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1998 NFL Draft Top Ten Picks: Daily Draft
What were the top ten picks in the 1998 NFL Draft? Peyton Manning was the No. 1 overall selection, but the draft was just as much about the big whiffs.
January 26, 2016
Daily Draft: 1998 NFL Top Ten Picks
What were the top ten picks in the 1998 NFL Draft? Peyton Manning was the No. 1 overall selection, but the draft was just as much about the big whiffs. Indianapolis didn’t just pick a Hall of Famer; it didn’t pick the No. 2 guy.
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1. QB Peyton Manning, Tennessee: Drafted by Indianapolis
71,940 career passing yards, 539 touchdown passes, 14 Pro Bowls, seven All-Pro selections, five-time MVP, one Super Bowl – not bad. What doesn’t get enough credit is his durability. Before this season, he missed the entire 2011 campaign, and started all 16 regular season games in each of his other 16 years.
2. QB Ryan Leaf, Washington State: Drafted by Washington State
It wasn’t so obvious at the time – Leaf really was considered every bit the prospect Peyton Manning was. In two years at San Diego he completed fewer than half of his passes with 14 touchdowns and 36 picks.
3. DE Andre Wadsworth, Florida State: Drafted by Arizona
If it wasn’t for Ryan Leaf, Andre Wadsworth would be synonymous with being an all-time bust. There was no downside to his game, he was a terrific character guy, and he just plain sucked when he got to the NFL. He was okay as a rookie with five sacks, but that was in. Three years later, he was out of the league.
4. CB Charles Woodson, Michigan: Drafted by Oakland
5. RB Curtis Enis, Penn State: Drafted by Chicago
The Bears wanted to make Enis the centerpiece of the offense. Three years later, he was out of the league after running for 1,497 yards and four touchdowns averaging 3.3 yards per carry.
6. DE Grant Wistrom, Nebraska: Drafted by St. Louis
He was in the world of the very good for a while, but he never took his game to another level after a strong start. He played in the league for nine years finishing with a solid 53 sacks, but he wasn’t worth the No. 6.
7. OT Kyle Turley, San Diego State: Drafted by New Orleans
He ended up being known for his craziness and antics, but he was a really good baller for a while with the Saints, going to the 2000 Pro Bowl and starting every game but one for five years.
8. DE Greg Ellis, North Carolina: Drafted by Dallas
No problems here. Ellis cranked out 77 sacks over 11 years for the Cowboys, and while he only got to one Pro Bowl, he was consistently terrific.
9. RB Fred Taylor, Florida: Drafted by Jacksonville
A fantasy football god in yardage leagues, he was known for his flash, but he was relatively durable during a long 11-year career with the Jaguars. He was never really a superstar with just one Pro Bowl appearance, but he finished his career among the statistical greats with 11,695 yards and 66 touchdowns.
10. CB Duane Starks, Miami: Drafted by Baltimore
An excellent part of an elite Baltimore defense for a short time, he picked off 20 passes in his first four years, and then he went to Arizona and that was about it. He lasted eight years in the league, and for that early burst he was worth the No. 10.
By the way …
11. OT Tra Thomas, Florida State: Philadelphia
12. LB Keith Brooking, Georgia Tech: Atlanta
13. LB Takeo Spikes, Auburn: Cincinnati
14. DT Jason Peter, Nebraska: Carolina
15. LB Anthony Simmons, Clemson: Seattle
