The famous 1983 Draft on NFL Network

[CowboyChris]

lately NFL Network has been showing a lot of the famous 1983 NFL Draft, so i got to wondering what exactly did we do that year. as it turns out, that draft was loaded with hall of fame players.


Pick #NFL Team Player Position College
1 Baltimore Colts (player later traded to Denver) John Elway Quarterback Stanford
2 Los Angeles Rams (from Houston through Seattle) Eric Dickerson Running Back Southern Methodist
3 Seattle Seahawks (from Los Angeles Rams) Curt Warner Running Back Penn State
4 Denver Broncos(player later traded to Baltimore) Chris Hinton Guard Northwestern
5 San Diego Chargers (from San Francisco) Billy Ray Smith Linebacker Arkansas
6 Chicago Bears Jim Covert Offensive Tackle Pittsburgh
7 Kansas City Chiefs Todd Blackledge Quarterback Penn State
8 Philadelphia Eagles Michael Haddix Running Back Mississippi State
9 Houston Oilers (from Seattle) Bruce Matthews Offensive Tackle USC
10 New York Giants Terry Kinard Safety Clemson
11 Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans) Tim Lewis Cornerback Pittsburgh
12 Buffalo Bills Tony Hunter Tight End Notre Dame
13 Detroit Lions James Jones Fullback Florida
14 Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland) Jim Kelly Quarterback Miami (FL)
15 New England Patriots Tony Eason Quarterback Illinois
16 Atlanta Falcons Mike Pitts Defensive End Alabama
17 St. Louis Cardinals Leonard Smith Cornerback McNeese State
18 Chicago Bears (from Tampa Bay) Willie Gault Wide Receiver Tennessee
19 Minnesota Vikings Joey Browner Cornerback USC
20 San Diego Chargers (from Green Bay) Gary Anderson Running Back Arkansas
21 Pittsburgh Steelers Gabriel Rivera Defensive Tackle Texas Tech
22 San Diego Chargers (from San Diego through San Francisco) Gill Byrd Cornerback San Jose State
23 Dallas Cowboys Jim Jeffcoat Defensive End Arizona State
24 New York Jets Ken O'Brien Quarterback California-Davis
25 Cincinnati Bengals Dave Rimington Center Nebraska
26 Los Angeles Raiders Don Mosebar Center USC
27 Miami Dolphins Dan Marino Quarterback Pittsburgh
28 Washington Commanders Darrell Green Cornerback Texas A&I University

here are the rest of our picks that year

Round 2

50 Dallas Cowboys Mike Walter Linebacker Oregon

Round 3

77 Dallas Cowboys Bryan Caldwell Defensive End Arizona State

Round 4

108 Dallas Cowboys Chris Faulkner Tight end Florida

Round 5

135 Dallas Cowboys Chuck McSwain Running back Clemson

Round 6

162 Dallas Cowboys Reggie Collier Quarterback Southern Mississippi

Round 7

189 Dallas Cowboys Chris Schultz Tackle Arizona

Round 8

220 Dallas Cowboys Lawrence Ricks Running back Michigan

Round 9

246 Dallas Cowboys Al Gross Defensive back Arizona

Round 10

273 Dallas Cowboys Eric Moran Tackle Washington

Round 11

300 Dallas Cowboys Dan Taylor Tackle Idaho State

Round 12

331 Dallas Cowboys Lorenzo Bouier Running back Maine

 

[YosemiteSam]

13 Detroit Lions James Jones Fullback Florida

This was an incredible draft talent wise, but above is my favorite pick of the draft. Drafting a fullback 13th overall of the 1st round. Is there a better reason that the Lions have never won a Super Bowl?

Here is a fun fact about the Lions.

However, they were defeated 41-10 by the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Commanders. In fact, 1991 is the only season in which the Lions have won a playoff game in the Super Bowl era. They are 1-11 in postseason play since 1967

Yeah Lions. Your front office sucks and has always sucked.

 

[CowboyChris]

yep, that one lone playoff win was against us 38-6, you conveniently forgot that lol

 

[CowboyChris]

I might add, that year we drafted 3 running backs with Tony Dorsett still in his prime.....smh

 

[DBOY3141]

lately NFL Network has been showing a lot of the famous 1983 NFL Draft, so i got to wondering what exactly did we do that year. as it turns out, that draft was loaded with hall of fame players.


