Wednesday, April 9, 2008

All-time ultimate mock draft, pick No. 20

Every day or so leading up to the NFL Draft on April 26-27, "Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff" will go from pick No. 32 to pick No. 1, recalling the greatest players ever selected in those spots.

Hindsight is always 20/20, which is why it's going to be fun to present the greatest player ever selected in the No. 20 spot ...

Forrest Gregg, OT, Green Bay Packers (1956, SMU)


Now that we're creeping up the first round, the picks get tougher to make. This one at No. 20 featured two very talented Hall of Fame players in Forrest Gregg and Jack Youngblood.

Ultimately, given Gregg's resumé, he became the choice here. Gregg was a nine-time Pro Bowler, a nine-time All-Pro, and once played in a then-league record 188 consecutive games from 1956 until 1971. The greatest coach of all time, Vince Lombardi, claimed "Forrest Gregg is the finest player I ever coached!" in his book Run to Daylight. In addition, Gregg helped pave the way for the Packers to win five NFL championships, including two Super Bowls.

Youngblood, who we regrettably passed over on this selection, is famous for helping lead the Los Angeles Rams through the 1979 playoffs while playing on a broken leg.

Other notable players selected at No. 20 include ...

Steve Atwater, S, Denver Broncos (1989), who earned a reputation as one of the NFL's hardest-hitting safeties. His hit on the "Nigerian Nightmare," Christian Okoye, is the stuff of legend.

Will Wolford, OT, Buffalo Bills (1986), who was a three-time Pro Bowler and a member of three of the Bills' four consecutive AFC championship teams.

Jack Youngblood, DE, Los Angeles Rams (1971), whose career started as a backup to Deacon Jones. Youngblood's play eventually forced the Rams to trade Jones. Youngblood was a 2001 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Current NFL players selected at No. 20: Aaron Ross, CB, New York Giants (2007, Texas); Tamba Hali, DE, Kansas City Chiefs (2006, Penn State); Marcus Spears, DE, Dallas Cowboys (2005, LSU); Kenechi Udeze, DE, Minnesota Vikings (2004, USC); George Foster, OT, Denver Broncos (2003, Georgia); Javon Walker, WR, Green Bay Packers (2002, Florida State); Adam Archuleta, S, St. Louis Rams (2001, Arizona State).

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