Top 5 Draft Picks Since 1970 Trivia
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Someone asked how we spend our time in the offseason? I guess this is one way I do it: put together trivia.
This one is entitled Top 5 Draft picks since 1970 trivia. I picked that date since it was the date of the merger (not that it means anything in history). These questions all have something to do with just those players selected somewhere in the Top 5 of the NFL draft. These question all apply to the regular draft unless otherwise noted. Give a try:
1. Name those Quarterbacks that were taken with the #2 overall pick of the NFL draft since 1970:
2. Name those Quarterbacks that were taken with the #4 overall pick of the NFL draft since 1970:
3. There have been 4 Quarterbacks taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that actually threw for fewer career passing yards than did Jamarcus Russell. Name those 4 people:
4. Name those Quarterbacks taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
5. Name those Running Backs taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
6. Of the Running backs taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970, name the 5 from amongst that group that gained the fewest yards in their NFL careers:
7. Name those Wide Receivers taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
8. Name the ONLY Tight End taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970. (hint: he is NOT in the HOF).
9. Since 1970 there has never been a Center taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft. There have, however, been 4 Offensive Guards taken in the Top 5. Name them. (hint: one is in the HOF)
10. Name those Linebackers (OLB or MLBs) taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
11. There was one Linebacker taken in the Top 5 of the NFL draft since 1970 who played in only 20 games, and appears not to have started a single game or recorded a single sack in his career.
Name him:
12. Since 1970 there have been 4 Defensive Ends taken in the Top 5 of the NFL draft that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Name them.
13. Since 1970 there have been 2 Defensive Tackles taken in the Top 5 of the NFL draft that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Name them:
14. Since 1970 there have been 3 players taken with the Top 5 picks of the Supplemental NFL draft that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Name those 3 players.
15. Name the 8 colleges that have had 8 or more players taken with the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970:
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Bonus Question: I kind of left these off, so I will ask it here: Name the Offensive Tackles and the Defensive Backs (corners and safeties) that were drafted in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the PFHOF?
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Give this a shot. It is not as bad as it looks when you break it down question by question.
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Someone asked how we spend our time in the offseason? I guess this is one way I do it: put together trivia.
This one is entitled Top 5 Draft picks since 1970 trivia. I picked that date since it was the date of the merger (not that it means anything in history). These questions all have something to do with just those players selected somewhere in the Top 5 of the NFL draft. These question all apply to the regular draft unless otherwise noted. Give a try:
1. Name those Quarterbacks that were taken with the #2 overall pick of the NFL draft since 1970:
2. Name those Quarterbacks that were taken with the #4 overall pick of the NFL draft since 1970:
3. There have been 4 Quarterbacks taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that actually threw for fewer career passing yards than did Jamarcus Russell. Name those 4 people:
4. Name those Quarterbacks taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
5. Name those Running Backs taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
6. Of the Running backs taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970, name the 5 from amongst that group that gained the fewest yards in their NFL careers:
7. Name those Wide Receivers taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
8. Name the ONLY Tight End taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970. (hint: he is NOT in the HOF).
9. Since 1970 there has never been a Center taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft. There have, however, been 4 Offensive Guards taken in the Top 5. Name them. (hint: one is in the HOF)
10. Name those Linebackers (OLB or MLBs) taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
11. There was one Linebacker taken in the Top 5 of the NFL draft since 1970 who played in only 20 games, and appears not to have started a single game or recorded a single sack in his career.
Name him:
12. Since 1970 there have been 4 Defensive Ends taken in the Top 5 of the NFL draft that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Name them.
13. Since 1970 there have been 2 Defensive Tackles taken in the Top 5 of the NFL draft that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Name them:
14. Since 1970 there have been 3 players taken with the Top 5 picks of the Supplemental NFL draft that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Name those 3 players.
15. Name the 8 colleges that have had 8 or more players taken with the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970:
Someone asked how we spend our time in the offseason? I guess this is one way I do it: put together trivia.
