Fansided

10 biggest what-ifs in NFL Draft history

By Russell S. Baxter

BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 2001: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts during an NFL football game circa 2001 at PNINet Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Lewis played for the Ravens from 1996-2012 (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 2001: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts during an NFL football game circa 2001 at PNINet Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Lewis played for the Ravens from 1996-2012 (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – 1976: Running back Tony Dorsett of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers looks on from the sideline during a college football game at Pitt Stadium in 1976 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – 1976: Running back Tony Dorsett of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers looks on from the sideline during a college football game at Pitt Stadium in 1976 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

8. Seahawks don’t trade second overall pick to Cowboys (1977)

In 1976, the NFL welcomed two more teams to the league with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks. The clubs owned the first two picks in the draft that year. The Bucs selected defensive end Lee Roy Selmon (Oklahoma) and Seattle opted for defensive tackle Steve Niehaus (Notre Dame). The former would go on to a Hall of Fame career. Niehaus had a solid rookie season, but injuries limited him to a four-year career.

A year later, the Buccaneers and Seahawks would once again own the top two picks in the draft. Tampa Bay grabbed USC running back Ricky Bell. Meanwhile, Seattle would deal the selection to the Dallas Cowboys. The Seahawks would move down 12 spots to No. 14 (a pick originally owned by the Chargers) and also pick up three second-round selections.

With the 14th pick, the club opted for University of Tulsa tackle Steve August. He would play seven-plus seasons for the club. One of the second-round picks would go linebacker Terry Beeson (Kansas), a solid starter for the team during his first four seasons.

Of course, the Cowboys swung that deal to pick Heisman Trophy-winning running back Tony Dorsett. Dallas would win Super Bowl XII during his rookie campaign. A national champion at the University of Pittsburgh, he ranks 10th in NFL history with 12,739 yards and has a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s hard to fathom why Seattle made the deal with a difference-maker like Dorsett on the board. Would they have been a playoff team in just their second season?

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