Was 1983 really the best NFL draft class ever? (1 Viewer)

[sterjs]

Generally, most experts refer to 1983 as the best draft class on the basis of four hall of famers:

Eric Dickerson, RB, Los Angeles Rams - 1st round (2nd overall)

John Elway, QB, Baltimore Colts - 1st Round (1st overall)

Jim Kelly, QB, Buffalo Bills - 1st round (14th overall)

Dan Marino, QB, Miami Dolphins - 1st Round (27th overall)

as well as future HOFers:

9 Houston Oilers4 Bruce Matthews T

28 Washington Redskins Darrell Green DB

and productive players like RB Roger Craig, RB Curt Warner and WR Henry Ellard

However, I was poking around draft history and I discovered the 1957 draft class:

Paul Hornung, QB, Green Bay Packers - 1st round (1st overall)

Len Dawson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers - 1st round (5th overall)

Jim Brown, B, Cleveland Browns - 1st round (6th overall)

Jim Parker, G, Baltimore Colts - 1st round (8th overall)

Tommy McDonald, WR, Philadelphia Eagles - 3rd round (31st overall)

Sonny Jurgensen, QB, Philadelphia Eagles - 4th round (43rd overall)

Henry Jordan, DT, Cleveland Browns - 5th round (52nd overall)

Don Maynard, WR/HB, New York Giants - 9th round (109th overall)

Those are the hall of famers alone, I haven't looked deeper into the draft.

Does 1957 have a good case for best draft class over 1983?

 

[SSOG]

Theoretically speaking, here... if every year at least 4 players are inducted to the Hall of Fame, then won't there be an average of 4 HoFers drafted per year?

 

[DrJ]

There were 9 HOF'ers in the 1964 draft.

 

[DrJ]

Theoretically speaking, here... if every year at least 4 players are inducted to the Hall of Fame, then won't there be an average of 4 HoFers drafted per year?

No, because all of the players from the 1950's - 1970's were all the greatest players of all time. And the GM's were all awesome back then too. So they were drafting anywhere between 5-9 HOF's every year, where today's GM's are lucky to get one each draft.1951: 5 HOF's1952: 5 HOF's1953: 8 HOF's1954: 1 HOF1955: 1 HOF1956: 5 HOF's 1957: 8 HOF's1958: 3 HOF's1959: 0 HOF's1960: 4 HOF's1961: 7 HOF's1962: 3 HOF's1963: 7 HOF's1964: 9 HOF's1965: 6 HOF's1966: 2 HOF's1967: 6 HOF's1968: 4 HOF's1969: 4 HOF'sMaybe when today's dudes get old, they can vote all of their buddies in...

 

[DrJ]

To answer the original question though, 1983 was the best draft ever, and there are 7 reasons why:

1) Jimbo Covert

2) Willie Gault

3) Mike Richardson

4) Dave Duerson

5) Tom Thayer

6) Richard Dent

7) Mark Bortz

 

[Limp Ditka]

To answer the original question though, 1983 was the best draft ever, and there are 7 reasons why:1) Jimbo Covert2) Willie Gault3) Mike Richardson4) Dave Duerson5) Tom Thayer6) Richard Dent7) Mark Bortz

GB Jim Finks

 

[Wreckincrew]

To answer the original question though, 1983 was the best draft ever, and there are 7 reasons why:1) Jimbo Covert2) Willie Gault3) Mike Richardson4) Dave Duerson5) Tom Thayer6) Richard Dent7) Mark Bortz

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Gabe Rivera -- "ouch".

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

1989 was pretty impressive as well with 4 of the first 5 picks being stellar, if not all time greats.

Deion Sanders

Troy Aikman

Barry Sanders

Derrick Thomas

Thurman Thomas

Steve Atwater

Eric Metcalf

Andre Rison

Dave Meggett

Wesley Walls

Mark Schlereth

The last group aren't HOFers but they were productive players amongst the best in the league in their role through their careers. Metcalf and Meggett didn't make much impact as RB's but they were amongst the most explosive punt returners in the league during their careers and some of the forerunners of today's much more common third down backs as well.

 

[valhallan]

I believe the 1983 draft is significant because of the quarterbacks. They were all heralded going into the draft, and all performed as expected. I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone say the 1983 draft was one of the best overall...

