1990 NFL draft
The 1990 National Football League Draft was the 55th annual player selection meeting held by the league's franchises to choose eligible college athletes, consisting of 12 rounds and 331 total picks across the 28 teams.[1] The event occurred on April 22–23, 1990, at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City.[2] In the first round, the Indianapolis Colts chose quarterback Jeff George from the University of Illinois as the No. 1 overall selection after trading up from the 14th spot.[3] This draft class is renowned for yielding five inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while undrafted free agent John Randle also emerged as a Hall of Famer linked to the class, highlighting its lasting impact on the league.[4][5] Those Hall of Famers included running back Emmitt Smith, selected 17th overall by the Dallas Cowboys and later the NFL's all-time leading rusher who anchored three Super Bowl-winning teams; linebacker Junior Seau, taken fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers and a 12-time Pro Bowler known for his defensive prowess across 20 seasons; defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, the third overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks and the 2002 Defensive Player of the Year; safety LeRoy Butler, chosen 48th overall (second round) by the Green Bay Packers and a key contributor to their Super Bowl XXXI victory; and tight end Shannon Sharpe, a seventh-round steal at 192nd overall by the Denver Broncos, who revolutionized the tight end position with three Super Bowl rings and eight Pro Bowls.[4][3][6] Other prominent first-round selections featured running back Blair Thomas (second overall, New York Jets), who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a rookie but faded quickly, and defensive end Keith McCants (fourth overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), whose career was hampered by injuries despite high expectations.[3] The 1990 draft exemplified the era's emphasis on bolstering offensive lines and defensive fronts, with several teams like the Cowboys and Chargers building dynasties around their hauls, while underscoring the risks of top picks like George, whose tenure with the Colts was marred by inconsistency and trades.[6][3]Background
1989 Season and Team Records
The 1989 NFL season marked the 70th year of regular-season play in the National Football League, featuring 28 teams each competing in a 16-game schedule under the league's Plan B free agency system, which allowed restricted free agents to negotiate with other teams while their original clubs retained matching rights. The season concluded with the San Francisco 49ers defeating the Denver Broncos 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV, securing their fourth championship in the decade and highlighting the NFC's dominance, as the conference produced seven of the top eight teams in overall standings. Joe Montana of the 49ers earned league MVP honors for his performance, while the season underscored growing competitive imbalances, with early discussions on revenue sharing and player compensation laying groundwork for future salary cap implementations. Team records from the 1989 season directly shaped the initial 1990 draft order, awarded in reverse finishing sequence to promote parity among non-playoff qualifiers. The Dallas Cowboys posted the league's worst mark at 1-15, followed by the Atlanta Falcons at 3-13, New York Jets at 4-12, and Phoenix Cardinals and New England Patriots at 5-11, positioning these squads for high selections to address roster deficiencies exposed during a grueling campaign that saw the Cowboys surrender the most points (448) in the NFL. Other relevant non-playoff teams included the Seattle Seahawks (7-9) and Indianapolis Colts (8-8), whose middling records reflected transitional phases amid coaching changes and quarterback uncertainties. However, both the Cowboys and Cardinals' dismal finishes did not translate to draft benefits in the first round, as each team forfeited its first-round pick due to violations in the 1989 supplemental draft: the Cowboys selected Miami quarterback Steve Walsh as the No. 1 overall choice without league approval, contravening rules on player eligibility and tampering, while the Cardinals selected Washington State quarterback Timm Rosenbach. This penalty elevated the Falcons to the top spot initially, though Atlanta traded its No. 1 selection to the Colts on draft day in exchange for Pro Bowl offensive tackle Chris Hinton, promising receiver Andre Rison, a 1991 first-round pick, and a 1990 fourth-rounder, allowing Indianapolis—despite its stronger 8-8 record—to target a franchise quarterback.[7] Such maneuvers, combined with the season's stark win disparities, exemplified the draft's role in redistributing talent to underperforming franchises.[3]| Team | 1989 Record | Notes on Draft Position |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 1-15 | Forfeited No. 1 pick due to supplemental draft violation; retained No. 21 overall.[3][8] |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-13 | Held original No. 1; traded to Colts for players and picks.[7] |
