Some NFL Draft First Round Trivia

I did something like this on Twitter a couple of years ago and quickly realized how fast time passed when trying to get the tweets out.  This isn't an analysis of how well the teams did in this draft.  Instead, this will feature past draft selections when teams had their picks in this year's order and who they picked. 

1. The Indianapolis Colts, to no one's surprise, chose QB Andrew Luck from Stanford with the first pick in the draft.  As everybody knows, in 1998, they also had the first pick in the draft, agonizing over whether to select future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf.  Good thing they picked The Sheriff, because Leaf is now a fugitive.  Luck is no Manning, but as long as they're not expecting another Sheriff, Luck should be alright.  Now Indy has had the first pick in the draft before.  In fact, the Colts have had the first pick in the draft seven times since 1955 and, including Luck, drafted five quarterbacks:  George Shaw (1955), John Elway (1983), Jeff George (1990), Peyton Manning (1998), and Luck.  The Colts have gone 1-2 in drafting quality quarterbacks with the first pick (you can't count Elway, since he never played for Indy), so they either chose HoF'ers or busts.  Although the Colts picked some busts like Shaw, George, and Steve Emtman (1992), they did make an excellent choice in 1967 with DE Bubba Smith.
2. The Washington Redskins traded to get to and used the second pick to choose QB Robert Griffin III from Baylor.  This is the fourth time the Skins had the second pick in the draft.  The last time was in 2000, when they drafted LB Courtney Brown.  The first time they had this pick, they chose QB Riley Smith from Alabama in 1936.  He only played a few seasons.  Washington's best pick at this position in the draft, although not for them, was in 1961, when they drafted QB Norm Snead out of Wake Forest.  Snead only played a few seasons for the Skins, but started in Philadelphia for seven seasons.  His career ended in 1976 after moving on in 1971 to Minnesota, New York Giants, and San Francisco.
3. The Cleveland Browns also traded to choose RB Trent Richardson from Alabama with the third pick.  The Browns have had the third pick in the draft five times.  The last time, they picked starting T Joe Thomas in 2007.  The first time they had this pick was in 1970, when they picked QB Mike Phipps.  Although he wasn't a bust, Phipps didn't bring the glory the Browns craved.  Cleveland also used this pick to choose LB Chip Banks in 1982, DT Gerard Warren in 2001, and WR Braylon Edwards in 2005.
4. The Minnesota Vikings traded down to pick T Matt Kalil from USC.  Minnesota only had the fourth pick in the draft one other time.  They chose Hall of Famer DE Chris Doleman from Pitt in 1985.  Is this a sign of things to come for the Viking Nation?
5. In this flurry of trading up and down, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded to the fifth pick to choose WR Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State.  This is the first time the Jags had this pick.  Blackmon should be the kind of go to receiver Blaine Gabbert and Maurice Jones-Drew need.  If Jacksonville can get a good TE and defensive help, they should improve greatly this coming season.
6. The Dallas Cowboys traded for this pick to choose DB Morris Claiborne from LSU.  In all those famous trades owner Jerry Jones made since his arrival, the Cowboys never had the sixth pick in the draft during his time with the team.  In fact, they've only had this pick once before and made the most of it.  In 1963, Dallas chose LB great Lee Roy Jordan out of Alabama.  He played from 1963-76 and is on the Cowboys' Ring of Honor.
7. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished this flurry of trades by trading to choose S Mark Barron out of Alabama, who should prove to be a great pick.  The Bucs have had this pick twice before, but neither worked out well.  In 1991, they used this pick to choose T Charles McRae from Tennessee, who played until 1996.  The more infamous of the two was in 1981, when Tampa Bay chose LB Hugh Green from Pitt.  He was supposed to be one of the most dominating linebackers, along with HoF'er Lawrence Taylor, chosen with the second pick of that draft.  Green only played a few non-dominating years and went to the Miami Dolphins, finishing his career there in 1991.
