1991 NFL Re-Draft

These past few weeks I have been going back through each of the drafts in my lifetime and showing you what the draft would look like if teams knew then what they know now. So far I have done 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and now start 1991...

1 Dallas Cowboys
Select: Brett Favre         QB          Southern Miss
Favre was actually selected in the 2nd round, #33 overall by the Atlanta Falcons.
Actual Selection: Russell Maryland       DT         Miami
Maryland was a fine NFL defensive tackle and actually one of two really good defensive tackles selected by the Cowboys in 1991. However, Leon Lett was the better defensive tackle they selected and neither was as good as DT Ted Washington. All of that is not important though because Dallas obtained this selection from ammo out of the Herschel Walker trade. That trade does not happen if we go back in time knowing what we know. Therefore the Patriots are selecting here. The Patriots pick the guy who beat them for a Super Bowl in the 90s and get the franchise QB they wouldn't get until years later with Brady.

2 Cleveland Browns
Select: Aeneas Williams         CB        Southern
Williams was actually selected in the 3rd round, #59 overall by the Phoenix Cardinals.
Actual Selection: Eric Turner          S              UCLA
No disrespect to Eric Turner who was a fine NFL player, but this is an obvious selection if it had gone down this way. Can you even imagine what would have happened with another Hall of Famer in Cleveland. This team may have not moved to Baltimore and the city would be much closer to their only championship of my lifetime. Of course, Favre would have been better if he fell...

3 Atlanta Falcons
Select: Mo Lewis                  LB                Georgia
Lewis was actually selected in the 3rd round, #63 overall by the New York Jets.
Actual Selection: Bruce Pickens        CB      Nebraska
Pickens had two career INTS and was a huge bust, but the Falcons could have gotten a stud on one of their best teams of my lifetime. Their outside linebacker on the left side got virtually 0 production and was the weakest spot. However, Mo Lewis may have been the best player available. This team was also weak at its left inside linebacker spot so pairing Mo Lewis with a stud like Jessie Tuggle would have been huge for the Falcons in 1991. Ben Coates would have also been a strong consideration to give the Falcons a true TE and another threat in their passing game. Bryan Cox would have been their other option as a versatile LB, but I think they would have selected the very talented Lewis.

4 Denver Broncos
Select: Bryan Cox       LB       Western Illinois
Cox was actually selected in the 5th round, #113 overall by the Miami Dolphins.
Actual Selection: Mike Croel       LB        Nebraska
Croel was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1991, but otherwise was a non-factor as a pro. In fact this was the second highly overrated player in a row selected from Nebraska. The Broncos were a very good team at this time and could have selected much better here to get them a Super Bowl sooner. Croel was good as a rookie, but Bryan Cox was way better as a pro and could fit the same need. He would have been the pick here.

5 Los Angeles Rams
Select: Ben Coates        TE           Livingston College
Coates was actually selected in the 5th round, #124 overall by the New England Patriots.
Actual Selection: Todd Lyght         CB        Notre Dame
Lyght had a stellar NFL career and was a Pro Bowler in 1999 when the Rams won the Super Bowl. He also had 37 career interceptions. He wasn't the best player available or the one the Rams could have most used at the time though. The team got very little production at tight end and already started a rookie. In this draft, was a top 3 tight end of my lifetime in Ben Coates. You could argue that he was the 3rd best tight end of all-time even. This is a no-brainer to me. Coates should be in the Hall of Fame one day.

6 Phoenix Cardinals
Select: Erik Williams       OT       Central State
Williams was actually selected in the 3rd round, #70 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: Eric Swann     DT      Wake Technical Community College
Swann was a very good nose tackle that was a 2x All-Pro for the Phoenix Cardinals. However, he was not even the best defensive tackle in this draft. It was also a good draft for defensive tackle. However, there was only one All-Pro lineman in this draft and that was Erik Williams. Because of the lack of quality lineman, it is entirely possible that Williams would have gone even higher than 6. Still on the board here, he is the obvious selection to help a dreadful offensive line and team in general.

