Pick By Pick, A Countdown of the NFL’s Greatest Draft Picks: Pick #40

I know I won’t get this whole project done during the coronavirus stay at home order, but i’m gonna try to crank out as many of these as I can. The active players picked 40^th overall include former Patriots & newly signed Dolphins linebacker Kyle Van Noy, New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel, Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, & Oakland Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen. Out of the 10 players in my top 10, four of them were on a Super Bowl winning team or NFL Championship in the pre-Super Bowl era. Here’s my top 10 NFL players  drafted 40th overall:

10. New Orleans Saints-Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana, 2008

He played nine years in the NFL, split between the New Orleans Saints (2008-2011), Denver Broncos (2012), Oakland Raiders (2013), Washington Redskins (2014), and Chicago Bears (2015-2016). He became a household name when he picked off Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLIV & returned it 74 yards for a touchdown as the Saints upset the Colts 31-17. He ran back interceptions for touchdowns in 2012 & 2013 and both were for 43 yards. In nine seasons he started 88 of 99 games played, he had 370 tackles (309 solo), 2.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 13 interceptions for 212 yards and three touchdowns.

9. Philadelphia Eagles-Pat Holmes, DE/DT, Texas Tech, 1962

In spite of being a second round pick by the Eagles, Holmes chose to sign with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League as a rookie, he spent his first four years there (1962-1965), and was a CFL All-Star in 1965. In 1966 he signed with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League, and was an AFL All-Star in 1967 & 1968. He played with the Oilers from 1966 to 1972, then spent the 1973 season with the Kansas City Chiefs before retiring. He played in 108 games in his career, and had six fumble recoveries and one interception.

8. Kansas City Chiefs-Tim Grunhard, C, Notre Dame, 1990

He spent his entire 11 year career with the Kansas City Chiefs (1990-2000). He split starting duties with future Hall of Famer Mike Webster as a rookie, with nine starts to Webster’s seven, before taking over full time in 1991. He was named to the Pro Bowl once, in 1999. In 11 seasons he started 164 of the 169 games he played.

7. Washington Redskins-Bob Dove, WR/DE, Notre Dame, 1943

His career began with another league that had teams later join the NFL: the All American Football Conference, where he also served as a co-coach for the Chicago Rockets in 1946. He played there for two seasons, before joining the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals in 1948. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1950. He was traded from the Cardinals to the Detroit Lions in 1953, and played on their NFL Championship teams in 1953 & 1954. In his nine years as a pro he started 49 of 106 games played, he had 10 fumble recoveries and one interception playing on defense, and had 13 catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

6. Miami Dolphins-Bob Baumhower, NT, Alabama, 1977

He spent his entire 10 year career with the Dolphins (1977-1986). He & fellow Dolphin A.J. Duhe were named co-Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1977. He was named to the Pro Bowl five times in his career, in 1979, & 1981-1984. He missed the entire 1985 season due to injury, then came back for one last season. In 10 years he started 129 of 130 games played, recording 14.5 sacks, one interception, and 16 fumble recoveries for 60 yards and two touchdowns. He was inducted into the Miami Dolphin Honor Roll in 2008.

5. San Francisco 49ers-Eric Wright, CB, Missouri, 1981

He spent his entire 10 year career with the San Francisco 49ers (1981-1990). He collected four Super Bowl rings along the way, winning Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII & XXIV. He was a two-time All-Pro & Pro Bowl selection, both in 1984 & 1985. In 10 years he started 82 of 110 games played, and had 18 interceptions for 256 yards and two touchdowns, along with five fumble recoveries.

4. N.Y. Giants-Brad Van Pelt, LB, Michigan State, 1973

He played 14 years in the NFL, most of it with the Giants (1973-1983), then was traded to the Vikings for running back Tony Galbreath in 1984. The Vikings traded him that same year to the Raiders for a 6^th round pick in 1985 & a 2^nd round pick in 1986, & the Browns acquired him in 1986. He was named to the Pro Bowl five straight times, from 1976-1980. While with the Giants, he teamed up with fellow outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor & inside linebackers Harry Carson & Brian Kelley to form a group known as The Crunch Bunch. The Giants named him their player of the decade for the 1970’s. He was inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor in 2011. In 14 seasons he started 158 of 184 games played & had 20 interceptions for 135 yards, 14 fumble recoveries for 116 yards, and 10 sacks.

