European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 20, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 a a a the stars and stripes Friday april 20,1990 nil draft preview winds of change bring probable no. 1 draft Choice Jeff George of Illinois. By Dave Goldberg a football writer new York a one of the a Fly a prominent personnel men was talking about the 35 juniors who make sunday s nil draft one of the deepest in a decade. A i done to like it a he said. A a in a much rather have a 23-year-old with two or three solid years of College behind him than a 20-year-old with a year and a half  does that mean he was asked that he  pick a Junior if a Good one was available a whoa a he almost yelled. A i did no to say that a a a a the 1990 draft which begins at noon sunday and continues monday with the final seven or eight rounds is the first in which the nil has indiscriminately allowed in underclassmen following a pattern established by pro basketball nearly two decades ago. Like the Man cited above nearly everyone from commissioner Paul Tagliabue Down says he wishes the kids would stay in school. Like the Man cited above nearly everyone is excited about the Talent. Starting with quarterbacks Jeff George of Illinois and Andre Ware of Houston and linebackers Junior seau of Southern California and Keith Mccants of Alabama perhaps four of the first seven players picked will be underclassmen. As Many As 10 could go in the first round. A when you squeeze a lot of next years draft into this years its made it More lucrative a says Pittsburgh coach Chuck Noll echoing his colleagues. A but it will be weaker Down the line. I would prefer the juniors stay in there and get an extra year of experience and an extra year of time. Some of the reasons they have for coming out Early Arentt real Good. But they re there and Well make decisions on  the exodus makes the draft the deepest in at least five years and perhaps the Best since 1983, when the first round included John Elway Eric Dickerson Curt Warner and Dan Marino who lasted until the 27th pick. Its richest in linebackers and running backs thinnest in offensive linemen and defensive backs. A what All these juniors do is make it stronger Down the line a says George Young general manager of the new York giants. A now you re still going to have Good players available in the fourth round although if you take one of the kids you la have to take a co dip of years to break him  the first round has Only 25 picks because three teams a Dallas Phoenix and Denver a gave up theirs to take Steve Walsh Timm Rosenbach and Bobby Humphrey respectively in last years supplemental draft. Dallas Choice of Walsh whom they be been trying to peddle Ever since was particularly painful since at 1-15, the cowboys would have had the first pick this year. Denver got a bargain in Humphrey who rushed for 1,151 Yards and would never have been available with the next to last pick this year. Cracks in the All seniors policy have been appearing for years a few underclassmen who applied for the supplemental draft have been turned Down in the last few years. Tagliabue commissioner Pete Rozelle Stop Legal adviser had a lot to do with that arguing that the nil would lose any court Battle on the simple grounds that it was denying someone a Chance to earn a living. Then last year Barry Sanders the Heisman trophy Winner became the first three year Junior allowed in the regular draft and became offensive Rookie of the year. This year his first As commissioner Tagliabue simply opened the doors allowing in anyone who entered College in september 1987 or before a if he renounced any remaining College eligibility. Another Factor is the labor impasse which has convinced Many agents that the owners Are about to impose a Rookie salary scale that would mean the end of the seven figure contracts that have become Standard the past few years. A a it a being driven strictly by player agents looking for More Money for themselves a says Carl Peterson general manager of the Kansas City chiefs. A for a lot of them the Money they thought will be there May not  but Many of the juniors need the Money like Lamar Lathon a linebacker from Houston and a Likely first Rounder who wants to help his sister go through a treatment for crack addiction. Lathon is one of Many linebackers who represent the Cream of this draft. The Best was supposed to be Mccants the Alabama Junior who was considered the sure no. 1 pick when he Twenty eight teams draw up their game new York apr Here Are the needs and prospects for the 28 teams in sundays nil draft. Teams Are listed with first round pick numbers and last seasons record.1,20. Atlanta 3-13 first round position 1, 20 irom Washington Tor Gerald Riggs. Overview one of those teams described As Quot bettor than 3-13.