They Chose Who?

The 2010 NFL Draft has come and gone. Some teams apparently hit the jackpot, while others have come up short. In honor of these prognostications, let us take a moment to remember perhaps the greatest debate the NFL draft has ever seen.

Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf? That was the question which befuddled many in the days and months leading up to the 1998 NFL Draft. It seemed that both were typical "can't miss" prospects, destined for Super Bowl victories and MVPs. Manning was regarded as the more finished product, while Leaf seemed to have the greater upside.

Just to be sure they would be guaranteed one of these young studs, the San Diego Chargers paid a kings ransom to the Arizona Cardinals to move from the 3rd overall pick up to the 2nd overall pick. Indianapolis was coming off a dismal 3-13 season which earned them the rite to own the number one overall pick. The ultimate decision of Manning or Leaf would be left up to Colts General Manager Bill Polian.

After intensive workouts and interviews the Colts ultimately decided to take Manning, while the Chargers "settled" for Leaf. Many thought the Chargers were actually getting the better quarterback. Sure Leaf seemed to be more immature and raw but he was the bigger, stronger quarterback, with the better arm.

Everybody knows what came next. Leaf would go on to finish his NFL career with a completion percentage of 48%, 14 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions. In three years with the San Diego Chargers he would win a grand total of four games. In comparison with the contract he received that averages out to about 8$ million dollars per win. And we think gas is expensive?

The other guy Peyton? He would go on to be considering one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. The only 4 time NFL MVP, a super bowl MVP, and the winning est quarterback in Colts history (yes, more victories than the immortal Johnny Unitas.)

Manning and Leaf were supposed to be engaged in a decade long battle for NFL supremacy. Only one kept his end of the bargain. Their example shows why people are intrigued with the NFL Draft. A team could be selecting an all time great or an all time nobody. For the 2010 class, that story is still to be written. Thankfully, we have the '98 draft to look back on. It was the ultimate example of how important choosing "Option A" over "Option B" can be.