1994 NFL Re-Draft

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1994 NFL Re-Draft

1 Cincinnati Bengals

Select: Marshall Faulk           RB         San Diego State

Faulk was actually selected with the 2nd overall selection by the Indianapolis Colts.

Actual Selection: Dan Wilkinson          DT         Ohio State

It is not often that I advocate drafting a tailback with the 1st overall selection. However, this is a case that Cincy could have justifiably done that. Faulk was one of the best all purpose backs I have ever seen. This guy was a transformative talent and he is one of the greatest players of my lifetime. He is also one of just two Hall of Fame players in this draft class. There is no doubt in my mind that the Bengals would have taken him to see if he could help a horrendous run game and help out Jeff Blake a little bit if they had the chance to do it over. Dan Wilkinson wasn't a bad pick and he was quite productive as a pro, but he should not have gone #1 overall. That should have been Faulk.

2 Indianapolis Colts

Select: Larry Allen               OG             Sonoma State

Allen was actually selected in the 2nd round, #46 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.

Actual Selection: Marshall Faulk          RB             San Diego State

The most productive player in this draft was Faulk and that is who the Colts actually took. However, in the re-draft with Faulk off the board the Colts select another Hall of Fame player in Larry Allen. The Cowboy great would have been a fantastic fit in Indy as the weak point of that offense was at left guard. Inserting Larry Allen would have given that line some awesome punch that would have opened up some holes for whatever runningback was in the lineup.

3 Washington Redskins

Select: Kurt Warner             QB              Northern Iowa

Warner was actually an undrafted free agent signing of the Green Bay Packers.

Actual Selection: Heath Shuler           QB           Tennessee

Now, it took Kurt Warner some time to develop and it was not an overnight success so it would take a patient team. While it would take a patient team, knowing the results would allow the Redskins to turn a new leaf and wait for once. They would have to be patient and willing because in my lifetime the Redskins QB situation has been dreadful. The opportunity to get a QB that would eventually be Hall of Fame worthy is not an opportunity that the Skins would pass on if they got a do-over. Kurt Warner is such an obvious pick for them at this point. Let's not even get into how terrible the Heath Shuler experiment went.

4 New England Patriots

Select: Willie McGinest           LB             USC

McGinest was the Patriots actual selection in this spot.

There are arguably 5-10 players in this draft that had better careers than McGinest, but none of them helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl. This was a home run selection for the Patriots and it paid off big time. No way they don't make the same selection in the re-draft. They take the guy that made a major impact for their team here at #4.

5 Los Angeles Rams

Select: Isaac Bruce             WR              Memphis

Bruce was actually selected in the 2nd round, #33 overall by the Rams.

Actual Selection: Trev Alberts         LB        Nebraska

The 1994 draft was huge for the Rams and it is easy to see why they did so great in the late 90s. Two of the top 3 picks in this re-draft were actually on their Super Bowl team. So was this guy. He was the only one of the 3 to actually be drafted by the Rams though. This pick was actually made by the Colts via a trade up, but the Rams can't let this pick go and risk losing one of the greatest receivers in franchise history. Isaac Bruce is the selection here. Trev Alberts didn't belong in the 1st round let alone the top 5.

6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Select: Gus Frerotte               QB           Tulsa

Frerotte was actually selected in the 7th round, #197 overall by the Washington Redskins.

Actual Selection: Trent Dilfer           QB       Fresno State
A lot of people don't remember how good Gus Frerotte was in Washington pre head butt or how bad Dilfer was in Tampa. Just having Gus would have likely propelled the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl much faster. Especially if they could have kept him from doing headbutts against the wall. It is possible and perhaps likely that this team would have won multiple Super Bowls with Gus at the helm. In Gus we trust! I mean this team made the NFC Championship with Sean King in his rookie season. That headbutt of Frerotte though is why many in the Skins organization gave up on him. He had made the Pro Bowl the previous season and was on the up and up. For the rest of his NFL career, Frerotte was a solid backup and started about a game a year. This is with the exception of 2005 when he started 15 games for the Miami Dolphins and threw for 2,996 yards and 18 touchdowns as a 35 year old. His career is definitely a case of what could have been.

