1983 NFL Draft


The 1983 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 26–27, 1983, at the New York Sheraton Hotel in New York City, New York. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that year.
The draft is frequently referred to as the quarterback class of 1983, because six quarterbacks were taken in the first round—John Elway, Todd Blackledge, Jim Kelly, Tony Eason, Ken O'Brien, and Dan Marino—the highest number of first round picks for the position. Of these quarterbacks, Elway, Kelly, Eason, and Marino played in the Super Bowl, Elway, Kelly, O'Brien, and Marino were selected to play in the Pro Bowl, and Elway, Kelly, and Marino have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All six quarterbacks were drafted by American Football Conference teams, with every member of the five-team AFC East selecting a quarterback. In eleven of the sixteen years following this draft, the AFC was represented in the Super Bowl by a team led by one of these quarterbacks: five with the Denver Broncos and Elway, four with the Bills and Kelly, one with the Dolphins and Marino, and one with the Patriots and Eason.
They met with little success in the Super Bowl, however, compiling a 2–9 record among them, with an 0–9 record for their first 14 years in the league. The only two wins were by Elway in XXXII and XXXIII during his final two seasons in 1997 and 1998. Three of the most lopsided Super Bowl losses in history also came at the hands of quarterbacks from the Class of '83: Elway, a 55–10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in XXIV; Eason, a 46–10 loss to the Chicago Bears in XX; and Kelly, a 52–17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in XXVII. Marino would only reach the Super Bowl once in a 38–16 loss to San Francisco in XIX following the end of Marino's second season. Kelly and the Bills would appear in the Super Bowl for a record four consecutive years, from 1990 to 1993, but lost all four.
Of the six first round quarterbacks drafted, Hall of Famers Elway and Kelly did not sign with the teams that selected them for the 1983 season. Elway, who had made his antipathy towards the Colts known long before the draft, was also a promising baseball player in the New York Yankees organization. With Yankees owner George Steinbrenner aggressively pursuing a commitment from Elway to play baseball full-time, Elway and his agent, Marvin Demoff, successfully leveraged the threat of Elway abandoning football altogether to compel the Colts to trade Elway to the Broncos a few days after the draft.
Kelly, the other holdout, instead signed with the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League, where he led the springtime circuit in passing in both 1984 and 1985. Kelly was set to play for the New Jersey Generals when the USFL planned to switch to a fall season in 1986, but when the USFL won only $1 from its antitrust lawsuit vs. the NFL on July 29, 1986, Kelly finally signed with the Bills three weeks later.
Including the aforementioned Elway, Kelly, and Marino, a total of seven players drafted in the first round have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and eight players overall have been inducted. Each round of this draft also contained at least one player who was later selected to play in the Pro Bowl. Several websites, including Bleacher Report and Athlon Sports, have called the class of 1983 the greatest of all time.

Player selections

Round one

Round two

Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
29Baltimore ColtsVernon MaxwellLinebackerArizona State
30Houston OilersHarvey SalemTackleCalifornia
31Denver BroncosMark CooperTackleMiami
32Los Angeles RamsHenry EllardWide ReceiverFresno State
33Chicago BearsMike RichardsonCornerbackArizona State
34Kansas City ChiefsDave LutzGuardGeorgia Tech
35Philadelphia EaglesWes HopkinsSafetySouthern Methodist
36Los Angeles RamsMike WilcherLinebackerNorth Carolina
37New York GiantsLeonard MarshallDefensive EndLouisiana State
38New Orleans SaintsSteve KorteCenterArkansas
39Buffalo BillsDarryl TalleyLinebackerWest Virginia
40Detroit LionsRich StrengerTackleMichigan
41Cleveland BrownsRon BrownWide ReceiverArizona State
42Houston OilersKeith BosticSafetyMichigan
43Atlanta FalconsJames BrittCornerbackLouisiana State
44St. Louis CardinalsCedric MackCornerbackBaylor
45Tampa Bay BuccaneersRandy GrimesCenterBaylor
46Philadelphia EaglesJody SchulzLinebackerEast Carolina
47New England PatriotsDarryal WilsonWide ReceiverTennessee
48Green Bay PackersDave DrechslerGuardNorth Carolina
49San Francisco 49ersRoger CraigRunning BackNebraska
50Dallas CowboysMike WalterLinebackerOregon
51New York JetsJohnny HectorRunning BackTexas A&M
52Pittsburgh SteelersWayne CapersWide ReceiverKansas
53Cincinnati BengalsRay HortonSafetyWashington
54Los Angeles RaidersBill PickelDefensive TackleRutgers
55Miami DolphinsMike CharlesDefensive TackleSyracuse
56Washington RedskinsRichard WilliamsRunning BackMemphis

