WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The players from Peyton Manning's legendary 1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was one of the most memorable hit-or-miss drafts.
While many of the prospects taken in the first round made at least one Pro Bowl during their careers, several others quickly washed out of the league.
While these players have since left their playing days behind them, some are still involved in football in some capacity while others have gone on to do other things.
One player founded a church, another started a country-music band, and one has gone into comedy.
*Ari Gilberg contributed to this post*
Peyton Manning was picked No. 1 overall by the Indianapolis Colts.
Manning will go down as one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, winning two Super Bowls before retiring in 2016. He hosts two ESPN+ shows and shoots plenty of commercials in his life after football.
Ryan Leaf was picked No. 2 overall by the San Diego Chargers.
He had multiple run-ins with the law and served two years in prison for felony drug possession and burglary charges. He's been called one of the biggest draft busts of all-time.
Andre Wadsworth was picked No. 3 overall by the Arizona Cardinals.
Shortly after knee injuries derailed his three-year career, Wadsworth founded the ministry Impact Church, where he's an executive pastor.
Source: Cover32
Charles Woodson was picked No. 4 overall by the Oakland Raiders.
Woodson signed a deal with ESPN in 2016 and earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Source: ESPN
Curtis Enis was picked No. 5 overall by the Chicago Bears.
Enis played just 36 games in the NFL. He ran into trouble with the law in 2017 and pleaded guilty for assault.
Source: ESPN, Dayton Daily News
Grant Wistrom was picked No. 6 overall by the St. Louis Rams.
He now runs Revival 98 LLC — a Missouri-based medical marijuana company — with his wife. He's a firm proponent of marijuana legalization efforts.
Source: News Channel Nebraska
Kyle Turley was picked No. 7 overall by the New Orleans Saints.
Shortly after retiring in 2007, Turley formed a country music band and has opened for the likes of Hank Williams III, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Church, Joe Nichols, and more. He has also been critical of the NFL on player safety.
Source: SI, Vice, Reverb Nation
Greg Ellis was picked No. 8 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.
He pursued a career in Hollywood after retiring, and was an executive producer for the film "Carter High."
Source: IMDB, TMZ Sports
Fred Taylor was picked No. 9 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Taylor mentored his son, Kelvin (pictured below), who was a running back for his alma matter, the Florida Gators, before going pro himself.
Source: Jacksonville.com, ESPN
Duane Starks was picked No. 10 overall by the Baltimore Ravens.
He was hired as a scouting intern by the Ravens a few years back. He also announced their 2nd-round pick at the 2015 draft.
Source: Baltimore Ravens
Tra Thomas was picked No. 11 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.
He spent two years as an assistant coach with the Eagles before taking on offensive line coaching responsibilities at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Source: SB Nation, Eagles Wire
Keith Brooking was picked No. 12 overall by the Atlanta Falcons.
After a legal fight with Wells Fargo in 2012 over a $2 million loan, Brooking has kept a low profile. He attended the NFL Business Management & Entrepreneurial Program in 2014.
Source: NBC Pro Football Talk, NFL Communications
Takeo Spikes was picked No. 13 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals.
He's now an analyst on NBC's "Pro Football Talk" and a radio host for Sirius XM.
Source: NBC Sports Group Press Box, Sirius XM
Jason Peter was picked No. 14 overall by the Carolina Panthers.
In 2009, Peter published his memoir titled "Hero of the Underground," which detailed his drug- and alcohol-addiction problems. It became a New York Times bestseller.
Source: Amazon
Anthony Simmons was picked No. 15 overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
He's since developed a salon franchise called Sharkey's Cuts for Kids.
Source: SeahawksLegends.com, Style Seat
Kevin Dyson was picked No. 16 overall by the Tennessee Oilers.
Dyson is famous for scoring the Titans "Music City Miracle" game-winning touchdown. After leaving the gridiron, he earned two masters degrees and a doctorate to become a middle school principal.
Source: New York Post
Brian Simmons was picked No. 17 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals.
After his 10-year career ended, Simmons became a scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars and then worked as a commentator covering his alma mater at Tar Heels network.
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars, Chapelboro
Robert Edwards was picked No. 18 overall by the New England Patriots.
For a time, he was the head football coach at Greene County High School in Georgia.
Source: Greene County High School
Vonnie Holliday was picked No. 19 overall by the Green Bay Packers.
In 2010, Holliday was honored by "Black Gives Back" as one of the most charitable African American celebrity philanthropists.
Source: Black Gives Back
Terry Fair was picked No. 20 overall by the Detroit Lions.
He spent two years as the defensive backs coach at Colorado State before returning to the coaching staff at his alma mater — the University of Tennessee.
Source: Knox News
Randy Moss was picked No. 21 overall by the Minnesota Vikings.
A legend of the game and a Hall of Famer, Moss is now an analyst for ESPN. He also runs his own football academy, and helps train current NFL players.
Source: Randy Moss Academy, ESPN
Tebucky Jones was picked No. 22 overall by the New England Patriots.
He spent nine seasons as the head football coach at New Britain High School in Connecticut before stepping away to spend more time with his family.
Source: The New Britain Herald
Mo Collins was picked No. 23 overall by the Oakland Raiders.
After being hired as the head football coach at West Charlotte High School in North Carolina, Collins passed away in October 2014. He was 38.
Source: West Charlotte Observer
Shaun Williams was picked No. 24 overall by the New York Giants.
He's now the defensive coordinator at William Paterson University.
Source: William Patterson University
Donovin Darius was picked No. 25 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He was a Transition Coach with the NFL's Transition Assistance Program but has since run into some mental health and legal trouble. He was arrested for a DUI in early 2020.
Source: NFL Player Engagement, ESPN
Alan Faneca was picked No. 26 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He has lost more than 100 pounds since retiring, and competed in the 2014 New Orleans Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon.
Source: Runner's World
Victor Riley was picked No. 27 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.
He retired in 2006, after starting 93 games in his career, and has kept a low profile since.
Source: 100 Things Chiefs Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
R.W. McQuarters was picked No. 28 overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
He founded the RW McQuarters Foundation, which provides financial aid to other non-profit organizations. In 2014, he said his foundation started building homes for veterans.
Source: R.W. McQuarters' Facebook page, Tulsa Community College
John Avery was picked No. 29 overall by the Miami Dolphins.
Although his NFL career lasted just 28 games, Avery went on to play one season in the XFL and five in the CFL. He's since embarked on a career in comedy.
Source: The DM Online
Marcus Nash was picked No. 30 overall by the Denver Broncos.
After washing out of the NFL in 2000, he went on to play in the Arena Football League for six seasons. He moved on from the pros as a strength and conditioning trainer at City Athletic Club in Las Vegas.
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal, City Athletic Club
Leon Bender was picked No. 31 overall by the Oakland Raiders.
A month after being drafted, he passed away after suffering an apparent seizure. He was 22.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Jerome Pathon was picked No. 32 overall by the Indianapolis Colts.
In 2011, he was one of 12 players who sued the NFL alleging the league didn't take the necessary steps to protect players from concussions and other long-term injuries.
Source: Seeger Weiss
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