I remember that draft well. We definitely wanted a WR and the top three were Eddie Brown, Al Toon and Jerry Rice. Most projections had all three going in the top 10. After those three there was a big drop to the next tier of receivers led by Vance Johnson (of the Broncos "Three Amigo" fame).
Mock drafts weren't nearly as prevalent back then and there obviously also was no internet around. But I remember checking out a few magazines and the majority had the Cowboys taking Vance Johnson at #17, who was to be the next wr after the top 3, who were all projected to be taken in the top 10.
In those days the draft was held during the week, Tuesday I believe. I can recall coming home from school and expecting to find out Dallas had drafted Vance Johnson. I was shocked to see we had taken a DL named Kevin Brooks. I was more shocked to see that the first WR to go wasn't taken until pick #10, which ended up being Al Toon. Next came Eddie Brown at #13 and then seeing where SF had traded up right in front of us to nab Jerry Rice.
I've always figured that after coming that close to having one of the top three WR's drop to us but get stolen from our grasps at the last instance - we didn't want to settle for the next receiver on the list who was a considerable notch down - which is why we opted to go a totally different direction with the DL.
At the time I was slightly disappointed in missing out on one of the the top three receivers. Although Rice was considered by everyone to be #3 at the position. It wasn't til a year or two later that it became evident what we really missed out on by just one pick, and not just one pick but by a team trading up right ahead of us.
But looking back now, we did get Walker in that draft which led to "The Trade". And like others said, with Rice we never would've taken Irvin. And we probably would've never gotten Aikman. In '88 we probably would've been a slightly better team than 3-13 and wouldn't have had the #1 overall pick in '89. In fact, after missing out on Rice in '85 we were set to take a WR in '86, either Tim McGee or Mike Sherrard, and we took Sherrard. He had a solid rookie year and then broke his leg the following training camp. If that never happened we wouldn't have taken Irvin in '88 and probably wouldn't have gotten Aikman in '89.
It really is weird how what were two major setbacks in '85 and '86, missing out on Rice and then Sherrards injury, ended up being a blessing in disguise that paved the way for the the triplets and Jimmy and the 90's SB's. At that time those 6 years of wondering in the wilderness seemed like an eternity. But after the last 14 years, what I wouldn't give to just have to endure 6 years of that.
:bang2:
