NFL Draft 2011: Choosing First-Round Superstars from the 80s and 90s
The draft is still a month away. Many prospects are getting graded as they participate in pro days. The Scouting Combine numbers have put players behind or ahead of expectations. And their college tape shows outstanding and problematic performances. And so far no one has any idea who will be great one day.
Wouldn't it be great to have a draft where you knew exactly what you were getting? That every player available would be in the Hall of Fame one day?
Guess what? It's your lucky day! Over the next 32 slides, each team will hypothetically pick out retired players who meet the most pressing needs of today's clubs using this year's draft order.
So come with me as we examine the very best former first round selections from the 1980s and 90s, pick by pick, and put them on teams in the 2011 draft!
1. Carolina Panthers: QB John Elway
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The great Denver Bronco legend would be a great pick for the lowly Panthers. He led modest to poor teams in Denver into the playoffs for years, including five Super Bowl appearances.
A two-time Super Bowl winner, Elway was the league's MVP in 1987. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2004, holds nearly every Broncos passing record and is among the top three in NFL history in most QB categories.
A good player to base any franchise around.
2. Denver Broncos: DT Bruce Smith
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John Fox loves defensive linemen. He would love to have someone half as great as Bruce Smith turn up in 2011.
His 200 sacks is the NFL all-time record. Smith recorded 10 or more sacks in an NFL-record 13 seasons and was voted the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and 1996.
Elvis Dumervil probably wouldn't mind having this guy take pressure off of him either.
3. Buffalo Bills: DT Warren Sapp
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As you can see, Mr. Sapp makes a difference on many levels: scoring TDs, getting sacks, batting passes or just stuffing the run. Sapp would help the Bills' lowly front seven better than any two players combined.
His play-making ability is off the charts, as he was a first-team All-Pro four years in a row.
The Bills need a QB of course, but Sapp is too good to pass up at No. 3.
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4. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Jerry Rice
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What's that breaking news I hear? Carson Palmer doesn't want a trade anymore? The greatest wide receiver in league history lands with Cincy at No. 4, which is a steal.
Rice owns virtually every receiving mark, including receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895) and most 1,000-yard receiving seasons (14).
Jerry Rice would open the door to expand the offense in ways that Owens and Ocho couldn't.
5. Arizona Cardinals: QB Dan Marino
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Dolphins fans can tell you all about the impact a quarterback like Marino can have on a team. A Larry Fitzgerald and Dan Marino combo might be the greatest ever. Arguably, of course.
Marino never did win a Super Bowl, which is a mystery and just unfortunate. He is still the most prolific passer in NFL history. He was the first player ever to pass for 5,000 yards in a season, threw a then-record 48 TDs in 1984 and recorded 13 3,000-yard seasons.
Marino's presence would help relieve any tensions about Fitz leaving; Fitz would take a pay cut to play with the great Dan Marino.
6. Cleveland Browns: WR Tim Brown
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A member of the NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team, Brown went to nine Pro Bowls. He set the NFL rookie-season record for most combined yards gained (2,317) in 1988 and owns every major receiving record for the Raiders.
The Browns are going to roll with Colt McCoy and getting a receiver is key to the team's success. They will hope they can find someone as prolific as Tim Brown. McCoy and Brown are a good combo in that they are both into the short-yardage game. McCoy wouldn't do well with a system that required long passes. Brown thrived in short catch-and-runs.
7. San Francisco 49ers: QB Jim Kelly
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The 49ers need a QB, so they get the Hall of Famer Jim Kelly to fill their need. Whether they get so lucky in 2011 is unknown. Any QB drafted will be hard-pressed to match this guy's record-setting career.
Kelly passed for more than 3,000 yards in a season eight times, ran the original no-huddle offense, and guided Buffalo to eight postseason appearances and four straight Super Bowls.
8. Tennessee Titans: DB/KR Deion Sanders
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'Nuff said, baby! The greatest defensive back of all time lands with the Titans at No. 8.
