Picks Of The Litter
Green With Envy The ageless wonder, passed on by 27 NFL teams before the Deadskins picked him in 1983.
So if we’re going to throw darts at NFC East teams for their busted picks, we probably ought to recognize some of the best draft decisions of the last 25 years. This is a little more difficult, because everyone knows what a bust looks like, but a great pick needs some definition.
Was Troy Aikman a great draft pick? By this study’s definition, no. You expect a first overall pick to become a great player. Conversely, did Omar Stoutmire come anywhere close to having the impact of Aikman? Silly question. Nevertheless, he’s on this list under the premise that if you can find a solid pro (for three NFC East teams, no less) in the seventh round, you’re making good draft decisions.
Every pick was viewed through one prism: With the benefit of hindsight, would you have picked this player higher than he went? In that light, we only included three first round picks: Emmitt Smith (17th overall), Champ Bailey (seventh overall) and Green (28th overall).
Several players are included even though their greatest success came with a team other than the one that drafted them. See Jimmy Smith, Keenan McCardell, Matt Stover, Charlie Garner, Ed McCaffrey and Frank Wycheck.
Also of note is the Deadskins’ propensity for developing late round quarterbacks. Of course, they spent a good portion of the eighties illegally stashing developmental players on IR for suffering dramatic, season-ending injuries including the Index Finger Hangnail, Post Headcold Syndrome and the always dicey General Malaise. Typical.
Quarterback
Mark Rypien, Deadskins (1986: 6, 146)
Randall Cunningham, Iggles (1985: 2, 37)
Stan Humphries, Deadskins (1988: 6, 159)
Jeff Hostetler, Jints (1984: 3, 59)
Gus Frerotte, Deadskins (1994: 7, 197)
Jay Schroeder, Deadskins (1984: 3, 83)
Babe Laufenberg, Deadskins (1983: 6, 168)
Running Back
Emmitt Smith, Cowboys (1990: 1, 17)
Herschel Walker, Cowboys (1985: 5, 114)
Tiki Barber, Jints (1997: 2, 36)
Brian Westbrook, Iggles (2002: 3, 91)
Stephen Davis, Deadskins (1996: 4, 102)
David Meggett, Jints (1989: 5, 132)
Duce Staley, Iggles (1997: 3, 71)
Timmy Smith, Deadskins (1987: 5, 117)
Marion Barber, Cowboys (2005: 4, 109)
Charlie Garner, Iggles (1994: 2, 42)
Wide Receiver
Keenan McCardell, Deadskins (1991: 12, 326)
Jimmy Smith, Cowboys (1992: 2, 36)
Ed McCaffrey, Jints (1991: 3, 83)
Patrick Crayton, Cowboys (2004: 7, 216)
Offensive Line
Larry Allen, Cowboys (1994: 2, 46)
Mark Stepnoski, Cowboys (1989: 3, 57)
Raleigh McKenzie, Deadskins (1985: 11, 290)
Erik Williams, Cowboys (1991: 3, 70)
Mark Schlereth, Deadskins (1989: 10, 263)
Phil Pozderac, Cowboys (1982: 5, 137)
Ed Simmons, Deadskins (1987: 6, 164)
Flozell Adams, Cowboys (1998: 2, 38)
Jon Jansen, Deadskins (1999: 2, 37)
John Elliott, Jints (1988: 2, 36)
Kevin Gogan, Cowboys (1987: 8, 206)
Tight End
Jason Witten, Cowboys (2003: 3, 69)
Frank Wycheck, Deadskins (1993: 6, 160)
Mark Bavaro, Jints (1985: 4, 100)
Defensive Line
Michael Strahan, Jints (1993: 2, 40)
Clyde Simmons, Iggles (1986: 9, 233)
Leon Lett, Cowboys (1991: 7, 173)
Charles Mann, Deadskins (1983: 3, 84)
Osi Umenyiora, Jints (2003: 2, 56)
Chad Hennings, Cowboys (1988: 11, 290)
Leonard Marshall, Jints (1983: 2, 37)
Tony Tolbert, Cowboys (1989: 4, 85)
Keith Hamilton, Jints (1992: 4, 99)
Linebacker
Seth Joyner, Iggles (1986: 8, 208)
Ken Norton, Cowboys (1988, 2, 41)
Jessie Armistead, Jints (1993: 8, 207)
Kurt Gouveia, Deadskins (1986: 8, 213)
William Thomas, Iggles (1991: 4, 104)
Pepper Johnson, Jints (1986: 2, 51)
Dexter Coakley, Cowboys (1997: 3, 65)
Dat Nguyen, Cowboys (1999: 3, 85)
Jeremiah Trotter, Iggles (1998: 3, 72)
Eugene Lockhart, Cowboys (1984: 6, 152)
Brandon Short, Jints (2000: 4, 105)
Dhani Jones, Jints (2000: 6, 177)
Defensive Back
Darrell Green, Deadskins (1983: 1, 28)
Champ Bailey, Deadskins (1999: 1, 7)
Larry Brown, Cowboys (1991: 12, 320)
Eric Allen, Iggles (1988: 2, 30)
Brian Dawkins, Iggles (1996: 2, 61)
Darren Woodson, Cowboys (1992: 2, 37)
Mark Kelso, Iggles (1985: 10, 261)
Brock Marion, Cowboys (1993: 7, 196)
Omar Stoutmire, Cowboys (1997: 7, 224)
Bobby Taylor, Iggles (1995: 2, 50)
Kicker
Matt Stover, Jints (1990: 12, 329)
Chuck, that is an amazing list you’ve compiled. Does Renee know that you have this kind of free time on your hands?
Well, I’ve stopped waxing my back, so I’ve got a couple extra hours a week…
Chuck, you really appeared to research this. This is getting good. Just don’t leave the blog to start one for ESPN:)
Ok, real question. What defensive position do the ‘Boys suffer the biggest lack of depth? Noseguard! (Nosetackle for those younger fans). When will we have the opportunity to sign someone as talented as Tank Johnson? So he has weapons and ammunition. Everyone in Texas has weapons and ammunition. I have weapons and ammunition. So, he drinks a little. Most Texans drink a little but wouldn’t be under the legal limit if stopped. He is no Pac-Man Jones. I say take a cheap flyer on him. He would be active about the time Fergason would need the help the most.
Taking the fam to San Antonio first full week in August. Going to two training camp practices and we may make time to see the Alamo and Sea World while we are there. We will honor your fallen “Volunteers” at the Alamo.
Ok for you starved Cowboy fans. You can see your boy Tony Romo this week end. He will be playing in the American Century celebrity golf tournament. Opening round is being televised by ESPN friday evening. The Saturday and Sunday rounds are being televised by ESPN. Supposedly the boy can play. So if it is raining where you live, (probably not) turn it on. It will be raining where I live. I purchased gopher wood last week. Construction on the Ark is underway in Houston, TX.
Load: Too funny!
Happy swimming.
Skids Fan, I know where I rank on the list of priorities…it was made very clear prior to the date of my shackling.
Oops, did I say “skids?” I meant “Skins.”
…or did I?