1992-Worst draft ever?

[Bugg]

http://sportsyenta.blogspot.com/2007/03/1992-nfl-draft-worst-draft-ever.html

As part of the run-up to the 2007 edition of the NFL draft, we thought we'd mention to the optimistic fans of crappy teams out there that things don't always turn out well for teams in the draft. Sometimes everyone gets screwed, no matter where they were picking. Some drafts turn out fairly amazing for most of the teams involved. But the specter of the 1992 NFL draft is always there, lurking in the background and threatening to set your favorite team back five years. The 1992 first round featured one wide receiver (Desmond Howard) and one quarterback (David Klingler). There were also six defensive backs and seven defensive linemen taken. It's also worth pointing out that there are between seven and eight defensive linemen projected to go in this year's first round. Think some one is getting screwed this year? Us too.

In that spirit, we thought we'd review the top 15 picks and a couple of extras to remind everyone that sometimes no one wins. We think a draft is defined and remembered, in the long term, by the top 15-20 picks. So, without further ado, the exercise in futility that was the 1992 NFL Draft. Mullets, day-glo pants, and "Rump Shaker" single not included.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Steve Emtman, DT, Washington

Is anyone else thinking this was exactly like when the Texans picked Mario Williams? Except for the whole "talent in the rest of the draft" thing. We don't want to minimize the role injuries played in ending Emtman's career at 27, but let's just say he did very little even when he was healthy, which wasn't often. Besides, Emtman is just the first of a long line of picks who did next to nothing at the pro level. He may still even be the biggest name, though a few guys did make the Pro-Bowl.

2. Indianapolis Colts: Quentin Coryatt, LB, Texas A&M

It says a lot about the available offensive talent in this draft that the Colts went defense/defense with the first two picks in the draft. Interestingly, both Emtman and Coryatt were coming out of college a year early, both were dominant forces in college, but hardly made a sound at the NFL level, and both failed miserably at living up to expectations. Not all of this is their fault; they were playing for the Colts. Until Peyton Manning, this is where first round picks went to fade into oblivion.

3. Los Angeles Rams: Sean Gilbert, DE, Pittsburgh

Remember, this was the era in the NFL where size was the most important thing in a player. Speed was, at best, secondary. This is only three years after the Tony Mandarich draft, after all. These days, Gilbert is known because he at least managed to achieve journeyman status in the NFL. Coryatt and Emtman couldn't even do that. At least four teams saw fit to give Gilbert a chance and he even made the Pro Bowl in 1993.

4. Washington Redskins: Desmond Howard, WR, Michigan

Speaking of journeymen, Howard played for six teams in his career. Yes, he won a Super Bowl MVP award in 1996, but that's about all he did. Really productive players tend to play for fewer than six teams. Howard is, however, probably the most notable college player coming out in the 1992 draft. He had achieved God-like status at Michigan, on his way to winning the 1991 Heisman Trophy. But limitations, such as being a 5'10" 188 pound wide receiver, are very difficult for players to overcome. He ran into limitations as a broadcaster too, like not researching and paying absolutely no attention.

5. Green Bay Packers: Terrell Buckley, DB, Florida State

Buckley had a fairly successful career in the NFL. He's one of only a few db's to get 50 career interceptions. He also won a Super Bowl with the Patriots. But as a defensive back coming out of Florida State, there is only one name that defined the expectations facing him: Deion Sanders. Buckley was never as famous or as good or as intimidating a player as Sanders. He's currently a free-agent, if your team needs a corner.

6. Cincinnati Bengals: David Klingler, QB, Houston

Now we're getting into real bust territory. Klingler is definitely one of the worse picks in the history of the draft. Not surprisingly, he was taken by the Bengals. In college, he was extremely successful at the University of Houston. Despite being the guy who had to follow Heisman winner (and fellow draft bust) Andre Ware, Klingler's record for touchdowns in a season (54) stood until Colt Brennan broke it in 2006. He even threw for 11 touchdowns in one game. You'd think that NFL teams would learn from their mistakes. However, the Bengals, in the throes of the "Bungles" era, made him their first round selection. On the bright side, he's one of the reasons that quarterbacks in the draft are so closely scrutinized. Brady Quinn would be sleeping much more soundly these days if it weren't for David Klingler.

7. Miami Dolphins: Troy Vincent, DB, Wisconsin

In hindsight, Vincent is probably the best player in this draft. He was a cornerstone of the Eagles' defense for a long time and made the Pro Bowl in four straight seasons. He's also President of the NFLPA. So we salute you, Miami Dolphins, for selecting such a quality player. And then not keeping him. Nice work.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Bob Whitfield, OT, Stanford

Whitfield was a college teammate of John Lynch and just retired after the 2006 season. He spent 12 years with the Falcons before moving on with other teams. That said, Whitfield was never a star in the league. He didn't make the Pro Bowl and is probably most notable for being known as "Headbutt Bob."

