DE · pick 26 — first ever defensive end at #26 (1974)

DE·pick 26

FIRST DE EVER DRAFTED AT #26

Don Reese

Drafted by MIA · Jackson State

1974

DEs drafted at #26 in NFL history

most recent: James Pearce (ATL, 2025)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1973, the model gave a defensive end at #26 a 9.9% chance in 1974.

Defensive end at #26, 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: 18.6% · 2027 model: 9.9%

Surrounding picks · 1974 draft

#21WRLynn SwannPIT
#22RBCharley YoungDAL
#23DTBill KollarCIN
#24WRRoger CarrIND
#25OTSteve RileyMIN
#27LBDoug AllenBUF
#28LBTom MullenNYG
#29WRJohn HollandMIN
#30OGSteve CorbettNE
#31OGGordie BrowneNYJ

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 9 picks

2025James PearceATL — GM Terry Fontenot · Tennessee
2019Montez SweatWAS — GM Bruce Allen · Mississippi St.
2017Takkarist McKinleyATL — GM Thomas Dimitroff · UCLA
2013Datone JonesGB — GM Ted Thompson · UCLA
2012Whitney MercilusHOU — GM Rick Smith · Illinois
2007Anthony SpencerDAL — GM Jerry Jones · Purdue
2000Erik FlowersBUF — GM John Butler · Arizona St.
1992Robert PorcherDET — GM Chuck Schmidt · South Carolina St.
1982Glen CollinsCIN — GM Mike Brown / Duke Tobin · Mississippi St.

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