Pick #NFL Team Player Position College
1 Baltimore Colts (player later traded to Denver) John Elway Quarterback Stanford
2 Los Angeles Rams (from Houston through Seattle) Eric Dickerson Running Back Southern Methodist
3 Seattle Seahawks (from Los Angeles Rams) Curt Warner Running Back Penn State
4 Denver Broncos(player later traded to Baltimore) Chris Hinton Guard Northwestern
5 San Diego Chargers (from San Francisco) Billy Ray Smith Linebacker Arkansas
6 Chicago Bears Jim Covert Offensive Tackle Pittsburgh
7 Kansas City Chiefs Todd Blackledge Quarterback Penn State
8 Philadelphia Eagles Michael Haddix Running Back Mississippi State
9 Houston Oilers (from Seattle) Bruce Matthews Offensive Tackle USC
10 New York Giants Terry Kinard Safety Clemson
11 Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans) Tim Lewis Cornerback Pittsburgh
12 Buffalo Bills Tony Hunter Tight End Notre Dame
13 Detroit Lions James Jones Fullback Florida
14 Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland) Jim Kelly Quarterback Miami (FL)
15 New England Patriots Tony Eason Quarterback Illinois
16 Atlanta Falcons Mike Pitts Defensive End Alabama
17 St. Louis Cardinals Leonard Smith Cornerback McNeese State
18 Chicago Bears (from Tampa Bay) Willie Gault Wide Receiver Tennessee
19 Minnesota Vikings Joey Browner Cornerback USC
20 San Diego Chargers (from Green Bay) Gary Anderson Running Back Arkansas
21 Pittsburgh Steelers Gabriel Rivera Defensive Tackle Texas Tech
22 San Diego Chargers (from San Diego through San Francisco) Gill Byrd Cornerback San Jose State
23 Dallas Cowboys Jim Jeffcoat Defensive End Arizona State
24 New York Jets Ken O'Brien Quarterback California-Davis
25 Cincinnati Bengals Dave Rimington Center Nebraska
26 Los Angeles Raiders Don Mosebar Center USC
27 Miami Dolphins Dan Marino Quarterback Pittsburgh
28 Washington Commanders Darrell Green Cornerback Texas A&I University

here are the rest of our picks that year

Round 2

50 Dallas Cowboys Mike Walter Linebacker Oregon

Round 3

77 Dallas Cowboys Bryan Caldwell Defensive End Arizona State

Round 4

108 Dallas Cowboys Chris Faulkner Tight end Florida

Round 5

135 Dallas Cowboys Chuck McSwain Running back Clemson

Round 6

162 Dallas Cowboys Reggie Collier Quarterback Southern Mississippi

Round 7

189 Dallas Cowboys Chris Schultz Tackle Arizona

Round 8

220 Dallas Cowboys Lawrence Ricks Running back Michigan

Round 9

246 Dallas Cowboys Al Gross Defensive back Arizona

Round 10

273 Dallas Cowboys Eric Moran Tackle Washington

Round 11

300 Dallas Cowboys Dan Taylor Tackle Idaho State

Round 12

331 Dallas Cowboys Lorenzo Bouier Running back Maine

We had an offer for Elway but Colts said no. Early 80's we lost our drafting mojo.

 

[CowboyChris]

We had an offer for Elway but Colts said no. Early 80's we lost our drafting mojo.

we would've had to offer alot since we were picking 23rd, and the Colts were #1

 

[DBOY3141]

we would've had to offer alot since we were picking 23rd, and the Colts were #1

I think I read that they wanted Danny White thrown in, so they would have a starting QB for the 83 season and we said no. All other compensation was agreed on.

 

[slick325]

If you go back and look at the draft haul of the Bears in 1983, you can see that the '85 Bears were crafted in '83. They got a lot of starters and contributors out of that draft.

 

[windward]

We passed on Marino. NFL history would have been dramatically altered in unseen ways.

 

[windward]

Marino could have possibly extended Landry's career into the 90s IMO.

 

[CowboyChris]

passed on Darrell Green too.