Bud Adams operates with a revolving door; as soon as a player achieves success, they leave because Bud doesn't pay. So he'll pick a position of impact that can't demand as much money as some others.
Patrick Peterson is the closest thing to Deion in the 2011 class.
Primetime led the NFL in interceptions in 1991 and 1993, selected first-team All-Pro nine times and played in eight Pro Bowls.
9. Dallas Cowboys: DE Reggie White
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Dallas and Jerry Jones get their sexy pick after all. Reggie White is easily the best pure pass-rushing threat the NFL has ever seen. His ability to get after the QB was unprecedented.
White recorded 12 seasons with 10-plus sacks. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1987, 1991 and 1998, and was elected to 13 straight Pro Bowls. There really isn't anything that he didn't do.
RIP.
For the Cowboys to get their hands on someone of his caliber is possible. Whether that guy translates to the pro game is another story.
10. Washington Redskins: RB Eric Dickerson
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This may surprise some. Washington needs a QB, WR and help on defense. However, Mike Shanahan had his best seasons coaching when Terrell Davis was on the roster. Don't be surprised in the Skins go RB sometime early in 2011.
Finding someone like Dickerson would be a dream come true.
He rushed for an NFL-record 2,105 yards in 1984 and gained 1,800 or more rushing yards in three of his first four seasons.
11. Houston Texans: LB Lawrence Taylor
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Lawrence is the best linebacker and a legend in the NFL. Houston is desperate for defensive help to combat Peyton Manning...or Mark Sanchez for that matter.
Whether anyone besides Von Miller is even close to Taylor in 2011 is unlikely. But Houston would love to find him!
Imagine Taylor and Mario Williams lined up against the other team's offense, pounding Peyton twice a year.
LT was an All-Pro his first nine seasons and All-NFC 10 times. He played in 10 Pro Bowls and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1981, 1982 and 1986. Now that is dominance.
12. Minnesota Vikings: QB Troy Aikman
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Leslie Frazier finds his quarterback at No. 12.
The great Troy Aikman brings his pinpoint accuracy to Minnesota. Playing with Adrian Peterson behind him will make his job easy, as Emmitt Smith made his job easy back in the day.
Frazier is hoping to find someone as good as Aikman this year. If that player matches Aikman's career,ย things will be OK for the Vikings.
Troy led his team to three Super Bowl wins and was the winningest starting quarterback of any decade with 90 of 94 career wins occurring in 1990s. Aikman posted 13 regular-season and four playoff 300-yard passing games.
13. Detroit Lions: OT Gary Zimmerman
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Imagine how much better the Lions' improving offense could be if Matthew Stafford could stay healthy. Well if Zimmerman was in Detroit today, no one would be mentioning anything about Stafford getting hit, hurt or running for his life.
Look for Detroit to find someone to do exactly what Zimmerman made his mantra out of. This is one tough guy that the Lions linemen would be wise to fashion their games after.
Zimmerman had a streak of 169 consecutive starts. Wherever Zimmerman went he helped that team lead in rushing. He was named to two NFL All-Decade Teams (1980s and 1990s) and got first- or second-team All-Pro honors eight times.
14. St. Louis Rams: WR Art Monk
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Art Monk is the exact kind of receiver that Sam Bradford could team with to create a dominating passing assault. The Rams need a guy who can stretch the field like Monk did for all those years. Bradford will undoubtedly be given someone with the potential in 2011.ย
Art gained 1,000 yards five times and finished his career with 940 catches. He was an All-Pro choice twice.
Monk is a one-of-a-kind receiver. Rams fans are hoping to find the next decade-defining receiver in 2011. With Sam Bradford they already have a one-of-a-kind quarterback.
15. Miami Dolphins: RB Barry Sanders
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The great Barry Sanders falls to Miami at No. 15 and the Dolphins grab him! This type of scenario could happen with Mark Ingram in 2011, and if so the Phins better not miss it.
Even Sanders would be hard-pressed to have success in the Dolphins offense due to a weak passing game. However the line is sturdy and the defense is excellent.
