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The 1998 NFL Draft

An in-depth analysis of the annual player selection meeting that shaped NFL rosters and legacies.

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Draft Overview

Venue and Timing

The 1998 National Football League (NFL) Draft, officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting, convened from April 18th to 19th, 1998. The prestigious event was hosted at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, a venue synonymous with major sporting and entertainment events. The proceedings were broadcast nationally by ESPN, reaching a wide audience of football enthusiasts.

Scale of the Event

This draft saw a total of 241 amateur college football players selected by NFL teams across seven rounds. Each selection represented a strategic investment in potential talent, aimed at bolstering team rosters and securing future competitive advantages. The draft process is a cornerstone of NFL team building, offering a structured pathway for collegiate athletes to transition to the professional level.

Significance of the Draft

The NFL Draft is more than just a player selection process; it is a critical juncture for franchises. It provides an opportunity to acquire talent that may not be available through free agency, often at a more cost-effective rate. The success or failure of draft picks can significantly influence a team's trajectory for years, making each selection a high-stakes decision.

The Quarterback Conundrum

Manning vs. Leaf: A Defining Choice

The narrative surrounding the 1998 NFL Draft was dominated by the debate over the first overall selection: Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf. Both quarterbacks were lauded as exceptional prospects, poised to become franchise leaders.

  • Peyton Manning: Widely regarded as the more polished and NFL-ready prospect, possessing exceptional football intelligence and maturity.
  • Ryan Leaf: Viewed by some as having a higher ceiling, with a stronger arm and more dynamic physical tools, though questions lingered about his consistency and temperament.

The Decision and Its Aftermath

The Indianapolis Colts held the first pick and ultimately selected Peyton Manning. This decision was influenced, in part, by Ryan Leaf's reported disinterest in playing for the Colts. Leaf was subsequently chosen second overall by the San Diego Chargers.

The long-term outcomes starkly contrasted: Manning became a five-time MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion, earning a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Leaf, conversely, struggled significantly in the NFL, being out of the league by 2002 and is often cited as one of the greatest draft busts in history.

Key Selections and Talent

Comprehensive Draft Class

The 1998 NFL Draft featured a deep pool of talent across various positions. The following table details the selections made by each team, highlighting notable achievements such as Pro Bowl selections and Hall of Fame inductions.