 

[unionjack8]

GIL BRANDT totally crapped the bed in that draft after jeffcoat

 

[dallasdave]

lately NFL Network has been showing a lot of the famous 1983 NFL Draft, so i got to wondering what exactly did we do that year. as it turns out, that draft was loaded with hall of fame players.


Pick #NFL Team Player Position College
1 Baltimore Colts (player later traded to Denver) John Elway Quarterback Stanford
2 Los Angeles Rams (from Houston through Seattle) Eric Dickerson Running Back Southern Methodist
3 Seattle Seahawks (from Los Angeles Rams) Curt Warner Running Back Penn State
4 Denver Broncos(player later traded to Baltimore) Chris Hinton Guard Northwestern
5 San Diego Chargers (from San Francisco) Billy Ray Smith Linebacker Arkansas
6 Chicago Bears Jim Covert Offensive Tackle Pittsburgh
7 Kansas City Chiefs Todd Blackledge Quarterback Penn State
8 Philadelphia Eagles Michael Haddix Running Back Mississippi State
9 Houston Oilers (from Seattle) Bruce Matthews Offensive Tackle USC
10 New York Giants Terry Kinard Safety Clemson
11 Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans) Tim Lewis Cornerback Pittsburgh
12 Buffalo Bills Tony Hunter Tight End Notre Dame
13 Detroit Lions James Jones Fullback Florida
14 Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland) Jim Kelly Quarterback Miami (FL)
15 New England Patriots Tony Eason Quarterback Illinois
16 Atlanta Falcons Mike Pitts Defensive End Alabama
17 St. Louis Cardinals Leonard Smith Cornerback McNeese State
18 Chicago Bears (from Tampa Bay) Willie Gault Wide Receiver Tennessee
19 Minnesota Vikings Joey Browner Cornerback USC
20 San Diego Chargers (from Green Bay) Gary Anderson Running Back Arkansas
21 Pittsburgh Steelers Gabriel Rivera Defensive Tackle Texas Tech
22 San Diego Chargers (from San Diego through San Francisco) Gill Byrd Cornerback San Jose State
23 Dallas Cowboys Jim Jeffcoat Defensive End Arizona State
24 New York Jets Ken O'Brien Quarterback California-Davis
25 Cincinnati Bengals Dave Rimington Center Nebraska
26 Los Angeles Raiders Don Mosebar Center USC
27 Miami Dolphins Dan Marino Quarterback Pittsburgh
28 Washington Commanders Darrell Green Cornerback Texas A&I University

here are the rest of our picks that year

Round 2

50 Dallas Cowboys Mike Walter Linebacker Oregon

Round 3

77 Dallas Cowboys Bryan Caldwell Defensive End Arizona State

Round 4

108 Dallas Cowboys Chris Faulkner Tight end Florida

Round 5

135 Dallas Cowboys Chuck McSwain Running back Clemson

Round 6

162 Dallas Cowboys Reggie Collier Quarterback Southern Mississippi

Round 7

189 Dallas Cowboys Chris Schultz Tackle Arizona

Round 8

220 Dallas Cowboys Lawrence Ricks Running back Michigan

Round 9

246 Dallas Cowboys Al Gross Defensive back Arizona

Round 10

273 Dallas Cowboys Eric Moran Tackle Washington

Round 11

300 Dallas Cowboys Dan Taylor Tackle Idaho State

Round 12

331 Dallas Cowboys Lorenzo Bouier Running back Maine

That draft had talent !!!

 

[AmishCowboy]

Not one of our best drafts

 

[Joe Realist]

lately NFL Network has been showing a lot of the famous 1983 NFL Draft, so i got to wondering what exactly did we do that year. as it turns out, that draft was loaded with hall of fame players.


