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CLASS ACTS
Names in bold are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
1948
ALABAMA'S Harry Gilmer, a single-wing back, went first overall in '48, but it was the two Southern gunslingers taken after him who distinguished this draft.
BOBBY LAYNE
Texas (Round 1, 3rd overall, Bears)
With a pick originally belonging to the Steelers, Chicago got a Canton-bound legend
Y.A. TITTLE(Right)
LSU (R1, 6, Lions)
Spent three seasons with Baltimore (two in the AAFC) before moving to the Niners and then the Giants in a 17-year Hall of Fame career
1957
A DRAFT THAT produced nine Hall of Fame players (second-most behind the 10 in 1964) including Paul Hornung, Jim Brown and Don Maynard, also was one of the richest in passing—and in one case political—talent.
JOHN BRODIE(far left)
Stanford (R1, 3, 49ers)
Only Niner with more attempts, yards, completions: Montana
LEN DAWSON
Purdue (R1, 5, Steelers)
Unwanted in Pittsburgh, found stardom and a Super Bowl title with Chiefs
MILT PLUMPenn State (R2, 17, Browns)
Three-time NFL accuracy leader; 110.4 passer rating in '60 is best pre-1989
SONNY JURGENSEN(left)
Duke (R4, 43, Eagles)
Classic passer led NFL in yards five times over 18-year career
JACK KEMP
Occidental (R17, 203, Lions)
Future cabinet member and V.P. nominee was cut from five pro teams before latching on with Buffalo, whom he led to two AFL titles
1961
THE EXPANSION Vikings waited until the third round to tap their quarterback of the future, who turned out to be the best of a top-notch trio of long-lasting passers.
NORM SNEAD
Wake Forest (R1, 2, Redskins)
Four Pro Bowl selections during a 16-year career with five teams
BILLY KILMER
UCLA (R1, 11, 49ers)
Master of the wounded duck won 68% of his starts for the Skins from '71 to '78
FRAN TARKENTON(right)
Georgia (R3, 29, Vikings)
In second stint with the Vikes in the '70s, took them to three Super Bowls; fourth alltime in TD passes, sixth in yards
1971
NO, THERE isn't a Hall of Famer among this bunch, but the class of '71 produced six QBs who became solid pros and some of the decade's most memorable names.
JIM PLUNKETT(right)
Stanford (R1, 1, Patriots)
Heisman winner floundered until a late-career rebirth in Oakland
ARCHIE MANNING
Mississippi (R1, 2, Saints)
Never could gets Saints unstuck but remains beloved in the Big Easy
DAN PASTORINI
Santa Clara (R1, 3, Oilers)
Piloted Houston in memorable shootouts with division-rival Steelers
LYNN DICKEY
Kansas State (R3, 56, Oilers)
Ranks third behind Favre and Starr in most Packers' passing categories
KEN ANDERSON
Augustana (R3, 67, Bengals)
Mentored by Bill Walsh, steal of '71 led NFL four times in passer rating
JOE THEISMANN(below)
Notre Dame (R4, 99, Dolphins)
Spent three seasons in the CFL before joining the Skins in '74; won Super Bowl XVII and was NFL MVP in '83
1983
GREATEST QB CLASS ever? Hard to argue with three Hall of Famers, though how the Chiefs, Pats and Jets passed on Marino remains one of the NFL's great mysteries. Note, too, that future Saints stalwart Bobby Hebert came out in '83 but went to the USFL and (unlike Kelly) was not part of this stellar draft.
JOHN ELWAY(above)
Stanford (R1, 1, Colts)
Refused to sign with Colts; became greatest-ever Bronco
TODD BLACKLEDGE
Penn State (R1, 7, Chiefs)
1982 Davey O'Brien winner failed to pan out as a pro
JIM KELLY
Miami (R1, 14, Bills)
After two seasons in the USFL, joined Bills and led them to four Super Bowls
TONY EASON
Illinois (R1, 15, Patriots)
Started Super Bowl XX for the Pats
KEN O'BRIEN
UC Davis (R1, 24, Jets)
Two Pro Bowls; led NFL in passer rating in '85
DAN MARINO(left)
Pitt (R1, 27, Dolphins)
Upon retirement, held NFL career marks for attempts, completions, yards and TDs
PHOTO
UPI/CORBIS (TITTLE)
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AP (BRODIE)
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DUKE SPORTS INFORMATION (JURGENSEN)
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GEORGIA/COLLEGIATE IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES (TARKENTON)
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LONG PHOTOGRAPHY INC. (PLUNKETT)
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LONG PHOTOGRAPHY INC. (THEISMANN)
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RICHARD MACKSON (ELWAY)
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HEINZ KLUETMEIER (MARINO)
