Looking back at the 1989 NFL Draft...30 years later

Aikman's final game at UCLA was at the Cotton Bowl where the Dallas media jumped all over the fact that Cowboys coach Tom Landry was watching him during Bruins practices. Landry wouldn't get to draft Aikman, as new owner Jerry Jones fired him and installed Jimmy Johnson as head coach. Dallas would draft Aikman first overall and would win three Super Bowls within the next seven seasons. He would enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Before the 1989 draft, Mandarich received a lot of buzz as one of the greatest offensive line prospects ever. Sports Illustrated famously put him on its cover with the headline "The Incredible Bulk." His personality was as large as his stature, and the Packers made him the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. Mandarich would hold out until the week before the regular season. Green Bay would cut him after three years and after being out of the league (and undergoing treatment for substance abuse), he would return a few years later with the Colts. A shoulder injury forced him into retirement after the 1998 season. He is generally considered one of the biggest busts in NFL Draft history not just because of his lackluster career but also because of the future Hall of Famers drafted around him. 

Prior to the 1990 season, the NFL allowed only seniors to enter the draft unless they were granted an exception from the league. Sanders, who won the 1988 Heisman Trophy with arguably the best season any collegiate player has ever had, applied for an exception since Oklahoma State was about to be placed on probation by the NCAA. Sanders went No. 3 overall and turned in one of the finest careers by a running back. He set or tied many records during his 10-year career, and only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton, who both played many more years that Sanders, rushed for more yards. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. In 1990, the year after Sanders was drafted, the NFL allowed juniors to enter the draft without exception. 

Alabama's Derrick Thomas went No. 4 overall to the Chiefs. He would be the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1989 and in 1990 set the single-game sack record with seven (poor Dave Krieg) in a loss over the Seahawks. In that game, Thomas would miss a sack on Krieg, who threw a touchdown on the game's final play to win the game. He would spend 11 years in Kansas City before he died from injuries sustained in a car accident after the 1999 season. He would posthumously enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.  

With the fifth pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, the Falcons selected Deion Sanders. He would play for Atlanta for four seasons before moving on to the 49ers and the Cowboys where he'd win a Super Bowl with both franchises. He also played baseball during his football career and remains the only player to play in a Super Bowl and World Series. His is regarded as one of the best cover cornerbacks ever (though he was seen as a bad tackler) and continues to be a mentor to young players. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

The 1989 NFL Draft would have four of its first five picks enter the Hall of Fame. 

With the 22nd pick in the draft, the Colts picked Michigan State receiver Andre Rison. Rison would have one of the more colorful NFL careers, especially when he was traded to the Falcons after his rookie year. He was one of the league's best receivers during this time and helped make the Falcons (along with Deion Sanders) one of the more fun teams to watch. He had a public relationship with TLC's Left Eye and would win a Super Bowl with the Packers.

Other notable first-rounders include Broderick Thomas, Trace Armstrong, Eric Metcalf and Steve Atwater. 

Let's jump ahead for a moment: In one of the more bizarre moves during the 1989 offseason, the Cowboys used the No. 2 overall pick in the 1989 Supplemental Draft on Miami's Steve Walsh. Walsh was the quarterback in Miami under new Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson. The move was controversial because Dallas used the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft on Troy Aikman. The move also meant the team forfeited its first round pick in 1990, which turned out to be the No. 1 overall selection. (They could have used it on Cortez Kennedy or Junior Seau.) Walsh would start five games for Dallas in his rookie season and won its only game that year. He would be traded to the Saints early in the 1990 season and would bounce around the remainder of his career.  

The Cowboys used the first pick in the second round on guard Steve Wisniewski, but would trade him and a sixth-round pick to the Raiders for picks in the second, third and fifth rounds. Wisniewski was an eight-time Pro Bowler for the Raiders and was named to the NFL's "All 1990s Team." The second-round pick that Dallas obtained in the deal was used on Daryl "Moose" Johnston. Johnston would win three Super Bowls with the Cowboys and was key to the success of their offense — so much so that the NFL created a fullback position for the Pro Bowl. He blocked for Emmitt Smith and punched in 22 touchdowns of his own. He is now (like former teammate Troy Aikman) a color analyst for FOX.

Other notable second-round picks in 1989 include Lawyer Tillman, Carnell Lake, Dennis Byrd, Billy Joe Tolliver and Wesley Walls.

You can forgive everyone for not paying attention when the Buffalo Bills used the 82nd overall pick on a receiver from Chadron State named Don Beebe. His stats over his nine-year career aren't really anything to scream about, but he made one of the most impressive plays in Super Bowl history, albeit it had no real effect on the outcome of the game. Down 52-17 late in Super Bowl XXVII, Beebe chased down Cowboys defensive lineman Leon Lett as he was returning a fumble for a touchdown. His effort was immediately lauded and has been used by coaches and teachers ever since as an example of displaying determination even if things aren't going your way. Beebe would be part of six Super Bowl teams in his nine seasons, winning Super Bowl XXXI with the Packers.

Other notable third-round picks include Mark Stepnoski, Mike Utley and Marv Cook.

In the fifth round, the Giants used the 132nd overall pick on David Meggett from Morgan State. Meggett was used primarily as a kick and punt returner and would lead the NFL in punt return yards his rookie season and would earn a trip to the Pro Bowl. In his second season he would see more carries, as Rodney Hampton was injured, and he helped the Giants win Super Bowl XXV. He would move on to the Patriots and in 1996 had the best season of his career and went to another Super Bowl. He retired with the most punt return yards in NFL history (a record that has since been broken). His post-football career has seen him have many run-ins with the law, and he is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence.