Round three

Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
57Baltimore ColtsGeorge AchicaNose TackleSouthern California
58Houston OilersTim JoinerLinebackerLouisiana State
59San Francisco 49ersBlanchard MontgomeryLinebackerUCLA
60Denver BroncosClint SampsonWide ReceiverSan Diego State
61Kansas City ChiefsAlbert LewisCornerbackGrambling
62Philadelphia EaglesGlen YoungWide ReceiverMississippi State
63New York GiantsJamie WilliamsTight EndNebraska
64Chicago BearsDave DuersonSafetyNotre Dame
65New Orleans SaintsJohn TiceTight EndMaryland
66New Orleans SaintsCliff AustinRunning BackClemson
67Detroit LionsMike CoferLinebackerTennessee
68Cleveland BrownsReggie CampDefensive EndCalifornia
69Houston OilersChris DresselTight EndStanford
70New York GiantsKarl NelsonTackleIowa State
71St. Louis CardinalsRamsey DardarDefensive TackleLouisiana State
72Tampa Bay BuccaneersJeremiah CastilleCornerbackAlabama
73Minnesota VikingsWalker Lee AshleyLinebackerPenn State
74New England PatriotsStephen StarringWide ReceiverMcNeese State
75Atlanta FalconsAndrew ProvenceNose TackleSouth Carolina
76Miami DolphinsCharles BensonDefensive EndBaylor
77Dallas CowboysBryan CaldwellDefensive EndArizona State
78New York JetsJoJo TownsellWide ReceiverUCLA
79Pittsburgh SteelersTodd SeabaughLinebackerSan Diego State
80New England PatriotsSteve MooreGuardTennessee State
81Cincinnati BengalsJim TurnerSafetyUCLA
82Los Angeles RaidersTony CaldwellLinebackerWashington
83Houston OilersSteve BrownCornerbackOregon
84Washington RedskinsCharles MannDefensive EndNevada

Round four

Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
85Baltimore ColtsPhil SmithWide receiverSan Diego State
86Houston OilersGreg HillCornerbackOklahoma State
87Los Angeles RamsChuck NelsonKickerWashington
88Houston OilersMike McCloskeyTight endPenn State
89Philadelphia EaglesMike WilliamsRunning backMississippi College
90San Francisco 49ersTom HolmoeSafetyBrigham Young
91Chicago BearsTom ThayerCenterNotre Dame
92Kansas City ChiefsRon WetzelTight endArizona State
93Buffalo BillsTrey JunkinLinebackerLouisiana Tech
94Detroit LionsAugust CurleyLinebackerUSC
95San Diego ChargersDanny WaltersCornerbackArkansas
96St. Louis CardinalsMark DudaDefensive tackleMaryland
97Los Angeles RamsVince NewsomeCornerbackWashington
98New Orleans SaintsGary LewisDefensive tackleOklahoma State
99Tampa Bay BuccaneersKelly ThomasTackleUSC
100Minnesota VikingsMark RushRunning backMiami
101New England PatriotsJohnny RembertLinebackerClemson
102Atlanta FalconsJohn HarperLinebackerSouthern Illinois
103St. Louis CardinalsLionel WashingtonCornerbackTulane
104Green Bay PackersMike MillerWide receiverTennessee
105New York JetsWes HowellTight endCalifornia
106Pittsburgh SteelersBo Scott MetcalfDefensive backBaylor
107Chicago BearsPat DunsmoreTight endDrake
108Dallas CowboysChris FaulknerTight endFlorida
109Cincinnati BengalsSteve MaidlowLinebackerMichigan State
110Los Angeles RaidersGreg TownsendDefensive endTexas Christian
111Los Angeles RamsDoug ReedDefensive tackleSan Diego State
112Buffalo BillsJimmy PayneDefensive endGeorgia

