Draft Rewind: “Big Daddy” and quarterbacks drop in 1994 redraft
Draft Rewind: “Big Daddy” and quarterbacks drop in 1994 redraft
The weeks leading up to the 1994 NFL Draft were dominated by speculation of how good Dan “Big Daddy” Wilkinson would be for the Bengals. Another favorite topic was where quarterbacks Trent Dilfer and Gus Frerotte would get drafted. The answer to the second question in this redraft is … out of the first round. Wilkinson fell as well, but not quite as far. Here is a look at how things could shake out now.
No. 1 (Bengals) Actual pick – Dan Wilkinson, DT Redraft – Bryant Young, DT
At the time, “Big Daddy” was one of the most heralded picks in Draft history when he came out of Ohio State. He spent 12 years in the NFL and amassed 54½ sacks, but it would have been nearly impossible to live up to the hype. Young, who was drafted six picks later, made the All-Rookie Team and won a Super Bowl in San Francisco in his first season. He went on to record 89½ sacks, play in four Pro Bowls, make the All-Pro team in 1996 and was named Comeback Player of the Year in 1999.
No. 2 (Colts) Actual pick – Marshall Faulk, RB Redraft – Faulk
No surprise for the Colts to take Faulk again here, since he was the best dual-threat back available. Faulk was the Offensive Rookie of the year after posting 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Hall of Famer was selected to seven Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams in 12 seasons. He was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year and the NFL’s MVP in 2000, when he had 2,189 all-purpose yards and led the league with 18 rushing scores and 26 overall. After five years in Indianapolis, Faulk became an integral part of a Rams team that defeated the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.
No. 3 (Redskins) Actual pick – Heath Shuler, QB Redraft – Isaac Bruce, WR
Shuler spent four seasons with the Redskins and Saints before a foot injury forced him to retire. He went on to become a member of the U. S. House of Representatives from North Carolina. Bruce teamed with Faulk, Torry Holt, and Kurt Warner to form the offensive attack known as the “Greatest Show on Turf” in St. Louis. Bruce would have been part of a great receiver pairing with Henry Ellard in Washington, even with John Friesz at quarterback. Bruce, who the Rams selected early in the second round, was a four-time Pro Bowler who had eight seasons with 1,000 or more yards. “The Reverend” had his best season in 1995, when he had 119 catches, 1,781 yards, and 13 touchdowns.
No. 4 (Patriots) Actual pick – Willie McGinest, LB/DE Redraft – McGinest
McGinest was part of the evolution of defenses to a pass rusher who could play either defensive end or linebacker. The two-time Pro Bowler won three championships with the Patriots before spending his final three years in Cleveland. Over 15 seasons, McGinest played in 212 games and registered 802 tackles and 86 sacks.
No. 5 (Colts) Actual pick – Trev Alberts, LB Redraft – Jason Gildon, LB
This pick was originally held by the Rams but was traded for selections 7 and 83. Injuries forced Albert to retire after just three seasons. The former Butkus and Lambert winner in college is now Director of Athletics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Gildon, who the Steelers drafted with the 88th pick, posted the kind of numbers people were expecting from Alberts. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and amassed 80 sacks in 11 years, hitting double-figures three times. He was also an All-Pro in 2001
No. 6 (Buccaneers) Actual pick – Trent Dilfer, QB Redraft- Larry Allen, G
While Dilfer went on to game-manage the Ravens to a win over the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, he, like all the other quarterbacks in this draft, were not stars in the NFL. Tampa Bay could have used the pick to improve their weakest spot in the offense, left guard. Allen was a second-round pick by the Cowboys who ended up in the Hall of Fame. He played in 203 games over 14 seasons in Dallas and San Francisco, and his 11 Pro Bowl and six All-Pro selections are the most by anyone in this Draft.
No. 7 (49ers) Actual pick – Bryant Young, DT Redraft – Sam Adams, DT
After acquiring this pick earlier, the Rams traded down once again, sending it on to the 49ers for selections 15, 56 and 100. With Young off the board, San Francisco chooses Adams, a three-time Pro Bowler and a member of the all-time great Baltimore defense that won Super Bowl XXXV with Dilfer at quarterback. He was a member of the All-Rookie Team with Seattle and registered 206 games played and 44 sacks in 12 years.
No. 8 (Seahawks) Actual pick – Sam Adams, DT Redraft – Dan Wilkinson, DT
Seattle missed out on Young and Adams in the redraft, leaving original top pick Wilkinson as the choice here. “Big Daddy” spent four seasons in Cincinnati, followed by five in Washington and three in Detroit before ending his career in Miami. Although Wilkinson played in 195 games and had 54½ sacks, he never made a Pro Bowl.
