The NFL draft is in just two days. For all 32 teams, there is the potential that the fortunes of their franchises could turn on a single pick. But sometimes, it doesn’t happen quite as one might expect.
On this day 29 years ago, Sports Illustrated ran an issue that featured Tony Mandarich on the cover, calling him “the best offensive line prospect ever.” Soon after, the Green Bay Packers selected him with the second overall pick of the 1989 NFL draft.
As Packer fans everywhere now, the next three picks in the draft were all Hall of Famers: Barry Sanders (to Detroit), Derrick Thomas (to Kansas City) and Deion Sanders (to Atlanta).