3. Detroit Lions-Al Baker, DE, Colorado State, 1978

He played 13 years in the NFL, spending his first five seasons with the Lions (1978-1982), followed by four years with the Cardinals (1983-1986), before moving on to Cleveland (1987), Minnesota (1988), and back to Cleveland for his last two years (1989-1990). Since the NFL didn’t count sacks as an official statistic until 1982, four of his biggest seasons aren’t counted on his career totals. He had 23 sacks as a rookie in 1978, which would be a still standing record ( Michael Strahan currently holds it with 22.5). He had 16 in 1979, 18 in 1980, and 10 in 1981, which adds up to 67 sacks not included on his career total. Officially, he’s listed as having 65.5 sacks in the nine years of his career that sacks were counted. If the other 67 were counted, he would have retired as the all time sack leader with 132.5 in 1990, which would surely put him in the Hall of Fame, & even now he would currently be tied with Lawrence Taylor & Leslie O’Neal for 14^th on the all-time sack leaders list. During his 13 year career, he started 156 of 181 games played, he had four interceptions for 33 yards, and eight fumble recoveries, in addition to his 65.5 “official” sacks. He was also a three time Pro Bowl selection (1978-1980), and won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1978.

2. Buffalo Bills-Thurman Thomas, RB, Oklahoma State, 1988

He spent most of his 13 year NFL career with the Buffalo Bills (1988-1999), and one year with the Miami Dolphins (2000). He was selected to the Pro Bowl five years in a row, from 1989 to 1993, he was a First-team All-Pro in 1990 & 1991, and a Second-team All-Pro in 1989, 1992 & 1993. He led the AFC in rushing in 1990, 1991, & 1993, he was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1991, and the NFL MVP in 1991. He helped lead the Bills to four straight AFC Championships, he is the team’s all time leading rusher with 11,938 yards, and yards from scrimmage leader with 16,279. In his entire career, he started 160 of 182 games played, and had 2,877 carries for 12,074 yards and 65 touchdowns, and 472 catches for 4,458 yards and 23 touchdowns. He was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame, had his #34 retired by the Bils, and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

1. New York Giants-Michael Strahan, DE, Texas Southern, 1993

He spent his entire 15 year NFL Career with the New York Giants (1993-2007). He was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times (1997-1999, 2001-2003, 2005), was a First-team All-Pro in 1997, 1998, 2001, & 2003, and a Second-team All-Pro in 2002 & 2005. He set the NFL record with 22.5 sacks in 2001, which got him the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award that year. He led the NFL in sacks in 2001 & 2003, and was the NFC Defensive Player of the Year both years. He helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII in his final season. In 15 seasons he started 205 of 216 games played, he had 141.5 sacks (6^th all time), 854 tackles (663 solo), 131 tackles for losses, 24 forced fumbles, 15 fumble recoveries for 17 yards and a touchdown, four interceptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns,and one safety.He was named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, inducted into the Giants Ring of Honor, and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Pick By Pick, A Countdown of the NFL’s Greatest Draft Picks: Pick #39

Here’s a fun fact: Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was selected by the San Diego Chargers with this pick in 1991. While he didn’t crack the top 10, there was a total of 10 Super Bowl rings collected by the guys on this list. Active players drafted with this pick include Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (2012), Seahawks backup quarterback Geno Smith (2013), Jaguars wide receiver Marqise Lee, Bears defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, former Buccaneers/Redskins & now Saints defensive end Noah Spence, Jets safety Marcus Maye, Bears center James Daniels, and Buccaneers cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. This list is my top 10 list of NFL players 39^th overall:

10. Kansas City Chiefs-Wilbur Young, DE/DT, William Penn, 1971

He played 12 years with the Chiefs (1971-1977), Chargers (1978-1981, 1982), & Redskins (1981). He scored his first career touchdown on a 52 yard interception return in 1974. He was traded to the Chargers after the Chiefs drafted defensive end Art Still second overall in 1978. He was named First-Team All-Pro in 1979 filling in for injured All-Pro DT Louie Kelcher, and recorded his second career touchdown that year, recovering three fumbles for three yards and a touchdown. He started 98 of 153 games played in his NFL career, and spent 1984 with the Arizona Wranglers of the USFL after sitting out a year.

9. San Francisco 49ers-Pierce Holt, DE, Angelo State, 1988

He played eight years in the NFL, five with the 49ers (1988-1992), and three with the Falcons (1993-1995). He played on back-to-back Super Bowl Championship teams with the 49ers in 1988 and 1989. He was named an All-Pro and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1992. In eight seasons he started 91 of 109 games played, he recorded 350 tackles, 37 sacks, three forced fumbles & five fumble recoveries.