Round five

Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
113Baltimore ColtsSid AbramowitzTackleTulsa
114Houston OilersLarry MoriartyRunning backNotre Dame
115Detroit LionsDemetrious JohnsonSafetyMissouri
116Denver BroncosWeedy HarrisLinebackerHouston
117San Francisco 49ersRiki EllisonLinebackerUSC
118New England PatriotsSmiley CreswellDefensive endMichigan State
119Kansas City ChiefsJim ArnoldPunterVanderbilt
120Philadelphia EaglesByron DarbyDefensive tackleUSC
121Detroit LionsSteve MottCenterAlabama
122Cleveland BrownsBill ContzTacklePenn State
123Seattle SeahawksChris CastorWide receiverDuke
124New York GiantsMalcolm ScottTight endLouisiana State
125Denver BroncosBruce BaldwinDefensive backHarding
126Buffalo BillsMatt VandenboomDefensive backWisconsin
127Minnesota VikingsMark StewartLinebackerWashington
128New England PatriotsDarryl LewisTight endTexas-Arlington
129Atlanta FalconsBrett MillerTackleIowa
130St. Louis CardinalsSteve BirdWide receiverEastern Kentucky
131Tampa Bay BuccaneersTony ChickilloDefensive tackleMiami
132Green Bay PackersBryan ThomasRunning backPittsburgh
133Pittsburgh SteelersPaul SkansiWide receiverWashington
134Los Angeles RamsOtis GrantWide receiverMichigan State
135Dallas CowboysChuck McSwainRunning backClemson
136New York JetsJohn WalkerDefensive tackleNebraska-Omaha
137Cincinnati BengalsJeff ChristensenQuarterbackEastern Illinois
138Los Angeles RaidersDokie WilliamsWide receiverUCLA
139Houston OilersJerome FosterDefensive tackleOhio State
140Pittsburgh SteelersGregg GarrityWide receiverPenn State

Round six

Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
141San Diego ChargersTrumaine JohnsonWide receiverGrambling
142Houston OilersSteve HaworthDefensive backOklahoma
143Denver BroncosVictor HeflinDefensive backDelaware State
144Los Angeles RamsGary KowalskiTackleBoston College
145Cleveland BrownsTim StrackaTight endWisconsin
146Kansas City ChiefsEllis GardnerTackleGeorgia Tech
147Philadelphia EaglesVictor OatisWide receiverNorthwest Louisiana
148Tampa Bay BuccaneersGene BrantonWide receiverTexas Southern
149Cleveland BrownsDave PuzzuoliDefensive tacklePittsburgh
150Seattle SeahawksReginald GipsonRunning backAlabama A&M
151New York GiantsDarrell PattersonLinebackerTexas Christian
152Cincinnati BengalsKiki DeAyalaLinebackerTexas
153New York GiantsKevin BelcherGuardTexas-El Paso
154Detroit LionsTodd BrownWide receiverNebraska
155New England PatriotsMike BassKickerIllinois
156Atlanta FalconsAnthony AllenWide receiverWashington
157St. Louis CardinalsGeorge SchmittDefensive backDelaware
158Tampa Bay BuccaneersKen KaplanTackleNew Hampshire
159Minnesota VikingsMike JonesWide receiverTennessee State
160Green Bay PackersRon SamsGuardPittsburgh
161Baltimore ColtsGrant FeaselCenterAbilene Christian
162Dallas CowboysReggie CollierQuarterbackSouthern Mississippi
163New York JetsVincent WhiteRunning backStanford
164Pittsburgh SteelersEric WilliamsDefensive backNorth Carolina State
165Cincinnati BengalsLarry KinnebrewRunning backTennessee State
166Washington RedskinsBob WincklerTackleWisconsin
167Miami DolphinsReggie RobyPunterIowa
168Washington RedskinsBabe LaufenbergQuarterbackIndiana