7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Select: Michael Sinclair       DE       Eastern New Mexico
Sinclair was actually selected in the 6th round, #155 overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
Actual Selection: Charles McRae         OT       Tennessee
McRae was not very effective and only had 39 career starts. He just wasn't worth the 7th overall selection. A bad team with a lot of need should have gotten a really good starter with this pick. The re-draft works out great again for the Bucs who help a terrible pass rush with a really great pass rusher in Michael Sinclair. He was a 3 time Pro-Bowler that finished with 73.5 career sacks and would have really added a missing element to the Buccaneer defense at the time.

8 Green Bay Packers
Select: Ted Washington       DT       Louisville
Washington was actually selected with the 25th overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers.
Actual Selection: Antone Davis       OT        Tennessee
Davis was a solid tackle, but he was not worthy of the Top 10 selection when the Eagles took him in 91. That trade never happens though in a re-draft. The Packers are disappointed in the re-draft that Brett Favre is off the board and they don't get their MVP. They get the next best thing though...Green Bay picks a nose capable of anchoring that defensive front that happens to arguably the best available player in the draft. Washington is the 1st player actually selected in Round 1 to be selected in the re-draft. This shows how off teams were in this 1991 draft.

9 San Diego Chargers
Select: Merton Hanks        S        Iowa
Hanks was actually selected in the 5th round, #122 overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
Actual Selection: Stanley Richard       S       Texas
Richard was a decent player for the Chargers and Redskins and had over 20 career interceptions. Richard was not however anywhere near as good as another safety who went in the same draft. Hanks actually was on the Super Bowl 49ers who crushed the Chargers in their only appearance of my lifetime. I am sure they would have loved to have Merton Hanks on their side to possibly flip the script. Could Hanks being on the other side have flipped the script that fateful season? Would San Fran have even made it without Hanks?

10 Detroit Lions
Select: Herman Moore           WR        Virginia
This is the only selection in the re-draft that would go down the same exact way. Herman Moore was a fantastic NFL WR and the 10th pick of the draft was the perfect spot for Moore. Detroit would not be tempted to select another player.

11 Minnesota Vikings
Select: Leon Lett          DT            Emporia State
Lett was actually selected in the 7th round, #173 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: Pat Harlow        OT        USC
Harlow had 94 career starts after being picked by the Patriots at this point in the draft. He was very solid during his NFL career, but he wouldn't be picked by the Vikings here. Yes, the Vikings. You see the Vikings had this pick, but they flipped it to Dallas as part of the Herschel Walker trade. Dallas later flipped it to New England to move up to #1, but the Vikings don't let that happen and don't make the trade. With the pick, they take who they think is the best available player. It doesn't hurt to try to stick it to the Cowboys who dominated the early 90s.

12 Dallas Cowboys
Select: Russell Maryland         DT       Miami
Maryland was actually selected with the #1 overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: Alvin Harper        WR       Tennessee
Alvin Harper was a productive player on Super Bowl teams, but he did underachieve as a Cowboy and certainly wasn't worthy of that 1st round selection. However, Russell Maryland was a very good pro. He was actually selected by the Cowboys at 1 overall, but he would more than likely actually go here. He could still go to the Cowboys is the important thing.

13 Indianapolis Colts
Select: Eric Swann        DT        Wake Technical Community College
Swann was selected with the 6th overall selection by the Phoenix Cardinals.
Actual Selection: Mike Pritchard       WR     Colorado
Prtichard was not a 1st round caliber receiver, but he did have 5,000 career receiving yards so he wasn't a complete waste. He went to Atlanta with that pick, but Atlanta doesn't make this pick because in hindsight Indy doesn't trade for Jeff George. Atlanta of course got this pick in the George trade. The weakest positions for the Colts at the time were quarterback, nose tackle, and safety. There were no quality QBs left in this particular draft, but there were a lot of awesome defensive players. The best of those at the need position was Eric Swann who would have instantly upgraded the Colts up front.

14 New Orleans Saints
Select: Ricky Watters       RB       Notre Dame
Watters was actually selected in the 2nd round, #45 overall by the 49ers.
Actual Selection: Leonard Russell      RB      Arizona State
This pick was actually made by the Patriots after two trades, but with the benefit of hindsight, the Saints never trade this pick and more for the mediocre at best Steve Walsh. Perhaps with a true playmaker on offense, the Saints could have done even more in 1991. Taking him away from some other NFC rivals would have been even better. No way they pass on this guy and the opportunity to keep him away from the competition.