This one is entitled Top 5 Draft picks since 1970 trivia. I picked that date since it was the date of the merger (not that it means anything in history). These questions all have something to do with just those players selected somewhere in the Top 5 of the NFL draft. These question all apply to the regular draft unless otherwise noted. Give a try:
Was this trivia too daunting for all y'all....or does all the QB talk turn silly season into stupid season?
Here are the answers:
1. Name those Quarterbacks that were taken with the #2 overall pick of the NFL draft since 1970:
Rick Mirer, Ryan Leaf, and Donovan McNabb are the QB taken with the #2 slot. Not a ringing endorsement for #2 QBs.
2. Name those Quarterbacks that were taken with the #4 overall pick of the NFL draft since 1970:
Art Schlichter and Phillip Rivers are the only QBs taken with the #4 slot.
3. There have been 4 Quarterbacks taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that actually threw for fewer career passing yards than did Jamarcus Russell. Name those 4 people:
The aforementioned Art Schlichter and Ryan Leaf along with Akili Smith and Heath Shuler.
So put those 5 names in a hat and hold your nose.
4. Name those Quarterbacks taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
ONLY Bradshaw, Elway and Aikman fit this bill.
Note: even if you expand this to the Top 10 slots since 1970, only these 3 would fit the bill. Peyton Manning will join them someday and maybe even McNabb and Eli. But so far just those 3 are in the HOF.
5. Name those Running Backs taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
Marshall Faulk, Barry Sanders, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, Walter Payton and Tony Dorsett.
(oddly, there is greater success at RB than at QB)
Note: extrapolating to Top 10 picks would add Marcus Allen and John Riggins
6. Of the Running backs taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970, name the 5 from amongst that group that gained the fewest yards in their NFL careers:
Ki-Jana Carter 1144 yards; Alonzo Highsmith 1195 yards; Curtis Enis 1497 yards; Bo Matthews 1566 yards, Terry Miller 1583 yards....next is Brent Fullwood with only 1702 yards. High pick big bust RBs don't seem to get the same notoriety as QB busts, but they can be just as spectacular.
7. Name those Wide Receivers taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
NONE...Not a one. In fact, the only WR taken with the top 10 picks of any draft to make the HOF is James Lofton who was like an 8th pick.
A few in the future could make it however: Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald..
8. Name the ONLY Tight End taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970. (hint: he is NOT in the HOF).
The only tight end taken in the first 5 picks of any draft since 1970 was Riley Odoms of Houston Univ. taken by the Broncos in 1972. Maybe with TEs becoming more prominent in offenses that will change.
9. Since 1970 there has never been a Center taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft. There have, however, been 4 Offensive Guards taken in the Top 5. Name them. (hint: one is in the HOF)
John Hannah, HOFer by the Pats, John Hicks by the Giants, Ken Huff by the Colts, and Bill Fralic by the Falcons. Extapolating to the top 10 picks and you do get 3 Hall of Famers: Bruce Matthews, Mike Munchak,and Tom Mack.
The last Center taken in the first 5 picks was Bob Johnson by the Bengals in 1968.(Paul Brown's first pick)
10. Name those Linebackers (OLB or MLBs) taken in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
There are only 2: Lawrence Taylor and Derrick Thomas. Even extrapolating to Top Ten it is still only those 2.
11. There was one Linebacker taken in the Top 5 of the NFL draft since 1970 who played in only 20 games, and appears not to have started a single game or recorded a single sack in his career.
Name him: The Mad Dog in a Meat Market: Mike Junkin taken by the Browns. The biggest Linebacker bust ever
12. Since 1970 there have been 4 Defensive Ends taken in the Top 5 of the NFL draft that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Name them.
Bruce Smith, Chris Doleman, Lee Roy Selmon, Dan Hampton.
13. Since 1970 there have been 2 Defensive Tackles taken in the Top 5 of the NFL draft that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Name them:
Randy White and Cortez Kennedy
14. Since 1970 there have been 3 players taken with the Top 5 picks of the Supplemental NFL draft that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Name those 3 players.