1998 NFL Draft Selections
Round Pick No. NFL Team Player Pos. College Conference Notes
1 1 Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning‡† QB Tennessee SEC 1997 Maxwell Award winner.
1 2 San Diego Chargers Ryan Leaf QB Washington State Pac-10 From Arizona.
1 3 Arizona Cardinals Andre Wadsworth DE Florida State ACC From San Diego.
1 4 Oakland Raiders Charles Woodson‡† CB Michigan Big Ten 1997 Heisman Trophy winner.
1 5 Chicago Bears Curtis Enis RB Penn State Big Ten
1 6 St. Louis Rams Grant Wistrom† DE Nebraska Big 12
1 7 New Orleans Saints Kyle Turley† OT San Diego State WAC
1 8 Dallas Cowboys Greg Ellis† DE North Carolina ACC
1 9 Jacksonville Jaguars Fred Taylor† RB Florida SEC From Buffalo.
1 10 Baltimore Ravens Duane Starks CB Miami (FL) Big East
1 11 Philadelphia Eagles Tra Thomas† OT Florida State ACC
1 12 Atlanta Falcons Keith Brooking† LB Georgia Tech ACC
1 13 Cincinnati Bengals Takeo Spikes† LB Auburn SEC
1 14 Carolina Panthers Jason Peter DT Nebraska Big 12
1 15 Seattle Seahawks Anthony Simmons LB Clemson ACC
1 16 Tennessee Oilers Kevin Dyson WR Utah WAC
1 17 Cincinnati Bengals Brian Simmons LB North Carolina ACC From Washington.
1 18 New England Patriots Robert Edwards RB Georgia SEC From N.Y. Jets.
1 19 Green Bay Packers Vonnie Holliday DE North Carolina ACC From Miami.
1 20 Detroit Lions Terry Fair CB Tennessee SEC
1 21 Minnesota Vikings Randy Moss‡† WR Marshall MAC
1 22 New England Patriots Tebucky Jones S Syracuse Big East
1 23 Oakland Raiders Mo Collins OT Florida SEC From Tampa Bay.
1 24 New York Giants Shaun Williams S UCLA Pac-10
1 25 Jacksonville Jaguars Donovin Darius S Syracuse Big East
1 26 Pittsburgh Steelers Alan Faneca‡† G LSU SEC
1 27 Kansas City Chiefs Victor Riley OT Auburn SEC
1 28 San Francisco 49ers R. W. McQuarters CB Oklahoma State Big 12
1 29 Miami Dolphins John Avery RB Mississippi SEC From Green Bay.
1 30 Denver Broncos Marcus Nash WR Tennessee SEC
2* 31 Oakland Raiders Leon Bender DT Washington State Pac-10
2 32 Indianapolis Colts Jerome Pathon WR Washington Pac-10
2 33 Arizona Cardinals Corey Chavous† S Vanderbilt SEC From San Diego.
2 34 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jacquez Green WR Florida SEC From Oakland.
2 35 Chicago Bears Tony Parrish S Washington Pac-10
2 36 Arizona Cardinals Anthony Clement OT SW Louisiana Ind. (I-A)
2 37 St. Louis Rams Robert Holcombe FB Illinois Big Ten
2 38 Dallas Cowboys Flozell Adams† OT Michigan State Big Ten
2 39 Buffalo Bills Sam Cowart† LB Florida State ACC
2 40 New Orleans Saints Cameron Cleeland TE Washington Pac-10
2 41 Pittsburgh Steelers Jeremy Staat DE Arizona State Pac-10 From Philadelphia via N.Y. Jets.
2 42 Baltimore Ravens Pat Johnson WR Oregon Pac-10
2 43 Cincinnati Bengals Artrell Hawkins S Cincinnati C-USA
2 44 Miami Dolphins Patrick Surtain† CB Southern Mississippi C-USA From Carolina.
2 45 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Brian Kelly CB USC Pac-10 From Atlanta.
2 46 Tennessee Oilers Samari Rolle† CB Florida State ACC
2 47 Seattle Seahawks Todd Weiner OT Kansas State Big 12
2 48 Washington Redskins Stephen Alexander† TE Oklahoma Big 12
2 49 Miami Dolphins Kenny Mixon DE LSU SEC
2 50 Detroit Lions Germane Crowell WR Virginia ACC
2 51 Minnesota Vikings Kailee Wong LB Stanford Pac-10
2 52 New England Patriots Tony Simmons WR Wisconsin Big Ten From N.Y. Jets.
2 53 Atlanta Falcons Bob Hallen C Kent State MAC From Tampa Bay.
2 54 New England Patriots Rod Rutledge TE Alabama SEC
2 55 New York Giants Joe Jurevicius WR Penn State Big Ten
2 56 New York Jets Dorian Boose DE Washington State Pac-10 From Pittsburgh.
2 57 Jacksonville Jaguars Cordell Taylor CB Hampton MEAC
2 58 San Francisco 49ers Jeremy Newberry† C California Pac-10
2 59 San Diego Chargers Mikhael Ricks TE Stephen F. Austin Southland From Kansas City via Oakland and Tampa Bay.
2 60 Detroit Lions Charlie Batch QB Eastern Michigan MAC From Green Bay via Miami.
