DE · pick 23 — first ever defensive end at #23 (1983)

DE·pick 23

FIRST DE EVER DRAFTED AT #23

Jim Jeffcoat

Drafted by DAL — GM Tex Schramm · Arizona St.

1983

DEs drafted at #23 in NFL history

most recent: Malachi Lawrence (DAL, 2026)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1982, the model gave a defensive end at #23 a 10.6% chance in 1983.

Defensive end at #23, 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: 20.0% · 2027 model: 9.2%

Surrounding picks · 1983 draft

#18WRWillie GaultCHI — GM Jerry Vainisi
#19SJoey BrownerMIN — GM Mike Lynn
#20RBGary AndersonLAC — GM Steve Ortmayer
#21DTGabe RiveraPIT — GM Dick Haley
#22CBGill ByrdLAC — GM Steve Ortmayer
#24QBKen O'BrienNYJ — GM Jim Kensil
#25CDave RimingtonCIN — GM Mike Brown / Duke Tobin
#26CDon MosebarLV — GM Al Davis
#27QBDan MarinoMIA — GM Don Shula
#28CBDarrell GreenWAS — GM Bobby Beathard

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 4 picks

2026Malachi LawrenceDAL · Central Florida
2015Shane RayDEN — GM John Elway · Missouri
1994Shante CarverDAL — GM Jerry Jones · Arizona St.
1992Chris MimsLAC — GM Bobby Beathard · Tennessee

→ see this cell on the full chart