1981 NFL Draft · Good GM

DESCRIPTIVE → ADJUSTED

Follow the class result into model evidence

The totals on this page describe what happened. Player profiles show pick-level support adjusted for slot, position, era, and observed career window; GM profiles connect those picks to the maturity-adjusted headline estimate.

Open adjusted player evidence Open adjusted GM evidence for George Young

Class value over time

Descriptive cumulative "value units" across all 193 picks, summed year-by-year. Value = games started + 5×Pro Bowl + 10×AP1 + 3×AP2 per player-season, then summed across the class. Earlier draft classes sit behind the highlighted 1981 line on the same seasons-since-draft axis, so the slope shows whether a class matured fast or needed time.

1981 class highlighted · 1 earlier class behind it

Top 10 picks by career AV

Ordered by PFR weighted Approximate Value across the player's full career (any team).

Pick	Player	Pos	Team	GM	Career AV	Team GP	Career PB	Career AP1	HOF
1.2	Lawrence Taylor	LB	NYG	George Young	146	184	10	8	★
2.38	Mike Singletary	LB	CHI	Jim Finks	124	179	10	7	★
1.8	Ronnie Lott	DB	SF	John McVay	123	129	10	6	★
2.51	Rickey Jackson	LB	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	112	195	7		★
2.48	Howie Long	DE	LV	Al Davis	95	179	8	2	★
1.24	James Brooks	RB	LAC	Steve Ortmayer	82	38	4
3.69	Russ Grimm	G	WAS	Bobby Beathard	78	140	4	3	★
1.3	Freeman McNeil	RB	NYJ	Jim Kensil	75	144	3	1
1.15	Dennis Smith	DB	DEN	Edgar Kaiser/staff	74	184	6
1.22	Hanford Dixon	DB	CLE	Art Modell/staff	70	131	3	2

Lower-AV early-round picks (rounds 1–2, AV < 15)

A descriptive filter for first- and second-round picks with full-career weighted AV below 15. It does not account for the expectation at each draft slot and is not a model verdict on the pick.

Pick	Player	Pos	Team	GM	AV	YoT
2.39	Mardye McDole	WR	MIN	Mike Lynn	0	3
2.42	Clay Brown	TE	DEN	Edgar Kaiser/staff	0	3
2.52	Jarvis Redwine	RB	MIN	Mike Lynn	0	3
2.32	Dave Young	TE	NYG	George Young	1	4
1.6	Rich Campbell	QB	GB	Bart Starr	2	4
2.35	Gary Lewis	TE	GB	Bart Starr	2	4
2.54	Lyman White	LB	ATL	Eddie LeBaron	2	2
1.13	David Overstreet	RB	MIA	Don Shula	4	3
2.30	Marion Barber Jr.	RB	NYJ	Jim Kensil	5	8
2.49	Chris Williams	DB	BUF	Stew Barber	5	3

All picks (193) · sortable below

Each player name links to their year-by-year career page. Each team links to its GM history page.

