Ranking the NFL Drafts from 1990-1999, No. 10-6

For the NFL, the 1990s opened with the Joe Montana's 49ers knocking around Elway and the Broncos, John Madden and Pat Summerall talking about it, and Aaron Neville blasting the National Anthem.

For those teams not in New Orleans, the first draft of the 1990s was shaping up. I've decided to rank the drafts of the '90s, strictly my own opinion, throw in some useful facts and some witty remarks among other things.

So from Jeff George, pick-one in 1990 to pick-253 in 1999, Jim Finn, and all the players drafted and some not, in between. This is my ranking the drafts of the 1990s.

Let us start with the draft that finished dead last in my rankings...

The '92 draft saw the Colts having the first two picks. It eventually saw them waste those picks on Steve Emtman and Quentin Coryatt. Both players never lived up to their high positions in the draft.

Sean Gilbertand Desmond Howard rounded out the top four, chosen by the Rams and Redskins respectively. The Heisman winner Howard landed in Washington and ultimately would become the first special teams player named Super Bowl MVP.

This was of course in Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI. Howard never found a niche in the NFL, playing for five teams over his career.

Other notable players and Pro Bowlers drafted that year include Troy Cinvent, Bob Whitfield, Leon Searcy, Dale Carter, Chester McGlockton, Marco Coleman, Robert Porcher, Darryl Williams, Ashley Ambrose, Carl Pickens, Jimmy Smith, Darren Woodson, Levon Kirkland (Smith, Woodson and Kirkland were selected consecutively in the second round), Jason Hanson, Robert Brooks, Joel Steed, Ed McDaniel, Mark Chmura, Jeff Blake, Sam Gash, and Brad Johnson.

The 1992 draft didn't turn out any sure fire Hall of Famers.

The 1991 draft saw the Cowboys grab Russell Maryland in a flurry of defensive players selected in the top six. An offensive player was not selected until pick seven, where the Buccaneers took tackle Charles McRae from Tennessee. The Eagles followed suit by nabbing another tackle from the Volunteers, Antone Davis with pick No. 8.

Pro Bowlers Eric Swann, Todd Lyght, Eric Turner, Herman Moore, Ted Washington, and Henry Jones were tall taken in the first round and hall of fame quarterback Brett Favre landed at pick-33 to Atlanta.

Other Pro Bowlers from the '91 draft include Keenan McCardell, Ricky Watters, Chris Zorich, Aeneas Williams, Mo Lewis, Erik Williams, punter Chris Gardocki, Ed McCaffrey, Yancey Thigpen, John Kasey, William Thomas, Bryan Cox, Merton Hanks, Ben Coates, defensive ends Michael Sinclair and Andy Harmon (picked consecutively), and Leon Lett.

Washintgton State quarterback Drew Bledsoe went first overall to the Patriots and 16 Pro Bowlers were selected in the first two rounds, including Hall of Fame locks Jerome Bettis and Michael Strahan.

Fellow hall of fame prospect John Lynch was grabbed in round three and all total 35 Pro Bowlers were drafted and one (Mike Vanderjagt, Indianapolis) went undrafted.

Offensive lineman were at a premium in this draft with Will Shields, Brad Hopkins, Ron Stone, Lincoln Kennedy, and Willie Roaf getting in on the fun.

Kickers like Jason Elam, Craig Hentrich, and Vanderjagt have all enjoyed success in the NFL.

At the same time, the '93 draft had its share of middle of the road feature running backs. Garrison Hearst, Robert Smith, Natrone Means, Lorenzo Neal, and Richie Anderson all took the trip to Hawaii at least once, while quarterbacks Elvis Grbac, Trent Green, Mark Brunell, and Drew Bledsoe all did the same.

1994 was a year again in which either Cincinnati or Indianapolis had the top pick. This time, it was Indianapolis grabbing future Hall of Famer, Marshall Faulk, with pick No. 2 and the Bengals wasting the top pick on Dan Wilkinson.

Along with Faulk, potential Hall of Famers from the '94 class include undrafted wideout Rod Smith, first rounders Willie McGinest, Bryant Young and Sam Adams, as well as Kevin Mawae, Rodney Harrison, and Larry Allen.

Outside of Allen's selection, pick 46, the draft was weak. There were a few star players such as Jason Gildon, Harrison, Lee Woodall, and Tom Nalen, but nothing too serious to consider.

Another draft where the Indianapolis Colts selected first and blew the pick. This time on quarterback Jeff George from Illinois.

In a fairly weak draft, it did however produce five probably Hall of Famers in Emmitt Smith, Shannon Sharpe, and Junior Seau, along with Mark Carrier and Matt Stover, if he continues to kick for a few more seasons.

Pro Bowler John Randle went undrafted and Sharpe and Stover were the diamonds in the rough in the draft, both being drafted in rounds seven or later, Sharpe (round seven) Stover (round 12).

So I hope you guys enjoyed the first half of the countdown. Coming on Monday, the second half.