1989 NFL Re-Draft

So far, I have done two NFL re-drafts where I go back and see who the NFL teams would select knowing what they know today. Each draft is self contained in that the re-draft from the previous year does not matter in the current year's re-draft. 1987 and 1988 are done, so he is the 3rd draft of my lifetime, the 1989 NFL re-draft.....

1 Dallas Cowboys
Select: Troy Aikman      QB   UCLA
Aikman of course was the actual selection by the Dallas Cowboys.
There were 4 Hall of Famers from this draft. It may not be as easy as you think to pick Aikman when you consider who else was there (actually it still is a no-brainer). As much as I like some of the other players in this draft, Aikman had a great career and was an elite QB. We know that these guys are hard to come by. This would absolutely still be the pick for the Cowboys. When you have a QB who wins you Super Bowls you are thrilled. No reason to go back on the pick that got you Super Bowls.

2 Green Bay Packers
Select:   Barry Sanders      RB      Oklahoma State
Sanders was actually selected with the 3rd overall pick by the Detroit Lions.
Actual Selection: Tony Mandarich        OT           Michigan State
The Packers would have the chance here not only to avoid one of the biggest busts of all-time, but to pick up one of 3 Hall of Famers. Everyone selected in the top 5 other than Mandarich went to the Hall of Fame. That is a crazy high hit percentage. The one team that blew it was Green Bay. They would have loved to re-draft this one. Had a re-draft happened, Green Bay would pick the greatest RB that I have seen play in Barry Sanders. I rarely say to pick a back this high, but Sanders is obviously an exception to this rule. This selection would also keep him away from a division rival.

3 Detroit Lions
Select: Deion Sanders      CB       Florida State
Sanders was actually selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 5th overall pick.
Actual Selection: Barry Sanders     RB      Oklahoma State
So the Lions miss out on their actual pick of the Hall of Fame Sanders. They respond by selecting another Hall of Fame Sanders. From arguably the best RB of all-time to arguably the best CB of all-time. From one dynamic playmaker to another. They go from the quiet confidence of Barry to the outrageous antics of Deion. Honestly, this is one case where I don't think you can really lose.

4 Kansas City Chiefs
Select: Derrick Thomas     LB      Alabama
Thomas was the Chiefs actual selection.
To have 4 Hall of Famers in the first 5 picks is absolutely amazing. With those kinds of stats, the Chiefs would pick whoever was left from the group. In this case, they get to keep the incredible Derrick Thomas. With the career that Thomas had, he is the obvious choice for Kansas City. This draft was truly loaded at the top.

5 Atlanta Falcons
Select: Steve Atwater       S      Arkansas
Atwater was actually the 20th overall selection by the Denver Broncos.
Actual Selection: Deion Sanders    CB      Florida State
With Deion gone in the re-draft, the Falcons are hurt the most by the new picks. This will be the first selection that is not a Hall of Famer. They go to the defensive backfield still with this pick, but to safety instead of corner. Steve Atwater is the best player available at this point. Atwater was an 8x Pro Bowler and one of the best defensive backs of his era. His only competition for this pick was with Andre Rison and Steve Wisniewski, but Atwater would have been a great fit for the Falcons here.

6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Select: Steve Wisniewski       OG      Penn State
Wisniewski was actually selected in the 2nd round, #29 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: Broderick Thomas      LB      Nebraska
Thomas had a decent career on some really bad Bucs teams and finished it with 47.5 sacks. He had one really productive year with 11 sacks in 1991, but there were several better options on the table. This Bucs team actually had a pretty good offense at the time in 1989, but were pretty weak on the interior offensive line. Considering he was the best player available, Steve Wisniewski would have been the perfect pick for Tampa and would have theoretically given them a better outlook for the season. Another re-draft works out for the Bucs.

7 Pittsburgh Steelers
Select: Andre Rison       WR       Michigan State
Rison was actually selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts.
Actual Selection: Tim Worley      RB       Georgia
Finally, a re-draft works out for the Steelers. Tim Worley didn't even rush for 2,000 yards over his entire NFL career. He simply was not a 1st round back. However, in a rare draft mistake at the time, the Steelers picked Worley at #7 overall. In this re-draft, the mistake is not repeated. As always, Pittsburgh takes the best player available. That best athlete in my opinion is Andre Rison. Rison was a 5x Pro Bowler and one of the best receivers of his era. The Steelers didn't have a vertical threat that was even close to Rison's ability at the time and he would have been a great fit in the black and gold from that standpoint.