2 61 Denver Broncos Eric Brown S Mississippi State SEC
3 62 Carolina Panthers Chuck Wiley DE LSU SEC From Indianapolis.
3 63 Oakland Raiders Jon Ritchie FB Stanford Pac-10
3 64 Chicago Bears Olin Kreutz† C Washington Pac-10
3 65 St. Louis Rams Leonard Little† DE Tennessee SEC From Arizona via N.Y. Jets.
3 66 Pittsburgh Steelers Chris Conrad OT Fresno State WAC From San Diego.
3 67 New York Jets Scott Frost S Nebraska Big 12 From St. Louis.
3 68 Buffalo Bills Robert Hicks OT Mississippi State SEC
3 69 Washington Redskins Skip Hicks RB UCLA Pac-10 From New Orleans.
3 70 New York Giants Brian Alford WR Purdue Big Ten From Dallas via Philadelphia.
3 71 Indianapolis Colts E.G. Green WR Florida State ACC From Baltimore.
3 72 Philadelphia Eagles Jeremiah Trotter† LB Stephen F. Austin Southland
3 73 Carolina Panthers Mitch Marrow DE Penn Ivy
3 74 Atlanta Falcons Jammi German WR Miami (FL) Big East
3 75 Cincinnati Bengals Steve Foley LB Northeast Louisiana Ind. (I-A)
3 76 Seattle Seahawks Ahman Green† RB Nebraska Big 12
3 77 Tennessee Oilers Dainon Sidney CB UAB Ind. (I-A)
3 78 Cincinnati Bengals Mike Goff OT Iowa Big Ten From Washington.
3 79 Miami Dolphins Brad Jackson LB Cincinnati C-USA From Detroit.
3 80 Minnesota Vikings Ramos McDonald CB New Mexico WAC
3 81 New England Patriots Chris Floyd FB Michigan Big Ten From N.Y. Jets.
3 82 Miami Dolphins Larry Shannon WR East Carolina C-USA
3 83 New England Patriots Greg Spires DE Florida State ACC
3 84 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jamie Duncan LB Vanderbilt SEC
3 85 Philadelphia Eagles Allen Rossum† CB Notre Dame Ind. (I-A) From N.Y. Giants.
3 86 Jacksonville Jaguars Jonathan Quinn QB Middle Tennessee OVC
3 87 New York Jets Kevin Williams S Oklahoma State Big 12 From Pittsburgh.
3 88 Kansas City Chiefs Rashaan Shehee RB Washington Pac-10
3 89 San Francisco 49ers Chris Ruhman OT Texas A&M Big 12
3 90 Green Bay Packers Jonathan Brown DT Tennessee SEC
3 91 Denver Broncos Brian Griese† QB Michigan Big Ten
3* 92 Pittsburgh Steelers Hines Ward† WR Georgia SEC
4 93 Indianapolis Colts Steve McKinney C Texas A&M Big 12 From Indianapolis via Baltimore.
4 94 Chicago Bears Alonzo Mayes TE Oklahoma State Big 12
4 95 Arizona Cardinals Michael Pittman RB Fresno State WAC
4 96 St. Louis Rams Az-Zahir Hakim WR San Diego State WAC From San Diego.
4 97 New Orleans Saints Fred Weary CB Florida SEC From Oakland.
4 98 St. Louis Rams Roland Williams TE Syracuse Big East
4 99 New Orleans Saints Julian Pittman DT Florida State ACC
4 100 Dallas Cowboys Michael Myers DT Alabama SEC
4 101 Jacksonville Jaguars Tavian Banks RB Iowa Big Ten From Buffalo.
4 102 Miami Dolphins Lorenzo Bromell DE Clemson ACC From Philadelphia.
4 103 Atlanta Falcons Omar Brown S North Carolina ACC From Baltimore via Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore and Tampa Bay.
4 104 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Todd Washington C Virginia Tech Big East In place of Atlanta (time expired).
4 105 Cincinnati Bengals Glen Steele DT Michigan Big Ten
4 106 Carolina Panthers Donald Hayes WR Wisconsin Big Ten
4 107 Tennessee Oilers Joe Salave'a DT Arizona Pac-10
4 108 Seattle Seahawks DeShone Myles LB Nevada Big West
4 109 Oakland Raiders Gennaro DiNapoli G Virginia Tech Big East From Washington.
4 110 Minnesota Vikings Kivuusama Mays LB North Carolina ACC
4 111 New York Jets Jason Fabini OT Cincinnati C-USA
4 112 Philadelphia Eagles Brandon Whiting DT California Pac-10 From Miami.
4 113 Washington Redskins Shawn Barber LB Richmond A-10 From Detroit via Oakland.
4 114 Atlanta Falcons Tim Dwight WR Iowa Big Ten From Tampa Bay.
4 115 New England Patriots Leonta Rheams DT Houston C-USA
4 116 Philadelphia Eagles Clarence Love S Toledo MAC From N.Y. Giants.
4 117 Pittsburgh Steelers Deshea Townsend CB Alabama SEC
4 118 Jacksonville Jaguars Harry Deligianis DT Youngstown State Gateway
4 119 San Francisco 49ers Lance Schulters† S Hofstra Ind. (I-AA)
