The number one pick in the NFL draft is usually expected to be a key player that will help turn a franchise around. It is an instant road to riches and celebrity for the player. Sometimes the pick is a success and sometimes it is no so successful. We are going to look at the number one picks of the NFL drafts from 1990 to 1999. The number one pick should be the best player selected at his position is all goes well. How did they work out in the 1990's.

1990

The Colts had the number one pick in 1990. They selected Jeff George with that pick. George spent four years with the Colts. He made playoff appearances with Atlanta and Minnesota. The 1990 draft did not produce any great quarterbacks. Neil O'Donnell and Scott Mitchell were the other players that would compete with George for best at their position. O'Donnell had more playoff appearances and had a trip to the super bowl. George had a better quarterback rating and had some good years after leaving the Colts. George also was a starter longer than O'Donell. I think many would consider George an underachiever. However, he still would be my pick for best at his position in the 1990 draft.

1991

The Dallas Cowboys had the first pick in 1991. they selected defensive tackle Russell Maryland. Maryland played in 154 games and was selected to one pro bowl team. He had 24.5 sacks and a pretty career. He has some competition for best player at his position in the 1991 draft. Eric Swann was also a first round pick for the Cardinals. He was a two time pro bowler and had 46.5 sacks. He had better numbers in a shorter career. The Cleveland Browns picked James Jones in the third round. He had 36 sacks and played in 160 games over a ten year career. Keith Traylor was also a third round pick in 1991. He played in 229 games and had 20 sacks. All four of these players were good and could have filed the job for the Cowboys. I think the edge for best player goes to Traylor for playing in 75 more games than Maryland. I also think James Jones does not get enough respect and might have been the second best player at his position in the 1991 draft.

1992

The Colts had the number one pick again in 1992. They selected defensive end Steve Emtman. This pick did not work out well for the Colts. Emtman would probably rank around 10th best defensive end from the 1992 draft. Not what you would expect out of the number one pick in the draft.

1993

The New England Patriots picked quarterback Drew Bledsoe with the number one pick in 1993. He was clearly the best quarterback from that draft. Other quarterbacks selected in 1993 included Rick Mirer, Trent Green and Mark Brunell.

1994

The Cincinnati Bengals picked defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson with the number one pick in the 1994 draft. Wilkinson had a decent career. However, Sam Adams and Bryant Young were both better players. Between them they had seven pro bowl appearances compared to none for Wilkinson.

1995

The Cincinnati Bengals once again had the number one draft pick in 1995. They selected running back Ki-Jana Carter. This pick was a disaster for the Bengals. Curtis Martin and Terrell Davis were the two best running backs to come out of this draft. Martin was a third round pick and Davis was a sixth rounder.

1996

The New York Jets made wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson the number one pick in 1996. Keyshawn had over 10,000 receiving yards and 64 touchdowns. However, his numbers have been surpassed by Terrell Owens, Mushin Muhammad and Marvin Harrison. Harrison or Owens will eventually be the best wide receiver from this draft. Keyshawn will be number four at best.

1997

The St Louis Rams selected tackle Orlando Pace as the number one pick in 1997. Pace had a spectacular career and was a very good choice by the Rams. Orlando was a seven time pro bowler. Walter Jones was taken as the seventh pick by the Seahawks. He had an equally great career. Jones earned nine pro bowl picks. These were two great tackles and Pace gets a slight edge statistically.

1998

The Colts had their third number one pick of the 1990's in 1998. They used this pick on Peyton Manning. There is no doubt the made the right pick. Other quarterbacks from this draft included Ryan Leaf, Matt Hasselback and Brian Griese.

1999

The Cleveland Browns had the last number one pick of the 1990's. They used it to select Tim Couch. that pick would have better used on Donovan McNabb, Aaron Brooks or Daunte Culpepper. All three had better numbers than Couch.

Summary

The Colts had three number one picks in the 1990's. They had one great pick in Manning. One average pick with George and one bad pick with Emtman. The Bengals had one disaster with Carter and one OK pick with Wilkinson. The Patriots and Rams picked very well with Bledsoe and Pace. The Jets and Browns could have done much better. The Cowboys did ok With their pick of Maryland. Only two of ten picks turned out to be great. Four more were average or better. Three of the ten picks were clearly the best at their position in their draft year. that made having the number one pick in the 1990's risky for the teams involved.