7 Atlanta Falcons

Select: Kevin Mawae              C           LSU
Mawae was actually selected in the 2nd round, #36 overall by the Seattle Seahawks
Actual Selection: Bryant Young          DT           Notre Dame
The Falcons traded the 7th pick in this top heavy draft (top 20 players great then huge drop) for the inconsistent, unreliable hot head that is Jeff George. In a re-draft scenario they take the best quality player. The player who had the best and longest career of those remaining is Kevin Mawae. This center would have solidified the offensive line for Atlanta for a decade. Instead, they wasted this pick by trading it for a bum at QB. Not only that, but the trade also ended up getting the Colts a conditional selection that led to them taking Marvin Harrison! They also received an additional 3rd round pick as well. This was a disaster move for Atlanta that most likely cost them a Super Bowl title. The actual selection ended up getting traded a few more times and ending up with San Francisco who took Bryant Young. That pick worked out fantastically for the 9ers and may have been the Falcons pick in the re-draft. As it stands though they take Mawae, keep those extra selections and are in a much better overall spot.

8 Seattle Seahawks
Select: Tom Nalen            C             Boston College
Nalen was actually selected in the 7th round, #218 overall by the Denver Broncos.
Actual Selection: Sam Adams          DT            Texas A&M
Sam Adams had a fine NFL career, but there were a few players in this draft class just a bit better than him. A few of those players are still on the board in this re-draft. The best fit for Seattle was an offensive lineman as they didn't end up with Kevin Mawae in this re-draft, which you can see based on the previous selection. Mawae had a marginally better career than Nalen, but Nalen was very good and a strong, loyal player for years for Denver. Seattle would have loved for him to be the same loyal player for them. He would have made a major impact on the Seahawks offensive line. Again, Bryant Young could have easily been the selection.

9 Cleveland Browns
Select: Bryant Young           DT        Notre Dame
Young was actually selected with the 7th overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers.
Actual Selection: Antonio Langham        CB        Alabama
Antonio Langham was a full-time starter for two years and had 14 career interceptions. He wasn't 1st round material let alone top 10. A guy who was and the best player available in the re-draft was Bryant Young. Having Young and his 89.5 career sacks would have been a game changer for Cleveland who may have been able to avoid a move with a strong selection like this. Oh what could have been. As it stands the Browns blew it here.

10 Arizona Cardinals
Select: Jeff Garcia            QB         San Jose State
Garcia was not drafted at all in 1994 and didn't make his NFL debut until 1999.      
Actual Selection: Jamir Miller        LB         UCLA
Jamir Miller was a mediocre linebacker that didn't start until year 3. He was not worthy of a Top 10 pick for sure and wouldn't be selected in the 1st round of a re-draft. The Cardinals though had a lot of holes for an 8-8 team. The best player available at this point in the re-draft is Jason Gildon the longtime Steeler linebacker. That being said, the Cardinals situation at QB was awful and they in no way intend to pass on a quality signal caller like Jeff Garcia. Garcia did not officially make an NFL appearance before 1999, but the Cardinals take a chance here because they need to. They see what happens with this pick. Selecting a 4 time Pro Bowl QB is about as good as the Cardinals can do.

11 Chicago Bears
Select: Jason Gildon         LB          Oklahoma State
Gildon was actually selected in the 3rd round, #88 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Actual Selection: John Thierry        DE          Alcorn State
Thierry had 33.5 career sacks which isn't too shabby, but also isn't 1st round worthy. Instead the Monsters of the Midway could have had a true impact player on the defensive side of the ball. They could have had a game changer at the position and the best player available in the draft. The Bears could have had Jason Gildon and instantly upgraded a horrible linebacker core.

