, Colts. HOF
1955. Johnny Unitas, QB, Louisville, Steelers. HOF
1956. Bart Starr, QB, Alabama, Packers. HOF
1957. Jim Brown, RB, Syracuse, Browns. HOF
1958. Ray Nitszcke, LB, Illinois, Packers. HOF
1959. Dick LeBeau, CB, Ohio State, Browns. HOF

1960. Larry Wilson, S, Utah, Cardinals. HOF
1961. Bob Lilly, DT, TCU, Cowboys. HOF
1962. Merlin Olsen, DT, Utah State, Rams. HOF
1963. John Mackey, TE, Syracuse, Colts. HOF
1964. Roger Staubach, QB, Navy, Cowboys. HOF
1965. Dick Butkus, LB, Illinois, Bears. HOF
1966. Tom Mack, OT, Michigan, Rams. HOF
1967. Gene Upshaw, OG, Texas A & I, Raiders. HOF
1968. Ron Yary, OT, USC, Vikings. HOF
1969. Joe Greene, DT, North Texas, Steelers. HOF

1970. Terry Bradshaw, QB, Louisiana Tech, Steelers. HOF
1971. Dan Dierdorf, OT, Michigan, Cardinals. HOF
1972. Franco Harris, RB, Penn State, Steelers, HOF
1973. John Hannah, OG, Alabama, Patriots. HOF
1974. Jack Lambert, LB, Kent State, Steelers. HOF
1975. Walter Payton, RB, Jackson State, Bears. HOF
1976. Mike Haynes, CB, Arizona State, Patriots. HOF
1977. Tony Dorsett, RB, Pittsbrgh, Cowboys. HOF
1978. Earl Campbell, RB, Texas, Oilers. HOF
1979. Joe Montana, QB, Notre Dame, 49ers. HOF

1980. Anthony Munoz, OT, USC, Bengals. HOF
1981. Lawrence Taylor, LB, North Carolina, Giants. HOF
1982. Mike Munchak, OG, Penn State, Oilers. HOF
1983. John Elway, QB, Stanford, Colts. HOF
1984. Carl Banks, LB, Michigan State, Giants.
1985. Jerry Rice, WR, Mississippi Valley State, 49ers. HOF
1986. Charles Haley, DE, James Madison, 49ers.
1987. Rod Woodson, CB, Purdue, Steelers. HOF
1988. Randall McDaniel, OG, Arizona State, Vikings. HOF
1989. Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA, Cowboys. HOF

1990. Emmitt Smith, RB, Florida, Cowboys. HOF
1991. Brett Favre, QB, Southern Mississippi, Falcons.
1992. Troy Vincent, CB, Wisconsin, Dolphins.
1993. Michael Strahan, DE, Texas Southern, Giants.
1994. Larry Allen, OG, Sonoma State, Cowboys.
1995. Warren Sapp, DT, Miami, Buccaneers.
1996. Jonathan Ogden, OT, UCLA, Ravens.
1997. Tony Gonzalez, TE, California, Chiefs.
1998. Peyton Manning, QB, Tennesee, Colts
1999. Champ Bailey, CB, Georgia, Commanders.

2000. Tom Brady, QB, Michigan, Patriots.
2001. LaDanian Tomlinson, RB, TCU, Chargers.
2002. Ed Reed, S, Miami, Ravens.
2003. Jason Witten, TE, Tennessee, Cowboys.
2004. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh, Cardinals.
2005. DeMarcus Ware, LB, Troy State, Cowboys.
2006. Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State, Jets.
2007. Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh, Jets.
2008. Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina, Titans.
2009. Brian Cushing, LB, USC, Texans.

2010. ???

 

[Cowboy Brian]

I agree with Cushing in 09, Chris Johnson in 2008 his career just begun and he is behind the second best o-line in football. I'd put Mike Jenkins over him, or Joe Flaaco.

It also disgusts me that Randall McDaniel is over Irvin.

 

[SDogo]

Chris Johnson in 2008 his career just begun and he is behind the second best o-line in football. I'd put Mike Jenkins over him

Of course you would................unless they were on opposite teams

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Of course you would................unless they were on opposite teams

if Johnson was on our team he wouldn't have touched the amount of yards he had last year, look at what felix got this year. Thats what Johnson wouldve had if we had him in place of Felix.