| New York Jets | 4-12 | Secured No. 2 overall. |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 5-11 | Forfeited original ~No. 4 pick due to supplemental draft violation; next pick No. 31 (second round). |
| New England Patriots | 5-11 | Received No. 3 pick via tiebreakers. |
| Seattle Seahawks | 7-9 | Earned No. 8 selection. |
| Indianapolis Colts | 8-8 | Original No. 10; traded up to No. 1.[7][9] |
Draft Order Determination
The draft order for the 1990 NFL Draft was established using the reverse order of team finishes from the 1989 regular season, prioritizing competitive balance by awarding higher picks to underperforming teams. Non-playoff teams selected first in this inverted standings order, with the worst record receiving the earliest choice and improving to the best non-playoff record at pick 14.[10] Playoff teams followed, sequenced by their postseason outcomes: wild-card round losers picked 15-16, divisional round losers 17-20, conference championship losers 21-22, the Super Bowl loser at 23, and the champion at 24. With two forfeitures, only 26 first-round picks were made.[10] When multiple teams shared identical records, tiebreakers resolved the order starting with strength of schedule—the combined winning percentage of all opponents from the prior season, favoring the team that faced the weakest slate. Additional tiebreakers included head-to-head results, records against common opponents, and conference play strength; if unresolved, a coin flip determined the final positioning.[11] A notable exception arose from the Dallas Cowboys' and Phoenix Cardinals' penalties for selections in the 1989 supplemental draft, resulting in the forfeiture of their first-round picks despite their poor records (1-15 and 5-11, respectively), which would have granted them the top two selections. This created gaps in the first round, and shifted the order so the Atlanta Falcons (3-13) received pick 1. The Falcons traded this top choice to the Colts for offensive tackle Chris Hinton, wide receiver Andre Rison, and additional assets.[7][12] Another special circumstance involved pick 21, originally belonging to the Minnesota Vikings (a playoff team eliminated in the divisional round) as part of the prior year's Herschel Walker trade package to the Cowboys; the Cowboys traded this selection (along with a third-round pick) to the Pittsburgh Steelers for their 17th overall choice, but the forfeiture's ripple effects and trades ultimately positioned it with Minnesota through compensatory adjustments in the deal chain.[13] Pre-draft trades further varied the distribution of selections across all rounds, with teams starting with 12 picks each but exchanging them extensively; for instance, the San Diego Chargers held 17 total selections entering the draft, while the Dallas Cowboys had only 6 due to prior forfeitures and outgoing trades.[3]Draft Logistics
Date, Location, and Format
The 1990 NFL Draft was conducted over two days, April 22 and 23.[14] The event took place at the New York Marriott Marquis hotel in New York City, serving as the central hub for team representatives.[15] The draft followed a 12-round format, resulting in 331 total selections across all teams.[3] NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue handled the oral announcements of each pick from the draft stage, a procedural element that emphasized the commissioner's role in formalizing selections.[15] On the first day, Sunday, April 22, the draft covered rounds 1 through 5, allowing teams to address immediate roster needs in a concentrated session.[13] The second day, Monday, April 23, encompassed the remaining rounds 6 through 12, extending the process to accommodate the full slate of picks.[13] Formal time limits per selection had not yet been implemented league-wide, enabling a more deliberative pace without enforced clocks.[10] The proceedings drew attendance from NFL league executives, team scouts evaluating prospects on-site, and media members covering the announcements and team strategies in real time.[16] This assembly fostered an atmosphere of high-stakes negotiation and evaluation among front-office personnel.[16]Broadcast and Media Coverage