12 New Orleans Saints
Select: Todd Steussie          OT       California
Steussie was actually selected with the 19th overall selection
Actual Selection: Aaron Glen        CB      Texas A&M
The Jets traded up one spot to select Glen in the actual draft and it worked out pretty well for both teams. That being said, there is still a top tackle on the board and New Orleans snatches him up rather than trading the pick here. In hindsight this was an easy call, but it was not at the time. Having Steussie at RT and Roaf at LT gives the Saints arguably the best pair of tackles in the league. This move is a no-brainer with what is left on the board.

13 New York Jets
Select: Aaron Glen        CB           Texas A&M
Glen was actually selected with the 12th overall selection by the Jets.
Actual Selection: Joe Johnson        DE           Louisville
The Jets still get their guy and a pick that worked out well for them here at 13 and don't have to give up any extra picks. Aaron Glen is a very strong selection by the team.

14 Philadelphia Eagles
Select: Sam Adams         DT          Texas A&M
Adams was actually selected with the 8th overall selection by the Seattle Seahawks.
Actual Selection: Bernard Williams      OT         Georgia
Bernard Williams would only play one season in the NFL and ended up being a disaster pick for the Philadelphia Eagles. Meanwhile, William Perry was in his last year in the NFL and Sam Adams was clearly the best player available at this point in the draft. It just makes too much sense in the re-draft for the Eagles to not take Sam Adams.

15 San Diego Chargers
Select: Rodney Harrison          S        Western Illinois
Harrison was actually selected in the 5th round, #145 overall by the Chargers.
Actual Selection: Wayne Gandy         OT        Auburn
The Chargers originally held this selection and traded it to San Francisco for Natrone Means. The 49ers then flipped it to the Rams who selected Wayne Gandy and had it work out. San Diego holds onto the selection in the re-draft though and selects the guy it otherwise wouldn't be able to take. They take Rodney Harrison earlier than they actually took him to assure that he ends up with the team.

16 Miami Dolphins
Select: Rod Smith               WR              Missouri Southern
Smith was an undrafted free agent signing of the Denver Broncos.
Actual Selection: Aaron Taylor            G        Notre Dame
The Packers traded up 4 spots with the Dolphins in order to select Aaron Taylor, but in the re-draft they don't get that opportunity. Also in the re-draft it is realized that there are only about 20 high quality players that were drafted and there are starting to be some steep dropoffs. The Dolphins saw Rod Smith help John Elway win two Super Bowls as an undrafted free agent signing with the Broncos. They want him in Miami to try to do the same thing for Dan Marino. Smith would have arguably been the best receiver that Marino had in the pros and is the easy selection here.

17 Pittsburgh Steelers
Select: Johnnie Morton           WR         USC
Morton was actually selected with the 21st overall selection by the Detroit Lions.
Actual Selection: Charles Johnson       WR          Colorado
The Steelers had a very productive draft in 1994, but it was because of Jason Gildon and not because of Charles Johnson. In fact, Johnson never made it to 5k receiving yards and was one of the rare 1st round misses for Pittsburgh. There was a WR worth taking though and it was the biggest position of need for Pittsburgh. They should have taken USC receiver Johnnie Morton. Morton had 4 1,000 yard receiving seasons with inferior QB play in Detroit. He could have done even better if he was in Pittsburgh. It would have been interesting to see Morton in the black and yellow.

18 Minnesota Vikings
Select: Wayne Gandy            OT             Auburn
Actual Selection: DeWayne Washington        DB            North Carolina State
The Vikings traded Gary Zimmerman to the Broncos in order to make this selection. That trade still goes through as it helped both teams including leading the Broncos to the Super Bowl. The Vikings though make an even better selection here by looking what is left on the board. While Washington was a 1st round caliber player, there were better players left. One of which was on the offensive line that helps out a great deal since Steussie is off the board. It seems shocking that Gandy would fall this far in a re-draft and the Vikings would happily snatch him up if he did. Gandy would go to work quickly for Minnesota.