Other notable fifth round picks include: Jeff Uhlenhake, Tony Martin, Vince Workman and Darren Carrington. 

Rodney Peete was the first USC quarterback to win the Johnny Unitas Award and finished second to Barry Sanders in Heisman voting. He fell to the sixth round but created a 16-year career. He was drafted by the Lions, who rotated a stable of quarterbacks during his five seasons in Detroit. After bouncing around as a backup for the Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins and Raiders, he would find success starting 14 games for the Panthers in 2002 and going 7-7. (Carolina lost the two games he didn't start.) He was replaced in the first game of the 2003 season by Jake Delhomme, and Peete would remain the backup until he retired in 2005.

Notable sixth-round picks include Chris Jacke, Chris Mohr and Bo Orlando.

In the sixth round, the Giants drafted Alabama tight end Howard Cross. Cross was one of the finest blocking tight ends of his time and would win a Super Bowl ring in 1990. In fact, he's the only player to play on the Giants Super Bowl XXV team that beat the Bills and the Super Bowl XXXV team that lost to the Ravens. Only Eli Manning and Michael Strahan played in more games with the franchise. 

We all know the story of Deion Sanders — who was drafted No. 5 overall in this draft — and his career as a football and baseball player. Well, "Prime Time" wasn't the only defensive back drafted in 1989 who would eventually play for the Falcons and Braves. Brian Jordan was drafted 173rd overall by the Bills. Buffalo cut him during training camp, but he would catch on with the Falcons. In 1991 he would lead the team in tackles and would be named to the Pro Bowl. After the season the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team would sign Jordan to a bonus if he gave up football. He did, leaving his promising NFL career after just three seasons. He would play 15 major league seasons with the Cards, Braves, Dodgers and Rangers.

Other notable seventh-round picks include D.J. Johnson and Marion Butts.

Indiana's Pete Stoyanovich was taken with the 203rd pick in the draft by the Miami Dolphins. In the 1990-1991 season, he kicked an NFL playoff record 58-yard field goal in a wild card game against the Chiefs. In 1992 Stoyanovich would lead the NFL in scoring and would become an All-Pro for the only time in his career. He also was a kicking double in "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" and would cameo as a former Dolphin who was using the bathroom while Ace was looking at championship rings. 

In the 10th round — yes, there was a 10th round — an offensive lineman who grew up in Alaska and went to college at Idaho was selected with the 263rd pick in the draft. The Redskins picked Mark Schlereth, who would go on to win three Super Bowl championships (one with Washington and two with Denver). Schlereth, nicknamed "Stink," retired after 12 seasons and nearly 30 surgeries. He would be best known for his post-football career working as an analyst for ESPN and FOX Sports. 

Shannon was selected with the first pick in the 11th round (280th pick) by the Dallas Cowboys. New Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson was Shannon's coach at the University of Miami and took a flyer on his undersized linebacker. Shannon would last just two seasons in the NFL but went back to school to become a coach for the Hurricanes. After 16 years of being a defensive coach for Miami's Hurricanes and Dolphins, he got the head coaching job at his alma mater. He went 28-22 in four seasons and was fired in 2010. He is currently the defensive coordinator at UCF. 

When you are drafting for 12 rounds, you start taking a flyer on guys you think could do something if they get a chance. That's exactly what the Steelers did when they picked Carlton Haselrig with the 312th pick. Haselrig didn't play football at Pitt-Johnstown, but instead was a championship wrestler. He won six NCAA titles in wrestling and held a 122-match winning streak. In the NFL he played just five years (four in Pittsburgh) as an offensive guard and was named to the 1992 All-Pro Team. 

Jason Garrett had a weird college career. After starting for the freshman team at Princeton, he transferred to Columbia when his dad took over as head coach. His father resigned after an 0-10 season, and Garrett transferred back to Princeton. The Saints signed him as an undrafted free agent, but he was cut prior to the season. He bounced around in the WLAF and CFL before the Cowboys brought him in as Troy Aikman's backup in 1992. His claim to fame as a player was coming in and beating the Packers on Thanksgiving Day and winning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. He is now best known as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, a position he's held longer than anyone other than Tom Landry. 

Just because you didn't get drafted doesn't mean you can't have a bit of an NFL career. Tom Waddle played six seasons for the Bears at wide receiver. He now works for ESPN and is co-host of the "Waddle and Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. David Treadwell (kicker) and Rick Tuten (punter) became Pro Bowl special teams players. Tracy Simien was a linebacker for the Chiefs for seven seasons and offensive lineman Erik Norgard was in the league for 10 seasons. 

Typically the Supplemental Draft isn't big even in the NFL, though some good players have come through there. Those players didn't enter the original NFL Draft but decided to go pro later on (usually over eligibility issues). The 1989 Supplemental Draft was the most active ever with five players selected. We already covered the Cowboys using a first-round pick on quarterback Steve Walsh, but the Cardinals (Timm Rosenbach) and Broncos (Bobby Humphrey) also used first-round picks to nab players. The Bills grabbed DB Brett Young in the eighth round, while the Cowboys struck again with RB Mike Lowman in the 12th. Only Humphrey would reach Pro Bowl status.