4 120 Kansas City Chiefs Greg Favors LB Mississippi State SEC
4 121 Green Bay Packers Roosevelt Blackmon CB Morris Brown SIAC
4 122 Denver Broncos Curtis Alexander RB Alabama SEC
4* 123 Pittsburgh Steelers Carlos King RB North Carolina State ACC
5 124 Baltimore Ravens Martin Chase DT Oklahoma Big 12 From Indianapolis.
5 125 Arizona Cardinals Terry Hardy TE Southern Mississippi C-USA
5 126 San Diego Chargers Cedric Harden DE Florida A&M MEAC
5 127 Oakland Raiders Jeremy Brigham TE Washington Pac-10
5 128 Kansas City Chiefs Robert Williams CB North Carolina ACC From Chicago.
5 129 St. Louis Rams Raymond Priester FB Clemson ACC
5 130 Dallas Cowboys Darren Hambrick LB South Carolina SEC
5 131 Buffalo Bills Jonathan Linton FB North Carolina ACC
5 132 New Orleans Saints Wilmont Perry RB Livingstone CIAA
5 133 Baltimore Ravens Ryan Sutter S Colorado Big 12
5 134 New York Jets Casey Dailey LB Northwestern Big Ten From Philadelphia.
5 135 Indianapolis Colts Antony Jordan LB Vanderbilt SEC From Cincinnati.
5 136 Carolina Panthers Jerry Jensen LB Washington Pac-10
5 137 Pittsburgh Steelers Jason Simmons S Arizona State Pac-10 From Atlanta.
5 138 Dallas Cowboys Oliver Ross OT Iowa State Big 12 From Seattle.
5 139 Tennessee Oilers Benji Olson G Washington Pac-10
5 140 Washington Redskins Mark Fischer G Purdue Big Ten
5 141 New York Jets Doug Karczewski OT Virginia ACC
5 142 Philadelphia Eagles Ike Reese† LB Michigan State Big Ten From Miami.
5 143 Miami Dolphins Scott Shaw G Michigan State Big Ten From Detroit.
5 144 Minnesota Vikings Kerry Cooks S Iowa Big Ten
5 145 New England Patriots Ron Merkerson LB Colorado Big 12
5 146 New York Jets Blake Spence TE Oregon Pac-10 From Tampa Bay.
5 147 New York Giants Toby Myles OT Jackson State SWAC
5 148 Jacksonville Jaguars John Wade C Marshall MAC
5 149 New York Jets Eric Bateman OT BYU WAC From Pittsburgh.
5 150 Green Bay Packers Corey Bradford WR Jackson State SWAC From Kansas City.
5 151 San Francisco 49ers Phil Ostrowski G Penn State Big Ten
5 152 Oakland Raiders Travian Smith LB Oklahoma Big 12 From Green Bay.
5 153 Denver Broncos Chris Howard RB Michigan Big Ten
6 154 Baltimore Ravens Ron Rogers LB Georgia Tech ACC From Indianapolis.
6 155 San Diego Chargers Clifford Ivory CB Troy State Southland
6 156 Green Bay Packers Scott McGarrahan S New Mexico WAC From Oakland.
6 157 Chicago Bears Chris Draft LB Stanford Pac-10
6 158 Arizona Cardinals Zach Walz LB Dartmouth Ivy
6 159 St. Louis Rams Glenn Roundtree G Clemson ACC
6 160 Buffalo Bills Fred Coleman WR Washington Pac-10
6 161 New Orleans Saints Chris Bordano LB SMU WAC
6 162 Seattle Seahawks Bobby Shaw WR California Pac-10
6 163 Washington Redskins Pat Palmer WR Northwestern State Southland
6 164 Miami Dolphins Nate Strikwerda C Northwestern Big Ten From Detroit.
6 165 Minnesota Vikings Matt Birk† C Harvard Ivy
6 166 New York Jets Chris Brazzell WR Angelo State LSC
6 167 Tampa Bay Buccaneers James Cannida DT Nevada Big West
6 168 New England Patriots Harold Shaw RB Southern Mississippi C-USA
6 169 New York Giants Todd Pollack TE Boston College Big East
6 170 Pittsburgh Steelers Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala FB Utah WAC
6 171 Jacksonville Jaguars LeManzer Williams DE Minnesota Big Ten
6 172 San Francisco 49ers Fred Beasley† FB Auburn SEC
6 173 Kansas City Chiefs Derrick Ransom DT Cincinnati C-USA
6 174 Jacksonville Jaguars Kevin McLeod RB Auburn SEC
6 175 New York Jets Eric Bateman OT BYU WAC From Pittsburgh.
6 176 New England Patriots Corey Bradford WR Jackson State SWAC From Kansas City.
6 177 New York Giants Todd Pollack TE Boston College Big East
6 178 Pittsburgh Steelers Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala FB Utah WAC
6 179 Jacksonville Jaguars LeManzer Williams DE Minnesota Big Ten
6 180 San Francisco 49ers Fred Beasley† FB Auburn SEC
6 181 Kansas City Chiefs Derrick Ransom DT Cincinnati C-USA
6 182 Jacksonville Jaguars Kevin McLeod RB Auburn SEC