 

[SDogo]

if Johnson was on our team he wouldn't have touched the amount of yards he had last year, look at what felix got this year. Thats what Johnson wouldve had if we had him in place of Felix.

358 attempts to 116 attempts

Your right, with 116 attempts he never would of...........

You got me.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

358 attempts to 116 attempts

Your right, with 116 attempts he never would of...........

You got me.

thank you. With 358 attempts felix would've.....

oh ****.

 

[Hostile]

I wonder how many people know that Y. A. Tittle was drafted in the 1st round of the 1948 and the 1951 NFL Drafts?

 

[CanuckCowboysFan]

. I'd put Mike Jenkins over him,

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH

 

[SDogo]

I wonder how many people know that Y. A. Tittle was drafted in the 1st round of the 1948 and the 1951 NFL Drafts?

I'll be honest, I was not one of them.:

 

[Hostile]

I'll be honest, I was not one of them.:

In 1948 he was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 1st round, but he chose instead to play for the Baltimore Colts of the All America Football Conference. The Colts then went defunct and he was drafted at in 1951 by the San Francisco 49ers whom he went on to play for a number of years before a trade to the Giants.

The early days of the NFL, the Draft and all of the competing Leagues can be kind of tricky to follow all the machinations.

 

[masomenos]

For the 1974 pick, you chose Jack Lambert over my father. For that, I can never forgive you.

 

[peplaw06]

Man that 1992 draft was awful. When you posted Troy Vincent, I was thinking there had to be someone better than him drafted.

Outside of the first round, the only guys I even recognized and gave at least a second thought to would be Jimmy Smith, Darren Woodson, Brad Johnson, Santana Dotson, and Mark Chmura.

 

[Avery]

The 92 draft was quite likely the worst draft since the merger. I mean, look at this top ten:

1 Indianapolis Colts Steve Emtman Defensive Tackle Washington
2 Indianapolis Colts Quentin Coryatt Linebacker Texas A&M
3 Los Angeles Rams Sean Gilbert Defensive End Pittsburgh
4 Washington Commanders Desmond Howard Wide Receiver Michigan
5 Green Bay Packers Terrell Buckley Defensive Back Florida State
6 Cincinnati Bengals David Klingler Quarterback Houston
7 Miami Dolphins Troy Vincent Defensive Back Wisconsin
8 Atlanta Falcons Bob Whitfield Tackle Stanford
9 Cleveland Browns Tommy Vardell Running Back Stanford

Only 27 of 336 players ever made the Pro Bowl (keep in mind it's a 12 round draft). It's likely that we won't see a team with the first and second pick again in quite some time.

I can say without bias that Darren Woodson was probably the best player in that class. Vincent would be #2 and Jimmy Smith #3 (you could argue the case for Dale Carter as well).

 

[casmith07]

I agree with Cushing in 09, Chris Johnson in 2008 his career just begun and he is behind the second best o-line in football. I'd put Mike Jenkins over him, or Joe Flaaco.

It also disgusts me that Randall McDaniel is over Irvin.

Joe Flacco?

:laugh1:

 

[Hostile]

Joe Flacco?

:laugh1:

I am shocked he didn't comment on my choice of Revis.

So young. he'll learn I hope.

 

[rkell87]

what about steve largent?

 

[casmith07]

I am shocked he didn't comment on my choice of Revis.

So young. he'll learn I hope.

I'm a little surprised you picked Troy Vincent over Woody...although a lot of people here didn't see Troy Vincent play. He was a monster.

 

[Hostile]

I'm a little surprised you picked Troy Vincent over Woody...although a lot of people here didn't see Troy Vincent play. He was a monster.

Troy was a 5 time Pro Bowl CB.

Darren was a 5 time Pro Bowl SS.

I just think CB is a little harder to play. I wouldn't fight to keep whichever one I had picked.

 

[jswalker1981]

I bought my Dad a Bob Lilly autographed throwback mini helmet for Fathers Day. I think it will look nice next to his autographed Roger Staubach football and his Legacy Walk paver.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Joe Flacco?

:laugh1:

Flaaco has brought his team to the playoffs back to back years, rookie and 1 year pro. Got to the AFC championship in the rookie year, and has actual talent not media-hype and the best rungame, defense and o-line in football like Sanchez.