A historical draft challenge

[patchick]

Can you find examples of past drafts where a team hit on its first 4 picks -- all 4 major contributors, and not a disappointment among them?

I wouldn't think it would be TOO hard to find, given 32 chances a year (and given how much fans moan when a 2nd or 3rd rounder doesn't pan out!) But even among the top-drafting teams, and even looking at just 4 picks which might include multiple #1s and #2s, it's remarkably rare. Two I've found so far:

The 2011 49ers class
Aldon Smith
Colin Kaepernick
Chris Culliver
Kendall Hunter
(A sign of how much luck is involved in drafting: the same team's 2012 top 4 picks combined for only 7 games played as rookies. Ouch.)

The 2005 New England Patriots class (bonus points for having only 1 pick among the first 80, at #32!)
Logan Mankins
Ellis Hobbs
Nick Kaczur
James Sanders

Near misses:
2010 Patriots (McCourty, Gronkowski, Spikes, sure. Jermaine Cunningham has started 14 games, but...no.)
2007 Steelers (Timmons, Woodley, Sepulveda, sure. But Matt Spaeth? Meh.)

 

[everlong]

1986 49ers

Larry Roberts 89 games 28 sacks
Tom Rathman
Tim McKyer
Charles Haley
Steve Wallace Tackle 176 games
Kevin ***an 83 games 25.5 sacks

Also the 8th pick was Don Griffin who played 161 games and had 25 interceptions and 6.5 sacks. Hitting your first 6 and 7 out of 8 is really impressive. Haley very likely goes to the HOF and Wallace, McKyer, Rathman and Haley were all pro bowlers.

1974 Steelers

Swann
Lambert
Stallworth
Jimmy Allen 110 games 31 int
Mike Webster

4 HOF members and a very good DB.

1992 Cowboys

Kevin Smith 103 games, 19 picks
Robert Jones 151 games 3 int, 8 sacks, 602 tackles
Jimmy Smith of Jags fame 12287 career receiving yards
Darren Woodson

Two boarderline HOF members, one other probowler and a strong contributor.

1991 Cowboys

Russell Maryland
Alvin Harper
Kelvin Pritchett
Dixon Edwards

All solid and they got Erik Williams later who's a boarderline HOF.

1989 Cowboys

Troy Aikman
Steve Wisnewski 206 games at guard
Daryl Johnston
Mark Stepnowski 194 games at center

One HOF and two others on the line that could be considered at some point and one of the last great fullbacks.

 

[patchick]

Nice, Everlong! Those really demonstrate what an extraordinary thing it is to NOT miss on any high picks -- it's the stuff that dynasties are made of.

Also, that the Herschel Walker trade really did make the Jimmy Johnson Cowboys what they were. With all due respect to Johnson's outstanding eye for talent, most of his "top 4s" consisted of 2 #1s and 2 #2s! In fact, in 1991 all four of their picks were in the top 37, including the overall #1. No surprise they're the only team to ever repeat at this challenge.

 

[everlong]

Thanks. Agreed the Vikings should get a trophy for all their losses and helping Dallas win three.

1996 Patriots

Glenn
Milloy
Bruschi
Heath Irvin 87 games at guard

That's pretty good.



1995 Patriots

Law
Johnson
Martin
Jimmy Hitch**** 101 games, 19 int, 2 sack
Dave Wohlabaugh 128 games at center

I think that qualifies. Obviously JH wasn't a star but if you use Hobbs I think JH qualifies.


1993 Patriots

Bledsoe
Slade
Rucci
Brisby

Also Corwin Brown later. Also starters for multiple seasons. We'll forgive Scott Sisson later especially since Troy Brown was in there.

1977 Patriots

Ray Clayborn
Stanley Morgan
Horace Ivory
Don Hasselbeck

Bit of a reach with Ivory but still very good.

1976 Patriots

Mike Haynes
Pete Brock
Tim Fox
Ike Forte

Big reach with Forte but what the hell.

1973 Patriots

Hannah
Cunningham
Stingley
Brad Dusek 114 games at LB

One stretch.