Pick #NFL Team Player Position College
1 Baltimore Colts (player later traded to Denver) John Elway Quarterback Stanford
2 Los Angeles Rams (from Houston through Seattle) Eric Dickerson Running Back Southern Methodist
3 Seattle Seahawks (from Los Angeles Rams) Curt Warner Running Back Penn State
4 Denver Broncos(player later traded to Baltimore) Chris Hinton Guard Northwestern
5 San Diego Chargers (from San Francisco) Billy Ray Smith Linebacker Arkansas
6 Chicago Bears Jim Covert Offensive Tackle Pittsburgh
7 Kansas City Chiefs Todd Blackledge Quarterback Penn State
8 Philadelphia Eagles Michael Haddix Running Back Mississippi State
9 Houston Oilers (from Seattle) Bruce Matthews Offensive Tackle USC
10 New York Giants Terry Kinard Safety Clemson
11 Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans) Tim Lewis Cornerback Pittsburgh
12 Buffalo Bills Tony Hunter Tight End Notre Dame
13 Detroit Lions James Jones Fullback Florida
14 Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland) Jim Kelly Quarterback Miami (FL)
15 New England Patriots Tony Eason Quarterback Illinois
16 Atlanta Falcons Mike Pitts Defensive End Alabama
17 St. Louis Cardinals Leonard Smith Cornerback McNeese State
18 Chicago Bears (from Tampa Bay) Willie Gault Wide Receiver Tennessee
19 Minnesota Vikings Joey Browner Cornerback USC
20 San Diego Chargers (from Green Bay) Gary Anderson Running Back Arkansas
21 Pittsburgh Steelers Gabriel Rivera Defensive Tackle Texas Tech
22 San Diego Chargers (from San Diego through San Francisco) Gill Byrd Cornerback San Jose State
23 Dallas Cowboys Jim Jeffcoat Defensive End Arizona State
24 New York Jets Ken O'Brien Quarterback California-Davis
25 Cincinnati Bengals Dave Rimington Center Nebraska
26 Los Angeles Raiders Don Mosebar Center USC
27 Miami Dolphins Dan Marino Quarterback Pittsburgh
28 Washington Commanders Darrell Green Cornerback Texas A&I University

here are the rest of our picks that year

Round 2

50 Dallas Cowboys Mike Walter Linebacker Oregon

Round 3

77 Dallas Cowboys Bryan Caldwell Defensive End Arizona State

Round 4

108 Dallas Cowboys Chris Faulkner Tight end Florida

Round 5

135 Dallas Cowboys Chuck McSwain Running back Clemson

Round 6

162 Dallas Cowboys Reggie Collier Quarterback Southern Mississippi

Round 7

189 Dallas Cowboys Chris Schultz Tackle Arizona

Round 8

220 Dallas Cowboys Lawrence Ricks Running back Michigan

Round 9

246 Dallas Cowboys Al Gross Defensive back Arizona

Round 10

273 Dallas Cowboys Eric Moran Tackle Washington

Round 11

300 Dallas Cowboys Dan Taylor Tackle Idaho State

Round 12

331 Dallas Cowboys Lorenzo Bouier Running back Maine

With a draft like this, you can see why the Cowboys soon became also-rans.

 

[Eric_Boyer]

passed on Darrell Green too.

yes, we passed on him for a guy that got a ton of sacks for us. not really ruing that one

 

[Alexander]

GIL BRANDT totally crapped the bed in that draft after jeffcoat

He did it in a lot of them, actually. Were it not for the Dirty Dozen draft which set the team up for a decade, things were pretty much like this draft where most never even made any team in the NFL, much less the Cowboys. Outside of Walter, who we gave up on and had a decent career in SF and perhaps Schultz, I don't think any of these picks played much anywhere. And if they did, like Reggie Collier, they were awful.

 

[tyke1doe]

Marino could have possibly extended Landry's career into the 90s IMO.

I don't know if that would have been great for the Cowboys.

 

[windward]

I don't know if that would have been great for the Cowboys.

Impossible to say. I'm not one who thinks the game passed Landry by ( he was only 64). The late 80s decline is mitigated by the presence of Marino. We may not have won 3 Super Bowls from 92-95, but who knows really? Marino was pretty much an elite QB until about 98 or so.

 

[RoboQB]

we would've had to offer alot since we were picking 23rd, and the Colts were #1

According to Ernie Accorsi, a deal was on the table and the owner came in and screwed it all up. Accorsi was working for Baltimore at the time and, ironically, was the
man in New York behind the Eli/Rivers draft day trade.

We also had a shot at Jerry Rice when Bill Walsh at SF jump us to draft him... NFL Network will break a Dallas fan's heart all week long if you leave the TV on.... lol