1994 NFL draft
The 1994 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24–25, 1994, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, New York. This was the first draft in which the rounds were reduced to seven in total. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.
| 1994 NFL draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Date(s) | April 24–25, 1994 |
| Location | Marriott Marquis in New York City, NY |
| Network(s) | ESPN |
| Overview | |
| 222 total selections in 7 rounds | |
| League | NFL |
| First selection | Dan Wilkinson, DT Cincinnati Bengals |
| Mr. Irrelevant | Marty Moore, LB New England Patriots |
| Most selections (11) | Buffalo Bills |
| Fewest selections (5) | Denver Broncos Seattle Seahawks |
| Hall of Famers | 6
|
This draft is known for a verbal altercation between ESPN analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. and Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Tobin over Tobin's handling of the Colts' two first-round picks. Kiper believed the Colts needed a quarterback in the first round, but Tobin, who signed free agent quarterback Jim Harbaugh ahead of the draft, instead selected running back Marshall Faulk and linebacker Trev Alberts. After Kiper disputed the Colts taking Alberts over quarterback Trent Dilfer, Tobin responded by criticizing Kiper's credentials. Faulk would become a Hall of Fame inductee, while Alberts' career only lasted three seasons, and Dilfer became regarded as a journeyman. The Colts would reach the 1995 AFC Championship Game with Harbaugh, but fell to 3–13 in 1997, which led to the firing of Tobin and the drafting of future Hall of Fame inductee Peyton Manning the following year.