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NFL Draft: When In Doubt, Run
Published: 4/24/2008 5:53 PM
Last Modified: 4/24/2008 5:53 PM

The NFL Draft, like recruiting, is an inexact science, but history suggests that it's hard to mess up if you invest a high draft pick on a running back. (Hint, hint: Draft Darren McFadden ASAP).
In the 41 drafts of the Super Bowl era, here’s what happened to the first runners taken: Eight made it to the Hall of Fame, 25 became Pro Bowlers, 28 managed at least one 1,000-yard season and 32 gained at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage in a season.
Quarterbacks are apparently way more difficult to evaluate. The first QBs taken in that time frame begat 18 Pro Bowlers and three Hall of Famers (Troy Aikman, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw). Remember Jim Druckenmiller, Art Schlichter, Heath Shuler and David Klingler?
Meanwhile, running backs are only risky if they have the word “Nittany” on their resumes.
Former Penn Staters Curtis Enis, Ki-Jana Carter and Blair Thomas were the first runners taken in their respective drafts. They combined for zero Pro Bowls. Franco Harris, the first runner taken in 1972, was immune to the Nittany curse. The Steelers picked Harris over his Penn State running mate, Lydell Mitchell, and guessed right.



Reader Comments 2 Total

Bill (5 years ago)

Hi Jimmie,

Pretty good analysis, there, my friend.

It might also be intersting to note the subsequent accomplishments of quarterbacks drafted outside the top two draft rounds.

There are some very interesting, long careers recorded by some of the QBs either drafted low or taken as free agents, such as Gus Frerotte.

There are also more than a few QBs taken in the first two rounds whose most notable achievements were the size of their signing bonuses.

I'd be interested in your take on the quarterbacks from around here and where they'll be drafted and how you expect them to do.

Thanks for all your entries, Jimmie. They're all appropriate and all fun to read.
Jimmie Tramel (5 years ago)
Hey Bill. It's interesting that Gus got his first chance on the NFL stage at the expense of Heath Shuler, who was the first quarterback taken in that particular draft.
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Tulsa World sports writer Jimmie Tramel is a former class president at Locust Grove High School. He graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern State University with a journalism degree and, while attending college, was sports editor of the Pryor Daily Times. He joined the Tulsa World on Oct. 17, 1989, the same day an earthquake struck the World Series. He is the OSU basketball beat writer and a columnist and feature writer during football season. In 2007, he wrote a book about Oklahoma State football with former Cowboy coach Pat Jones.

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