Pick	Player	Pos	Team	GM	Career AV	Team GP	Team GS	Team PB	Team AP1	HOF
1.1	George Rogers	RB	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	46	51	49	2	1
1.2	Lawrence Taylor	LB	NYG	George Young	146	184	180	10	8	★
1.3	Freeman McNeil	RB	NYJ	Jim Kensil	75	144	97	3	1
1.4	Kenny Easley	DB	SEA	John Thompson	65	89	87	5	3	★
1.5	E.J. Junior	LB	ARI	Bill Bidwill	59	111	107		1
1.6	Rich Campbell	QB	GB	Bart Starr	2	7	0
1.7	Hugh Green	LB	TB	Phil Krueger	61	54	53	2
1.8	Ronnie Lott	DB	SF	John McVay	123	129	126	9	5	★
1.9	Mel Owens	LB	LAR	Don Klosterman	42	122	91
1.10	David Verser	WR	CIN	Mike Brown / Duke Tobin	6	49	0
1.11	Keith Van Horne	T	CHI	Jim Finks	61	186	169
1.12	Randy McMillan	RB	IND	Dick Szymanski	32	88	87
1.13	David Overstreet	RB	MIA	Don Shula	4	14	0
1.14	Willie Scott	TE	KC	Jim Schaaf	6	72	40
1.15	Dennis Smith	DB	DEN	Edgar Kaiser/staff	74	184	170	6
1.16	Mark Nichols	WR	DET	Russ Thomas	21	76	37
1.17	Keith Gary	DE	PIT	Dick Haley	21	86	35
1.18	Donnell Thompson	DE	IND	Dick Szymanski	50	147	143
1.19	Brian Holloway	T	NE	Bucko Kilroy	45	88	77	3
1.20	Mark May	G	WAS	Bobby Beathard	64	123	115	1
1.21	Ted Watts	DB	LV	Al Davis	16	57	22
1.22	Hanford Dixon	DB	CLE	Art Modell/staff	70	131	128	3	2
1.23	Curt Marsh	G	LV	Al Davis	17	45	29
1.24	James Brooks	RB	LAC	Steve Ortmayer	82	38	8
1.25	Bobby Butler	DB	ATL	Eddie LeBaron	45	169	126
1.26	Howard Richards	G	DAL	Tex Schramm	16	67	16
1.27	Leonard Mitchell	DE	PHI	Jim Murray	22	77	43
1.28	Booker Moore	RB	BUF	Stew Barber	6	51	32
2.29	Russell Gary	DB	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	29	62	58
2.30	Marion Barber Jr.	RB	NYJ	Jim Kensil	5	85	13
2.31	David Hughes	RB	SEA	John Thompson	15	69	27
2.32	Dave Young	TE	NYG	George Young	1	11	0
2.33	Neil Lomax	QB	ARI	Bill Bidwill	70	108	101	2
2.34	James Wilder	RB	TB	Phil Krueger	63	113	102	1
2.35	Gary Lewis	TE	GB	Bart Starr	2	44	4
2.36	John Harty	NT	SF	John McVay	11	42	18
2.37	Cris Collinsworth	WR	CIN	Mike Brown / Duke Tobin	63	107	90	3
2.38	Mike Singletary	LB	CHI	Jim Finks	124	179	172	10	7	★
2.39	Mardye McDole	WR	MIN	Mike Lynn	0	26	1
2.40	Eric Wright	DB	SF	John McVay	62	110	82	1	1
2.41	Joe Delaney	RB	KC	Jim Schaaf	17	23	17	1
2.42	Clay Brown	TE	DEN	Edgar Kaiser/staff	0	3	0
2.43	Jim Collins	LB	LAR	Don Klosterman	40	80	67	1
2.44	Anthony Washington	DB	PIT	Dick Haley	8	25	1
2.45	Robin Sendlein	LB	MIN	Mike Lynn	8	56	9
2.46	Curtis Green	DE	DET	Russ Thomas	24	123	45
2.47	Tony Collins	RB	NE	Bucko Kilroy	47	102	83	1
2.48	Howie Long	DE	LV	Al Davis	95	179	151	8	2	★
2.49	Chris Williams	DB	BUF	Stew Barber	5	21	5
2.50	Byron Franklin	WR	BUF	Stew Barber	16	44	21