8. Speaking of, the Miami Dolphins got the eighth pick in the draft by their record and not by trade.  They chose QB Ryan Tannehill from Texas A&M.  The Fins have had this pick only once before and they chose well.  In 1968, they used the eighth pick to choose HoF'er RB Larry Csonka out of Syracuse.  He played with Miami until 1974, when he left to play for the World League.  He returned in 1976 and played with the New York Giants until 1978, and finished his career in 1979 with the Dolphins.
9. The Carolina Panthers acquired this pick by no trade of their own.  They used this pick to choose LB Luke Kuechly from Boston College.  This is Carolina's first time with this pick.
10. The Buffalo Bills chose CB Stephon Gilmore from South Carolina.  As with Carolina and Jacksonville, this is Buffalo's first time with this pick.  Back in the AFL days, the tenth pick was in the second round, but the Bills never had that pick either.
11. With this pick, the Kansas City Chiefs chose DT Dontari Poe from Memphis.  The Chiefs have had this pick three previous times.  Their last time was in 1982, when they chose WR Anthony Hancock from Tennessee.  He played all five of his seasons with KC.  In 1980, Kansas City chose G Brad Budde from USC he played with the Chiefs until 1986.  The first time was one of those old AFL second round picks.  When they were the Dallas Texans, they chose split end Bill Miller from Miami (FL).  Miller only played two seasons with the Texans/Bills and spent the rest of his career with the Oakland Raiders, ending in 1967.
12. The Philadelphia Eagles traded to get this pick.  They chose DT  Fletcher Cox from Mississippi State.  Philly had the twelfth pick twice before, both times second round picks.  The last time Philly had this pick was in 1943, when the combined franchises Eagles/Steelers chose DE Lamar Davis.  However, Davis never played for Philly.  In 1946, he played in the AAFC with the Miami Seahawks and played his next and final three seasons with the Baltimore Colts.  The first time Philly had this pick was in 1938, when they chose FB Dick Riffle from Albright.  He played his entire career with the Eagles until 1942.
13. The Arizona Cardinals used this pick to select WR Michael Floyd from Notre Dame.  They had this pick four other times.  The Cards last had the 13th pick in 1968, when they were the St. Louis Cardinals.  They chose RB MacArthur Lane from Utah State.  Lane had a respectable career, playing until 1978 with the Cards, Packers, and Chiefs.  The first time they had this pick, the Chicago Cardinals chose QB Paul Christman with this pick in 1943.
14. The St. Louis Rams traded down and selected DT Michael Brockers from LSU.  Including this year, St. Louis has had the 14th pick seven times.  The Rams last had the 14th pick, of all times, last year, when they picked DE Robert Quinn from North Carolina.  They first had the pick in 1941 in the second round and the Cleveland Rams picked T Abe Shires from Tennessee. Shires actually played only one season, in 1945 for the Philadelphia Eagles.  The most notable 14th pick was in 1957, when the Rams picked LB and future head coach Jack Pardee from Texas A&M.  Pardee played with the Rams from 1957-70 and ended his career with the Washington Redskins from 1970-72.  He went on to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears (1975-77), Washington Redskins (1978-80), San Diego Chargers (1981), and Houston Oilers (1990-94).
15. To finish this NFC West threesome, the Seattle Seahawks made a trade to get this pick.  They selected LB Bruce Irvin from West Virginia.  Seattle has had the 15th pick three other times and fared pretty well with it.  The Seahawks last had the pick in 1998, when they drafted LB Anthony Simmons from Clemson.  Simmons played his entire career with Seattle from 1998-2004.  Their previous two 15th picks were T Andy Heck from Notre Dame, who played with Seattle from 1989-93, Chicago from 1994-98, and Washington from 1999-2000.  The first time they had this pick, they chose RB John L. Williams from Florida in 1986.  Like Heck, Williams had a respectable NFL career, playing with the Seahawks from 1986-93 and Pittsburgh from 1994-95.