Draft Context and Team Dynamics

Team Selection Patterns

The distribution of draft picks varied significantly among teams. The New York Jets were notably active, making the most selections with 12 picks. Conversely, the Detroit Lions made the fewest selections, with only 5 picks in the draft. These differences often reflect team needs, available draft capital, and strategic approaches to roster construction.

Supplemental Draft

Beyond the main draft, the NFL also conducted a supplemental draft following the regular event but preceding the season. This process allows teams to select players who became eligible after the primary draft, often due to unique circumstances or late declarations. While less prominent, supplemental picks can still yield valuable talent.

Hall of Fame Inductees

The Elite Class of 1998

The 1998 NFL Draft is distinguished by producing multiple players who achieved the pinnacle of professional football success, earning induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Four players from this draft class have been enshrined:

  • Peyton Manning (QB): A five-time NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion, inducted in 2021.
  • Charles Woodson (CB): A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Defensive Player of the Year, and Super Bowl champion, inducted in 2021.
  • Randy Moss (WR): Considered one of the greatest wide receivers of all time, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, inducted in 2018.
  • Alan Faneca (G): A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Super Bowl XLIII champion, and a dominant offensive lineman, inducted in 2021.

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References

References

  1.  Includes middle linebacker (MLB or MIKE), outside linebacker (OLB, WILL, SAM), and off-ball linebacker
  2.  Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
  3.  No. 3: San Diego → Arizona (PD). see No. 2: Arizona → San Diego.
  4.  No. 29: Green Bay → Miami (D). see No. 19: Miami → Green Bay.
  5.  No. 33: San Diego → Arizona (PD). see No. 2: Arizona → San Diego.
  6.  No. 34: Oakland → Tampa Bay (D). see No. 23: Tampa Bay → Oakland.
  7.  No. 53: Tampa Bay → Atlanta (D). see No. 45: Atlanta → Tampa Bay.
  8.  No. 56: N.Y. Jets → New England (PD). see No. 56: N.Y. Jets → Pittsburgh.
  9.  No. 67: St. Louis → N.Y. Jets (D). see No. 65: N.Y. Jets → St. Louis.
  10.  No. 78: Washington → Cincinnati (PD). see No. 17: Washington → Cincinnati.
  11.  No. 79: Detroit → Miami (D). see No. 60: Miami → Detroit.
  12.  No. 81: N.Y. Jets → New England (PD). see No. 18: N.Y. Jets → New England.
  13.  No. 85: N.Y. Giants → Philadelphia (D). see No. 70: Philadelphia → N.Y. Giants.
  14.  No. 87: Pittsburgh → N.Y. Jets (D). see No. 41: N.Y. Jets → Pittsburgh.
  15.  No. 101: Buffalo → Jacksonville (PD). see No. 9: Buffalo → Jacksonville.
  16.  No. 112: Miami → Philadelphia (D). see No. 102: Philadelphia → Miami.
  17.  No. 114: Tampa Bay → Atlanta (D). see No. 45: Atlanta → Tampa Bay.
  18.  No. 116: N.Y. Giants → Philadelphia (D). see No. 70: Philadelphia → N.Y. Giants.
  19.  No. 142: Miami → Philadelphia (D). see No. 102: Philadelphia → Miami.
  20.  No. 124: Indianapolis → Baltimore (D). see No. 93: Baltimore → Indianapolis.
  21.  No. 134: Philadelphia → N.Y. Jets (PD). see No. 41: Philadelphia → N.Y. Jets.
  22.  No. 143: Detroit → Miami (D). see No. 60: Miami → Detroit.
  23.  No. 149: Pittsburgh → N.Y. Jets (D). see No. 41: N.Y. Jets → Pittsburgh.
  24.  No. 124: Indianapolis → Baltimore (D). see No. 93: Baltimore → Indianapolis.
  25.  No. 152: Oakland → Green Bay (D). see No. 152: Green Bay → Oakland.
  26.  No. 162: Dallas → Seattle (D). see No. 138: Seattle → Dallas.
  27.  No. 172: Detroit → Miami (D). see No. 60: Miami → Detroit.
  28.  No. 197: Dallas → Seattle (D). see No. 138: Seattle → Dallas.
  29.  No. 113: Oakland → Washington (D). see No. 109: Washington → Oakland.
  30.  No. 195: St. Louis → N.Y. Jets (D). see No. 65: N.Y. Jets → St. Louis.
  31.  Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
  32.  Players are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A full list of references for this article are available at the 1998 NFL draft Wikipedia page

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