 

[DrJ]

Generally, most experts refer to 1983 as the best draft class on the basis of four hall of famers:Eric Dickerson, RB, Los Angeles Rams - 1st round (2nd overall)John Elway, QB, Baltimore Colts - 1st Round (1st overall)Jim Kelly, QB, Buffalo Bills - 1st round (14th overall)Dan Marino, QB, Miami Dolphins - 1st Round (27th overall)as well as future HOFers:9 Houston Oilers4 Bruce Matthews T28 Washington Redskins Darrell Green DB

Also, Dent will make the HOF, Duerson and Covert were both highly productive Pro Bowl calibre players and should be added to this list there. Covert is a longshot but could make the HOF. Bortz made a couple of pro bowls.Mark Clayton was in that draft as well...

 

[Chase Stuart]

In this tangentially related post, this comment cites the 1967 HOF class as the top one. I have no idea whether that post or DrJ's is accurate as to which class ('64 or '67) is the one with nine.

 

[Kevin Ashcraft]

As a KC homer it is a nightmare draft.....Blackledge over Kelly and Marino!

That one left an indelible mark on the franchise during the lean years.

 

[DrJ]

In this tangentially related post, this comment cites the 1967 HOF class as the top one. I have no idea whether that post or DrJ's is accurate as to which class ('64 or '67) is the one with nine.

I got my info from drafthistory.com: http://www.drafthistory.com/hof/hof.html

 

[DrJ]

According to drafthistory.com, while Stenerud may have been a "rookie" in 67, he was drafted by the Chiefs in 66.

Larry Little must have been undrafted, he's listed way at the bottom, so that would make 8 for 67'.

Not sure how they have different numbers for the 64 draft too though?... Strange...

 

[Limp Ditka]

To answer the original question though, 1983 was the best draft ever, and there are 7 reasons why:1) Jimbo Covert2) Willie Gault3) Mike Richardson4) Dave Duerson5) Tom Thayer6) Richard Dent7) Mark Bortz

Homer comment or not, I'd have a hard time believing that there is any single draft that provided a team with 7 starters on a Super Bowl Champion team. I'd have an even harder time believing that there's a draft that did this within 3 years.

 

[DrJ]

To answer the original question though, 1983 was the best draft ever, and there are 7 reasons why:1) Jimbo Covert2) Willie Gault3) Mike Richardson4) Dave Duerson5) Tom Thayer6) Richard Dent7) Mark Bortz

Homer comment or not, I'd have a hard time believing that there is any single draft that provided a team with 7 starters on a Super Bowl Champion team. I'd have an even harder time believing that there's a draft that did this within 3 years.

The 74' Steelers draft is pretty remarkable. Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster. Tough to compete with 4 HOF'ers in one draft. But the 83' Bears draft is definitely up there, and is the best of all teams in 83'. That's why it's so surprising that the OP doesn't have a single Bear listed in his players from this draft.

 

[SSOG]

Theoretically speaking, here... if every year at least 4 players are inducted to the Hall of Fame, then won't there be an average of 4 HoFers drafted per year?

No, because all of the players from the 1950's - 1970's were all the greatest players of all time. And the GM's were all awesome back then too. So they were drafting anywhere between 5-9 HOF's every year, where today's GM's are lucky to get one each draft.1951: 5 HOF's1952: 5 HOF's1953: 8 HOF's1954: 1 HOF1955: 1 HOF1956: 5 HOF's 1957: 8 HOF's1958: 3 HOF's1959: 0 HOF's1960: 4 HOF's1961: 7 HOF's1962: 3 HOF's1963: 7 HOF's1964: 9 HOF's1965: 6 HOF's1966: 2 HOF's1967: 6 HOF's1968: 4 HOF's1969: 4 HOF'sMaybe when today's dudes get old, they can vote all of their buddies in...

Nothing egregious there. That averages out to 4.63 HoFers per draft. Pretty much what you'd expect since we'll get 4-6 new HoFers each year. Some will be undrafted, but often we'll have 5 or 6, which should pull the average up a hair.Now, you can raise the question whether, since we now have more teams in the league and more players per team, there should be more HoF spots per year. I certainly think there should be- I think the HoF should be something like the top .5% of the NFL, which means when the NFL grows, the HoF should grow, too.