Round seven

Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
169Baltimore ColtsAlvin MooreRunning backArizona State
170Houston OilersHerkie WallsWide receiverTexas
171Los Angeles RamsJeff SimmonsWide receiverUSC
172Denver BroncosMyron DupreeDefensive backNorth Carolina Central
173Kansas City ChiefsKen ThomasRunning backSan Jose State
174Philadelphia EaglesAnthony EdgarRunning backHawaii
175San Francisco 49ersGary MotenLinebackerSouthern Methodist
176Cleveland BrownsRocky BelkWide receiverMiami
177Seattle SeahawksSam MerrimanLinebackerIdaho
178New York GiantsPerry WilliamsCornerbackNorth Carolina State
179Kansas City ChiefsDaryl PoseyRunning backMississippi College
180Buffalo BillsGurnest BrownDefensive tackleMaryland
181Detroit LionsMike BlackPunterArizona State
182Philadelphia EaglesJon SchultheisGuardPrinceton
183Atlanta FalconsJeff TurkDefensive backBoise State
184St. Louis CardinalsCarlos ScottCenterTexas-El Paso
185Tampa Bay BuccaneersWeldon LedbetterRunning backOklahoma
186Minnesota VikingsCarl LeeCornerbackMarshall
187New England PatriotsCraig JamesRunning backSouthern Methodist
188Green Bay PackersJessie ClarkRunning backArkansas
189Dallas CowboysChris SchultzTackleArizona
190New York JetsDarrin NewboldLinebackerSW Missouri State
191Pittsburgh SteelersMark KirchnerGuardBaylor
192San Diego ChargersBill ElkoDefensive tackleLouisiana State
193Cincinnati BengalsJames GriffinDefensive backMiddle Tennessee State
194Los Angeles RaidersJeff McCallRunning backClemson
195Miami DolphinsKeith WoetzelLinebackerRutgers
196Washington RedskinsKelvin BryantRunning backNorth Carolina

Round eight

Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
197Denver BroncosGary KubiakQuarterbackTexas A&M
198Houston OilersRobert ThompsonLinebackerMichigan
199Pittsburgh SteelersHenry OdomRunning backSouth Carolina State
200Los Angeles RamsTroy WestDefensive backUSC
201Philadelphia EaglesRich KraynakLinebackerPittsburgh
202San Diego ChargersEarnest JacksonRunning backTexas A&M
203Chicago BearsRichard DentDefensive endTennessee State
204Kansas City ChiefsIrv EatmanTackleUCLA
205New York GiantsAndy HeadenLinebackerClemson
206New Orleans SaintsDavid GreenwoodDefensive backWisconsin
207Buffalo BillsJames DurhamDefensive backHouston
208Detroit LionsBill StapletonDefensive backWashington
209Cleveland BrownsMike McClearnGuardTemple
210Seattle SeahawksMatt HernandezTacklePurdue
211St. Louis CardinalsBob HarrisDefensive backAuburn
212Tampa Bay BuccaneersJohn SamuelsonLinebackerAzusa Pacific
213Minnesota VikingsNorris BrownTight endGeorgia
214New England PatriotsRonnie LippettDefensive backMiami
215Atlanta FalconsJohn RadeLinebackerBoise State
216Green Bay PackersCarlton BriscoeDefensive backMcNeese State
217New York JetsDavlin MullenDefensive backWestern Kentucky
218Pittsburgh SteelersCraig DunawayTight endMichigan
219Chicago BearsMark BortzGuardIowa
220Dallas CowboysLawrence RicksRunning backMichigan
221Cincinnati BengalsMike MartinWide receiverIllinois
222Los Angeles RaidersMike DottererRunning backStanford
223Miami DolphinsMark ClaytonWide receiverLouisville
224Washington RedskinsTodd HallstromTackleMinnesota