8 San Diego Chargers
Select: Wesley Walls       TE        Mississippi
Walls was actually selected in the 2nd round, #56 overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
Actual Selection: Burt Grossman     DE      Pittsburgh
Grossman started out well, but ending up with 43.5 career sacks is production that is easily matched by several pass rushers. His first two years were great with 10 sacks in each, but after that he was an average talent. There are other places that could have used an injection of talent. The most glaring need for the Chargers at the time was at tight end and there was a really good tight end in this draft. Wesley Walls had 54 career touchdowns and was a 5 time Pro Bowler. Having a threat of his caliber to go along with WR Anthony Miller would have been huge for San Diego.

9 Miami Dolphins
Select: Mark Stepnoski      C       Pittsburgh
Stepnoski was actuall selected in the 3rd round, #57 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: Sammie Smith       RB         Florida State
Smith was not only one of the rare early round misses of a Florida State Seminole, but he is one of the only players from the school to face legal issues after he left. He had a very short NFL career and not to long after his career, was convicted for possession and distribution of cocaine. Smith was a disaster of a pick that Miami would have avoided at all costs. The Dolphins started a rookie at center in 1989 and not even the best rookie center. Having the chance to do it over, I am sure they would have picked the best. Mark Stepnoski was a 5x Pro Bowl center and a member of the 1990s all decade team. Miami would have loved to have him instead of Smith.

10 Phoenix Cardinals
Select: Rodney Peete      QB     USC
Rodney Peete was actually selected in the 6th round, #141 overall by the Detroit Lions.
Actual Selection: Eric Hill    LB     LSU
The 1989 season was Gene Stallings last as Cardinals coach and he was actually ousted mid-season after announcing that the season would be his last. Had they gotten the chance to do it over he would stay through the season and have a better pick in the 1st round. In my lifetime the Cardinals have never really had a great QB. There was the short stint with Kurt Warner and the Jake Plummer years, but for the most part the QB has been the missing link. Now, Rodney Peete was never a Pro Bowl level QB, but he was quite servicable and could have gotten a talented Cardinal team to the playoffs in 1989. He also could have had them performing at a much higher level early in the 90s. After all, the QB that season was Gary Hogeboom. It was so bad that Tom Tupa, yes that Tom Tupa, the punter, got two starts at QB.

11 Chicago Bears
Select their actual selection
Actual Selection: Donnell Woolford    CB       Clemson
Donnell Woolford was a solid pick. He made the Pro Bowl and had a very solid respectable career. Woolford accumulated 36 career interceptions and was very good as a Pro. It is arguable whether he was the best player available, but corners are as difficult to find as anybody. He was at a level that most other players in the draft weren't and even with several other options.

12 Chicago Bears
Select: Trace Armstrong     DE     Florida
Armstrong was the actual selection for the Bears.
The Bears had more flexibility at 11 because they knew they had 12 as well. With those two picks in this re-draft, they selected guys the same guys who turned out quite well for them. Armstrong had 100+ sacks in his career and absolutely would have been snatched up by the Bears here. He probably would have gone with their first pick at 11, but since they were back to back it doesn't really matter.

13 Cleveland Browns
Select: Mark Schlereth    OG      Idaho
Schlereth was actually selected in the 10th round, #263 overall by the Washington Redskins.
Actual Selection: Eric Metcalf       RB/WR      Texas
Eric Metcalf was one of the best kick returners in the 1990s, but you don't pick kick returners in the top 15. He also started at RB as a rookie though only rushing for 633 yards. Metcalf would never rush for more yards in his NFL career and is known mostly as just a kick returner. There were better RB options, but given the chance I think Cleveland would have bolstered their oline. The team was quite weak at guard on the right side with Dan Fike in there. Mark Schlereth would have immediately given the team a boost and helped whoever the RB was for Cleveland tremendously.

14 New York Jets
Select: Carnell Lake     CB       UCLA
Lake was actually selected in the 2nd round, #34 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Actual Selection: Jeff Lageman        DE        Virginia
Jeff Lageman played for Park View High School in Sterling, VA which was my big rival in HS, but that is irrelevant here. He was a solid pro that had 47.5 sacks, but not worthy of a selection quite this high. Lageman probably is a borderline 1st rounder in the re-draft. Bobby Humphrey was the corner opposite James Hasty in 1989 and his career was winding down. They could have really used another young corner to enfuse some more athleticism into the defensive backfield. Carnell Lake would have been a fantastic pick for the Jets at this point back in 1989.

