NFL Draft: Power Ranking the Overall No. 1 Picks of the 1990s
One of the most anticipated parts of every year's NFL draft is seeing who is selected first.
In the time leading up to the first day of the draft, experts and fans alike make their predictions on which player is going to be chosen with that initial pick.
Some years, the choice hasn't been made until the time when the team that has that pick is "on the clock."
More recently, teams have gone as far as coming to a contractual agreement with the players before they actually choose them.
The following is a power ranking of the No. 1 overall picks of the NFL draft from the 1990s...a very hit-and-miss decade in terms of the first players selected.
Some of these players are future Hall of Famers. Others...let's just say they won't have to make travel plans to Canton.
I have already published a similar list for the 1980s.
I will be following these power rankings up with other decade pieces ('70s, 2000s, etc.).
Enjoy!
10. Tim Couch: 1999
1 of 10
Position: Quarterback
College: Kentucky
NFL Drafting Team: Cleveland Browns
NFL Teams Played For:
Cleveland Browns (1999-2003)
Green Bay Packers (2004)*
Jacksonville Jaguars (2007)*
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
After Couch's exceptional college career at Kentucky, many NFL scouts and the Cleveland Browns had high expectations for him.
His relatively short professional football career ranged from being the Browns' all-time leader in pass completion percentage at 59.8 percent and helping Cleveland reach the playoffs to struggling mightily with the Browns giving up on him and being released in 2004.
A combination of not being able to fully recover from injuries and on-the-field ineffectiveness led Couch on an unsuccessful journey to move forward with both NFL and Canadian Football League teams.
9. Steve Emtman: 1992
2 of 10
Position: Defensive Tackle
College: Washington
NFL Drafting Team: Indianapolis Colts
NFL Teams Played For:
Indianapolis Colts (1992-1994)
Miami Dolphins (1995-1996)
Washington Redskins (1997)
Steve Emtman's NFL career was marred by injuries.
He finished each of his three seasons with the Colts on the injured reserve list.
Nine games into his rookie year, he blew out his left knee.
The following season, Emtman tore the patellar tendon in his right knee, an injury from which no previous NFL player had ever returned.
His playing career ended following the 1997 season at the age of 27.
Emtman recorded 134 tackles and eight sacks in his career, along with a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final minute of an upset win against the Miami Dolphins in his rookie year.
8. Ki-Jana Carter: 1995
3 of 10
Position: Running Back
College: Penn State
NFL Drafting Team: Cincinnati Bengals
NFL Teams Played For:
Cincinnati Bengals (1995-1999)
Washington Redskins (2001)
Green Bay Packers (2002)
New Orleans Saints (2003-2004)
After an outstanding college career at Penn State, everything looked like Ki-Jana Carter had a fantastic pro football career ahead of him.
Unfortunately, Carter tore a ligament in his knee on his third carry of his first preseason game of his rookie year and never fully recovered.
Over the next 10 seasons, Carter gained a total of 1,144 yards and scored 20 TDs.
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.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
7. Dan Wilkinson: 1994
4 of 10
Position: Defensive Tackle
College: Ohio State
NFL Drafting Team: Cincinnati Bengals
NFL Teams Played For:
Cincinnati Bengals (1994-1997)
Washington Redskins (1998-2002)
Detroit Lions (2003-2005)
Miami Dolphins (2006)
Dan Wilkinson had a productive NFL career.
In spite of battling some nagging injuries, Wilkinson recorded 410 tackles, 56.5 sacks and a surprising 11 interceptions.
6. Russell Maryland: 1991
5 of 10
Position: Defensive Tackle
College: Miami
NFL Drafting Team: Dallas Cowboys
NFL Teams Played For:
Dallas Cowboys (1991-1995)
Oakland Raiders (1996-1999)
Green Bay Packers (2000)
Russell Maryland came into the NFL with people expecting him to tear up the joint.
He had what some have called a "serviceable" career.
Maryland was selected to the 1993 Pro Bowl and played for the Cowboys' Super Bowl championship teams in 1992, 1993 and 1995.
5. Jeff George: 1990
6 of 10
Position: Quarterback
College: Illinois
NFL Drafting Team: Indianapolis Colts
NFL Teams Played For:
Indianapolis Colts (1990-1993)
Atlanta Falcons (1994-1996)
Oakland Raiders (1997-1998)
Minnesota Vikings (1999)
Washington Redskins (2000-2001)
Seattle Seahawks (2002)*
Chicago Bears (2004)*
Oakland Raiders (2006)*
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Jeff George had an exciting career...how's that for being diplomatic?
George put up some nice numbers in his time in the league, passing for over 27,000 yards with 154 TDs.
However, the reason he moved through so many teams was the constant conflict that surrounded him.
Arguing with coaches, ignoring sideline play-calling and insulting fans are just a few of the scenarios that typified his career.
There are some people that believe that even at age 43, George has the physical ability to be signed as some NFL team's backup QB.
4. Keyshawn Johnson: 1996
7 of 10
Position: Wide Receiver
College: USC
NFL Drafting Team: New York Jets
NFL Teams Played For:
New York Jets (1996-1999)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000-2003)
Dallas Cowboys (2004-2005)
Carolina Panthers (2006)
Keyshawn Johnson had an excellent career, finishing with with 814 receptions, 10,571 yards, and 64 TDs.
He is one of only three players in league history (along with Herman Moore and Marvin Harrison) to reach 600 receptions in fewer than 120 games.
He was the first wide receiver selected with the No. 1 overall pick since Irving Fryar was chosen by New England in 1984.
3. Drew Bledsoe: 1993
8 of 10
Position: Quarterback
College: Washington State
NFL Drafting Team: New England Patriots
NFL Teams Played For:
New England Patriots (1993-2001)
Buffalo Bills (2002-2004)
Dallas Cowboys (2005-2006)
Drew Bledsoe had a terrific NFL career.
He threw for 44,611 passing yards (No. 6 in NFL history) and 251 TDs (No. 13 in NFL history).
During the 1990s and early 2000s, he was the face of the New England Patriots.
Bledsoe was selected for the Pro Bowl four times and was a member of the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXVI championship team.
2. Orlando Pace: 1997
9 of 10
Position: Offensive Tackle
College: Ohio State
NFL Drafting Team: St. Louis Rams
NFL Teams Played For:
St. Louis Rams (1997-2008)
Chicago Bears (2009)
Orlando Pace established himself as one of the top linemen in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Pace was the first offensive lineman since Ron Yary in 1968 to be drafted No. 1 overall.
A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Pace blocked for three straight NFL MVPs (Kurt Warner, 1999 and 2001, and Marshall Faulk, 2000).
Pace was a key member of the St. Louis Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV championship team, and he was named a member of the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team.
1. Peyton Manning: 1998
10 of 10
Position: Quarterback
College: Tennessee
NFL Drafting Team: Indianapolis Colts
NFL Team Played For:
Indianapolis Colts (1998-present)
Peyton Manning, when he retires, may go down as the greatest QB in NFL history.
Manning has laid claim to a truckload of NFL records. To name a few:
Most seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards: 11 (1999-2004, 2006-2010)
Most regular season games with at least 300 passing yards: 63 (tied with Dan Marino)
Most consecutive seasons with at least 25 touchdown passes: 13 (1998-2010; current)
Most seasons with 12-plus wins as a starter (regular season only): Eight (1999, 2003-2009)
Most Passing Yards in a decade: 42,254 (2000-2009)
Manning already holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four.
Manning is currently on pace to break career records in every major statistical category for a quarterback.
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.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
