1991 NFL Draft

The 1991 NFL Draft, held on April 21-22, 1991, was a significant event in professional football history, marking the beginning of several notable careers. This draft is particularly remembered for the selection of two eventual Hall of Famers, and for a few other players who, while not reaching the Hall of Fame, had very productive NFL careers. Here's a closer look at that draft:

✦ Top 30 Selections of the 1991 NFL Draft:

Here's a list of the first 30 picks from the 1991 NFL Draft:

✦ 1. Dallas Cowboys: Russell Maryland, DT, Miami (FL)

✦ 2. Cleveland Browns: Eric Turner, S, UCLA

✦ 3. Atlanta Falcons: Bruce Pickens, CB, Nebraska

✦ 4. Denver Broncos: Mike Croel, LB, Nebraska

✦ 5. Los Angeles Rams: Todd Lyght, CB, Notre Dame

✦ 6. Phoenix Cardinals: Eric Swann, DT, No College

✦ 7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Charles McRae, T, Tennessee

✦ 8. Philadelphia Eagles: Antone Davis, T, Tennessee

✦ 9. San Diego Chargers: Stanley Richard, S, Texas

✦ 10. Detroit Lions: Herman Moore, WR, Virginia

✦ 11. New England Patriots: Pat Harlow, T, USC

✦ 12. Dallas Cowboys: Alvin Harper, WR, Tennessee

✦ 13. Atlanta Falcons: Mike Pritchard, WR, Colorado

✦ 14. New England Patriots: Leonard Russell, RB, Arizona State

✦ 15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Huey Richardson, DE, Florida

✦ 16. Seattle Seahawks: Dan McGwire, QB, San Diego State

✦ 17. Washington Redskins: Bobby Wilson, DT, Michigan State

✦ 18. Cincinnati Bengals: Alfred Williams, LB, Colorado

✦ 19. Green Bay Packers: Vinnie Clark, CB, Ohio State

✦ 20. Dallas Cowboys: Kelvin Pritchett, DT, Mississippi

✦ 21. Kansas City Chiefs: Harvey Williams, RB, LSU

✦ 22. Chicago Bears: Stan Thomas, T, Texas

✦ 23. Miami Dolphins: Randal Hill, WR, Miami (FL)

✦ 24. Los Angeles Raiders: Todd Marinovich, QB, USC

✦ 25. San Francisco 49ers: Ted Washington, DT, Louisville

✦ 26. Buffalo Bills: Henry Jones, S, Illinois

✦ 27. New York Giants: Jarrod Bunch, FB, Michigan

✦ 28. Houston Oilers: Mike Dumas, S, Indiana

✦ 29. Cleveland Browns: Ed King, G, Auburn

✦ 30. Denver Broncos: Reggie Johnson, TE, Florida State

✦ Hall of Fame Players:

The 1991 NFL Draft produced two players who have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

✦ Brett Favre: Selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round with the 33rd overall pick, Favre was traded to the Green Bay Packers, where he became one of the most iconic quarterbacks in NFL history. Known for his toughness, strong arm, and longevity, Favre won Super Bowl XXXI with the Packers and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

✦ Aeneas Williams: Drafted by the Phoenix Cardinals in the third round with the 59th overall pick, Williams established himself as one of the premier cornerbacks in the league. He was known for his exceptional ball skills and transitioned to safety later in his career. Williams played for the Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

✦ [Other Significant Players:

✦ Besides the Hall of Famers, the 1991 draft also included several other players who had notable NFL careers:

✦ Herman Moore: Drafted by the Detroit Lions, Moore became one of the most productive wide receivers of the 1990s. He was known for his size, athleticism, and ability to make spectacular catches.

✦ Todd Lyght: Selected by the Los Angeles Rams, Lyght was a solid cornerback who won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams as part of "The Greatest Show on Turf".

✦ Ted Washington: A long-time defensive tackle, Washington played for several teams and was known for his size and run-stopping ability.

✦ Draft Notes:

The Dallas Cowboys had a particularly active draft, making several selections in the early rounds, including the first overall pick, Russell Maryland.

The 1991 draft is sometimes noted for the selection of Todd Marinovich, who was taken by the Los Angeles Raiders with the 24th overall pick. Marinovich's career was highly anticipated due to his upbringing, but he struggled with off-field issues and his NFL career was short-lived.