No. 9 (Browns) Actual pick – Antonio Langham, CB Redraft – Aaron Glenn, CB
Langham had 14 interceptions over eight seasons, and he played for both incarnations of the Browns, as well as the Ravens. Glenn led all players drafted with 41 picks, with six returned for scores. He was a three-time Pro Bowler who excelled as both a ball-hawking corner and a punt returner, and he played in the 1999 AFC Championship Game.
No. 10 (Cardinals) Actual pick – Jamir Miller, LB Redraft – Miller
Miller was not flashy, but he did register 667 tackles and 36 sacks in eight years with the Cardinals and Browns. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in his final season of 2001 after posting a career-high 13 sacks.
No. 11 (Bears) Actual pick – John Thierry, DE Redraft – Joe Johnson, DE
Thierry spent five seasons as a part-time starter in Chicago before finding success elsewhere. Johnson amassed 52½ sacks and 400 tackles. He missed the 1999 season with a knee injured, but bookended the campaign with Pro Bowl selections. He was also the Comeback Player of the Year in 2000 after posting a career-high 12 sacks.
No. 12 (Jets) Actual pick – Aaron Glenn, CB Redraft – Rodney Harrison, S
The Jets liked Glenn in the original draft, so they gave up a fifth-round pick (143) to swap with the Saints and move up one spot. With Glenn already taken, the Jets reach for Harrison, who was taken by the Chargers in Round 5 originally. Imagine Harrison teaming with future Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott to form the hardest-hitting safety tandem in NFL history. Harrison went on to become a two-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and a four-time Super Bowl participant (with two titles in New England). He finished with a Draft-high 1,197 tackles to go along with 34 interceptions and 30½ sacks.
No. 13 (Saints) Actual pick – Joe Johnson, DE Redraft – Jamal Anderson, RB
Johnson started right away in New Orleans, but with him off the board, the Saints can address another pressing need. Derek Brown led the team with just 489 yards rushing in 1999, so Anderson, who was taken early in the seventh round, would definitely help out. He took a couple of seasons to get going, but Anderson became one of the best workhorse backs in the league. His best season was 1998, when he ran for 1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns thanks to a league-high 410 carries. The originator of the “Dirty Bird” dance in Atlanta, Anderson posted four 1,000-yard seasons and played in Super Bowl XXXIII, which the Falcons lost to the Broncos. His career was shortened by a knee injury.
No. 14 (Eagles) Actual pick – Bernard Williams, T Redraft – Todd Steussie, T
Williams started all 16 games for the Eagles his rookie season, then tested positive for marijuana, was suspended and never played in the NFL again. He had stints in the XFL, Arena Football League, and Canadian Football League before retiring in 2006. Steussie played 197 games and made two Pro Bowls and two NFC Championship Games.
No. 15 (Rams) Actual pick – Wayne Gandy, T Redraft –Kevin Mawae, C
After trading down twice, Los Angeles selected Gandy, who spent five years with the franchise. Instead, the Rams select Mawae, who was originally taken by the Seahawks early in the second round. The Hall of Famer was an eight-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro who played 241 games over his 16-year career. He appeared in the 1998 AFC Championship Game as a member of the Jets.
No. 16 (Packers) Actual pick – Aaron Taylor, T Redraft – Dorsey Levens, RB
The Packers acquired this pick in a Draft-day trade with the Dolphins in exchange for selections 20 and 89. Taylor won a Super Bowl with Green Bay, but knee injuries forced him to retire after the 1999 season. Instead, the Packers grab Levens, who they drafted with their fifth-round pick in the original Draft. “The Horse” helped bring a title to Green Bay and had a pair of 1,000-yard seasons, including 1,435 in 1997, when he made his lone Pro Bowl.
No. 17 (Steelers) Actual pick – Charles Johnson, WR Redraft –Johnnie Morton, WR
Johnson had his lone 1,000-yard season with the Steelers in 1996 and won a title with the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI. Although he never made a Pro Bowl, Morton did have four 1,000-yard seasons and finished with 8,719 yards and 43 touchdowns in 12 seasons.
No. 18 (Vikings) Actual pick – Dewayne Washington, CB Redraft – Washington
Washington had 31 interceptions and 800 tackles in 191 games spanning 12 seasons. He only lasted four years in Minnesota before having his greatest success in Pittsburgh.
No. 19 (Vikings) Actual pick – Todd Steussie, T Redraft – Tre’ Johnson, T
With Steussie taken earlier, the Vikings fill their left tackle need with Johnson, who was originally selected by the Redskins with the second pick of the second round. Johnson spent eight of his nine seasons with Washington and made the Pro Bowl in 1999, the only time he appeared in all 16 games.