15 Pittsburgh Steelers
Select: Todd Lyght       CB          Notre Dame
Lyght was actually selected with the 6th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams.
Actual Selection: Huey Richardson             DE       Florida
Can you imagine just how dominant the Steelers had the potential to be in the 90s had they not wasted a 1st round selection on a guy like Huey Richardson? This team could have been nasty. Richardson never had an NFL start and certainly would not have been the pick here. They would have selected someone far more appealing with this selection in hindsight. The best available player just might have been Todd Lyght who was a stellar corner for the Rams. Could you imagine a secondary with Rod Woodson and Todd Lyght paired together? It would be a scary thought for opposing QBs that is for sure.

16 Seattle Seahawks
Select: Roman Phifer               LB       UCLA
Phifer was actually selected in the 2nd round, #31 overall by the Los Angeles Rams.
Actual Selection: Dan McGwire        QB      San Diego State
McGwire was terrible in his NFL career, so given a do-over the Seahawks would have gone for the sure thing in a position of need. The Seattle Seahawks were decent at the time and could have used some help to assist them in getting over the top. There were weaknesses abound for the Seahawks, but the biggest weakness may have been middle linebacker. That could have been filled by the incredibly solid Roman Phifer. Phifer would have been a much better selection for Seattle.

17 Houston Oilers
Select: Daryll Lewis               CB        Arizona
Lewis was actually selected in the 2nd round, #38 overall by the Houston Oilers.
Actually Select: Bobby Wilson           DT            Michigan State
This pick was originally held by Houston, but used by the Washington Redskins. It came to the Redskins after two other trades. New England and Dallas also held this pick. However, those trades don't occur in the re-draft and Houston makes this selection. They use it on premier talent that can help them with an already solid team. Those Oilers were 11-5 and could have easily made a Super Bowl run with the right selection in this draft. The biggest weakness for this team was a corner opposite Chris Dishman. The obvious selection here would be Daryll Lewis. He was a selection by the Oilers that sat the bench, but he probably should have played over the unproductive Richard Johnson.

18 Cincinnati Bengals
Select: Ed McCaffrey            WR             Stanford
McCaffrey was actually selected in the 3rd round, #83 overall by the New York Giants.
Actual Selection: Alfred Williams       LB       Colorado
Williams was the selection for the Bengals and made a solid impact as a professional. However, the 1991 Bengals were a sinking ship. They were a disaster that was going down fast, This team had no winning seasons from 1991-2005. That is an incredible stretch of ineptitude. Because this was the start of a disaster, I don't think they would do anything the same in 1991 given the chance. No way Williams is the pick. They would get a strong personality in there to make a difference. Ed McCafffrey was not a stud right away, but he was a great receiver and he did have a fantastic career. More than that to the Bengals at the time is that he was a great leader and a hard worker. The fact that he peaked in the 90s doesn't hurt as he would have likely helped to stop the bleeding.

19 Philadelphia Eagles
Select: Keenan McCardell      WR               UNLV
McCardell was actually selected in the 12th round, #326 overall by the Washington Redskins.
Actual Selection: Vinnie Clark         CB         Ohio State
This selection was actually made by the Packers after a trade, but the Eagles keep it in the re-draft. Vinnie Clark was nowhere near a 1st round worthy player. A guy who was is Keenan McCardell who happened to come at the Eagles biggest position of need. McCardell didn't really catch his break until he got with the Jags in 1996, but he was a great wideout when he got there. He could have helped some of those 90s Eagle teams get to the Super Bowl they were missing. They were a strong team that could wait for him to develop and reap the rewards. This would be a fine pick for Philadelphia.

20 Washington Redskins
Select: Eric Turner             S                  UCLA
Turner was actually selected with the 2nd overall selection by the Cleveland Browns.
Actual Selection: Kelvin Pritchett           DT          Ole Miss
Pritchett was actually picked by the Cowboys at 20th overall and later flipped to the Lions before he played a game. The Redskins actually picked at 17 after a draft day trade with the Cowboys. That trade doesn't happen in the re-draft though and the Redskins pick the best available player heading into their Super Bowl winning season. The Redskins weakest starter in '91 just might have been their strong safety and Turner could have filled that role and played well. If nothing else he would have provided depth and was the best available player.