Reggie White, Steve Young and Gary Zimmerman
15. Name the 8 colleges that have had 8 or more players taken with the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970:
USC=15, Texas=11, Penn St.=10, Alabama=9, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Miami Fla. 8 each
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Bonus Question: I kind of left these off, so I will ask it here: Name the Offensive Tackles and the Defensive Backs (corners and safeties) that were drafted in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the PFHOF?
Bonus Question: I kind of left these off, so I will ask it here: Name the Offensive Tackles and the Defensive Backs (corners and safeties) that were drafted in the Top 5 picks of the NFL draft since 1970 that are in the PFHOF?
OT: Only Anthony Munoz is in. He could be joined by the likes of Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace and Joe Thomas
DBs: Deion Sanders and Mike Haynes are the only ones. Charles Woodson could join.
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OK, you might on the whole want to avoid drafting a Penn State player with your Top 5 pick. Here are the ten players from there taken since 1970 with the top 5;
Bruce Clark
Curt Warner
Kenny Jackson
Blair Thomas
Kerry Collins
Ki-Jana Carter
Curtis Enis
Courtney Brown
LaVar Arrington
Levi Brown
Though, Clark, Warner, Collins and Arrington have made Pro Bowls, but it looks like 6 out of 10 of these guys didn't live up to draft status.
And, oddly enough, that may actually be typical...that 55-60% of high draft choices essentially bust out.
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The story seems similar for Ohio State Top 5 picks. Here they are:
John Hicks
Chris Ward
Tom Cousineau
Art Schlichter
Dan Wilkinson
Shawn Springs
Orlando Pace
AJ Hawk
Only Pace was a multiple Pro Bowler. Springs made 1 Pro Bowl and was a pretty good player for a long time. Wilkinson played 12 years but never made a Pro Bowl. The rest were disappointments given their draft position. Hawk is the only current active one of these, and he is a contributor but no star by any means.
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Let's see how USC, who has had the most Top 5 picks has done here. Here are their 15 Top 5 picks since 1970:
Al Cowlings
Gary Jeter
Marvin Powell#
Ricky Bell
Anthony Munoz# HOF
Chip Banks#
Duane Bickett*
Junior Seau#
Willie McGinest#
Tony Boselli#
Keyshawn Johnson#
Darrell Russell#
Carson Palmer#
Reggie Bush
Mark Sanchez
#: multiple Pro Bowls
*: 1 Pro Bowl
USC fairs much better, at least a couple of Hall of Famers, multiple Pro Bowls.
Though Jeter had no Pro Bowls I recall he was a pretty good player.
Though Bush and Sanchez haven't quite lived up to draft spot, it is still early in their careers.
Only Ricky Bell who suffered serious injury is a complete bust.
Al Cowling is better known for driving his White Bronco, but he was a decent player.
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OK, last one: Texas, which had the second most Top 5 draftees:
Jerry Sisemore#
Earl Campbell# HOF
Lam Jones
Ken Sims
Bryant Westbrook
Ricky Williams * 10K+ career yards
Leonard Davis#
Quinton Jammer
Mike D. Williams
Cedric Benson 6K+ career yards
Vince Young
#: multiple Pro Bowls
*: 1 Pro Bowl
About half and half here. Lam Jones, Ken Sims and Williams are complete busts. Vince Young could be headed there. While Benson and Williams may not make the HOF, they have been very good players.
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Here are stats from the other schools re their Top 5 picks:
Alabama: 9 players, 2 Hall of Famers (John Hanna, Derrick Thomas), 5 multiple Pro Bowlers, a couple too soon to tell. Biggest Bust: Keith McCants
Oklahoma: 8 players, 1 HOF (Selmon), 3 Pro Bowl, 3 too soon, Biggest Bust: Cedric Jones
Nebraska: 8 players, 4 Pro Bowlers, 1 too soon (Suh), Biggest Bust: Trev Alberts
Miami: 8 players, 6 multiple Pro Bowlers, 1 HOF, Biggest Bust: Alonzo Highsmith
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