2.51	Rickey Jackson	LB	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	112	195	195	7		★
2.52	Jarvis Redwine	RB	MIN	Mike Lynn	0	26	1
2.53	Doug Donley	WR	DAL	Tex Schramm	7	43	10
2.54	Lyman White	LB	ATL	Eddie LeBaron	2	18	1
2.55	Dean Miraldi	T	PHI	Jim Murray	14	30	22
2.56	Andra Franklin	RB	MIA	Don Shula	18	42	34	1
3.57	Frank Warren	DE	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	47	189	83
3.58	Bill Dugan	G	SEA	John Thompson	7	40	5
3.59	John Mistler	WR	NYG	George Young	7	42	9
3.60	Ben Rudolph	DT	NYJ	Jim Kensil	12	88	13
3.61	Jeff Griffin	DB	ARI	Bill Bidwill	14	48	21
3.62	Ray Stachowicz	P	GB	Bart Starr	4	25	0
3.63	Greg Meisner	NT	LAR	Don Klosterman	23	103	42
3.64	John Simmons	DB	CIN	Mike Brown / Duke Tobin	6	64	2
3.65	Carlton Williamson	DB	SF	John McVay	45	88	80	2
3.66	Robert Cobb	DE	LAR	Don Klosterman	0	6	0
3.67	Ken Margerum	WR	CHI	Jim Finks	11	57	28
3.68	Randy Van Divier	T	IND	Dick Szymanski	2	16	1
3.69	Russ Grimm	G	WAS	Bobby Beathard	78	140	114	4	3	★
3.70	Marvin Harvey	TE	KC	Jim Schaaf	0	7	0
3.71	Hoby Brenner	TE	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	31	175	157	2
3.72	Don Greco	G	DET	Russ Thomas	20	45	38
3.73	Rick Donnalley	C	PIT	Dick Haley	24	21	7
3.74	Tim Irwin	T	MIN	Mike Lynn	69	188	181
3.75	Roger Taylor	T	KC	Jim Schaaf	1	13	0
3.76	Mike Mosley	WR	BUF	Stew Barber	3	20	2
3.77	Irvin Phillips	DB	LAC	Steve Ortmayer	0	15	0
3.78	Lloyd Burruss	DB	KC	Jim Schaaf	45	145	103	1
3.79	Mike Holston	WR	TEN	Ladd Herzeg	9	60	12
3.80	Scott Woerner	DB	ATL	Eddie LeBaron	0	16	0
3.81	Glen Titensor	G	DAL	Tex Schramm	23	92	46
3.82	Greg LaFleur	TE	PHI	Jim Murray	6	0	0
3.83	Robert Geathers	DT	BUF	Stew Barber	0	0	0
4.84	Sam Greene	WR	MIA	Don Shula	0	0	0
4.85	Cliff Chatman	RB	NYG	George Young	1	6	3
4.86	Al Washington	LB	NYJ	Jim Kensil	1	16	0
4.87	Scott Phillips	WR	SEA	John Thompson	0	0	0
4.88	Steve Rhodes	WR	ARI	Bill Bidwill	0	0	0
4.89	John Holt	DB	TB	Phil Krueger	23	72	53
4.90	Tom Flick	QB	WAS	Bobby Beathard	1	6	0
4.91	Scott Pelluer	LB	DAL	Tex Schramm	6	0	0
4.92	Mike Robinson	DE	CLE	Art Modell/staff	7	18	8
4.93	Guy Frazier	LB	CIN	Mike Brown / Duke Tobin	17	51	10
4.94	Tim Sherwin	TE	IND	Dick Szymanski	8	79	39
4.95	Todd Bell	DB	CHI	Jim Finks	38	83	42	1
4.96	Brad Wright	QB	MIA	Don Shula	0	0	0
4.97	Ron Washington	WR	KC	Jim Schaaf	0	0	0
4.98	Mark Herrmann	QB	DEN	Edgar Kaiser/staff	11	2	1
4.99	Tracy Porter	WR	DET	Russ Thomas	11	20	0
4.100	Robbie Martin	WR	PIT	Dick Haley	4	0	0
4.101	John Swain	DB	MIN	Mike Lynn	19	50	23
4.102	Don Blackmon	LB	NE	Bucko Kilroy	39	89	72
4.103	Amos Lawrence	RB	LAC	Steve Ortmayer	1	0	0