16. The New York Jets chose DE Quinton Coples from North Carolina.  They had this pick two other times and chose well.  The Jets last had the 16th pick in 2001 and selected WR Santana Moss from Miami (FL).  Moss played with the Jets from 2001-04 and then went to Washington, where he still is today.  New York first had the 16th pick in 1995 and chose DE Hugh Douglas from Central State.  Douglas ended up playing for three teams; the Jets from 1995-97, Philadelphia 1998-2002, 2004, and Jacksonville in 2003.  Maybe the third time will also be a charm.
17. After trading with Oakland, the Cincinnati Bengals selected CB Dre Kirkpatrick from Alabama.  Cincy had the 17th pick three other times.  The last time was in 2005, when they chose draft bust LB David Pollock from Georgia.  The Bengals made a better choice in 1998 when they chose LB Brian Simmons from North Carolina.  Simmons played from 1998-2007, all but his final season with the Bengals.  The first time they had this pick, they chose DE Jason Buck from BYU, who played from 1987-93 with Cincy and Washington.
18. The San Diego Chargers selected DE Melvin Ingram from South Carolina.  San Diego had this pick three other times, including two consecutive times in the AFL.  The Chargers last had this pick last year and chose DT Corey Liuguet from Illinois.  In 1968, they chose DB Jim Hill from Texas A&M-Kingsville.  Hill played four seasons with the Chargers before moving on to Green Bay (1972-74), and Cleveland (1975).  In 1969, San Diego chose LB Bob Babich from Miami (OH), who also played four seasons with the team.  He played the rest of his career for the Cleveland Browns from 1973-78.
19. The Chicago Bears chose LB Shea McClellin from Boise State.  Throughout their storied history, the Bears only had the 19th pick one other time and chose well.  In 1980, Chicago selected LB Otis Wilson, who played with the Bears fro 1980-87 and the Raiders in 1989.  Maybe McClellin can make Bears history repeat itself.
20. The Tennessee Titans used the 20th pick to select WR Kendall Wright from Baylor.  This is the second time the Titans had this pick.  The first time was in 1987, when they were the Houston Oilers, and selected WR Haywood Jeffires from North Carolina State.  Jeffires played with the Oilers from 1987-95 and the New Orleasn Saints in 1996.  Will Wright be the Titans' second consecutive good selection with the 20th pick?
21. The New England Patriots traded to get this pick and select DE Chandler Jones from Syracuse.  The Pats have had the 21st pick five other times, including three in the Belichick era and two still in the league; 2006 RB Lawrence Maroney from Minnesota, 2004 DT Vince Wilfork from Miami (FL), and 2002 TE Daniel Graham from Colorado.  New England first had this pick in the AFL era in 1967.  They selected DB John Charles from Purdue, who played with the Pats from 1967-69, before moving on to Minnesota in 1970 and Houston from 1971-74.  Their other 21st pick was DB Tim Fox from Ohio State, who played with the team from 1976-81 and then went to San Diego (1982-84) and the Rams (1985-86).
22. The Cleveland Browns make their second selection in the first round and choose QB Brandon Weeden from Oklahoma State.  The Browns have had the 22nd pick four other times, all but one were busts.  The last one was in 2007 when the Cleveland drafted QB Brady Quinn from Notre Dame.  Their first time with this pick was a total bust, DB Gerry Bussell from Georgia Tech, whom the Browns drafted in 1965 and that was his only season.  Cleveland had one good selection with this pick when they chose CB Hanford Dixon from Southern Miss in 1981.  Dixon played his entire career with the Browns from 1981-89.
23. The Detroit Lions selected OT Riley Reiff from Iowa.  The Lions only had this pick two other times.  The last had this pick in 1996 and chose RG/C Jeff Hartings from Penn State, who had a respectable NFL career.  He played RG with Detroit from 1996-2000 and C with Pittsburgh from 2001-06.  The first time they had this pick, it was in the second round and the Lions didn't choose as well, selecting T Dan LaRose from Missouri in 1961.  LaRose played with the team for three seasons and then had one year stints in Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Denver.