Round nine

Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
225Baltimore ColtsJim MillsTackleHawaii
226Houston OilersKevin PotterDefensive backMissouri
227Los Angeles RamsJack BelcherCenterBoston College
228Denver BroncosBrian HawkinsDefensive backSan Jose State
229San Francisco 49ersMike MularkeyTight endFlorida
230Chicago BearsRob FadaGuardPittsburgh
231Kansas City ChiefsAdam LingnerCenterIllinois
232Philadelphia EaglesRich PelzerTackleRhode Island
233New England PatriotsRicky WilliamsRunning backLangston
234Buffalo BillsGeorge ParkerRunning backNorfolk State
235Chicago BearsMark ZavagninLinebackerNotre Dame
236Seattle SeahawksBob ClasbyDefensive tackleNotre Dame
237New York GiantsAli Haji-SheikhKickerMichigan
238Tampa Bay BuccaneersHasson ArbubakrrDefensive tackleTexas Tech
239Minnesota VikingsRod AchterWide receiverToledo
240New England PatriotsMark KeelTight endArizona
241Baltimore ColtsChris RoseTackleStanford
242St. Louis CardinalsOtis BrownRunning backJackson State
243Green Bay PackersRobin HamCenterWest Texas State
244Pittsburgh SteelersBlake WingleGuardUCLA
245San Diego ChargersMike GreenLinebackerOklahoma State
246Dallas CowboysAl GrossDefensive backArizona
247New York JetsBobby HumphreyWide receiverNew Mexico State
248Cincinnati BengalsStanley WilsonRunning backOklahoma
249Los Angeles RaidersKent JordanTight endSt. Mary's
250Miami DolphinsMark BrownLinebackerPurdue
251Washington RedskinsMarcus GilbertRunning backTexas Christian

Round ten

Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
252Baltimore ColtsRonald HopkinsDefensive backMurray State
253Green Bay PackersByron WilliamsWide receiverTexas-Arlington
254Denver BroncosWalt BowyerDefensive endArizona State
255Minnesota VikingsMelvin BrownDefensive backMississippi
256Chicago BearsAnthony HutchisonRunning backTexas Tech
257Kansas City ChiefsMark ShumateDefensive tackleWisconsin
258Philadelphia EaglesThomas StrauthersDefensive tackleJackson State
259San Francisco 49ersJeff MerrellDefensive tackleNebraska
260Buffalo BillsRichard TharpeDefensive tackleLouisville
261Detroit LionsDave LaubeGuardPenn State
262Cleveland BrownsThomas HopkinsTackleAlabama State
263Seattle SeahawksPete SperosGuardPenn State
264New England PatriotsJames WilliamsTight endWyoming
265New England PatriotsToby WilliamsDefensive endNebraska
266Minnesota VikingsWalter TateCenterTennessee State
267New England PatriotsTom RamseyQuarterbackUCLA
268Atlanta FalconsRalph GiacomarroPunterPenn State
269St. Louis CardinalsTim LucasLinebackerCalifornia
270Tampa Bay BuccaneersDarius DurhamWide receiverSan Diego State
271Green Bay PackersJimmy ThomasDefensive backIndiana
272San Diego ChargersBruce MathisonQuarterbackNebraska
273Dallas CowboysEric MoranTackleWashington
274New York JetsDan FikeTackleFlorida
275Pittsburgh SteelersRoosevelt StraughterDefensive backN.E. Louisiana
276Cincinnati BengalsTim KrumrieDefensive tackleWisconsin
277Los Angeles RaidersMervyn FernandezWide receiverSan Jose State
278Miami DolphinsAnthony ReedRunning backSouth Carolina State
279Washington RedskinsGeff GandyLinebackerBaylor

