NFL Rewind 1990's Edition Cont., Ranking The Drafts Of The 1990's 5 Through 2

Continuing with the list, we start at number five with a draft that should've been higher on this list.

Let's say about as high as Ricky Williams gets on occassion.

This draft witnessed a record three busts at the quarterback position in the first round. Cleveland used or wasted the top pick on Tim Couch, Cincinnati went weyward at three with Akili Smith, and Chicago grabbed Cade NcNown at pick twelve.

Meanwhile, Cleveland could've at least had Syracuse's Donovan McNabb, selected one pick later by Philadelphia, Daunte Culpepper was available to both Cleveland and Cincinnati as he wasn't selected until pick eleven by the Vikings and even servicable quarterback Aaron Brooks whom the Packers took with pick 131 in round four.

The big story of this draft was New Orleans sellings itself up the river for Ricky Williams. Personally, I wouldn't sell all of my draft picks on one guy, unless he happened to be a franchise quarterback, which, as I explained, there were none of.

What there was, was a plenty of middle of the road talents in this draft, including a few guys who could one day pick up there shiny cell phones and have the Hall of Fame calling.

Guys like Javon Kearse, linebacker Al Wilson, Tory Holt, Patrick Kerney, Champ Bailey and a healthy Jeff Saturday-(who was left undrafted) could all end up enshrined in Canton one day.

Role players such as Aaron Smith, David Boston, Damien Woody, Chris McAlister, Dre Bly, Mike Rucker, Joey Porter, Mick McKenzie, Rod Coleman, Jerry Azumah, Desmond Clark, and five time 1,000 yard wide-out Donald Driver were all taken in this draft.

1995 will always be known to me as the draft that made the Buccaneers defense. Future Hall of Famers, Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks were both spawned from this draft.

The mighty defensive tackle slipped all the way to number twelve amid marijuana rumors. Brooks turned out to be the steal of the first round with 11 pro bowls, including a pro bowl mvp in 2005, a defensive player of the year award in their 2002 Super Bowl season, and numerous other awards.

Other potential hall of famers drafted in 2005 include, guard Ruben Brown, undrafted kicker Adam Vinateri, Hugh Douglas and the steal of the entire draft in round three, a little ole' running back from Pitt, named Curtis Martin.

Pro bowlers from the draft include, quarterbacks Stve McNair and Kerry Collins, Mark Bruener, Ty Law, Luther Elliss, Mark Fields, Tony Boselli, Kevin Carter, Barret Robbins, Ken Dilger, Bobby Tayler, Kordell Stewart, Todd Sauerbrun, Antonio Freeman, Stephen Boyd, Gary Walker, Travis Jervey, Cory Schlesinger, Terrell Davis, and guard Adam Timmerman.

1997 saw offensive tackles a plenty. Orlando Pace, Walter Jones, and Tarik Glenn will all get some hall of fame consideration.

Peter Boulware, Tony Gonzalez, Tiki and Ronde Barber, Marcellus Wiley, and Jason Taylor will all get at least a few looks at enshrinement in Canton and numerous others might get a few as well.

As far as the pro bowl goes this draft was full of great players. Defensive stand outs Darrell Russell, Jamie Farrior, Shawn Springs, and Trevor Pryce were all taken in the first round and Jake Plummer, Corey Dillon, and Sam Madison were consecutively grabbed in the second round. Darren Sharper, Mike Vrabel, Dexter Coakley, Bertrand Berry, Derrick Mason, Tremain Mack, and Al Harris all came out of this draft.

There were undrafted talents a plenty in this draft. Pro bowlers Jake Delhomme, Priest Holmes, and Pat Williams were picked up and Joe Andruzzi, Mike Flynn, Matt Lepsis, and Jon Kitna all found homes following the draft.

1998 is simply put, the Peyton Manning draft. Manning will no doubt be joined by Charles Woodson, Randy Moss, Fred Taylor, Alan Fanaca, and maybe Olin Kreutz, Hines Ward, and Keith Brooking in Canton.

Ryan Leaf took a flying leap to nowhere and there were some other busts, but overall this was a sound draft.

Takeo Spikes, Tra Thomas, Greg Ellis, Corey Chavous, Flozell Adams, Patrick Surtain, Stephen Alexander, Sam Cowart, Samari Rolle, Jeremy Newberry, Leonard Little, Jeremiah Trotter, Ahman Green, Allen Rossum, Brain Griese, Lance Schulters, Ike Reese, Matt Birk, Matt Hasselbeck, and Fred Beasley have all been to pro bowls.

I'll conclude with the number one draft tomorrow, the famous wide-out heavy draft of 1996. thanks for reading