Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

What players likely would have been drafted where instead? First-round is where most discussion ought to be being that it would be tougher to project the later rounds. Colts were focused on Elway no matter what. Does the same apply to Rams on Dickerson? If so, then how about Pick #3? Seahawks picking Herschel Walker instead of Curt Warner? And if so, I doubt it would haven taken until Pick #8 (Philly) for the next RB to be taken; both RBs off the board by then.

Jim Kelly would be an interesting case. He made it clear he didn't want to play in Buffalo, so he bolted for the Houston Gamblers. Now, would he have taken a cue from Elway and forced a trade had there been no USFL? Maybe not since I believe he was already in contract negotiations with the Bills when he was contacted by the USFL. Had he stayed in Buffalo I don't think the Bills front office bumbling of the early 80s (Pat McGroder/Terry Bledsoe)would have put together a decent team around him. Would he have pouted and forced a trade during those years and then the Super Bowl years wouldn't have happened? He certainly would have helped them avoid back to back 2-14. Their QB play was horrific those years. Possibly 5-11 instead. But then Bruce Smith with the first overall pick in '85 doesn't become a Buffalo Bill. If he makes it through the mid 80s Bills disasters to the Polian/Levy era it would have been interesting to see how things would have played out. But remember, no Bruce!

74_75_78_79_ wrote:What players likely would have been drafted where instead? First-round is where most discussion ought to be being that it would be tougher to project the later rounds. Colts were focused on Elway no matter what. Does the same apply to Rams on Dickerson? If so, then how about Pick #3? Seahawks picking Herschel Walker instead of Curt Warner? And if so, I doubt it would haven taken until Pick #8 (Philly) for the next RB to be taken; both RBs off the board by then.

Walker was a Junior after the 1982 season and still had a season of eligibility, so he couldn't enter the 1983 NFL Draft.

Rupert Patrick wrote:

74_75_78_79_ wrote:What players likely would have been drafted where instead? First-round is where most discussion ought to be being that it would be tougher to project the later rounds. Colts were focused on Elway no matter what. Does the same apply to Rams on Dickerson? If so, then how about Pick #3? Seahawks picking Herschel Walker instead of Curt Warner? And if so, I doubt it would haven taken until Pick #8 (Philly) for the next RB to be taken; both RBs off the board by then.

Walker was a Junior after the 1982 season and still had a season of eligibility, so he couldn't enter the 1983 NFL Draft.

Yes, people forget that Walker couldn't be drafted by an NFL team in 1983. There was heavy criticism of Chuck Fairbanks and his New Jersey Generals owner for "violating Herschel Walker's amateur status." A college junior passing up his final year of eligibility to sign with a pro team was considered a big scandal at the time.

I forgot about the Herschel not being eligible yet in '83. I'd guess the following year (had there been no USFL) the Pats would have picked he instead of Fryar. Man, what a weak RB class that was! None taken until #26 - Greg Bell, Bills.

74_75_78_79_ wrote:I forgot about the Herschel not being eligible yet in '83. I'd guess the following year (had there been no USFL) the Pats would have picked he instead of Fryar. Man, what a weak RB class that was! None taken until #26 - Greg Bell, Bills.

Rozier would have also been in that class without a USFL, and he probably would have been a top-10 pick with Walker.

ChrisBabcock wrote:Jim Kelly would be an interesting case. He made it clear he didn't want to play in Buffalo, so he bolted for the Houston Gamblers. Now, would he have taken a cue from Elway and forced a trade had there been no USFL? Maybe not since I believe he was already in contract negotiations with the Bills when he was contacted by the USFL. Had he stayed in Buffalo I don't think the Bills front office bumbling of the early 80s (Pat McGroder/Terry Bledsoe)would have put together a decent team around him. Would he have pouted and forced a trade during those years and then the Super Bowl years wouldn't have happened? He certainly would have helped them avoid back to back 2-14. Their QB play was horrific those years. Possibly 5-11 instead. But then Bruce Smith with the first overall pick in '85 doesn't become a Buffalo Bill. If he makes it through the mid 80s Bills disasters to the Polian/Levy era it would have been interesting to see how things would have played out. But remember, no Bruce!

I doubt Kelly would have had the leverage to force a trade in a world with no USFL. Elway was not only the #1 pick, but he also had the opportunity to play baseball. The only thing Kelly could have done was sit out a year and re-enter the draft. But it's likely he would have been drafted much lower, which means a smaller contract. There would be concerns about rust, especially since he missed most of his senior year with an injury.
Kelly was actually going to sign with the Bills. He was actually in the office about to sign a contract when a secretary buzzed in and said that a Mr. Allen from Chicago was on the phone for Jim and it was very important. Kelly literally dropped the pen. It was Bruce Allen, from the USFL and he told the agent not to sign anything; they would make an offer he couldn't refuse.

conace21 wrote:

ChrisBabcock wrote:Jim Kelly would be an interesting case. He made it clear he didn't want to play in Buffalo, so he bolted for the Houston Gamblers. Now, would he have taken a cue from Elway and forced a trade had there been no USFL? Maybe not since I believe he was already in contract negotiations with the Bills when he was contacted by the USFL. Had he stayed in Buffalo I don't think the Bills front office bumbling of the early 80s (Pat McGroder/Terry Bledsoe)would have put together a decent team around him. Would he have pouted and forced a trade during those years and then the Super Bowl years wouldn't have happened? He certainly would have helped them avoid back to back 2-14. Their QB play was horrific those years. Possibly 5-11 instead. But then Bruce Smith with the first overall pick in '85 doesn't become a Buffalo Bill. If he makes it through the mid 80s Bills disasters to the Polian/Levy era it would have been interesting to see how things would have played out. But remember, no Bruce!

I doubt Kelly would have had the leverage to force a trade in a world with no USFL. Elway was not only the #1 pick, but he also had the opportunity to play baseball. The only thing Kelly could have done was sit out a year and re-enter the draft. But it's likely he would have been drafted much lower, which means a smaller contract. There would be concerns about rust, especially since he missed most of his senior year with an injury.
Kelly was actually going to sign with the Bills. He was actually in the office about to sign a contract when a secretary buzzed in and said that a Mr. Allen from Chicago was on the phone for Jim and it was very important. Kelly literally dropped the pen. It was Bruce Allen, from the USFL and he told the agent not to sign anything; they would make an offer he couldn't refuse.

I agree on Kelly. However, If Dan Marino had been a top five draft pick, being a hometown Pittsburgh boy and Pitt alum he would have had enough leverage to engineer a trade to Pittsburgh had the Steelers wanted to trade up to get him, but he dropped to late first round and the Steelers (ugh!) passed on him. Besides, the Steelers have a history of never trading up in the first round.

conace21 wrote:Elway was not only the #1 pick, but he also had the opportunity to play baseball.

The baseball angle was always exaggerated, with one book on baseball scout ("Dollar Sign on the Muscle") stating that nobody outside the Yankees thought that Elway was a legitimate baseball prospect. Even if he was, it would have been years before he made it. He's passing up the NFL to play Double A ball?

BD Sullivan wrote:He's passing up the NFL to play Double A ball?

Hey, if its good enough for Michael Jordan...