&Quot True in the sense that the parts Are better than the whole a talented youngsters like cornerback Deion Sanders linebacker aundray Bruce wide receiver Shawn Collins and a promising quarterback in Chris Miller. But Miller s not a Mavorite of Jerry Glanville the new coach. Total picks subject to change 11. Extra one traded tilth and seventh. In charge Ken Herock Jerry Glanville Rankin Smith jr., Taylor Smith. Strengths quarterback linebacker in Marcus Cotton stays healthy secondary in Sanders progresses. Needs heavy duty running Back tight end or in they go to run and shoot More wide receivers offensive and defensive linemen. Possible first round picks jell George it it Illinois with second first round Choice with possibilities including Anthony Thompson Indiana Darrell Thompson Minnesota Rodney Hampton Georgia Alexander Wright or auburn.2. New York jets 4-12 first round position 2. Overview Starling again with general manager Dick Steinberg and coach Bruce Coslet. Steinberg has Good record in the draft but does t have much to Quot build on. Other than wide receiver Al Toon safety Erik Mcmillan and a Lew of last year s promising rookies the Best players Are old and quarterbacks Ken o Brien and Tony Eason Are Shell shocked. Total picks subject to change 13 extra no. 7 in charge Dick Steinberg Bruce Coslet. Strengths Mcmillan Toon improving defensive line. Needs with exception of safety need everything with Premium on offensive line. Possible first round pick Mccants Blair Thomas re Penn state Andre Ware Bhouston offensive linemen come later.3. New England 5-11 first round position 3. Overview slipped last year because of injuries that crippled defense before season started and poor quarterbacking where Marc Wilson emerged As starter by default. Still some Talent ugh Irving others could be available Lor High draft picks. In charge Joe Mendes Bucko Kilroy Victor Klam. Total picks subject to change 12. Strengths la Garin Veris and Andre Tippett come Back from injuries the front seven is reasonably solid. Offensive line wide receiver where Hart Lee Dykes came on in the second half of last season. Left although Irving Fryar John Stephens and High no. 2s needs quarterback secondary running Back depth. Possible first round pick Mccants Thomas Ware Junior seau la Southern Cal. Could Trade up for George.4. Tampa Bay 5-11 first round position 4. Overview the More things change the More they stay the same a 5-11 is 5-11, although 1989 was better than 1988. Vinny Testaverde is improving at quarterback the offensive line is better and Mark Carrier is one of the game s Best Unsung receivers. But defense wore Down As season progressed. In charge Ray Perkins. Jerry Angelo. Total picks subject to change 13 extra no. A strengths Carrier and Danny Peebles at wide receiver quarterback if Testaverde continues to Progress linebackers. Needs defensive linemen backup quarterback Quality running Back cornerback. Possible first round pick Thomas Mccants Cortez Kennedy it Miami seau Richmond Webb of Texas a&m.5. San Diego 6-10 first round position 5. Overview with Bobby Beathard s arrival As general manager there s reason to believe chargers Are on the upswing particularly if second year Man Billy Joe Tolliver develops at quarterback. Some Quality youngsters in wide receiver Anthony Miller Center Courtney Hall and defensive end Burt Grossman to go with a solid defensive line. In charge Bobby Beathard. Dick Daniels. Dan Henning. Total picks subject to change 12. No second fourth or fifth Rounder. One extra third Rounder and two extra sevenths. But Likely to change dramatically because Beathard never sits still on draft Day. Strengths defensive line linebacker running Back if Gary Anderson signs. Needs offensive line defensive Backfield. Possible first round pick Beathard does t know what to do with a pick this High and is Likely to Trade Down. If not Richmond Webb of Texas a amp a seau Kennedy.6. Chicago 6-10 first round position 6. Overview age on defense finally hit last year when Dan Hampton went out with a knee injury leaving William Perry and Rookie Trace Armstrong working full time. Even Mike Singletary could t hold up a depleted line backing corps another Factor in a six game slide from 12-4. Questionable quarterbacking did t help either. In charge Bill Tobin. Mike Ditka Mike me cashew total picks subject to change 13, with two possible first round pick Mccants. Seau Kennedy Ware.7. Detroit 7-9 first round position 7. Overview Barry Sanders added the run to the run and shoot offence and the result was five straight wins to close the season even with Journeyman Bob Gagliano at quarterback. But need More help to move up further though the pfc Central is no longer top heavy. Quarterback Rodney Peete is efficient but injury prone in run and shoot and might be paired with Heisman Winner Andre Ware who ran that offence in College. In charge Wayne Fontes Jerry Viimsi. Total picks subject to change 14. Their own 12 plus extra 4 and 8. Strengths running Back nose tackle linebackers. Needs receivers quarterback depth defensive ends. Possible first round pick Ware James Francis la. Baylor seau.8, 10. Seattle 7-9 first round position 8. 10 from Indianapolis for Fredd Young. Overview a team that s slipping although the illusion was maintained with three late season wins that kept them in marginal Contention for a playoff spot through the last week in watered Down acc. Have had same starting defensive line Jacob Green. Joe Nash. Jeff Bryant for seven years. Need Brian Bosworth who missed All of last season with a shoulder injury. If they want to give Kelly Stouffer the quarterback Job. They might find a Market for Dave Krieg and could Trade one of first round picks for extra choices in a deep draft. In charge Chuck Knox. Mike Allman Tom Flores. Total picks subject to change 13. With two no. Is. Strengths wide receiver offensive line. Needs running Back linebacker tight end defensive line. Possible first round picks Smith fran possible first round picks Turnbull Webb Chris Singleton la. Arizona . Williams cd Fresno state.11.l.a. Raiders 8-8 first round position 11. Overview Good Stopgap move to Shore up offensive line with plan b free agent Max Montoya but still need help there. Al Davis is convinced that move Back to Oakland which might not happen will