How The 1998 NFL Draft Forever Changed The NFL
This NFL Draft Class Revolutionized The League
With the 2018 NFL Draft coming up next week, it’s a reminder that 20 years ago, the 1998 NFL Draft produced some of the game’s all-time greats. That draft was highly anticipated because of the speculation of who would be the number one overall pick, Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf.
The Indianapolis Colts with the first overall pick selected Peyton Manning in which they hit a home run. The future Hall-of-Famer spent 14 seasons with the Colts and four seasons with the Denver Broncos. Over those 18 seasons, Manning:
- passed for 71, 920 career yards(1st all-time)
- 539 career touchdowns (1st all-time)
- 65.3 career completion percentage (5th all-time)
- 43 career 4th-quarter comebacks (1st all-time)
- 96.5 career passer rating (7th all-time)
- 14x Pro Bowl
- 7x All-Pro
- 5X NFL MVP
- 2x Super Bowl Champion
Not bad for a man who was selected first overall back in 1998. But it’s not just Peyton Manning who’s considered to be a future hall-of-famer.
Charles Woodson, the 4th overall pick of the 1998 NFL Draft, was considered one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL for years. After winning the Heisman as a defensive player, Woodson transferred his college success into the NFL. Woodson spent 11 seasons with the Oakland Raiders and seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Over those 18 seasons, Woodson had
- 65 career interceptions (T-5th all-time)
- 9x Pro Bowl
- 3x All-Pro
- Super Bowl Champion
The only defensive player to ever win the Heisman will soon find himself in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
We talk about future Pro Football Hall of Fame, but as for the current ones, Randy Moss rings a bell.
The former standout was selected as the 21st overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and made an impact immediately as a rookie. Moss gained over 1313 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in his 1998 rookie season leading the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC Championship.
In 2007, Moss scored an NFL- record 23 receiving touchdown for the New England Patriots leading them the Super Bowl. The wide receiver played with the Vikings, Patriots, Raiders, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers for 14 seasons. His career accomplishments include
- 15,292 career receiving yards (4th all-time)
- 23 receiving touchdowns in a single season (1st all-time)
- 156 career receiving touchdowns (2nd all-time)
- 6x Pro Bowl
- 4x All Pro
- Pro Football Hall of Famer
These are the three biggest names from the 1998 NFL Draft class but there are honorable mentions such Hines Ward, Keith Brooking, Fred Taylor, Takeo Spikes, Patrick Surtain, Jeremiah Trotter, Samari Rolle, and many others.
Overall, the 1998 NFL Draft has one current Hall-of-Famer with many more to come and 31 pro bowlers. Even the undrafted portion of the 1998 summer had great careers such as Jeff Saturday, Mike Vanderjagt, Phil Dawson, and London Fletcher.
Can the current 2018 NFL Draft class much up with the 1998 NFL Draft class’s accomplishments? Only time will tell.
Kingsley Iyawe is a senior, Mathematics major attending Morehouse College. He is the campus news editor for The Maroon Tiger.