Sanders retired before his time really. But while he played, he was the most electrifying running back. He was the first player to rush for 1,000 yards in his first 10 seasons. The NFL's MVP in 1997, Sanders gained 2,053 yards that season, including a record 14-straight 100-yard games.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Willie McGinest
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Big Willie had a great combination of size and strength. The Jags would love to have someone like him rushing the passer.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time Super Bowl winner, McGinest's 16 postseason sacks are the most in NFL history. Performing against tough competition was his strong suit. Getting after Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub are what the Jaguars are looking to do. Willie had 86 sacks over his career and a shocking five interceptions; making plays is what he did.
The Jags will have some pass-rushing options in 2011, and they are hoping to land someone of McGinest's pedigree.
17. New England Patriots: DE Chris Doleman
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New England is in dire need of a pass-rushing threat to help compete against the high-flying QBs in the AFC.
Doleman played defensive end during his future Hall of Fame career. He was a bit ahead of his time. The team started him at outside linebacker in the 3-4 but switched him to end in a 4-3, though he could have made a great 3-4 outside rushing linebacker. Doleman would do very well in today's league.
As it is, he still had 21 sacks in the 1989 season and 150.5 over his amazing career.
18. San Diego Chargers: S Rod Woodson
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The Chargers could go a few ways here, but a safety of Woodson's caliber is rare, particularly at 17th overall. San Diego was the No. 1 overall defense from a year ago but is losing a starter at safety.
Woodson is a member of the NFLโs 75th Anniversary Team and the NFLโs All-Decade Team of the 1990s, besides being named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993. That's pretty darn impressive! Throw in his 71 intercepted passes and you've got a keeper.
Putting him in the backfield would give the Chargers' front seven time to get after the quarterback. Considering they play against the Colts and Patriots every postseason, it's important to have pass defenders.
19. New York Giants: OL Bruce Matthews
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Eli Manning struggles when under pressure and the Giants like to rush the ball. Picking up the great Bruce Matthews at 19th overall would be amazing. Whether Anthony Castonzo is the next Bruce Matthews and if the Giants can get him will be interesting to see.
Matthews played every position on the offensive line and has incredible numbers. Placing him in that offensive line would make the Giants a powerhouse. They will be hoping to get someone like Matthews in 2011.
Matthews played in 296 games and was named to a record-tying 14 consecutive Pro Bowl teams (nine at guard, five at center). He was on the All-Pro team nine times and was All-AFC 12 times.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Junior Seau
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The Bucs need a pass rusher; however the best defensive linemen are gone at this point. So they settle with one of the greatest legends in defensive pro football history in Junior Seau.ย
Seau is a seven-time, first-team All-Pro, a 12-time Pro Bowl selection and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992. A member of the 1990s All-Decade Team, Seau terrorized the AFC West and the AFC East for 19 years.
The Bucs have some choices facing them that could result in the type of player Seau was; whether they make the right choice in time is another story.
21. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Michael Irvin
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Michael Irvin was charismatic and super-talented. The Chiefs need to have someone to stretch the field in order to get the best out of Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe.
Cassel had his best year while playing with Randy Moss. Moss and Irvin are very much alike, so Michael or a receiver like him would help bring out Cassel's best.
Finding the right guy to go with in the 2011 class will be difficult.
Irvin was selected for five straight Pro Bowls and is a member of the 1990s All-Decade Team.
22. Indianapolis Colts: OT Willie Roaf
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An eight-time all-conference and 11-time Pro Bowler, Willie "Nasty" Roaf is just the guy to help protect Peyton Manning's blind side. He was one of the best blockers to ever play the game.
The Colts have an older Manning and he is more likely to be injured during these years of his career than ever before. This is bad timing as the Colts' offensive-line issues are worse than ever before. Roaf would be just the guy to help them now.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: S Steve Atwater
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Steve Atwater is quite possibly the most physical defensive player to play pro football. In a Super Bowl he knocked himself and two other guys out cold on a tackle.