24. Speaking of the Pittsburgh Steelers, they chose G David DeCastro from Stanford.  The Steelers had this pick three other times.  The first time Pittsburgh chose 24th, they did well, selecting CB J.T. Thomas, from Florida State, who played on all four Super Bowl champion teams of that era.  He played from 1973-82, all but the last year with the Steelers.  He finished his career in Denver.  The last time they had the pick was in 1997, when they chose Chad Scott from Maryland.  He played with Pittsburgh from 1997-2004.  He finished his career in New England from 2005-06.
25. Speaking of the New England Patriots, they traded once again and selected LB Dont'a Hightower from Alabama.  The Pats had this pick three other times.  The last two times they had this pick, they had it in consecutive years, and selected less than stellar players.  In 1979, they chose S Rick Sanford from South Carolina, who played from 1979-84 with the team and 1985 with Seattle.  In 1980, they gambled and selected RB Vagas Ferguson from Notre Dame.  Ferguson played three seasons with the Pats before fading from the NFL in 1983 with the Houston Oilers and Cleveland.  However, the first time New England had this pick, they did make a stellar selection.  In 1977, the Pats chose WR Stanley Morgan from Tennessee.  Morgan played for New England from 1977-89 and finished his career in Indianapolis in 1990.
26. The Houston Texans chose DE Whitney Mercilus from Illinois.  In their young history, the Texans had this pick once before.  In 2008, they selected T Duane Brown from Virginia Tech.  He is still with the team.  Mercilus may prove to be just as reliable.
27. The Cincinnati Bengals, through a series of trades, got this pick and selected G Kevin Zeitler from Wisconsin.  This is the first time the Bengals have ever had this pick.
28. The Green Bay Packers chose DE Nick Perry from USC.  The Packers had this pick four other times in their storied history.  The first time, the pick was in the third round in 1952 and they chose DB Bobby Dillon, who played his entire career with the team from 1952-59.  The last time they had this pick, they chose well, selecting DE Ezra Johnson from Morris Brown in 1977.  He played with Green Bay from 1977-87, and moved on to Indianapolis (1988-89) and finished with the Houston Oilers (1990-91).
29. The Minnesota Vikings traded to get this pick and chose S Harrison Smith from Notre Dame.  Minnesota had this pick three other times.  The last time they had this pick was in 1999, when they picked DT Dimitrious Underwood Michigan State, who never played a down for the Vikings.  He played the 2000-01 season with Dallas.  The previous time wasn't any better.  In 1974, the Vikes picked WR John Holland from Tennessee State.  He only played his rookie season before moving on to Buffalo, where he played his final three seasons.  However, the first time they had this pick, Minnesota made a Hall of Fame selection.  In their inaugural season in 1961, the Vikings used the 29th pick, which was in the second round, to choose QB Fran Tarkenton from Georgia.  He played with Minnesota from 1961-78, with a stint in the New York Giants from 1967-71.
30. The San Francisco 49er used the 30th pick to select WR A.J. Jenkins from Illinois.  Although they had the 29th pick several times in their history, this is the first time the Niners ever had the 30th pick.
31. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a trade to get this pick and chose RB Doug Martin from Boise State.  This the first time the Bucs ever had this pick.
32. The New York Giants chose RB David Wilson from Virginia Tech with the last pick in the first round.  The Giants have had this pick four other times, ranging from it being in the first round to the fourth round.  They last had this pick in 2006, when the picked DE Mathias Kiwanuka from Boston College.  He is still with the team.  The Giants first had this pick in the fourth round in 1944, when they chose T Herb Kane from East Central (OK), but he only played two season.  New York's best pick in this slot, other than Kiwanuka, was in 1977, when the Giants selected WR Johnny Perkins from  Abilene Christian.  He played his entire career with the Giants from 1977-83.

   There you have it.  As you can see, even back then, the draft is still one big crapshoot.  Teams hope to pick future Hall of Famers.  Sometimes they do and sometimes those picks ended up being huge busts.  The draft is a time of hope and lets hope this draft produces some great NFL players.

   Have a great weekend!!