1990 NFL Re-Draft

A few weeks back, I stated that I would be trying to re-draft the first round of each of the draft's of my lifetime. These drafts would be redone based on what we know now seeing how team's would pick with the benefit of hindsight. However, it would be too difficult to try to carry those drafts each year, so these re-drafts will not affect each other. Each draft will be done based on how the team was constructed at that time. The 1987, 1988, and 1989 re-draft were quite interesting and here goes the startt of the 90s with 1990...

1 Atlanta Falcons
Select: John Randle     DT     Texas A & I
Randle was an undrafted free agent signing of the Minnesota Vikings
Actual Selection: Jeff George      QB      Illinois
This pick was actually made by Indianapolis in 1990 to move up and get Jeff George. No way they trade up again. They gave up Chris Hinton, Andre Rison, and picks (including a 1991 1st rounder) to take Jeff George. The Colts pick had a solid NFL career, but nothing close to being the top overall pick and that kind of ransom to move up. Instead, the Falcons stay here at 1 and select a Hall of Fame impact player in John Randle. It is crazy to think that Randle went undrafted in this draft, because he was an absolute force on the football field. There is no way he escapes the top 5 if they drafted 1990 again.

2 New York Jets
Select: Emmitt Smith      RB       Florida
Smith was actually selected with the 17th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: Blair Thomas      RB     Penn State
In this re-draft the Jets still go runningback at #2, but they get one that was much more effective in his time in the NFL. Emmitt Smith is one of the greatest runningbacks of all-time, while Blair Thomas ran for 2,200 career yards. There is really no comparison here or any argument about who the best back in the draft was. The only argument would be if they should take Smith or Junior Seau.

3 New England Patriots
Select: Junior Seau       LB       Southern Cal
Seau was actually selected with the 5th overall pick by the San Diego Chargers.
Actual Selection: Cortez Kennedy     DT       Miami
When you look at this you think as good as Seau was, would someone really not still pick a Hall of Famer they drafted? However, when you look at it that way you are missing the story. You see, the Patriots originally had this selection and would keep it in a re-draft, but in the actual draft they traded it to the Seahawks. They traded their 1st and their 2nd for 2 firsts and a 3rd. In this scenario they would keep it so they could have Seau in his prime and not just at the very end of his career.

4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Select: Cortez Kennedy        DT     Miami
Kennedy was actually selected with the 3rd overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks
Actual Selection: Keith McCants        LB        Alabama
This would be a no-brainer for the Buccaners. They could get the 4th Hall of Famer from the 1990 draft class and it was at a position of need. The position Tampa was weakest at was NT. They had nobody at that position. Had Tampa been able to secure one of the Hall of Fame DT, they would have ate up that opportunity. Instead, they got a guy who didn't accumulate 200 tackles over his career.

5 San Diego Chargers
Select: Richmond Webb     OT      Texas A & M
Webb was actually selected with the 9th overall selection by the Miami Dolphins.
Actual Selection: Junior Seau     LB      Southern Cal
The Chargers hit a home run in the actual draft by picking Junior Seau, one of the best linebackers of all-time. There is no doubt that they prefer that actual result to the re-draft. However, the team did start a rookie at LT and it wasn't even the best rookie. Richmond Webb however was so good that he was Rookie of the Year. Webb was also a 7x Pro Bowler and the best player available. It is difficult to see the Chargers passing on Webb with Seau no longer available.

6 Chicago Bears
Select: Shannon Sharpe       TE       Savannah State
Sharpe was actually selected in the 7th round, #192 overall by the Denver Broncos.
Actual Selection: Mark Carrier     FS      Southern Cal.
Mark Carrier was one of the best picks in the Top 10 and may have still been the selection. However, LeRoy Butler actually had the more productive career as far as safeties go. Butler could also be the selection in a re-draft. That being said and eventhough safety was a bigger need, it is difficult to see the Bears passing on arguably the greatest tight end of all-time. There is no way that the 5th Hall of Famer in this class falls out of the Top 10. It is hard to see him falling out of the Top 5 either, but in this scenario it makes plenty of sense.