No. 20 (Dolphins) Actual pick – Tim Bowens, DT Redraft – Bowens
Miami acquired this pick from Green Bay and used it on Bowens, a two-time Pro Bowler who spent his entire 11-year career with the Dolphins. Bowens was named Defensive Rookie of the Year after registering 52 tackles and three sacks.
No. 21 (Lions) Actual pick – Johnnie Morton, WR Redraft – Derrick Alexander, WR
Morton joined Brett Perriman and Herman Moore to give Detroit three potent receivers to go along with Barry Sanders and quarterback Scott Mitchell, but he is not available here. Enter Alexander, who was originally taken by the Browns with the final pick of the first round. Alexander had three 1,000-yard seasons, including two with the Ravens. In 2000, he caught 78 passes for 1,391 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Chiefs.
No. 22 (Raiders) Actual pick – Rob Fredrickson, LB Redraft – Winfred Tubbs, LB
Fredrickson amassed 737 tackles and 15½ sacks in nine seasons with the Raiders, Lions, and Cardinals. Tubbs was selected by the Saints midway through the third round originally. His seven-year career included 639 tackles and a Pro Bowl selection in 1998.
No. 23 (Cowboys) Actual pick – Shante Carver, DE Redraft – John Thierry, DE
League champion Dallas acquired this pick from San Francisco along with a seventh-rounder (217) for selections 28 and 62. Carver played only 52 games in four seasons with the Cowboys. He had stints in the XFL, CFL and Arena League before retiring after the 2004 season. Thierry played in 131 games and registered 33½ sacks with four teams.
No. 24 (Giants) Actual pick – Thomas Lewis, WR Redraft – Darnay Scott, WR
Lewis spent four years with the Giants as a wide receiver and kick returner. Scott would have formed a very good trio of receivers with Chris Calloway and Mike Sherrard (although Dave Brown was still the quarterback). He finished his career with 6,193 yards and 37 touchdowns in eight years, including a 1,022-yard season in 1999.
No. 25 (Chiefs) Actual pick – Greg Hill, RB Redraft – Charlie Garner, RB
Hill ended up as a backup throughout his six-year career. Garner ran for 7,097 yards and 39 touchdowns in 11 years. He had two 1,000-yard seasons, including 2000, when he produced 1,142 yards and seven scores and he made the Pro Bowl.
No. 26 (Oilers) Actual pick – Henry Ford, DE Redraft – Tim Ruddy, C
Ford was a part-time starter with the Oilers/Titans franchise. He played in 133 games and notched 24 sacks. The Dolphins originally selected Ruddy with the last pick of the second round as a guard, but he spent 10 years as a center in Miami. The 2000 Pro Bowler would provide depth for the Houston offensive line.
No. 27 (Bills) Actual pick – Jeff Burris, CB Redraft – Tom Nalen, C
Burris had 532 tackles and 19 interceptions in 10 seasons, but Nalen is a better choice. He was taken by Denver at 218, but he turned that late selection into five Pro Bowls, two All-Pro selections and two championships with the Broncos. Nalen would have been a great replacement for Kent Hull, who was winding down his stellar career in Buffalo.
No. 28 (49ers) Actual pick – William Floyd, FB Redraft – Lee Woodall, LB
Floyd was a solid blocker, runner and receiver with San Francisco and Carolina, but the 49ers get Woodall five rounds earlier than in the real Draft after making a trade with the rival Cowboys. Woodall was a member of both the All-Rookie Team and the Super Bowl champions in his first season. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl twice.
No. 29 (Browns) Actual pick – Derrick Alexander, WR Redraft – Wayne Gandy, T
This was the first compensatory pick in the history of the NFL Draft. The selections were given based on what players each team gained and lost in free agency. Philadelphia originally owned the selection, but traded it to Cleveland for the 40th pick and a second-round choice in 1995. The Eagles received the pick after losing linebacker Seth Joyner to the Cardinals in the offseason. With Alexander previously taken, the Browns shore up their offensive line. Gandy started 205 games over 16 seasons with the Rams, Steelers, Saints, and Falcons.
Other draft picks to make Pro Bowl that weren’t in the redraft: Trent Dilfer (6th by the Buccaneers, Pro Bowl in 1997); Larry Whigham, S and Special Teams (110th by Seahawks, Pro Bowls in 1997 with the Patriots and 2001 with the Bears); Mitch Berger, P (193rd by Eagles, Pro Bowls in 1999 with the Vikings and 2004 with the Saints) and Gus Frerotte, QB (197th by Redskins, Pro Bowl in 1996).
Next: More quarterback talk with the 1999 Draft
-By: Kevin Rakas