Draft: 25 Years, Top 25 Picks Quiz | NFL Players

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which linebacker was the #1 pick in the 1979 NFL Draft?

Answer: Tom Cousineau

Cousineau was selected by the Buffalo Bills from Ohio State. Green (Pitt) finished second in the 1982 Heisman Trophy balloting behind Herschel Walker, and was drafted by Tampa Bay. Everyone remembers "LT" (North Carolina); he was drafted #3 by the Giants. Robinson (UCLA) was a first-round pick of the Eagles.

2. In the late 70's, the Earl Campbell-led Texas Longhorns won a national title, and featured several players with the surname Jones. All were naturally nicknamed, "The Jones Boys." All were also labeled with various nicknames in order to help tell them apart. One of the Jones' was a speedy wide receiver and was selected #2 in the 1980 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. What was this Jones' nickname?

Answer: Lam

Johnny "Lam" Jones was the WR selected by the Jets. He turned out to be one of several top-pick "busts".

3. The Jets did not make a mistake when they selected which running back from UCLA, with the #3 pick in the 1981 Draft?

Answer: Freeman McNeil

McNeil was the Jets' all-time leading rusher until surpassed by 2002 Jets star RB Curtis Martin. Hector and Vick played for the Jets during their careers. Ferguson was an accomplished runner (Notre Dame) during the same college era as McNeil, but didn't amount to much in the pros.

4. As the #4 pick in the 1982 NFL Draft, QB Art Schlichter was more remembered for his off-field problems (gambling, check kiting, forgery, etc.), than his on-field accomplishments with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts. What was Art Schlichter's college team?

Answer: Ohio State

Art actually had a fine career at OSU without any sign of his future gambling addiction. Michigan, OSU's chief rival, surely isn't singing the Maize and Blues over Art's woes. The Fighting Illini produced another Colt QB top-pick reject, Jeff George. Penn State? With Art's history, they should have renamed it, "State Pen."

5. The 1983 NFL Draft will be forever known as, "The Year of the QB", since six signal-callers were selected in the first round that year. The #5 selection, however, was a LB from Arkansas who was the first defensive player drafted that year. Who was this player?

Answer: Billy Ray Smith

Billy Ray was selected by the San Diego Chargers. Childress (Texas A&M) had a serviceable NFL career beginning with the Houston Oilers. Bruce Smith (VA Tech) seems like he's been around forever, but was not drafted this early. Conlan led the Penn State defense to a 1986 National Championship; injuries led to a short NFL stint. All were first-round selections.

6. The Chargers drafted yet another defensive player at #6 in 1984. As a DB, Mossy Cade certainly is not remembered among the all-time greats. Mossy attended which (at the time) Southwest Conference University?

Answer: Texas

The SWC was a staple for college football for many years. Eventually, it got too big for the budget and folded. The bigger schools merged with the Big 8 to create the Big 12. The smaller schools scrambled to find slots in other "mid-major" conferences. Texas A&I is not a SWC school, but has produced several NFL players, most notably Darrell Green.

The other three all merged into the Big 12.

7. 1985 was the year of the offensive linemen, with three selections among the top 7. This USC graduate was selected at #7 in the NFL Draft that year by the Green Bay Packers. Who was this player?

Answer: Ken Ruettgers

Munoz went to USC, but had a Hall-of-Fame career as the left tackle in Cincinnati. Both Fralic and Brown were selected in 1985 ahead of Ruettgers; Fralic at #2 (Falcons) and Brown at #6 (Lions).

8. In the 1986 NFL Draft, the Chargers finally got a defensive player draft pick right. Selected at #8 that year, from Oklahoma State, this defensive end immediately established himself as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Who was the draftee?

Answer: Leslie O'Neal

Seau was, of course, the Chargers' franchise linebacker, one of the best at that position of all time. The others played with the Chargers during points in their careers, and were respected pass rushers in their own right.

9. This stud DT from Miami (FL) was drafted #9 in 1987 by the Philadelphia Eagles. He immediately served as the run-stuffing presence in the middle, to support pass rushing ends Reggie White and Clyde Simmons. His reputation in Philly is legendary; his career was unfortunately too short. Who was "Big #99"?

Answer: Jerome Brown

The meat in the middle of the sandwich that was Buddy Ryan's defenses, big Jerome. Tragically, he died in an offseason car crash at a far-too-young age.

10. In 1988, the New York Giants made the first of many questionable first round NFL Draft selections, by taking OT Eric Moore with pick #10. I'm sure many NFL fans, and even Big Blue fans, will have a tough time remembering Eric. Can you remember the Big 10 school which he attended?