 

[Tau837]

Generally, most experts refer to 1983 as the best draft class on the basis of four hall of famers:

Eric Dickerson, RB, Los Angeles Rams - 1st round (2nd overall)

John Elway, QB, Baltimore Colts - 1st Round (1st overall)

Jim Kelly, QB, Buffalo Bills - 1st round (14th overall)

Dan Marino, QB, Miami Dolphins - 1st Round (27th overall)

as well as future HOFers:

9 Houston Oilers4 Bruce Matthews T

28 Washington Redskins Darrell Green DB

Also, Dent will make the HOF, Duerson and Covert were both highly productive Pro Bowl calibre players and should be added to this list there. Covert is a longshot but could make the HOF. Bortz made a couple of pro bowls.Mark Clayton was in that draft as well...

Good discussion, but I think you're getting carried away here. Covert made 2 Pro Bowls in 8 seasons. Bortz made 2 Pro Bowls in 12 seasons. Duerson made 4 Pro Bowls in 11 seasons. Clayton made 5 Pro Bowls in 11 seasons. They were all fine players, but I don't think they contribute much to a discussion that ranks the best draft classes ever.

 

[pettifogger]

Generally, most experts refer to 1983 as the best draft class on the basis of four hall of famers:Eric Dickerson, RB, Los Angeles Rams - 1st round (2nd overall)John Elway, QB, Baltimore Colts - 1st Round (1st overall)Jim Kelly, QB, Buffalo Bills - 1st round (14th overall)Dan Marino, QB, Miami Dolphins - 1st Round (27th overall)as well as future HOFers:9 Houston Oilers4 Bruce Matthews T28 Washington Redskins Darrell Green DBand productive players like RB Roger Craig, RB Curt Warner and WR Henry EllardHowever, I was poking around draft history and I discovered the 1957 draft classaul Hornung, QB, Green Bay Packers - 1st round (1st overall)Len Dawson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers - 1st round (5th overall)Jim Brown, B, Cleveland Browns - 1st round (6th overall)Jim Parker, G, Baltimore Colts - 1st round (8th overall)Tommy McDonald, WR, Philadelphia Eagles - 3rd round (31st overall)Sonny Jurgensen, QB, Philadelphia Eagles - 4th round (43rd overall)Henry Jordan, DT, Cleveland Browns - 5th round (52nd overall)Don Maynard, WR/HB, New York Giants - 9th round (109th overall)Those are the hall of famers alone, I haven't looked deeper into the draft.Does 1957 have a good case for best draft class over 1983?

To me the funny thing about this story is that I had a buddy at the time who joined a dynasty (TD only) league. Because he was taking over the last place team the rest of the league decided to have mercy on him and let him have the first two draft picks to compensate. He picked Dickerson and Marino and won the league. His league mates decided they would never do that again.

 

[LA Football Fan]

As a Packer fan...1983 was one of better first rounders, Tim Lewis from Pitt. Just as he's getting into All-pro form, he has a career ending neck injury.

Don't cry for us...Only 6 more years and we got Tony Mandarich!!!

 

[Despyzer]

I remember 1981 being a pretty dang good draft...

George Rogers, Lawrence Taylor, Freeman McNeil, Kenny Easley, E.J. Junior, Hugh Green, Ronnie Lott... and those are just in the first eight picks.

Later on there was James Brooks, Marion Barber, Bobby Butler, Neil Lomax, James Wilder, Chris Collinsworth, Mike Singletary, Eric Wright, Joe Delaney, Howie Long, Rickey Jackson, Russ Grimm, Dexter Manley, Charlie Brown, Wade Wilson, Stump Mitchell...

It seems like just about every team found something to really help them in this draft, especially on defense.

 

[Despyzer]

Speaking of the 1983 draft, the Chargers had THREE first round picks that year... and came away with Billy Ray Smith, Gary Anderson, and Gil Byrd.

Decent, but they could have had Jimbo Covert, Dan Marino, and Darrell Green with those same three picks. Heck, they could have traded down from that #5 pick and picked up Leonard Marshall in the second and Charles Mann in the third and probably still have had another high pick from a future draft.