15 Seattle Seahawks
Select: Tony Martin       WR     Mesa State
Martin was actually selected in the 5th round, #126 overall by the New York Jets.
Actual Selection: Andy Heck      OG       Notre Dame
Andy Heck was a solid pro that started 164 games in his professional career. There were far worse picks in Round 1 of this draft. That being said Heck was not a top 15 worthy player, but he probably could still go in Round 1. Steve Largent was in his last season with the Seahawks and they really could have used another receiver for the future to go with Brian Blades. The best one available by a mile was Tony Martin. He had 593 career catches for 9,065 yards and 58 touchdowns. Martin would have been a strong fit for Seattle.

16 New England Patriots
Select: Daryl Johnston       FB      Syracuse
Johnston was actually selected in the 2nd round, #39 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: Hart Lee Dykes     WR          Oklahoma State
Dykes had an interesting name, but his NFL career was far from interesting. He only played in parts of 2 seasons and accumulated just 1,344 yards receiving. The receiver was by all measures a bust. The Patriots would still aim to upgrade their offense, but they would do something very rare and take a fullback in the 1st round. Bob Perryman was their fullback in 1989 and he was virtually useless to the team after that season. Arguably the best fullback of my lifetime though was in this draft. Knowing this information, it would be very tough for the Patriots to pass on Moose Johnston. This is a guy that many believe should be in the Hall of Fame and the Patriots would have loved to get him instead of Dykes.

17 Phoenix Cardinals
Select: Andy Heck       OL      Notre Dame
Heck was actually selected #15 overall by the Seattle Seahawks
Actual Selection: Joe Wolf    OG    Boston College
Joe Wolf had 60 NFL Starts and was an okay pro, but Phoenix could have done a little better. They had already selected their QB earlier in this re-draft and might be looking to boost the defense with this selection. However, I think they still go offensive line because they were so weak up front. Wolf was their second best offensive lineman and he wasn't particularly great. The best available lineman are Carlton Haselrig and Andy Heck. While either is a bit of a reach, Heck had the longer career and was more versatile up front. Knowing they could get a lineman with 100+ career starts would have been huge for the Cardinals even if it was about 5 spots to early. The cardinals had one of the most dreadful lines ever and they had to go oline still with this selection.

18 New York Giants
Select: Dave Meggett       RB       Towson
Meggett was actually selected in the 5th round, #132 overall by the Giants.
Actual Selection: Brian Williams     C        Minnesota
Williams had a decent NFL career and was a starter for 60 NFL games. That is not first round worthy though. In most drafts, a kick returner is not worthy of the #18 overall selection, but this is a weaker class outside of the outstanding players at the top. Additionally, Meggett helped the Giants win multiple Super Bowls. His ability as a kick returner and also as a runner were key on those championship teams. The Giants would still make sure they got him IMO. Although a strong case could be made for Eric Metcalf who was actually the better player, the Giants take who got them to the promised land.

19 New Orleans Saints
Select: Wayne Martin      DE            Arkansas
Martin was the Saints actual selection.
The Saints would stick with Wayne Martin here who was a very dynamic pass rusher in his NFL career. Martin would finish his career with 82.5 sacks and be a force in the league for years. It helps that at this point in the draft he is clearly the best player. Martin could have easily gone in the Top 15 as there is very little 1st round talent left in this re-draft.

20 Denver Broncos
Select: Eric Metcalf       WR/KR        Texas
Metcalf was actually selected #13 overall by the Cleveland Browns.
Actual Selection: Steve Atwater      S       Arkansas
The Broncos would have obviously rather had Steve Atwater who went #9 in this re-draft, but Metcalf is a nice consolation prize. He is the best available player at this point and could have done some nice things for the Broncos. Not only was Metcalf a dynamic kick returner, but he would have started at receiver for those Broncos teams of the early 90s. He was a better option than any of the receivers on the 1989 team. Little known fact is that eventhough he came up as a RB, Metcalf actually had a 1,000 yard receiving season and was quite good as a pass catcher. This guy would have had a different career trajectory in Denver catching passes from John Elway.