21 Kansas City Chiefs
Select: Jake Reed                   WR           Grambling State
Reed was actually selected in the 3rd round, #68 overall by the Minnesota Vikings.
Actual Selection: Harvey Williams          RB        LSU
Williams had some production and was a good player for the Chiefs, but they had other needs and the  pick could have been used better elsewhere. The Chiefs were pretty thin at wide receiver and this was a very solid draft at wideout. The Chiefs outlook in the 90s could have been better had they gotten a quality wideout in this spot. They take the best one available. Jake Reed played in the shadows of Carter and Moss in Minnesota, but make no mistake, Reed was a valuable member of that passing attack for the Vikings that was so fierce. It would have been interesting to see what he would have done on another team. He was no scrub receiving 6,999 yards in his career.

22 Chicago Bears
Select: Clarence Jones             OT               Maryland
Jones was actually selected in the 4th round, #111 overall by the New York Giants.
Actual Selection: Stan Thomas          OT          Texas
Thomas was nowhere near worthy of a 1st round selection. The Bears would have been better served with a different 1st rounder in 1991. The Bears were weak up front though so they would take a good offensive lineman and either start him outside or kick him inside where good tackles usually get even better.

23 Miami Dolphins
Select: Alfred Williams               LB               Colorado
Williams was actually selected with the 18th overall selection by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Actual Selection: Randal Hill         WR           Miami
Hill had 3,849 career receiving yards a little bit of production as a pro, but should not have been a #1 pick. The Dolphins would clearly go another route if given the chance. The Dolphins defense had many weak links and they would have to go to that side of the ball in a re-draft. With Bryan Cox already selected in the re-draft that defensive struggle could have been even worse. The Dolphins take a linebacker as it is the biggest position of need. The best fit for them at linebacker is Alfred Williams. His productivity would have been very welcome by the early 90s Dolphins.

24 Los Angeles Raiders
Select: William Thomas         LB             Texas A&M
Thomas was actually selected in the 4th round, #104 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Actual Selection: Todd Marinovich     QB        Southern Cal
Marinovich was a nightmare for the Raiders and the team likely would have desired to pick someone else knowing what we know now. They would take a more sure thing. William Thomas had a very productive career and would have been a great fit for the Raiders. He could have replaced Thomas Benson who was the weak link of the Raiders defense in '91 and was in his last season of any productivity as a pro. Thomas would have been a much wiser selection for the Raiders.

25 San Francisco 49ers
Select:Mike Jones                   LB               Missouri
Jones was an undrafted free agent signing of the Los Angeles Raiders.
Actual Selection: Ted Washington         DT           Louisville
Washington was a fantastic pro and is already gone in this re-draft. The 49ers had another fantastic selection in Merton Hanks who also was selected in the top 10 in this re-draft. With those two already gone, San Francisco would take the best athlete available at a position of need. Mike Jones was a inside linebacker which was the 49ers biggest weak spot at the time. He also helped win the Rams a Super Bowl with the most memorable tackle in Super Bowl history. Jones was clutch, he was underrated and he was everything the 49ers looked for in a football player. He would have been a nice consolation prize for San Fran.

26 Buffalo Bills
Select: Henry Jones        S        Illinois
Jones was the Bills actual selection in the 1991 NFL Draft. He was a good fit for the Bills and helped them advance to 3 Super Bowls. If they had the opportunity to pick him again, they would still do it.

27 New York Giants
Select: Keith Traylor              NT          Central Oklahoma
Traylor was actually selected in the 3rd round, #61 overall by the Denver Broncos.
Actual Selection: Jarrod Bunch          FB         Michigan
With all the talent left on the board, it is easy to see that drafting Jarrod Bunch was a mistake in the 1991 NFL Draft. This mistake was multiplied by the depth of the defensive tackle position in this draft and the fact that it was the Giants weakest position. Ketih Traylor was the best fit for the Giants nose tackle position left in this draft. He is the easy selection here for New York.

-Noland