The 1985 NFL Draft

The 1985 NFL Draft, held from April 30 to May 1, 1985, at the Omni Park Central Hotel in New York City, is remembered for its exceptional talent, particularly in producing Hall of Fame-caliber players. This draft had a significant impact on the NFL landscape for years to come, with several picks becoming cornerstones of their respective franchises.

The 1985 NFL Draft produced Hall of Famers like Smith, Rice, and Doleman, as well as Reed and Greene, shaping NFL history with talent and key trades.

The Buffalo Bills made Virginia Tech defensive end Bruce Smith the first overall pick. Smith went on to become one of the greatest defensive ends in NFL history and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. His dominance and longevity established him as the league's all-time leader in sacks.

The early part of the first round also saw the Atlanta Falcons select offensive guard Bill Fralic (2nd overall), and the Houston Oilers took defensive tackle Ray Childress (3rd overall). The Minnesota Vikings selected defensive end/linebacker Chris Doleman with the 4th overall pick. Doleman, like Smith, was eventually enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his pass-rushing prowess. Lomas Brown, an offensive tackle from Florida, was selected by the Detroit Lions at pick number 6, and carved out a long and successful career.

One of the most notable selections of the 1985 draft was wide receiver Jerry Rice, chosen by the San Francisco 49ers with the 16th overall pick. Rice is widely considered the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, holding numerous receiving records and playing a pivotal role in the 49ers' dynasty. His combination of speed, route-running ability, and work ethic set a new standard for the position. The Bills also found another Hall of Famer in wide receiver Andre Reed, though much later in the draft (86th overall, in the 4th round). Reed became a key component of the Bills' high-powered offense that went to four consecutive Super Bowls.

While the first round produced several stars, some of the draft's best value came in the later rounds. The Los Angeles Rams' selection of linebacker Kevin Greene in the fifth round (113th overall) is considered one of the biggest steals in draft history. Greene became a prolific pass rusher and a Hall of Fame inductee.

An interesting situation also arose with the Dallas Cowboys. With the 114th pick, they selected running back Herschel Walker, who was then playing in the United States Football League (USFL). When the USFL folded, Dallas retained his rights and later traded him to the Minnesota Vikings in a multi-player, multi-draft-pick deal. This trade is remembered as one of the most lopsided in NFL history, as the Cowboys used the acquired assets to build a team that won three Super Bowls in the 1990s.

Other notable players from the first round included Al Toon (New York Jets), Jim Lachey (San Diego Chargers), and William "The Refrigerator" Perry (Chicago Bears). The 1985 NFL Draft stands as a testament to the importance of scouting and player evaluation, as it yielded a remarkable number of players who achieved greatness in the league.

Info courtesy of Newspapers.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com