Round eleven

Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
280Baltimore ColtsJim Bob TaylorQuarterbackGeorgia Tech
281New York GiantsLee JenkinsDefensive backTennessee
282Los Angeles RamsDanny TriplettLinebackerClemson
283Denver BroncosDon BaileyCenterMiami
284Kansas City ChiefsDwayne JacksonDefensive endSouth Carolina State
285Philadelphia EaglesSteve SebaharCenterWashington State
286Chicago BearsGary WorthyRunning backWilmington
287Detroit LionsBen TateRunning backNorth Carolina Central
288Cleveland BrownsBoyce GreenRunning backCarson-Newman
289San Francisco 49ersJesse SapoluCenterHawaii
290Seattle SeahawksBob MayberryGuardClemson
291New York GiantsClenzie PiersonDefensive tackleRice
292New England PatriotsSteve ParkerWide receiverAbilene Christian
293Buffalo BillsLarry WhiteDefensive endJackson State
294New England PatriotsCalvin EasonDefensive backHouston
295Atlanta FalconsJohn SalleyDefensive backWyoming
296St. Louis CardinalsAaron WilliamsWide receiverWashington
297Tampa Bay BuccaneersMark WitteTight endNorth Texas State
298Minnesota VikingsBrian ButcherGuardClemson
299Green Bay PackersBucky ScribnerPunterKansas
300Dallas CowboysDan TaylorTackleIdaho State
301New York JetsMike HarmonWide receiverMississippi
302Pittsburgh SteelersMark RaughTight endWest Virginia
303San Diego ChargersTim KearseWide receiverSan Jose State
304Cincinnati BengalsGary WilliamsWide receiverOhio State
305Cleveland BrownsHoward McAdooLinebackerMichigan State
306Miami DolphinsJoe LukensGuardOhio State
307San Diego ChargersTim SpencerRunning backOhio State

Round twelve

Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
308Baltimore ColtsCarl WilliamsWide receiverTexas Southern
309New York GiantsRobbie JonesLinebackerAlabama
310Denver BroncosKarl MecklenburgLinebackerMinnesota
311Los Angeles RamsClete CasperQuarterbackWashington State
312Philadelphia EaglesDavid MangrumQuarterbackBaylor
313Chicago BearsOliver WilliamsWide receiverIllinois
314San Diego ChargersBilly BlaylockDefensive backTennessee Tech
315Kansas City ChiefsKen JonesTackleTennessee
316Cleveland BrownsPaul FarrenTackleBoston University
317Seattle SeahawksDon DowTackleWashington
318New York GiantsFrank MagwoodWide receiverClemson
319New England PatriotsWaddell KellyRunning backArkansas State
320Buffalo BillsJulius DawkinsWide receiverPittsburgh
321Detroit LionsJim LaneCenterIdaho State
322Atlanta FalconsAllama MatthewsTight endVanderbilt
323St. Louis CardinalsJames LaneLinebackerAlabama State
324Tampa Bay BuccaneersJohn HigginbothamDefensive tackleN.E. Oklahoma
325Minnesota VikingsMaurice TurnerRunning BackUtah State
326New England PatriotsAndy EkernTackleMissouri
327Green Bay PackersJohn HarveyLinebackerUSC
328New York JetsStu CrumKickerTulsa
329San Diego ChargersChuck EhinDefensive tackleBrigham Young
330Pittsburgh SteelersRoger WileyRunning backSam Houston State
331Dallas CowboysLorenzo BouierRunning backMaine
332Cincinnati BengalsAndre YoungLinebackerBowling Green
333Los Angeles RaidersScott LindquistQuarterbackNorthern Arizona
334Miami DolphinsAnthony CarterWide receiverMichigan
335New York GiantsJohn TuggleRunning backCalifornia

Hall of Fame inductees