The 1990 NFL Draft was broadcast live on ESPN, marking the network's ongoing role in televising the event since 1980. Coverage began at noon Eastern Time on Sunday, April 22, and spanned seven hours for the first day, with additional rounds covered the following day.[17] The broadcast was anchored by Chris Berman, alongside analysts Joe Theismann, Tom Jackson, and draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., all working from a single stage in New York City.[18] At least 15 commentators contributed, including remote reports from locations such as Atlanta, Dallas, Green Bay, Seattle, San Diego, and the home of quarterback prospect Andre Ware.[18][17] ESPN introduced format refinements for 1990, including a consolidated anchor setup to streamline the presentation and a continuous text ticker at the screen's bottom for real-time draft pick updates, inspired by stock market displays.[18] The coverage featured on-site elements like draft boards displaying selections as they occurred and brief player segments, such as Theismann's "Player of the '90s" profile on defensive end Renaldo Turnbull.[18] Remote connections allowed for select player reactions, including a live rebuttal from Florida safety Louis Oliver addressing a pre-draft rumor about his character.[18] Viewership for the 1990 broadcast averaged nearly 2 million households, building on a 3.8 Nielsen rating from 1989 and reflecting growing interest since the draft's shift to a Sunday slot in 1988.[18][17] Ratings started above 4.0 at the outset, dipped during the afternoon, and rebounded in the evening, outperforming typical Sunday afternoon programming.[17] Notable moments included the announcement of Illinois quarterback Jeff George as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts and the surprise fall of Florida running back Emmitt Smith to the 17th selection by the Dallas Cowboys, both highlighted live with immediate analysis.[19] Print media played a key role in building anticipation, with outlets like Sports Illustrated publishing pre-draft analyses on top prospects such as Jeff George, whose rapid rise was detailed in workouts leading to his status as the expected top pick.[20] Newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, offered mock drafts and eligibility updates, such as coverage of 22 underclassmen cleared to enter the draft in March 1990.[21] Post-draft, Sports Illustrated featured George on its April 30 cover, underscoring the event's immediate media impact.[22]Main Draft Selections
First Round Picks
The first round of the 1990 NFL Draft featured 25 selections across the league's 28 teams, accounting for forfeited picks by three teams (Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Phoenix Cardinals) due to the 1989 supplemental draft. This round emphasized rebuilding efforts for struggling franchises, with teams prioritizing quarterbacks, running backs, and defensive linemen to address immediate roster gaps following the 1989 season. Notable trades included the Colts acquiring the #1 pick from the Falcons and the Cowboys swapping their acquired 21st pick with the Steelers to move to 17th.[3][23][24]| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indianapolis Colts | Jeff George | QB | Illinois |
| 2 | New York Jets | Blair Thomas | RB | Penn State |
| 3 | Seattle Seahawks | Cortez Kennedy | DT | Miami (FL) |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Keith McCants | DE | Alabama |
| 5 | San Diego Chargers | Junior Seau | LB | USC |
| 6 | Chicago Bears | Mark Carrier | DB | USC |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | Andre Ware | QB | Houston |
| 8 | New England Patriots | Chris Singleton | LB | Arizona |
| 9 | Miami Dolphins | Richmond Webb | T | Texas A&M |
| 10 | New England Patriots | Ray Agnew | DT | North Carolina State |
| 11 | Los Angeles Raiders | Anthony Smith | DE | Arizona |
| 12 | Cincinnati Bengals | James Francis | LB | Baylor |
| 13 | Kansas City Chiefs | Percy Snow | LB | Michigan State |
| 14 | New Orleans Saints | Renaldo Turnbull | DE | West Virginia |
| 15 | Houston Oilers | Lamar Lathon | LB | Houston |
| 16 | Buffalo Bills | James Williams | DB | Fresno State |
| 17 | Dallas Cowboys | Emmitt Smith | RB | Florida |
| 18 | Green Bay Packers | Tony Bennett | DE | Mississippi |
| 19 | Green Bay Packers | Darrell Thompson | RB | Minnesota |
| 20 | Atlanta Falcons | Steve Broussard | RB | Washington State |
| 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Eric Green | TE | Liberty |
| 22 | Philadelphia Eagles | Ben Smith | DB | Georgia |
| 23 | Los Angeles Rams | Bern Brostek | C | Washington |
| 24 | New York Giants | Rodney Hampton | RB | Georgia |
| 25 | San Francisco 49ers | Dexter Carter | RB | Florida State |