The 1987 NFL Draft

The 1987 NFL Draft, held on April 28-29 in New York City, was a significant event in professional football history. This draft was highly anticipated, with teams looking to secure the next generation of stars. While it didn't produce a record number of Hall of Famers, it yielded several players who became cornerstones for their respective franchises, contributing to Super Bowl victories and earning Pro Bowl honors.

The 1987 NFL Draft produced stars like Hall of Famer Rod Woodson and durable players like Bruce Armstrong, impacting NFL franchises for many seasons.

✦ The First Round: Quarterbacks and Defensive Stars

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the first overall pick and selected quarterback Vinny Testaverde from the University of Miami. Testaverde had won the Heisman Trophy, and while his NFL career was lengthy, it was also marked by inconsistency. He bounced around several teams and ultimately became a reliable backup in his later years.

The Indianapolis Colts followed by taking linebacker Cornelius Bennett from the University of Alabama with the second pick. Bennett was a highly regarded player known for his athleticism and pass-rushing abilities. He became a stalwart for the Buffalo Bills, helping them reach multiple Super Bowls.

The first round also saw several other notable selections. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted cornerback Rod Woodson from Purdue University with the 10th overall pick. Woodson is one of the most decorated players in NFL history, eventually earning a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was known for his exceptional speed, ball skills, and versatility, playing both cornerback and safety at an elite level.

Other first-round picks included Jerome Brown, a defensive tackle from the University of Miami selected by the Philadelphia Eagles (9th overall), and Shane Conlan, a linebacker from Penn State chosen by the Buffalo Bills (8th overall). Both players were key contributors to their teams' defenses in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Chris Miller, a quarterback from Oregon, was selected by the Atlanta Falcons (13th overall) and had a decent career as a starter. Bruce Armstrong, an offensive tackle from Louisville, was drafted by the New England Patriots (23rd overall) and became a mainstay on their offensive line for many years, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections. Harris Barton, an offensive tackle from North Carolina, was picked by the San Francisco 49ers (22nd overall) and was a key part of their offensive line during their Super Bowl runs.

✦ Beyond the First Round: Key Contributors

The draft's impact extended into the later rounds as well. The St. Louis Cardinals selected safety Tim McDonald from USC in the second round (34th overall). McDonald became a reliable and respected player known for his hard-hitting style and leadership. Christian Okoye, a powerful running back from Azusa Pacific, was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round (35th overall).

Jim Harbaugh, a quarterback from Michigan, was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round (26th overall). While he was a solid quarterback, he later found greater success as a coach in the NFL.

✦ Football Legacy

The 1987 NFL Draft helped several teams establish strong foundations for the years to come. Rod Woodson's selection solidified his place as one of the all-time greats. Players like Cornelius Bennett, Bruce Armstrong, and Harris Barton provided stability and excellence for their franchises. While this draft might not be as celebrated as some others for its overall Hall of Fame output, it produced a significant number of players who had long and impactful careers, contributing to the success of their teams and leaving their mark on the game.

April 28, 1987 - The NFL Draft of 1987 took place and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers used their first overall pick to acquire University of Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde. Vinnie T. had a nice long career in the League playing for 21 seasons, all the way to 2007, wearing the uniforms of seven different franchises along the way, with over 46,000 yards passing and 275 TD throws. Testaverde is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but one of his classmates from the 1987 draft does own a Gold Jacket. Purdue corner Rod Woodson, who was the 10th overall pick by Pittsburgh. Woodson played 17 seasons himself in the NFL, picking off 71 passes in the process and scoring 15 TDs between the interceptions, fumbles, and kick returns.  
The balance of the top ten looked like this per the Pro Football Reference:

Pick    Tm    Player    Pos    College/Univ            
• 1    TAM    Vinny Testaverde    QB    Miami (FL)

✦ 2    IND     Cornelius Bennett    LB    Alabama

✦ 3    HOU    Alonzo Highsmith    RB    Miami (FL)

✦ 4    GNB    Brent Fullwood    RB    Auburn

✦ 5    CLE     Mike Junkin    LB    Duke

✦ 6    STL     Kelly Stouffer    QB    Colorado St.

✦ 7    DET    Reggie Rogers    DE    Washington

✦ 8    BUF    Shane Conlan    LB    Penn St.

✦ 9    PHI      Jerome Brown    DT    Miami (FL)

✦ 10  PIT      Rod Woodson    DB    Purdue

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com