DE · pick 18 — first ever defensive end at #18 (1981)

DE·pick 18

FIRST DE EVER DRAFTED AT #18

Donnell Thompson

Drafted by IND — GM Dick Szymanski · North Carolina

1981

DEs drafted at #18 in NFL history

most recent: Melvin Ingram (LAC, 2012)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1980, the model gave a defensive end at #18 a 11.3% chance in 1981.

Defensive end at #18, 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: 22.3% · 2027 model: 7.8%

Surrounding picks · 1981 draft

#13RBDavid OverstreetMIA — GM Don Shula
#14TEWillie ScottKC — GM Jim Schaaf
#15SDennis SmithDEN — GM Edgar Kaiser/staff
#16WRMark NicholsDET — GM Russ Thomas
#17DEKeith GaryPIT — GM Dick Haley
#19OTBrian HollowayNE — GM Bucko Kilroy
#20OGMark MayWAS — GM Bobby Beathard
#21CBTed WattsLV — GM Al Davis
#22CBHanford DixonCLE — GM Art Modell/staff
#23OGCurt MarshLV — GM Al Davis

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 11 picks

2012Melvin IngramLAC — GM A.J. Smith · South Carolina
2009Robert AyersDEN — GM Brian Xanders · Tennessee
2005Erasmus JamesMIN — GM Mike Tice / Brzezinski · Wisconsin
2004Will SmithNO — GM Mickey Loomis · Ohio St.
2003Calvin PaceARI — GM Rod Graves · Wake Forest
1997Kenny HolmesTEN — GM Floyd Reese · Miami (FL)
1991Alfred WilliamsCIN — GM Mike Brown / Duke Tobin · Colorado
1990Tony BennettGB — GM Tom Braatz · Mississippi
1988Aaron JonesPIT — GM Dick Haley · Eastern Kentucky
1987Tony WoodsSEA — GM Mike McCormack · Pittsburgh
1985Freddie Joe NunnARI — GM Bill Bidwill · Mississippi

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