7 Detroit Lions
Select: Neil O' Donnell        QB       Maryland
O' Donnell was actually selected in the 3rd round, #70 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Actual Selection: Andre Ware      QB     Houston
The Lions actually started the marginal Rodney Peete at QB in 1990 despite drafting Ware because Ware simply couldn't handle being an NFL QB. Ware by all accounts was a bust. You can't blame the Lions for trying to upgrade at QB and get one that could lead them deeper in the playoffs. There was one QB in this draft who did have a good amount of success and that is Neil O' Donnell. The Maryland product had 21,690 career passing yards and a career QB rating of 81.8. Those stats and much better than what was produced out of Detroit at the time. O'Donnell also retired with the lowest interception percentage in history (since passed by Aaron Rodgers). That low percentage would have been loved in Detroit along with better QB play. He also led Pittsburgh to 2 Super Bowl Appearances. Deeper playoff pushes and low turnover totals would have been loved by Detroit fans.

8 Seattle Seahawks
Select: LeRoy Butler       S      Florida State
Butler was actually selected in the 2nd round, #48 overall by the Green Bay Packers.
Actual Selection: Chris Singleton        LB      Arizona
The Seahawks actually moved up to #3 in this draft to nab a future Hall of Famer in Cortez Kennedy. However, this draft was so good that I don't think they would have done it in a re-draft. I have my doubts that Butler would actually fall here as he was an amazing pro, but in the scenario I have presented, that is exactly what has happened. The borderline Hall of Famer gets paired with Eugene Robinson in the secondary in Seattle through this re-draft. LeRoy Butler and Eugene Robinson together is one of the best safety tandems I could even think of. Two All-Pro safeties that were quite good and possibly could have taken Seattle over the top. Not trading up still works great for Seattle.

9 Miami Dolphins
Select: Keith Sims      OG       Iowa State
Sims was actually selected in the 2nd round, #39 overall by the same Miami Dolphins.
Actual Selection: Richmond Webb      OT     Texas A & M
There is no way that Richmond Webb would last until the 9th selection in the re-draft. In my opinion, Richmond Webb should be in the Hall of Fame for his dominance in his NFL career. The Dolphins miss out by missing the monster tackle, but they are still able to pin down the best lineman available. Going line in their first two rounds should show you how awful the Dolphins line was. After missing out on Webb, there is no way that the Dolphins could also allow Sims to slip away.

10 Indianapolis Colts
Select: Eric Davis       CB        Jacksonville State
Davis was actually selected in the 2nd round, #53 overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
Actual Selection: Ray Agnew     DE     NC State
Part of the reason the Seahawks can't make the trade to move up to get Cortez Kennedy in this re-draft is that the Colts originally held this pick. There is no way the Colts would have given up this pick + Andy Heck in hindsight to the Seahawks. They traded pick and player to Seattle for a Pro Bowler with an arthritic hip. No way that deal goes down knowing what we know now. Indy makes this selection and not New England. Indy picks the Pro Bowler Eric Davis who won Super Bowls and played a great corner for years. With Davis' pedigree and Indy's weakest spot (other than QB) being corner, it seems like a great fit.

11 Los Angeles Raiders
Select: Tim Grunhard      C      Notre Dame
Grunhard was actually selected in the 2nd round, #40 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Actual Selection: Anthony Smith      DE      Arizona
Smith had a decent pro career and then was charged with murder. Pretty sure the Raiders would have attempted to avoid that whole mess. Not to mention the fact that there were better football players available...Instead of going the route of picking that guy, the Raiders would pick someone like Tim Grunhard if they got to do it over. Grunhard spent his entire career with the Chiefs and started well over 100 games playing a very solid center. The Raiders would have loved for that loyalty to come to them and keep a key player away from a division rival.

12 Cincinnati Bengals
Select: Mark Carrier      FS      Southern Cal
Carrier was actually selected with the 6th overall selection by the Chicago Bears.
Actual Selection: James Francis       LB       Baylor
There have been worse picks than Francis who accumulated 33 sacks and 11 INTS as a pro. However, that kind of production is not worthy of a top 15 selection. A guy who is very worthy of that selection happens to be one that was selected there. Mark Carrier had a fine pro career and Chicago would have loved for him to fall to #12. Carrier was the Defensive Rookie of the Year and went to the Pro Bowl 3 times.