19 Minnesota Vikings
Select: Robert Griffith          S         San Diego State
Griffith was an undrafted free agent signing of the Minnesota Vikings.
Actual Selection: Todd Steussie         OT        California
Steussie was a fantastic selection for the Vikings, but he is long gone in the re-draft. Instead, they use their 2nd straight selection to help the team even more. DeWayne Washington was good, but only stayed with Minnesota for 4 years, they need someone more loyal to their team, A guy who was loyal and absolutely would have to be taken here is undrafted free agent signing Robert Griffith. He was a key member of the strong Vikings teams of the late 90s.
This will be my last re-draft for a little while now. I will start my football previews next week and then pick back up with the re-drafts after those are finished. Hope you have enjoyed the re-drafts so far and that you look forward to those previews. Have a wonderful week.

20 Green Bay Packers
Select: D'Marco Farr             DT           Washington
Farr was an undrafted free agent signing of the Los Angeles Rams.
Actual Selection: Tim Bowens        DT           Mississippi
The Dolphins actually made this selection and it worked out pretty well for them especially since this draft is lacking quality. However, there was not only one high quality player left available, but he actually played the same position as Bowens. He also went undrafted completely in 1994 and helped the Rams eventually win the Super Bowl. D'Marco Farr is a guy that would absolutely go Round 1 in a re-draft.

21 Detroit Lions
Select: Tim Bowens       DT         Mississippi
Bowens was actually selected by the Dolphins with the 20th overall selection.
Actual Selection: Johnnie Morton          WR            USC
Morton worked out well for Detroit and was a fine draft choice. However, he is gone in the re-draft. That being said eventhough Morton was a better player, there was a player that would have helped the Lions more. Bowens was a solid nose tackle and Detroit had nothing in that spot. Their starter was a guy who only started 16 games twice in his NFL career. Bowens would have been a major upgrade for Detroit.

22 Los Angeles Raiders
Select: Charlie Garner       RB       Tennessee
Garner was actually selected in the 2nd round, #42 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Actual Selection: Rob Fredrickson        LB        Michigan State
Considering some of the other misses in this draft class, the Raiders did pretty good for themselves with Fredrickson. That being said, they could have done better with this pick. The best player available at the time was Charlie Garner and he could have helped the Raiders a great deal in the decade. His 10,000+ yards from scrimmage were double that of the Raider runningback at the time, Harvey Williams.

23 San Francisco 49ers
Select: Tim Ruddy           C          Notre Dame
Ruddy was actually selected in the 2nd round, #65 overall by the Miami Dolphins.
Actual Selection: Shante Carver             DE             Arizona State
The Cowboys traded up with the 49ers to make this selection and take Shante Carver. He was not a 1st round talent and finished with 11.5 career sacks in his 3 year career. All of that is a moot point in the re-draft though because the 49ers hold onto the pick here. There is a sharp drop in talent happening in about 2 picks and the 49ers want to make sure they get a very quality player. The best player on the board in terms of career value is center Tim Ruddy. He also happens to be at a position of need as the 49ers center, Bart Oates, was forced to retire the following season in 1995. Ruddy could have played guard for a year or two and then shifted over to center after Oates retired.

24 New York Giants
Select: Dan Wilkinson          DT        Ohio State
Wilkinson was actually selected with the 1st overall selection by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Actual Selection: Thomas Lewis      WR      Indiana
Thomas Lewis provided very little career value and was for all intents and purposes a clear miss for the Giants here at 24. This Giants team had a lot of holes and picking anybody else would have helped. Luckily for them the best player available, Dan Wilkinson, was at a position of need. Wilkinson was a 4-3 DT who was stuck in a 3-4 defense as an end early in his career in Cincinnati. It is entirely possible, that he would have had a much bigger impact in a defense that better fit his talents. That Giants defense did better fit his talents. This would have been interesting.

