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The 1980 draft was the first to be televised in its entirety by ESPN, and it included three Hall of Famers: OT Anthony Muñoz (3rd overall, Cincinnati), WR Art Monk (18th overall, Washington) and C Dwight Stephenson (48th overall, Miami).
April 30, 1980: Day Two (Rounds 7-12) of the NFL Draft, from the New York Sheraton Hotel
The previous day the Pats had a pair of nice picks, selecting S Roland James (11 seasons for the Pats) and LB Lawrence McGrew (10 years with the Pats). However, RB Vagas Ferguson was a bust and DT Steve McMichael became a star in Chicago after the Patriots gave him away after one season.
Five of the six players selected on day two never played a down in the NFL, with punter Mike Hubach - who lasted for just a year and a half - being the sole player from this group to make it a perfect zero.
April 30, 1985: Day One (Rounds 1-3?) of the NFL Draft, from the Omni Park Central Hotel in NYC
I realize that it is easy to nitpick a draft after the fact once you have the benefit of hindsight, but... wow; there are so many things that went wrong here. You seemingly start out in good shape with your own middle of the round picks (1.16, 2.48, 3.75), plus one other pick acquired in a prior trades (2.52).
Four of the first 75 picks; this is going to be great, just like the '76 draft, right?
First you pass on one of the greatest players in NFL history by trading down for an offensive lineman who couldn't crack the starting lineup and was able to stay in the NFL only by becoming a long snapper. Veris had a couple good seasons, but after '88 was relegated to backup duty. Bowman was okay, but his production was not worthy of being a third round pick. Ben Thomas only lasted for a year and a half. Audray McMillian had an eight-year NFL career, but none of it was in New England; he was cut at the end of his rookie training camp.
Yikes.
The 1986 draft is most notable for being the one that Bo Jackson told Tampa to not draft him, he would refuse to sign a contract with them. The Bucs being the Bucs drafted Bo anyways, and sure enough he never did sign with them, choosing instead to play baseball for less money.
April 30, 1986: Day Two (rounds 7(?)-12) of the NFL Draft, from the New York Marriott Marquis
Brent Williams was the only player from this group to have an impact, playing in 121 games for the Patriots over eight seasons. Baty would proceed to play in the NFL until 1994, but he only lasted for a year and a half in New England. Colton played in three games for the Pats, as a replacement player during the 1987 strike. The four others (plus one more from day one) never played in a single NFL game. Williams was the only player of note for this entire draft for the Patriots, who wasted their first round pick on RB Reggie Dupard.
April 30, 1988: Pats sign undrafted rookie free agent punter Jeff Feagles, from Miami
Feagles only averaged 38.3 and 38.0 yards per punt in his two seasons with the Pats; that led to his release and the Patriots signing Brian Hansen in the 1990 off season. Feagles went on to spend 20 more years in the NFL, something not even his parents would have predicted at that point in time.
April 30, 1980: Day Two (Rounds 7-12) of the NFL Draft, from the New York Sheraton Hotel
- G Tom Kearns, Kentucky (7th round, #180)
- TE Mike House, Pacific (8th round, #208)
- LB Barry Burdet, Oklahoma (9th round, #235)
- C Rom Daniel, Georgia Tech (10th round, #266)
- P Mike Hubach, Kansas (11th round, #293)
- QB Jimmy Jordan, Florida State (12th round, #320)
The previous day the Pats had a pair of nice picks, selecting S Roland James (11 seasons for the Pats) and LB Lawrence McGrew (10 years with the Pats). However, RB Vagas Ferguson was a bust and DT Steve McMichael became a star in Chicago after the Patriots gave him away after one season.
Five of the six players selected on day two never played a down in the NFL, with punter Mike Hubach - who lasted for just a year and a half - being the sole player from this group to make it a perfect zero.
April 30, 1985: Day One (Rounds 1-3?) of the NFL Draft, from the Omni Park Central Hotel in NYC
- Pats trade down, sending their 1st round (#16) and a 3rd (#75) to the 49ers for a 1st (#28), 2nd (#56) and 3rd (#84). If that looks like SF gave up very little to move up 12 spots, you are correct. Now consider who the 49ers selected with that pick: Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice.
- C Trevor Matich, Brigham Young (1st round, #28) [pick from SF trade above]
- DE Garin Veris, Stanford (2nd round, #48)
- CB Jim Bowman, Central Michigan (2nd round, #52) [one of two picks received from Raiders in 11/11/83 Mike Haynes trade]
- DE Ben Thomas, Auburn (2nd round, #56) [from SF trade above]
- (3rd round pick, #75, sent to SF in trade above)
- Pats trade a 3rd (#81) back to Seattle for a 1986 2nd
- CB Audray McMillian, Houston [pick from SF trade above]
I realize that it is easy to nitpick a draft after the fact once you have the benefit of hindsight, but... wow; there are so many things that went wrong here. You seemingly start out in good shape with your own middle of the round picks (1.16, 2.48, 3.75), plus one other pick acquired in a prior trades (2.52).
Four of the first 75 picks; this is going to be great, just like the '76 draft, right?
First you pass on one of the greatest players in NFL history by trading down for an offensive lineman who couldn't crack the starting lineup and was able to stay in the NFL only by becoming a long snapper. Veris had a couple good seasons, but after '88 was relegated to backup duty. Bowman was okay, but his production was not worthy of being a third round pick. Ben Thomas only lasted for a year and a half. Audray McMillian had an eight-year NFL career, but none of it was in New England; he was cut at the end of his rookie training camp.
Yikes.
The 1986 draft is most notable for being the one that Bo Jackson told Tampa to not draft him, he would refuse to sign a contract with them. The Bucs being the Bucs drafted Bo anyways, and sure enough he never did sign with them, choosing instead to play baseball for less money.
April 30, 1986: Day Two (rounds 7(?)-12) of the NFL Draft, from the New York Marriott Marquis
- 7.187 -- WR Ray McDonald, Florida [pick was part of a 1983 Matt Cavanaugh trade to SF)
- 7.192 -- DE Brent Williams, Toledo
- 8.220 -- TE Greg Baty, Stanford
- 9.248 -- G George Colton, Maryland
- 10.276 - RB Cletis Jones, Florida State
- 11.304 - WR Gene Thomas, Pacific
- 12.332 - K Don McAuly, Syracuse
Brent Williams was the only player from this group to have an impact, playing in 121 games for the Patriots over eight seasons. Baty would proceed to play in the NFL until 1994, but he only lasted for a year and a half in New England. Colton played in three games for the Pats, as a replacement player during the 1987 strike. The four others (plus one more from day one) never played in a single NFL game. Williams was the only player of note for this entire draft for the Patriots, who wasted their first round pick on RB Reggie Dupard.
April 30, 1988: Pats sign undrafted rookie free agent punter Jeff Feagles, from Miami
Feagles only averaged 38.3 and 38.0 yards per punt in his two seasons with the Pats; that led to his release and the Patriots signing Brian Hansen in the 1990 off season. Feagles went on to spend 20 more years in the NFL, something not even his parents would have predicted at that point in time.
