Top 5 LBs of the past.

by cmpotter on Jan 8, 2009 1:36 PM CST Comment 14 comments

It seems that the popular pick by fans on here is LB. With all but the Championship game over, we have had a chance to watch these favorite. Maualaga played well in there beat down of Penn State. Laurinitis didn't play bad, although it wasn't eye opening. Aaron Curry who Todd McShay has as the first linebacker picked on his list didn't have a bowl game. His game doesn't appear to have any holes in it, but the NFL is a different animal. Brian Cushing is good but not worth a top 5, and same for Spikes, who we will be watching tonight.

Here goes the list of top 5 LBs taken from last year to 1980:

2008-No top 5 taken. Vernon Gholston was the first one taken at 6. Hasn't worked out yet. Jerrod Mayo was taken 10th and he was defensive rookie of the year. There were 30 linebackers taken.

2007-No top 5 taken. Pat Willis was taken 11th and he is a beast. There were 35 linebackers taken.

2006-No top 5 taken. AJ Hawk was taken 6th. People will debate this, but I don't think he was worth it. 31 linebackers taken.

2005-No top 5 taken. DeMarcus Ware was taken 11th and Merriman was taken 12th. We took DJ 15th. There were 36 linebackers taken.

2004-No top 5 taken. Jonathan Vilma was taken 12th. He would sure look good with Arrowheads on his helmet. There were 28 linebacker taken.

2003-No top 5 taken. Terrel Suggs was taken 10th. He is a hybrid DE/LB and would look nice in KC. There were 32 taken. We took LJ, nice trade jackass!

2002-No top 5 taken. Napoleon Harris was taken 23rd. Ryan Simms #6? Boy if Carl had a time machine that would be the first place he went. Wonder if Dwight Freeney or Albert Haynesworth would be the new pick there? 27 linebackers taken.

2001-No top 5 taken. Dan Morgan was taken 11th. Was good, but neck injuries messed him up. We didn't have a #1 or a #2 one. Something about a trade for a coach or something? Maybe a QB? 30 LBs taken.

2000-Holy Crap! There was one taken top 5! LaVar Airington #2 and boy did that one work out.:) Urlacher was taken 9th. 30 LBs taken.

1999-No top 5 taken. Chris Claiborn was taken 9th. Where is he now?

1998-No top 5 taken. Keith Brooking was taken 11th. Not a bad LB.

1997-Peter Boulware taken 4th. He was pretty good. Definately can't call him a bust.

1996-Kevin Hardy taken 2nd. Not worth a top 5 but can't complain. He was good.

1995-No top taken. Mark Fields was taken 13th. Was average but not worth a high pick.

1994-Willie McGinnest was take 4th. Trev Alberts was taken 5th. McGinnest was a good pick and Alberts had a severe neck injury.

1993-Marvin Jones was taken 4th.

1992-Quinton Coryatt was taken 2nd. But the Colts effed that draft up. Entman #1 and Coryatt #2. Wow you had the top 2 picks and blew it that bad? Of course looking at the 1st rd that year, it waspretty bare. We got Dale Carter. Woohoo!

1991-Mike Croel was taken 4th. Don't remember much of him.

1990-Keith McCants was taken 4th and Seau was taken 5th. Seau has so far been the best one taken in the top 5. HOF for sho! McCants???? We took Percy Snow 13th. Way to follow up DT with that.

1989-DT at number 4! That worked out pretty well, wouldn't you say. If his life wasn't ended early,( RIP DT) we would't be having this HOF question because he would have added to his stats.

1988-No top 5 taken. Ken Harvey was taken 12th. I didn't know he played linebacker before 1st base. Wow he is old. LOL We took Neil Smth 2nd overall. Nice start Carl! What the hell happened?

1987-Cornellius Bennet was taken 2nd. Not to shabby.

1986-Anthony Bell was taken 5th. Don't remember him.

1985-Duane Bickett was taken 5th. Don't know much about him except, I remember the name on Tecmo Superbowl.

1984-Carl Banks was taken 3rd. Nice pick! He was pretty good.

1983-Billy Ray Smith was taken 5th. Who the hell is that?

1982-Johnie Cooks was was taken 2nd and Chip Banks was taken 3rd. Chip Banks was not a bad LB. Cooks? Never heard of him.

1981-LT was taken 2nd and EJ Junior was taken 5th. Not sure who EJ was but LT was a mad man. Nice HOF pick.

1980-No top 5 taken. Otis Wilson was taken 19th.

So there was a LB taken 16 of the last 29 drafts in the top 5, which is more than half. The thing with that is a LB hasn't been taken top five since 2000. So is there a LB worth taken with our 3rd pick? Pretty scary looing at the past, but it is like any other position.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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i think

it is a little bit easier to judge a LB than a QB. maybe thats just me but most of those top picks have been pretty consistent/ good players. Not too many busts

by DT58forever on Jan 8, 2009 1:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The recent top picks have been pretty consistent.

The thing is that they weren’t taken top 5.

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 8, 2009 2:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

REC'D

Keep ’em coming. Another good write-up.

Really like the names I see here, but the big question is if any of this years draft eligible players warrant a #3 pick. Tough call, and if that were the only hole to fill, I’d say HELL YES, but since we have more than one hole, and some of them probably more important than LB, I don’t think it’d be a good value pick for us.

However, if we address some of those needs in the offseason, then I’m all for Curry or Maulaluga with our pick (especially if we can trade down a couple spots)

by Chiefs n Chopper on Jan 8, 2009 2:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed keep these coming

It’s good to see reality vs. perception.

by Joel Thorman on Jan 8, 2009 2:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 8, 2009 2:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, I'm sold...

lets take Malaluga.

Proud to be a part of the Conference of Champions and their complete bowl season domination.

by HIV 2 Elway on Jan 8, 2009 2:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Great write up

Thanks for the comparison

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 8, 2009 2:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks.

It is fun to relive the past as on royalsretro!

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 8, 2009 2:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Cool perspective

Nice to see how they worked out. But I am pretty sure Curry had a Bowl Game, because I watched it. I just can’t remember what it was called. They played Navy again and beat them in a close game.

by TheQ on Jan 8, 2009 6:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes I overlooked that game.

Can’t find Curry’s stats from the game.

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 8, 2009 11:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He didn't show up like I thought he would

but he definitely looks like a NFL LB. After seeing M and L play their Bowl games, I still think I would prefer us to take Curry if we go that route. Malauaga is the biggest reward/risk player. If he can focus, he could be the next Seau, but I don’t think he is motivated like Junior was. Hard to say, with so many distractions at SC.

by TheQ on Jan 8, 2009 11:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs