Draft History: 1989

For his first NFL draft, Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson established an agenda and followed it faithfully.

After selecting 14 players, Johnson declared Monday that he had satisfied his checklist. "We were pleased with what we drafted," Johnson said. "I would be disappointed if we don't have at least three or four of them start as rookies."

Surprisingly poised for a first-year NFL head coach, Johnson headed into the draft room early Sunday morning with firm ideas about what to do. Yes, he sought players to fill specific positions. Teams coming off 3-13 seasons have major, easily identified needs.

But Johnson was also on the lookout for a specific style of player: guys who can run and hit. Guys who love to compete. Guys who were well known to him. Guys who fit – in talent and temperament – the attacking, high-pressure style Johnson plans to utilize on both sides of the ball.

Johnson came out of the draft room late Monday afternoon with just about everything he wanted – and then some. He made a successful trade with the Raiders – moving down a few spots in the second round – to gain two extra draft choices in the first five rounds.

It was an impressive first draft, especially considering that Johnson had only two months to prepare. Johnson's list of accomplishments in the 1989 draft:

• Johnson wanted instant impact.

So with his first two picks, he landed two centerpieces for the 1990s, UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman and Syracuse fullback Daryl Johnston. Concerned about the unsettled offensive line, Johnson used his first third-round choice for Pitt's Mark Stepnoski, who is capable of starting at three positions: right guard, left guard or center.

• Johnson wanted help for his defensive front seven.

So he drafted three defensive linemen in the first five rounds: Florida's Rhondy Weston, UTEP's Tony Tolbert and Florida's Jeff Roth. All three should contribute as rookies, because Johnson plans to rotate his defensive linemen to keep everyone fresh and ready to rush the quarterback.

Johnson took a linebacker in rounds five, seven, 10 and 11.

• He wanted competitors.

Perhaps because he inherited a Cowboys team that lost five games by a field goal or less last season and a team that usually faltered in the fourth quarter, Johnson went for spirited players who won't quit.

"For the most part, these players are overachievers," Johnson said. "They are tough players. Contact players who don't mind hard work and who enjoy competition. Players who like to mix it up."

• Johnson wanted players he knew.

Johnson or his staff personally checked out 12 of the 14 draftees. The only two who are relatively unfamiliar to him are Peterson and running back Charvez Foger (No. 8).

Johnson scouted some of the players. He coached others in post-season all-star games. And his University of Miami team faced others. It eliminated much of the guesswork involved in NFL drafting. Johnson didn't have to rely on clues.

"We had prior knowledge of just about all of them before we came to Dallas," he said. "And it gave us some insight."

In one case, Johnson's diligent background work paid off in a selection that might have provided that missing pass rusher. A lot of NFL scouts didn't know what to make of UTEP's Tolbert, a 6-6 blitzing outside linebacker who weighed only 227 pounds. Some questioned Tolbert's 4.9 speed.

Johnson has a history of successfully converting outside linebackers to end; he did so with Dexter Manley at Oklahoma State. Tolbert intrigued him. Johnson learned that Tolbert had gained weight and was up to 245 pounds. Then he timed Tolbert at 4.75 in the 40. With a more close-up inspection, Johnson came up with a speed rusher that others overlooked.

• In another slap at Cowboys vice president of player personnel Gil Brandt, Johnson said wanted to stay away from taking project-type selections such as linebacker Ken Norton, the team's No. 2 pick last year.

"I don't like to get into the might-bes," Johnson said. "I want players who can play."

But when Johnson did take a gamble, it was well calculated and relatively safe. An example was tight end Keith Jennings in the fifth round. It was a poor draft for tight ends, and Johnson needs one who can become a receiving threat.

Jennings was a 6-4, 225-pound wide receiver at Clemson. "Very few teams thought that he could play tight end," Johnson said. Johnson thought that Jennings had the frame for the position and went to Clemson to work Jennings out. Johnson saw that Jennings had bulked up to 260 pounds without losing much speed and figured it was worth a No. 5 pick.

During his two days in the draft room, Johnson sat next to his friend and employer, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

"Jerry was pretty excitable," Johnson said, smiling. "But I was happy that he didn't give us a lot of suggestions."

As it turned out, Johnson didn't need any.