Answer: Indiana

Indiana was certainly known as a basketball powerhouse, and was not historically an NFL Draft factory, but with new coach Gerry DiNardo and recent graduate Antwaan Randle-El, the Hoosiers may yet make a football statement in the Big 10.

11. The 1989 NFL Draft has been dubbed in many circles, "The Year of the Superstar", as four of the first five selections are probable NFL Hall of Famers (Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, Deion Sanders). Under the radar screen came this productive player from Clemson University, selected at #11 in 1989 by the Chicago Bears. Who was this cornerback?

Answer: Donnell Woolford

Duerson and Carrier were productive safeties, and Azumah a nickel corner, for the Bears and other teams during their careers.

12. Which Southwest Conference University produced the #12 pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, linebacker James Francis, selected by Cincinnati?

Answer: Baylor

Under the legendary Grant Taeff, the Baylor Bears were a competitive program in the '70s and '80s. They merged into the Big 12 after the dissolution of the SWC.

13. In 1991, the Atlanta Falcons were looking to add even more firepower to their four wide-receiver, spread-the-field "Run and Shoot" offense by upgrading the WR position. With future stars Herman Moore (#10) and Alvin Harper (#12) already gone, they settled for this Colorado wide receiver with the #13 pick in the NFL Draft. Who was the player?

Answer: Mike Pritchard

Pritchard put up some big numbers early in his NFL career, as the Falcons threw the ball all over the place in the Run and Shoot. Pritchard continued on to Denver and Seattle later in his career. Johnson and Westbrook are fellow WR's and Colorado alumni. Perriman (Miami) had a few decent years in the NFL in the early to mid '90s as the Lions utilized their own version of the Run and Shoot for a few seasons.

14. The Giants were looking for "the next Mark Bavaro" at TE in the 1992 NFL Draft. The TE they selected that year, with pick #14, didn't quite fit the bill. Who was this Notre Dame alum?

Answer: Derek Brown

Brown came with quite a resume as a four-year starter at Notre Dame, but never made himself into a presence with New York. Cross and Mowatt were Giant TE's during/after the Bavaro era; Brown could never unseat either fossil. Bunch was another Giant #1 pick bust as a FB from Michigan.

15. One year after trading for their franchise QB in 1992, this NFL team came into the 1993 NFL Draft, looking to continue their plan toward resurgence by upgrading the defense. With pick #15 that year, they selected Wayne Simmons, a highly touted LB from Clemson. Which NFL team drafted Simmons?

Answer: Green Bay Packers

The Pack had traded for a backup QB languishing on the Falcons' depth chart named Brett Favre. Green Bay gave him the keys to the kingdom, anointing him immediate starter and savior. Simmons, however, did little to help the Packers on defense. He was soon traded to Kansas City, where he gained his little career publicity by being released one day, after collecting three unnecessary roughness/unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a game against hated rival Denver.

16. Which offensive lineman was the Green Bay Packers' first-round pick ( #16) in the 1994 NFL Draft?

Answer: Aaron Taylor

Taylor became another star-crossed first-round pick despite his Notre Dame pedigree; he quickly blew out his knee and missed an entire season. He served as a respectable guard for a few years at Lambeau before signing a free-agent contract with San Diego.
Rivera is a Packer guard today. Verba was a later #1 pick at tackle. Thomason was a backup Packer TE.

17. In 1995, the Giants were at it again, looking for a "game-breaking playmaker" on offense. They tried their luck by selecting this four-year starter from Michigan with pick #17 in the NFL Draft that year. Who was the player selected?

Answer: Tyrone Wheatley

Toomer was a #2 pick in 1996. After a slow start, he has matured into one of the top receivers in the game today. Lewis was a WR/KR from Indiana selected #1 in 1994. His 40-yard-dash times impressed Giant scouts, but that was about the length of playing time he got in his career. Woolfolk was a #1 pick from Michigan, but way back in 1982.

He lost the starting job to the second-round pick that year, taken right after him...Joe Morris.

18. The 1996 NFL Draft was the year of the WR. Keyshawn Johnson was the #1 pick that year, and Terry Glenn was pick #7, who set a rookie receiving record that year. Marvin Harrison, maybe the best all-around WR in the game today, was pick #19. A WR was also taken right before Harrison, at pick #18, by the Rams that year. Who was he?

