1994 NFL draft

1994 NFL draft
1994 NFL draft logo
General information
Date(s)April 24–25, 1994
LocationMarriott Marquis
in New York City, NY
Network(s)ESPN
Overview
222 total selections in 7 rounds
LeagueNFL
First selectionDan Wilkinson, DT
Cincinnati Bengals
Mr. IrrelevantMarty Moore, LB
New England Patriots
Most selections (11)Buffalo Bills
Fewest selections (5)Denver Broncos
Seattle Seahawks
Hall of Famers
6
← 1993
1995 →

The 1994 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24–25, 1994, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, New York.[1][2] This was the first draft in which the rounds were reduced to seven in total.[3] The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.[4]

This draft is known for a verbal altercation between ESPN analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. and Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Tobin over Tobin's handling of the Colts' two first-round picks.[5] Kiper believed the Colts needed a quarterback in the first round, but Tobin, who signed free agent quarterback Jim Harbaugh ahead of the draft, instead selected running back Marshall Faulk and linebacker Trev Alberts.[6][5] After Kiper disputed the Colts taking Alberts over quarterback Trent Dilfer, Tobin responded by criticizing Kiper's credentials.[7] Faulk would become a Hall of Fame inductee, while Alberts' career only lasted three seasons, and Dilfer became regarded as a journeyman.[5][8][9] The Colts would reach the 1995 AFC Championship Game with Harbaugh, but fell to 3–13 in 1997, which led to the firing of Tobin and the drafting of future Hall of Fame inductee Peyton Manning the following year.[10][11][12]

  1. ^ "NFL Draft Locations". FootballGeography.com. October 2, 2014. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  2. ^ Salomone, Dan (October 2, 2014). "NFL Draft headed to Chicago in 2015". Giants.com. New York Giants. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  3. ^ "When did the NFL draft change to seven rounds?". ESPN. April 27, 2023. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023.
  4. ^ "2 Players Chosen In NFL Supplemental Draft". Deseret News. July 20, 1994.
  5. ^ a b c "'Who the hell is Mel Kiper' turns 25 years old". Indy Star. April 24, 2019. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019.
  6. ^ "Free-agent Harbaugh signs with Colts; Trudeau let go". Tampa Bay Times. April 8, 1994. Retrieved October 24, 2023.[dead link‍]
  7. ^ Shapiro, Leonard (April 29, 1994). "Little Legitimate Fuel for Draft-stoked Fires". Washington Post. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  8. ^ "Indianapolis Colts' worst draft picks: No. 2, linebacker Trev Alberts". Indy Star. July 17, 2013. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "No, it was not harder to be a quarterback in Trent Dilfer's day". Touchdown Wire. USA Today. February 7, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  10. ^ "1995 AFC Championship game still haunts Harbaugh". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. May 12, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  11. ^ "Colts Fire Infante, Tobin After 3–13 Season". Washington Post. December 23, 1997. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  12. ^ "25 years later, Peyton Manning reflects on becoming No. 1 pick in NFL Draft". KUSA-TV. April 27, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.