13 Kansas City Chiefs
Select: Terrance Mathis         WR       New Mexico
Mathis was actually selected in the 6th round, #140 overall by the New York Jets.
Actual Selection: Percy Snow      LB       Michigan State
Snow had 2 NFL sacks! 2! You cannot get that kind of weak production and be a justifiable 1st round selection. Instead, the Chiefs would have loved to pick the best player available. Although this spot was weak along with free safety and the offensive line, the Chiefs would have opted for production. Terrance Mathis would have paired nicely with Stephone Paige. Mathis had 8,809 career receiving yards and was a very valuable kick returner as well early in his career. He was a better option for the Chiefs at receiver and kick returner at the time.

14 New Orleans Saints
Select: Bryce Paup     LB         Northern Iowa
Paup was actually selected in the 6th round, #159 overall by Green Bay Packers.
Actual Selection: Renaldo Turnbull       DE     West Virginia
Turnbull actually had a solid NFL career. He was a fine defensive end for years and even had a season with 13 sacks. That season, Turnbull went to the Pro Bowl. Despite his production though, a better pro was Bryce Paup. Paup had 30 more career sacks and a Defensive Player of the Year Award to his credit. He also went to 4 Pro Bowls, while Turnbull only attended one. It is hard to argue with the Saints taking either player, but Paup is a much better selection.

15 Houston Oilers
Select: Terry Allen         RB        Clemson
Allen was actually selected in the 9th round, #241 overall by the Minnesota Vikings.
Actual Selection: Lamar Lathan     LB     Houston
The Oilers took a fine linebacker in Lathan who made it to a Pro Bowl and had a very stellar NFL career. He isn't Top 15 worthy IMO, but was 1st round worthy and will probably still be selected in the re-draft. To attempt to save the Oiler franchise though, they need a bigger impact guy. Houston's running game was awful at the time and I believe they would have opted for one of the top backs in this draft either Terry Allen or Chris Warren. Allen had more than 1,000 yards over Warren so he would be the selection here. This RB addition could have made the Oilers a bigger threat to win the Super Bowl.

16 Buffalo Bills
Select: Brian Mitchell        RB/KR          Louisiana-Lafeyette
Mitchell was actually selected in the 5th round, #130 overall by the Washington Redskins.
Actual Selection: James Williams        CB       Fresno State
Williams was simply not a 1st round player and a correct pick here could have been the difference in those Bills Super Bowl losing teams. The biggest things missing in 1990 were fullback, free safety, and a difference maker in the return game. In an unprecedented move, I actually think the Bills opt for the return game to put them over the top. The selection here for Buffalo is one of the best return men in the history of the sport in Brian Mitchell. Mitchell was doing things in the return game that people were expecting of Reggie Bush when he came out. Brian Mitchell was a wizard in the return game.

17 Pittsburgh Steelers
Select: Lamar Lathan      LB       Houston
Lathan was actually selected with the 15th overall pick by the Houston Oilers.
Actual Selection: Emmitt Smith       RB        Florida
Obviously the Cowboys or whoever had this selection would have loved to have Emmitt Smith. However the Cowboys would have not had this selection had they not been able to trade up to 21 via the Herschel Walker deal. No way the Vikings do that deal again in hindsight. The Steelers though take someone that can help them at 17 in the re-draft with Smith gone. The Steelers ran a 3-4 defense and a superior inside linebacker like Lathan would have been terrific to pair with Hardy Nickerson. This would have given the Steelers 3 All-Pro linebackers in its linebacking core.

18 Cleveland Browns
Select: Tony Siragusa       DT         Pittsburgh
Siragusa was an undrafted free agent signing of the Indianapolis Colts.
Actual Selection: Tony Bennett      LB      Ole Miss
Tony Bennett would not have been the selection at 18 in a re-draft and the same trade wouldn't have gone down. Knowing the quality of player coming in through hindsight is quite the advantage. Tony Siragusa would eventually be a key member of this Super Bowl winning franchise when they moved to Baltimore. Drafting him at this point would have helped make this one of the best defensive lines in football. Adding him at the left defensive tackle spot which was arguably the only weak spot on the defense could have helped this team deliver that elusive title to Cleveland and never have to move to Baltimore.

