Which NFL team has had the best draft ever? (1 Viewer)

[Eminence]

Curiosity getting the best of me. What are some of the best drafts a single NFL team has had? As in they hit on all their picks; all their picks became pro-bowlers; HOFers; etc.

 

[Steed]

Pittsburgh hit on Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Mike Webster in 1974

 

[Jous]

Pittsburgh hit on Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Mike Webster in 1974

Yep. This is pretty much not even debatable. This draft along with selecting Joe Greene 5 years earlier and Bradshaw 4 years earlier are what put a dynasty in place.

 

[Hoss_Cartwright]

If memory serves Dallas made some great selections with the picks they got for Herschel Walker trade.

"The Vikings gave away first, second, and sixth round picks in the 1990 draft, first and second rounders in the 1991 draft, second and third rounders in the 1992 draft, and a first rounder in the 1993 draft.

These picks (some where kept and traded) would become players like Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson, and Russell Maryland. All three players were key in the Cowboys early-to-mid 90's run."

 

[Getinthemix]

Pittsburgh hit on Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Mike Webster in 1974

This is the best draft ever.

 

[David Yudkin]

Breakdown of Walker trade . . .

Link

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

San Diego drafted Tomlinson and Drew Brees in the same draft

 

[T. Bagger]

The '74 Steelers draft has to be the best of all time, but the Bears in 1965 drafted **** Butkus and Gale Sayers with back to back picks in the first round. That's pretty good.

 

[Chase Stuart]

'87 Steelers, '86 49ers, '81 Saints also did quite well: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=513

 

[BigSteelThrill]

'87 Steelers, '86 49ers, '81 Saints also did quite well: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=513

Damn, I hadn't heard the name Hoby Brenner in forever! Thanks for that.

 

[Doug B]

'87 Steelers, '86 49ers, '81 Saints also did quite well: http://www.pro-footb...com/blog/?p=513

Wow ... the 1981 Saints draft is known locally, but I didn't think it was considered among the best ever. Oh, what the Saints could've done if they had a forward-facing coach at the time instead of Bum Phillips and his Houston Connection. He thought the Saints' skill positions were set with an ancient Kenny Stabler and a broke-down Earl Campbell :X

 

[RJS113]

1995 Bucs draft is one of the best ever. (Sapp and Brooks)

 

[LarryAllen'sJockstrap]

1995 Bucs draft is one of the best ever. (Sapp and Brooks)

Along those same lines is the 1996 Ravins draft; Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis.

 

[Hoss_Cartwright]

Breakdown of Walker trade . . .

Link

In summaryThe end results of the trade after 1992:

Vikings

WR Jake Reed

Cowboys

RB Emmitt Smith

DT Russell Maryland

CB Kevin Smith

S Darren Woodson

CB Clayton Holmes

Players selected with the actual picks traded to Dallas: 1990 1st Round (#21) TE Eric Green Pittsburgh

1990 2nd Round (#47) DT Dennis Brown San Francisco

1990 6th Round (#158) LB James Williams New Orleans

1991 1st Round (#11) OT Pat Harlow New England

1991 2nd Round (#38) DB Darryl Lewis Houston

1992 1st Round (#13) OL Eugene Chung New England

1992 2nd Round (#40) QB Matt Blundin Kansas City

1992 3rd Round (#71) RB Kevin Turner New England

Perhaps the Vikings could've salvaged something out of having decimated their team for one player (particularly their defense), but Walker was never used properly by the coaching brain trust (a total oxymoron in this case). Walker left the Vikings for Philadelphia soon after, and ultimately wound up back in Dallas, an ironic completion of Herschel's journey.

 

[B Maverick]

San Diego drafted Tomlinson and Drew Brees in the same draft

2005 may have been better:Merriman, Castillo, V Jax, Sproles, Scott Mruczkowski (done well as a backup Center)Neither seem to match what the OP was looking for though....