4.104	George Lilja	G	LAR	Don Klosterman	11	9	0
4.105	Richard Turner	NT	GB	Bart Starr	4	30	5
4.106	Nick Eyre	T	TEN	Ladd Herzeg	0	6	0
4.107	Eric Sievers	TE	LAC	Steve Ortmayer	21	97	45
4.108	Derrie Nelson	LB	DAL	Tex Schramm	3	0	0
4.109	John Scully	G	ATL	Eddie LeBaron	32	112	82
4.110	Calvin Murray	RB	PHI	Jim Murray	1	8	0
4.111	Johnny Robinson	NT	LV	Al Davis	9	27	16			★
5.112	Louis Oubre	G	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	16	37	30
5.113	Tyrone Keys	DE	NYJ	Jim Kensil	13	0	0
5.114	Edwin Bailey	G	SEA	John Thompson	51	139	120
5.115	Bill Neill	NT	NYG	George Young	15	24	22
5.116	John Gillen	LB	ARI	Bill Bidwill	3	20	0
5.117	Byron Braggs	DE	GB	Bart Starr	9	41	14
5.118	James Davis	DB	LV	Al Davis	8	83	2
5.119	Dexter Manley	DE	WAS	Bobby Beathard	66	125	113	1	1
5.120	Benjie Pryor	TE	CIN	Mike Brown / Duke Tobin	0	0	0
5.121	Lynn Thomas	DB	SF	John McVay	3	24	1
5.122	Arrington Jones	RB	SF	John McVay	0	1	0
5.123	Wendell Ray	DE	MIN	Mike Lynn	0	0	0
5.124	Todd Thomas	C	KC	Jim Schaaf	1	15	0
5.125	Ken Lanier	T	DEN	Edgar Kaiser/staff	62	177	165
5.126	Ken Poole	DE	MIA	Don Shula	1	16	0
5.127	Ricky Martin	WR	PIT	Dick Haley	0	0	0
5.128	Jerry Boyarsky	NT	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	17	11	7
5.129	Larry Lee	G	DET	Russ Thomas	18	62	16
5.130	Steve Clark	DE	NE	Bucko Kilroy	0	7	0
5.131	Keith Ferguson	DE	LAC	Steve Ortmayer	40	67	48
5.132	Gary Sayre	G	WAS	Bobby Beathard	0	0	0
5.133	Delbert Fowler	LB	TEN	Ladd Herzeg	0	0	0
5.134	Steve Cox	P	CLE	Art Modell/staff	12	48	0
5.135	Calvin Clark	DE	BUF	Stew Barber	0	0	0
5.136	Eric Sanders	T	ATL	Eddie LeBaron	23	75	18
5.137	Danny Spradlin	LB	DAL	Tex Schramm	5	25	0
5.138	Tommy Vigorito	RB	MIA	Don Shula	11	35	2
6.139	Nat Hudson	G	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	2	16	0
6.140	Steve Durham	DE	SEA	John Thompson	1	0	0
6.141	Andrew Gissinger	T	LAC	Steve Ortmayer	14	41	20
6.142	John Woodring	LB	NYJ	Jim Kensil	12	52	16
6.143	Dave Ahrens	LB	ARI	Bill Bidwill	26	57	24
6.144	Johnnie Poe	DB	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	40	100	90
6.145	Melvin Hoover	WR	NYG	George Young	3	0	0
6.146	Rex Robinson	K	CIN	Mike Brown / Duke Tobin	0	0	0
6.147	Pete Kugler	NT	SF	John McVay	20	81	36
6.148	Larry Kubin	LB	WAS	Bobby Beathard	4	37	0
6.149	Bubba Green	DT	IND	Dick Szymanski	2	15	10
6.150	Reuben Henderson	DB	CHI	Jim Finks	13	20	19
6.151	Alvin Lewis	RB	DEN	Edgar Kaiser/staff	0	0	0
6.152	Mack Moore	DE	MIA	Don Shula	2	23	2
6.153	Dock Luckie	DT	KC	Jim Schaaf	0	0	0
6.154	Fulton Walker	DB	MIA	Don Shula	5	54	2
6.155	Sam Johnson	DB	DET	Russ Thomas	0	0	0
6.156	Bryan Hinkle	LB	PIT	Dick Haley	57	163	116
6.157	Ron Wooten	G	NE	Bucko Kilroy	37	98	96
6.158	William Daniels	DT	LAR	Don Klosterman	0	0	0
6.159	Bill Kay	DB	TEN	Ladd Herzeg	7	41	8
6.160	Ron Simmons	DT	CLE	Art Modell/staff	0	0	0
6.161	Robert Holt	WR	BUF	Stew Barber	1	7	0
6.162	Bobby Duckworth	WR	LAC	Steve Ortmayer	16	37	3
6.163	Vince Skillings	DB	DAL	Tex Schramm	0	0	0
6.164	Harry Stanback	DE	ATL	Eddie LeBaron	1	0	0
6.165	Edward O'Neal	RB	NYG	George Young	0	0	0
6.166	Glen Redd	LB	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	14	68	36
7.167	Kevin Williams	WR	NO	Ken Meyer/staff	0	0	0
7.168	Louis Jackson	RB	NYG	George Young	1	11	3
7.169	Kenny Neil	DE	NYJ	Jim Kensil	16	41	23
7.170	Ron Johnson	WR	SEA	John Thompson	10	0	0
7.171	Kevin Donnalley	DB	ARI	Bill Bidwill	0	0	0
7.172	Bill Whitaker	DB	GB	Bart Starr	2	25	0
7.173	Ron Fellows	DB	DAL	Tex Schramm	29	86	43
7.174	Alan Duncan	K	PHI	Jim Murray	0	0	0
7.175	Ron Battle	TE	LAR	Don Klosterman	1	13	0
7.176	Jeff Schuh	LB	CIN	Mike Brown / Duke Tobin	13	73	25
7.177	Jeff Fisher	DB	CHI	Jim Finks	3	49	3
7.178	Obed Ariri	K	IND	Dick Szymanski	3	0	0
7.179	Mike Daum	T	MIA	Don Shula	0	0	0
7.180	Billy Jackson	RB	KC	Jim Schaaf	13	57	31
7.181	Steve Busick	LB	DEN	Edgar Kaiser/staff	26	73	47
7.182	Lee Spivey	T	DET	Russ Thomas	0	0	0
7.183	David Little	LB	PIT	Dick Haley	63	179	126	1
7.184	Don Shaver	RB	MIN	Mike Lynn	0	0	0
7.185	Ken Toler	WR	NE	Bucko Kilroy	2	25	0
7.186	Brad Scovill	TE	SEA	John Thompson	0	0	0
7.187	Eddie Johnson	LB	CLE	Art Modell/staff	37	148	70
7.188	Steve Doolittle	LB	BUF	Stew Barber	0	0	0
7.189	Pete Holohan	TE	LAC	Steve Ortmayer	29	90	20
7.190	Mike Clark	DE	LAR	Don Klosterman	2	0	0
7.191	Ken Miller	DB	DAL	Tex Schramm	0	0	0
7.192	Doak Field	LB	PHI	Jim Murray	0	0	0
7.193	Don Washington	DB	TEN	Ladd Herzeg	0	0	0

How to read this

"Value units" on the chart is a deliberately simple proxy: per player-season, games-started + 5×PB + 10×AP1 + 3×AP2. It's not a dollar value or θ; it's a single growth-curve number that lets us watch the class mature.
Pre-2013 picks have no per-game snap data → their games-started is approximated from career_games / years-on-team. Their on-chart contribution is dominated by honors.
Career AV is PFR's weighted Approximate Value (full-career, any team).
"On-team" honors only: PB/AP1/AP2 counts above are restricted to seasons on the drafting team. A player traded after Year 4 only gets credit for honors earned in years 1-4.
Active careers still accreting value: this year's chart endpoint isn't the final answer for any class with active players.