As written by the late Joel Buchsbaum
April 24, 2008

Twenty-five years ago, the following overview of the 1983 draft appeared in the May 1983 pre-draft issue of Pro Football Weekly, having been written by Joel Buchsbaum, PFW’s respected draft analyst from the summer of 1978 until his death in December 2002 at the age of 48. In that issue of PFW, Buchsbaum gave QB prospect John Elway an unheard-of grade of 8.9 on a scale of 9.0, with the next-highest grades going to RBs Eric Dickerson and Curt Warner at 7.8.

Despite the defection of six probable first-rounders (including Herschel Walker, who wasn’t eligible this year) and the fact 10-12 percent of the overall ’83 pool has signed up with the United States Football League, the upcoming NFL draft will still be a deep one. However, it’s not going to be the all-time great draft many experts felt it could become.

A big plus remains at quarterback, where Stanford’s John Elway, the best QB prospect since Joe Namath, heads a group that also includes four signalcallers with first-round potential. There are also two potential “franchise” backs — Southern Methodist’s Eric Dickerson and Penn State’s Curt Warner — and the best pure fullback in more than a decade, Florida’s James Jones.

Notre Dame’s Tony Hunter shapes up as the finest TE prospect since Kellen Winslow, and there’s lots of size, talent and depth across the offensive line, as well as an incredible amount of overall speed and talent at wide receiver and defensive back. However, there isn’t much up-front talent along the defensive line or at linebacker, and as a result of USFL signings, quality depth is lacking at quarterback and running back.

Buchsbaum wrote the following profiles of the top-rated quarterbacks for the 1983 Draft Preview, which was published in November 1982 (based on the first month of the '82 college season) as the first in a series of three books he authored on the ’83 draft. The ’83 QB class is widely considered the best ever, having produced three Hall of Famers — John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino — as well as two others who were primary starters for multiple seasons — Ken O’Brien and Tony Eason. Only one first-round quarterback that year, Todd Blackledge, fell far short of expectations.

John Elway (6-2 3/8, 212, 4.8) Stanford

Could be the best QB prospect in over a decade and is the type of player I would like to build my team around. A tremendous all-around athlete with great awareness and anticipation. Excellent scrambler who can throw the ball off either foot and across his body. A very resourceful player who finds a way to turn nothing into something. Tremendous pure passer with one of the best throwing arms I have ever seen. Very accurate and has developed a touch. Natural leader with complete command of his team. Gutty competitor who will play hurt. Very quick learner. Will make everyone around him look better than they are. Biggest negative is he’ll press and try to do too much himself when things go wrong.

The top high school QB of the decade, John decided to attend Stanford instead of San Jose State, where his father, Jack, is head coach. At Stanford John excelled in both football and baseball. After hitting .361 with nine home runs and 50 RBI in the spring of 1981, John gave up his college baseball eligibility to sign a short-term (reported $140,000) baseball contract with the Yankees. The pact called for him to spend around 10 days with the Yankees in spring training and to play with their Oneonta, N.Y., farm team during his 1982 summer vacation. After that Elway became free to choose between pro football and the New York Yankees. Elway had previously been drafted (Round 18) by the Kansas City Royals in 1979 but didn’t consider their offer seriously. The book on Elway at Oneonta was: “Bats left, throws right. Best position is right field but can play anywhere in the outfield. Superstar-type athlete with great anticipation in the field and on the bases. Can hit for average and power. Good defensive outfielder with a great right-field arm. Mature, team leader.” Stats: .318 average, four home runs, 24 RBI, six doubles, one triple.

PFW's 1983 Draft Preview book

Dan Marino (6-3¼, 215, 4.85) Pittsburgh

Prototype dropback passer with ideal stature. Excellent arm and super-quick release. Power-type thrower who has developed a nice touch. Really stands in against the rush. Can wait till the last instant before unloading because of his compact delivery and super wrist release. Has the strength to fight off rushers and the speed to avoid them. Instinctive player who reads coverages, picks up the blitz and finds secondary receivers. Big-play type who isn't afraid to gamble. Beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl with a 33-yard TD pass with just 35 seconds left. Tends to force too many passes into traffic, and early this fall was throwing interceptions in bunches because of bad judgment. Streaky-type thrower who can’t be defensed when he’s on the mark. Not a real good scrambler but throws well while rolling out. More of a by-the-numbers-type player than Elway but can improvise.

No. 2 high school QB in the nation and an outstanding baseball prospect. Drafted No. 4 by the Kansas City Royals in 1979 but turned down their reported $30,000 offer to play football at Pittsburgh. Had minor knee surgery between the 1980 and 1981 seasons for an injury suffered during the 1980 campaign. Ideal size, excellent arm, great release.

Jim Kelly (6-2, 211, 4.95) Miami (Fla.)

Pro-style dropback passer with an excellent arm and touch. Extremely well-coached. Reads coverages like a veteran and does a fine job of picking up the blitz. Has good vision and feel. Finds the open man. Tough, strong, physical player who appears to be in complete control. Not especially mobile, but sets up well and stands in against the rush. Shows some maneuverability within the pocket and can escape trouble. A true gamer who plays best in the clutch. Looked like the finest QB in the country at the end of last year, and early this fall hit 51-of-81 passes before separating right shoulder and suffering ligament damage in the third game. Surgery was required to assure a stable shoulder, but injury makes him questionable. From Pennsylvania, but decided to go south after Penn State tried to recruit him as a LB. Redshirted as a freshman in 1978. Looked like the type of prospect you start a draft with last season. Before ’82 injury, he could’ve been drafted ahead of Marino if he’d kept it up.

Tony Eason (6-3, 210, 4.7) Illinois

Very good all-around athlete with excellent size and speed. Well-trained pro-style dropback passer. Does a fine job of reading coverages and finding the open man. Has an extremely accurate arm and good zip to the outside. Very mobile and can buy time. Showed a lot of poise last fall performing extremely well under pressure. Has no major negatives that I can spot at this point. Junior-college transfer who redshirted in 1980 so Dave Wilson (whose future eligibility was in doubt) could play. Then took over where Wilson left off last fall. If he plays as well as he did last year, he’ll be a first-round pick.

Todd Blackledge (6-3¼, 218, 4.95) Penn State

Strong thrower with a long-arm delivery. Can graduate with class in 1983. Threw 15 TD passes in first four games this fall. Seems to have come of age. Learning when to release the ball.

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