- San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers had the first overall pick in the draft and selected Earl Cooper, a fullback out of Rice University. While Cooper had a decent career, he never quite lived up to the expectations of a first overall pick. Some analysts argue that the 49ers missed out on selecting a more impactful player who could have made a bigger difference for the team.
- Houston Oilers: With the third overall pick, the Oilers selected running back Earl Campbell, who turned out to be a Hall of Famer and one of the best running backs of his era. However, they could have selected quarterback Warren Moon, who went undrafted that year due to concerns about his willingness to play in the NFL. Moon ended up having a stellar career, and the Oilers could have had a franchise quarterback if they took a chance on him.
- New York Jets: The Jets had the second overall pick and selected defensive end Mark Gastineau. While Gastineau had a successful career and was known for his pass-rushing abilities, the Jets passed on selecting quarterback Dan Marino, who was available at the time. Marino went on to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, while the Jets struggled to find stability at the quarterback position for years.
- Green Bay Packers: The Packers selected offensive lineman James Lofton with the sixth overall pick. Lofton had a solid career and eventually became a Hall of Famer, but the Packers missed out on selecting quarterback Joe Montana, who was available in the third round. Montana went on to win four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
- New Orleans Saints: With the 20th overall pick, the Saints selected running back Chuck Muncie. While Muncie had some success with the Saints, they could have selected linebacker Clay Matthews Jr., who was available at the time. Matthews went on to have a long and successful career, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections and establishing himself as one of the best linebackers of his era.
Leave a Reply