19 Green Bay Packers
Select: Larry Centers           FB        Stephen F. Austin
Centers was actually selected in the 5th round, #115 overall by the Phoenix Cardinals.
Actual Selection: Darrell Thompson       RB      Minnesota
Thompson only had 9 NFL touchdowns and never rushed for 2,000 career yards. There is no doubt that Green Bay would have loved to have this one back. What this team needed at this time was a QB, but with no viable option available they go best available player and also fill a need. Larry Centers was my personal favorite fullback growing up. Loved the way he played the game and the versatility he gave your team. Green Bay would have loved that versatility to add to their team.

20 Washington Redskins
Select: Eric Green         TE          Liberty
Green was actually selected with the 21st overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Actual Selection: Steve Broussard      RB      Washington State
1990 was one of the greatest building blocks of the Redskins dynasty. The Falcons likely would not have traded up to help the Redskins achieve that dynasty in hindsight. Being forced to stay here they would not have picked a bust like Broussard as the Falcons did as they would pick a much stronger player. They could have upgraded tight end easily in 1990 and do in the re-draft. They select Eric Green who actually went at 21. He had 36 career touchdowns and would have been a great fit in Washington.

21 Minnesota Vikings
Select: Chris Warren        RB         Ferrum
Warren was actually selected in the 4th round, #89 overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
Actual Selection: Eric Green       TE      Liberty
The Green selection worked out quite nicely for Pittsburgh, but that trade never goes through now with Minnesota knowing what the effect is. Green is also off the board with the Redskins taking him a pick earlier in this re-draft. The best available player in the re-draft is clearly Rob Burnett, but the Vikings were set at DE so they go elsewhere. Not having Herschel Walker they decide to take the very productive Chris Warren who had a fine NFL career ahead of him.

22 Philadelphia Eagles
Select: Rob Burnett         DE         Syracuse
Burnett was actually selected in the 5th round, #129 overall by the Cleveland Browns.
Actual Selection: Ben Smith      CB      Georgia
Ben Smith was an absolute bust with virtually no production. Rob Burnett is too good a value to pass up in this re-draft. The Eagles add his career production to an absolutely devastating defensive line and perhaps they do capture a title in the 90s. Reggie White paired with Rob Burnett is just scary. It also allows them to bring Clyde Simmons off the bench and keep those two fresh.

23 Los Angeles Rams
Select: Tony Mayberry         C         Wake Forest
Mayberry was actually selected in the 4th round, #108 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Actual Selection: Ben Brostek        C       Washington
Brostek was a solid pro that had 85 career starts and played a solid center. There was a much better center available in 1990 though. Tony Mayberry had 145 career starts and was selected to 3 Pro Bowls for his outstanding play.

24 New York Giants
Select: Rodney Hampton      RB        Georgia
Actual Selection: Rodney Hampton      RB      Georgia
Hampton was a productive NFL back that amassed 6,000+ career yards and went to 2 Pro Bowls. He was a key member of the Giants championship team. Because Hampton was so vital to that championship team, I think they still select Hampton here although I could argue there are far more impactful players available.

25 San Francisco 49ers
Select: Ricky Proehl        WR         Wake Forest
Proehl was actually selected in the 3rd round, #58 overall by the Phoenix Cardinals.
Actual Selection: Dexter Carter      RB      Florida State
Carter will be far more liked for his time with the Seminoles both as a player and as a coach than for his NFL career which honestly I don't remember much of. He had a pretty forgettable career, but he will always have that Super Bowl ring. Nobody can take that away from him. The 49ers depth though took away his chance for a great deal of playing time though. The 49ers were deep enough that the players available would not have helped them a great deal right away. Because nobody would help them too much right away they have two options here in the re-draft. Draft the talented Jeff George hope he develops behind Joe Montana so he can eventually come in or you can trade him for a great value or draft the incredibly clutch Ricky Proehl. Knowing that Proehl would have such clutch grabs for rival teams in leading them to the Super Bowl helps San Francisco lock him up in their camp.

-Noland