revitalize team but More Talent would help. A lot of stars but not enough Good supporting players. Total picks subject to change 10. With no third an extra fourth but no fourth and fifth. In charge Al Davis. Ron Wolf. Art Shell. Strengths defensive line running Back if Marcus Allen stays healthy and to Jackson arrives on time wide receiver if Tim Brown regains health. Needs offensive line linebacker defensive Back.14. New Orleans 9-7 first round position 14. Overview after earning their first playoff berth in 1987 after Jim Finks and Jim Mora look Over have levelled off As just another Good team in a Strong division. Started slowly then won their last three when John Fourcade moved in for Bobby Hebert at quarterback. Hebert who tended to blame his teammates for trouble wants a Trade but the question is whether Fourcade can carry the team for a full season. In charge Jim Finks. Bill Kuharich. Total picks subject to change 12. Strengths running backs Dalton Hilliard and Rueben Mayes wide receiver Eric Martin line backing in general particularly Pat Swilling and Rickey Jackson Young offensive linemen Steve Trapilo. Kevin Haverdink. Needs defensive line Young quarterback. Safety. Finks likes to pick big players High. Possible first round picks. Spindler Agnew Williams Dennis Brown it. Washington. Possible first round picks Percy Snow. 1 5. Houston 9-7 Cis Harold Green re. South Carolina Rodney Hampton re Georgia Smith Renaldo Turnbull de la West Virginia francis.9. Miami 8-8 strengths running Back with Neal Anderson and improving Brad Muster wide receiver although deep Speed would help. Second year cornerback Donnell Woolford could be a pro Bowler soon. Needs defensive linemen with Hampton and Steve Mcmochael near the end linebacker quarterback and offensive line where age is taking a Toff. First round position 9. Overview from perpetual contender to a Middle of the pack team with a Premier quarterback Dan Marino who s so frustrated he wants to be traded. He s probably not going anywhere but neither Are the dolphins unless they Stop spinning wheels on defense. Tim Robbie. 34-year-old owner who took Over for his late father wants to hire a personnel Man to help out overworked coach Don Shula. Shuta has done much of the personnel work since Beathard and George Young left More than a decade ago. In charge Don Shula Tom Heckert Tim Robbie. Total picks subject to change 11, with no filth Rounder. Strengths quarterback assuming Marino in t traded wide receiver tailback in Sammie Smith stays healthy. Needs offensive line defensive line outside linebacker. 5 Percy i la. Michigan state Singleton Webb Williams Lamar Lathon la Houston.12. Cincinnati 8-8 first round position 12. Overview injuries at running Back and offensive line contributed to fall to .500 after coming within 34 seconds of a super bowl win. A lot of Talent remains but holes have cropped up at former Strong Points with loss of Montoya and knee injury to fullback Lekey Woods. Total picks subject to change 12. In charge Paul Brown Mike Brown. Sam Wyche. Strengths quarterback wide receiver defensive Back. Needs linebacker running backs offensive line. Possible first round picks Hampton Snow Singleton Ron Cox la Fresno state Green Lathon.13. Kansas City 8-7-1 first round position 13. Overview arrival of Carl Peterson As general manager Marty sch Ottenheimer As coach helped immediately As did last place schedule emergence of Christian Okoye As the nil s leading rusher and Rookie linebacker Derrick Thomas As a mini Lawrence Taylor. On the Rise in a mediocre division but Hope Steve Pelluer or second year Man Mike Elkins can be the answer to the big quarterback question. Total picks subject to change 12. No third Rounder extra fifth. In charge Carl Peterson. Marty sch Ottenheimer. Strengths running Back if Okoye stays healthy linebackers secondary nose tackle. Needs quarterback wide receiver offensive line depth. Possible first round picks Ware Green Darrell Thompson Turnbull Webb Mark Spindler it Pitt Ray Agnew de. North Carolina state Reggie Rambert or. West Virginia Steve Broussard re. Washington state. First round position 15. Overview Jack Pardee is installing the run and shoot and has the quarterback to run it in Warren Moon and the receivers in Drew i to nest Givins Curtis Duncan. Leonard Harris my might like his College quarterback. Andre Ware to develop with it Ana could get extra Pic a ving the running backs he no longer needs Renzo White and Mike Rozier. In charge Mike Holovak. Jack Pardee total picks subject to change. 12 inn up 6 strengths quarterback wide receiver of Elneeda Impact linebacker safety if plan b acquisition Terry Kinard does t work out. D a a Quot possible first round picks Ware it he there. Agnew. Williams Spindler. Brown a Gleton. Lathon. Cox.16. Buffalo 9-7 first round position 16. No ,0 overview entered the season exp c9os go to the super bowl Nish it hint 0f racial with fingers pointing and More than a on d0. Disharmony. Still a,s0, adder to be a sense. But like eagles and Raide s appear team of superstars and nobodies inn Jiuu so in charge Bill Polian. John Butler. Marv let 0tal picks subject to c�Al\9e> Vii gets strengths quart re bail mates running Back the Confidence of his Aamy Eiver Andre Back Thurman Thomas wide receive Reed linebacker defensive ends. Needs nose tackle offensive line a h ments. Cornerback. Pirks Williams possible first round p Cut Agnew Brown Rembert Ben Smith. By tint win. A a �?�17. Pittsburgh 9-7 a Austn on mini 17. First round position since a Arview coming off their Desi