25 Kansas City Chiefs
Select: Derrick Alexander          WR         Michigan
Alexander was actually selected with the 29th overall pick by the Cleveland Browns.
Actual Selection: Greg Hill           RB         Texas A&M
Greg Hill rushed for 3,000 yards in his  career, but that is far below the amount you would want for a 1st round draft pick. The Chiefs had some quality and could have used more with this pick. The best player available in the re-draft is Derrick Alexander who plays wide receiver which was a weak spot for Kansas City at the time. Alexander had 6,971 career receiving yards which is pretty good compared to what else is left in this draft. The Chiefs do not hesitate to get Joe Montana a quality downfield threat that could help push them over.

26 Houston Oilers
Select: Kimo Van Oelhoffen         DE         Boise State
Van Oelhoffen was actually selected in the 6th round, #162 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Actual Selection: Henry Ford       DT        Arkansas
Houston was a disaster in 1994 and they had many holes to fill prior to the season. Them not filling the holes was one of the nails in the coffin for moving to Tennessee. This team had a solid secondary, quality defensive ends, and that was it. Here they need to take the best player available. That person was Kimo Van Oelhoffen. The Oilers were okay at defensive end as I said, but taking Van Oelhoffen would have allowed the Oilers to move Lamar Lathan to his more natural linebacker spot and upgrade a weak unit. Or they could have put him inside where he was a force for years and actually a better pro. They probably would have taken that plan and played him at DT. This move would have made the team much more fierce overall. It also would have blocked him from eventually ending up in Pittsburgh. The Oilers/Titans could have been the ones benefiting from his play inside.

27 Buffalo Bills
Select: Rich Braham        C             West Virginia
Braham was actually selected in the 3rd round, #76 overall by the Arizona Cardinals.
Actual Selection: Jeff Burris           DB          Notre Dame
After four straight trips to the Super Bowl, the Bills fell off in 1994 and finished 7-9. This draft did not help to prevent that and they made a few errors here. One was taking Jeff Burris who should not have been a 1st round selection. 19 career interceptions does not cut it in the 1st round. The biggest holes for Buffalo were on the left side of the line and it showed during the season. Drafting the best lineman available was imperative for Buffalo here. Rich Braham was a center which the Bills didn't need as badly, but he had the best career out of the available offensive lineman. He would have been the easy selection here. Selecting him and playing him at guard for a year or two or shifting Kent Hull to guard would have been a tremendous move for Buffalo.

28 Dallas Cowboys
Select: Lee Woodell          LB       West Chester
Woodell was actually selected in the 6th round, #182 overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
Actual Selection: William Floyd           FB          Florida State
FSU's fullback helped San Francisco win the Super Bowl when he was selected here, but there were players available with more career value. Additionally, fullback wasn't exactly the Cowboys biggest need when they already had Moose Johnston. Also as I said, it is unlikely that the trade goes through knowing what we know now. They could have used a little bit of help and depth at the linebacker position at the time. The best linebacker in the draft remaining also happened to be one of the best players available. Additionally, taking him would have blocked him from being a 49er.

29 Philadelphia Eagles
Select: Dorsey Levens        RB        Georgia Tech
Levens was actually selected in the 5th round, #149 overall by the Green Bay Packers.
Actual Selection: Derrick Alexander         WR        Michigan
The Browns made this selection after a trade with Philadelphia following Reggie White leaving for Green Bay. It worked out for Cleveland with Derrick Alexander, but he is long gone in this re-draft. Philly holds onto the pick in the re-draft because there are not a lot of quality players available still. Dorsey Levens was by far the best player available at this point and he helped Green Bay win the Super Bowl. Philadelphia had an aging back and since their running back draft pick Charlie Garner is not available, they have to go with Levens here. He is the safest and best pick at this point.

Next week will start my football previews, I will come back to my re-drafts after those previews.

-Noland