9. Cleveland Browns: Tommy Vardell, RB, Stanford

That's right, the Browns took a fullback (with hopes of turning him into a running back) in the Top 10. "Touchdown Tommy," like Bob Whitfield, came out of Stanford. Also, like Bob Whitfield, he played for the team that drafted him for a fairly long time. He was a Brown for eight seasons. However, the most notable thing he did as a pro was being the first fullback Barry Sanders ever used in 1997-98. For many people, this is probably the first time they're seeing his name.

10. Seattle Seahawks: Ray Roberts, OT, Virginia

Who?

11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Leon Searcy, OT, Miami

Searcy made the Pro Bowl twice and played in a Super Bowl with the Steelers. He's also the O-line coach at Florida International University. You know, the one that brawled on national television with his Alma mater, "The U." Searcy was a quality player, but that's about as remarkable as his career got.

12. Miami Dolphins: Marco Coleman, LB/DE, Georgia Tech

We remember Coleman from his three seasons as a Charger. He was a decent enough end and he was good enough to only have to refer to him as "Marco." We didn't really know what we were thinking though, it was mostly just adrenaline from the 1995 Super Bowl appearance. But what stands out most is that he was the second best defensive player on a playoff team and some really awful teams after that. He recently retired from the Redskins after playing unremarkably there too.

13. New England Patriots: Eugene Chung, OT, Virginia Tech

They drafted Tom Brady in the sixth round. You don't build up that kind of karma by always drafting well. Still, this is a new level of obscurity.

14. New York Giants: Derek Brown, TE, Notre Dame

Brown is the first of two tight ends in a row taken by the New York football teams. It's not hard to imagine that Giants fans were nonplussed by this pick.

15. New York Jets: Johnny Mitchell, TE, Nebraska

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

22. Chicago Bears: Alonzo Spellman, DE, Ohio State

Spellman has played Arena football as well as fighting in some mixed martial arts bouts. Drafted at 20-years-old as an amazing athlete, Spellman had, shall we say, off-field issues get in the way of his career. He only played five seasons. Turns out he's bipolar. You know what the thing about bipolar disorder is? It's hard to find a joke to tell about bipolar disorder.

25. Denver Broncos: Tommy Maddox, QB, UCLA

This is the poster boy for making a really, really bad decision and entering the draft. Maddox was only a redshirt sophomore and figured he'd take a shot at this professional football thing. We know how that worked out. When your resume includes "XFL MVP" and "insurance salesman," you've had a tough time making this whole football thing work. It'd be enough to say that he went 25th in this draft. So yeah, enough said.

I think we've pretty well made our point. Worst. Draft. Ever.

Posted by McD at 1:00 AM

[timbok]

sounds pretty bad..

[DaBrick Wall]

Wow that is TERRIBLE. I never thought I'd see an entire first round with only one good player it. Besides Vincent, no one else is even halfway decent.

[drago]

wow, good work. '92 was before i really paid attention to football, i had no idea it was possible to know barely 3 people on that list.

[CoachTsurfing]

whitefield was pretty good.

[Ghost]

Maddox was prolly the best pick, but this looks horribile.

[The Troll]

Maddox was prolly the best pick, but this looks horribile.

Maddox was a horrible pick.

He was supposed to be the successor to John Elway, but he bombed out big time. Just because he had a fluke season 10 years later does not make him a good draft pick.

[docdhc]

I liked Johnny Mitchell, he showed some flashes of talent during his mediocre career.

[RSJ]

The funny thing about this draft is that it wasn't really packed with busts, like you would think. It was more packed with guys that had bad luck injuries that ended their careers prematurely. Etman looked like the real deal until his freak injury, ditto Coryatt. Leon Searcy was a top tackle at one point leaving the steelers as a free agent for the Jags, then suffering a freak injury. Whitfield, and Vincent were both good.

[R44]

The funny thing about this draft is that it wasn't really packed with busts, like you would think. It was more packed with guys that had bad luck injuries that ended their careers prematurely. Etman looked like the real deal until his freak injury, ditto Coryatt. Leon Searcy was a top tackle at one point leaving the steelers as a free agent for the Jags, then suffering a freak injury. Whitfield, and Vincent were both good.

Exactly, for the younger crowd around here (22 and younger) Emtman was a 300 pound defensive tackle that look great early on and even returned a Dan Marino interception 90 yards to win a game as rookie. The man out ran every Dolphins receiver and running back to the end zone!

To try to minimize that injuries (tore both knee caps on the same play in 1993 vs. Dallas) destroyed the man's career is nothing short of ignorant

Vardell looked like one of the most complete fullback (at least according to Bill Belichick) in the game until a 1994 injury versus the Jets -- basically missed 2 seasons after he took a seemingly innocent hit in coverage from Bobby Houston.

[green_blood]

come on people, think positive like kyle brady over warren sapp!

[GLH222]

wow, that reall is something else

[TNJet]

looks like we actually got the best player available....thats saying alot.