8. Seattle Seahawks-Christian Fauria, TE, Colorado, 1995

He spent 13 years in the NFL, split between the Seattle Seahawks (1995-2001), New England Patriots (2002-2005), Washington Redskins (2006), and Carolina Panthers (2007). He played on back-to-back Super Bowl Championship teams in New England, winning Super Bowls XXXVIII & XXXIX. He had career highs of 37 catches & 377 yards in 1998 with Seattle, and seven touchdowns with the Patriots in 2002. In 13 seasons he started 122 of 191 games played, and had 252 catches for 2,529 yards and 22 touchdowns.

7. Chicago Bears-Mike Brown, FS, Nebraska, 2000

He played 10 years in the NFL, nine with the Bears (2000-2008) and one with the Chiefs (2009). He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2005, and was an All-Pro in 2001 & 2005. In 10 seasons he started 115 of 116 games played, he had 626 tackles (510 solo), 14 tackles for losses, seven sacks, 20 interceptions for 288 yards and four touchdowns, 46 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles, and eight fumble recoveries for 221 yards and three touchdowns. In 2012, ESPN Chicago made a list of the 50 Greatest Bears, and Mike was ranked #49.

6. Miami Dolphins-Keith Sims, G, Iowa State, 1990

He played 11 years with the Dolphins (1990-1997) and Redskins (1998-2000). He was named to the Pro Bowl three years in a row, from 1993 to 1995. He was released for salary cap room in 1998 after missing half of the 1997 season. He spent 1998 as a backup with the Redskins, and started for two seasons before retiring after the 2000 season. In 11 seasons he started 133 of 142 games played.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars-Rashean Mathis, CB, Bethune-Cookman, 2003

He spent 13 years in the NFL, 10 years with the Jaguars (2003-2012), and three years with the Lions (2013-2015). He was only named to the Pro Bowl once, in 2006, when he had eight interceptions for 146 yards, but he had three other seasons that were Pro Bowl caliber. He had five interceptions for 42 yards in 2004, five interceptions for 79 yards and a touchdown in 2005, and four interceptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns in 2008. In 13 years as a pro he started 165 of 175 games played, he had 649 tackles (575 solo), 32 interceptions for 553 yards and four touchdowns, 132 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 20 tackles for losses, two quarterback hits, and one sack.

4. Buffalo Bills-Darryl Talley, OLB, West Virginia, 1983

He played 14 years, mostly with the Buffalo Bills (1983-1994), followed by the Atlanta Falcons (1995) and Minnesota Vikings (1996). He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1990 and 1991, not for sacks like most outside linebackers, but a combination of all of the other statistics. For instance, in 1990 he had 123 tackles, four sacks, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions for 60 yards and a touchdown. In 14 seasons he started 187 of 216 games played, he had 1,252 tackles, 38.5 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries, and 12 interceptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns.

3. Dallas Cowboys-Daryl Johnston, FB, Syracuse, 1989

He spent his entire 11 year career with the Dallas Cowboys (1989-1999), and probably would have lasted longer if not for a career ending neck injury. He was the lead blocker for all time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, and earned back-to-back Pro Bowl trips in 1993 & 1994. He played on three Super Bowl winning teams, winning Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII & XXX. In 11 seasons he started 122 of 151 games, he had 232 carries for 753 yards and eight touchdowns, and 294 catches for 2,227 yards and 14 touchdowns.

2. San Francisco 49ers-Keena Turner, LB, Purdue, 1980

He spent his entire 11 year NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers (1980-1990). He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1984, when he had four sacks and two interceptions. He played on all four 49ers Super Bowl winning teams of the 1980’s, winning Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII, and XXIV. In 11 seasons he started 118 of 153 games played, and had 19.5 sacks, one safety, eight fumble recoveries for 65 yards and a touchdown, and 11 interceptions for 134 yards.

1. Minnesota Vikings-Ed White, G, California, 1969

He played in the NFL for 17 years, split between the Minnesota Vikings (1969-1977), and San Diego Chargers (1978-1985). He played on all four NFC Championship winning Vikings teams in the 1970’s before being traded to the Chargers for running back Rickey Young. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1975-1977, & 1979, and was a second team All-Pro from 1974-1976, and 1979. In 17 years he started 210 of 241 games played. He has been named to multiple all-time greats teams for both teams, including: the Minnesota Vikings 25^th Anniversary Team, Minnesota Vikings 40^th Anniversary Team, 50 Greatest Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers 40^th Anniversary Team, San Diego Chargers 50^th Anniversary Team, and he was named to the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame.