CB · pick 73 — first ever cornerback at #73 (2004)

CB·pick 73

FIRST CB EVER DRAFTED AT #73

Keith Smith

Drafted by DET — GM Matt Millen · McNeese St.

2004

CBs drafted at #73 in NFL history

most recent: Azareye'h Thomas (NYJ, 2025)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 2003, the model gave a cornerback at #73 a 12.4% chance in 2004.

Cornerback at #73, year by year

Each year's estimate uses only that year's draft and the years before it — no peeking ahead. The line smooths across neighboring picks and seasons so a single oddball draft doesn't dominate. The shaded band is the model's 90% uncertainty range.

Peak: 20.5% · 2027 model: 15.3%

Surrounding picks · 2004 draft

#68TEBen HartsockIND — GM Bill Polian
#69LBGilbert GardnerIND — GM Bill Polian
#70CBJoey ThomasGB — GM Mike Sherman
#71DTRandy StarksTEN — GM Floyd Reese
#72DTDonnell WashingtonGB — GM Mike Sherman
#74DTTim AndersonBUF — GM Tom Donahoe
#75OTMax StarksPIT — GM Kevin Colbert
#76CBDerrick StraitNYJ — GM Terry Bradway
#77WRDerrick HamiltonSF — GM Terry Donahue
#78WRBernard BerrianCHI — GM Jerry Angelo

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 2 picks

2025Azareye'h ThomasNYJ — GM Darren Mougey · Florida St.
2009Derek CoxJAX — GM Gene Smith · William & Mary

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