The Eagles defense is soft; they don't hit hard and are lightweights mostly. Getting someone to bring a physicality to the backfield would be ideal.
Atwater was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and is a part of the 1990s All-Decade team.
24. New Orleans Saints: S Ronnie Lott
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Lott is part of the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, as well as the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade teams. Ronnie Lott made every kind of play a coach could possibly ask for.
The Saints don't need much help, except in the secondary. The playoff game in which Marshawn Lynch ran through them, plus the presence of Roddy White, Matt Ryan and Josh Freeman in their division, means the Saints must get better in the defensive backfield.
25. Seattle Seahawks: LB Derrick Thomas
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The Seahawks have needs at just about every location of the field, glaringly so at QB. Picking the best player makes the most sense though.
Derrick Thomas is easily one of the best linebackers to ever play. If the Seahawks face a player with as much skill and can be there for 10-plus years, they will take him in 2011. With Thomas they can control the line of scrimmage.
A nine-time Pro Bowler, Thomas holds the record for most sacks in a single game with 7. He also had a 20-sack season.
26. Baltimore Ravens: OT Anthony Munoz
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Anthony Munoz is one of the greatest tackles in league history. He dominated defenders for years and is a Hall of Famer.
The Ravens are looking to move Michael Oher back to the right side and this pick would allow that. Getting the run game going again and giving Joe Flacco time in the pocket is the Ravens' goal.
A member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, Munoz was selected to 11 Pro Bowls.
27. Atlanta Falcons: WR Sterling Sharpe
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Sharpe had his career cut short by injuries, but he was selected to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams during his last five years. He also led the league in receptions for three straight years.
The Falcons need help on defense. But they decide to team Sharpe with Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White to give Matt Ryan the best receiving corps in the NFL.
28. New England Patriots: RB Eddie George
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Eddie George would have given the Patriots the workhorse running back they really haven't had since Bill Belichick took over as head coach. He can run, block, and catchโeverything the Patriots demand of a running back.
George was the 1996 winner of the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and finished with 78 total touchdowns in his career.
New England will have to fix the offensive line situation. George is just too good to pass up. When the game gets physical and high scoring, the Patriots would be able to slow things down to their pace with George toting the rock.
29. Chicago Bears: OG Mike Munchak
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Munchak didn't draft himself in this dream mock, but that's OK. The Bears really need him and he fills the need to protect Jay Cutler. The Bears might have liked a wide receiver but if Cutler can't stand, he can't throw.
Munchak is a Hall of Famer and now a head coach.
31. New York Jets: LB Derrick Brooks
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Derrick Brooks was the best linebacker on a defense that single-handedly got to the Super Bowl and won it.
During his career, he did basically everything. He played in the Tampa 2, so his sack total wasn't amazing but he definitely could have succeeded as a pass rusher. The brash, hard-hitting Jets just got tougher.
Brooks was named to 11 Pro Bowls and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2002.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: OG Randall McDaniel
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McDaniel was perhaps the greatest to play guard ever.
Randall proved to be exceptional in the run game and in pass protection, making him a great fit for the hard-nosed Steelers offense. Big Ben holds the ball a long time, so an offensive lineman with endurance during the play is key.
McDaniel was named to the Hall of Fame, nine All-Pro team selections and a part of the 1990s All-Decade team.
32. Green Bay Packers: CB Darrell Green
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Darrell Green provides depth and skill at corner, a position where the Packers are getting old.
He had at least one interception in 19 straight years of football. Green Bay will need some depth back there after Charles Woodson broke his collarbone.
Green was a four-time All-Pro and was part of the 1990s All-Decade team.
Wishing on Stars
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As you follow your team closely to see what they do on April 28th, just remember many of these guys were not received well.
Fans thought their teams were crazy for picking them. Others not on this list were thought to be great picks and sure-thing standouts.
So when your team picks, hold your breath. Despite whatever you may have heard, you may be witnessing the start of an All-Decade superstar.
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