21 Los Angeles Rams
Select: Tony Tolbert        DE         UTEP
Tolbert was actually selected in the 4th round, #85 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: Bill Hawkins      DE      Miami
Bill Hawkins was a 1st round bust that only had 5 sacks in his career. Meanwhile, Tony Tolbert had 59 career sacks as a 4th round pick of the Dallas Cowboys. Tolbert was also a Pro Bowler during the 1996 season and has 3 Super Bowl rings. He was a much better defensive end.

22 Indianapolis Colts
Select: Jeff Lageman         DE      Virginia
Lageman was actually selected by the New York Jets with the 14th overall selection.
Actual Selection: Andre Rison     WR      Michigan State
Andre Rison is a borderline Hall of Famer and had quite the terrific career. He was a fine pick for Indy. However, in this re-draft, he was already selected at pick #7. That being said, he was only in Indy for one season and they could have a player with more impact for them at this pick. The Colts could have had the incredibly loyal and talented Jeff Lageman and they likely would have gone that route in this situation.

23 Houston Oilers
Select: David Williams       OT      Florida
Williams was the Oilers selection in 1989.
An offensive tackle with 100 career starts and solid play for the better part of a decade is something that most any team would take. This is especially true this late in Round 1. He is still the Oilers selection.

24 Pittsburgh Steelers
Select: Billy Joe Tolliver     QB     Texas Tech
Tolliver was actually selected in the 2nd round, #51 overall by the San Diego Chargers.
Actual Selection: Tom Ricketts     OT       Pittsburgh
The Steelers were fantastic in 1987 and 1988 as discussed earlier in this re-draft. They also ended up with Carnell Lake in this draft. However, this team completely blew it in Round 1 of this draft. Tom Ricketts is another reason why. Ricketts only made 15 career starts in the NFL and clearly was not round 1 worthy. The one thing missing from the Steelers at the time was a QB. Billy Joe Tolliver was not an incredibly successful QB, but he still threw for 10,000+ yards as a pro and was a better option than Pittsburgh had at the time. Also remember this was a weak draft outside of the top 15 or so guys.

25 Miami Dolphins
Select: Courtney Hall         C         Rice
Hall was actually selected in the 2nd round, #37 overall by the San Diego Chargers.
Actual Selection: Louis Oliver      S         Florida
Louis Oliver had 101 starts in his NFL career, but the Dolphins could have done better with this pick in Round 1. They would have continued to upgrade their offensive line. Even after selecting Stepnoski in this re-draft, the Dolphins could use some help along the interior offensive line. Additionally, the best player available is Courtney Hall who made 118 career starts. He was able to play his whole career in San Diego and was apart of their AFC Championship team. Perhaps with an upgraded offensive line the Dolphins could have won Marino that Super Bowl.

26 Los Angeles Rams
Select: Zefross Moss       OG        Alabama State
Moss went undrafted in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Actual Selection: Cleveland Gary      RB       Miami
Gary had a career in which he rushed for less than 3,000 career yards. He would not be a round 1 pick and the Rams could have done better. This guy while not quite as effective as Courtney Hall was a starter for longer. Moss actually started 137 games in the NFL. You can not start that many games without being pretty effective. Moss was just that as he played a good guard for years and would have helped the Rams.

27 Atlanta Falcons
Select: Marion Butts       RB       Florida State
Butts was actually selected in the 7th round, #183 overall by the San Diego Chargers.
Actual Selection: Shawn Collins        WR         Northern Arizona
Collins had 5 receptions in his career. 5! There are busts and then there are Shawn Collins level busts. The guy had 5 career receptions. It doesn't get much worse. Marion Butts however was a 2x Pro Bowl runningback who was pretty dynamic in the early 90s. The Falcons already started a rookie runningback in 1989, but with Butts they could have had arguably the best rookie runner. Additionally, Butts best season was 1991 which is considered by many a missed opportunity season by the Atlanta Falcons. Butts would have made a huge difference with these Falcons teams.

28 San Francisco 49ers
Select: Jerry Fontenot         C       Texas A & M
Fontenot was actually selected in the 3rd round, #65 overall by the Chicago Bears.
Actual Selection: Keith DeLong          ILB        Tennessee
Keith DeLong was on the 49ers Super Bowl roster, but he had 1 sack and 2 INTs over his NFL career. He was not worthy of a 1st round pick. The 49ers likely would have picked a better player at that time. Meanwhile Jerry Fontenot was a very good centers and would have helped the interior of the 49ers offensive line. He had 193 career starts and a very fine NFL career.

Stay tuned for my 1990 NFL Re-Draft.

- Noland