Answer: Eddie Kennison

Kennison, from LSU, bounced around several teams. In virtually every stop, his work ethic was questioned. He virtually "quit" the Broncos before posting a decent season with the Chiefs in 2002. Engram was a choice of the Bears, and saw some action with the Seahawks. Bruce was a Ram staple, but "The Reverend" was not a high draft choice.

His work ethic and precise route-running allowed him to shine as part of "The Greatest Show on Turf." Crowell was a Lions pick who had a few decent years before knee injuries set him back; he was waived after 2002 season.

19. In 1997, the Colts drafted which offensive lineman (from California) with pick #19 in the NFL draft?

Answer: Tarik Glenn

All of the other players were also current Colts. Glenn, Meadows, and Saturday have all recently signed new contracts to anchor the Colts offensive line. Pollard is a developing TE. Most people assumed Glenn was drafted to protect Peyton Manning; actually, Manning was drafted #1 by the Colts one year later, in 1998. Good foresight?

20. The 1998 NFL Draft centered around one player: Randy Moss. The talented WR from Marshall had set numerous NCAA receiving records during his Thundering Herd career, but he had been kicked out of established programs for numerous off-field incidents beforehand, raising severe character questions. Most teams chose to pass on Moss, who was finally selected by Minnesota with pick #21. Which player holds the distinction of being the last player selected before Randy Moss, with pick #20 in 1998 by Detroit?

Answer: Terry Fair

All four players are defensive backs selected around Moss.
Name College Pick Team
Fair Tennessee 20 Detroit
Jones Syracuse 22 New England
Williams UCLA 24 N.Y. Giants
Darius Syracuse 25 Jacksonville

21. In the 1999 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected David Boston, WR from Ohio State, with first-round pick #21.

Answer: False

The Cardinals did indeed select Boston in 1999; however, they had TWO first-round picks that year. Boston was selected with pick #8; pick #21 was used to draft offensive lineman L.J. Shelton, from Eastern Michigan.

22. In the 2000 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks selected which of these offensive linemen (from Wisconsin) with the 22nd pick?

Answer: Chris McIntosh

McIntosh was a primary blocker at Wisconsin for 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, who was also selected in the 2000 draft by the Giants at #11. Gibson was also on the Wisconsin line blocking for Dayne; he was selected in 1999 by the Lions (#27). McDougle was from Oklahoma and was selected #20 in 2000, also by the Lions. Clifton was a second-round pick in 2000; he is most known for his now-infamous run-in with Warren Sapp, who severely injured Clifton with a block on an interception in a 2002 game.

23. In the 2001 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints, despite having a Pro-Bowl running back on the roster, drafted this RB from Mississippi with pick #23. One year later, they traded the original RB and the drafted RB led the NFC in rushing. Who was the drafted RB?

Answer: Deuce McAllister

Having traded their entire set of draft picks in 1999 to acquire Ricky Williams, the Saints drafted McAllister in 2001 to provide backup support to Williams, who had suffered through several injuries. In 2002, the Saints traded Williams to the Dolphins, where Ricky led the AFC in rushing.

In his first year as a starter in 2002 with the Saints, McAllister rushed for 1,388 yards, winning the NFC rushing title by ONE YARD over Giant Tiki Barber.

24. In 2002, the Baltimore Ravens selected Ed Reed, a safety from Miami-FL, with the #24 pick in the NFL Draft. In 2001, Reed's college team, the Hurricanes, went undefeated and won the National Championship. In Miami's closest game that year, Reed returned an interception for a TD on the last play of the game to seal the 19-7 win. Against which Big East school did Reed turn in his game-saving big play?

Answer: Boston College

Leading 13-7 with :08 on the clock, the Eagles had the ball inside the Miami 10-yard line. A BC pass was deflected into the arms of a Miami player. As the original interceptor was about to be tackled, Reed jumped into the fray, took the ball from his teammate and ran the rest of the way into the end zone, running out the clock and preserving Miami's undefeated season. Reed had a good 2002 rookie season in the NFL with the Ravens, recording a team-high five interceptions.

25. In 2003, which Miami (FL) defensive lineman was selected by the New York football Giants with NFL Draft choice #25?

Answer: William Joseph

All four starting defensive linemEn on the Miami national runner-up team were NFL Draft picks in 2003. McDougle and Green, bookend defensive ends, were both selected by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Source: Author bburgk11

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Draft: 25 Years, Top 25 Picks Trivia Quiz

This is a unique look at the NFL draft; a sequential listing of draft positions 1-25 over 25 years. Some famous names and no-names. Do you remember? Hope you like it.

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