DE · pick 45 — first ever defensive end at #45 (1969)

DE·pick 45

FIRST DE EVER DRAFTED AT #45

Richard Neal

Drafted by NO · Southern

1969

DEs drafted at #45 in NFL history

most recent: Zion Young (BAL, 2026)

How rare was this draftigami?

No rarity score — the model compares each pick to its predictions for earlier seasons, and drafts from 1967–1969 sit before that runway is long enough.

Defensive end at #45, 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: 16.7% · 2027 model: 11.8%

Surrounding picks · 1969 draft

#40WRJerry LeViasTEN
#41QBBobby DouglassCHI
#42RBWarren BankstonPIT
#43WRVolly MurphyMIN
#44RBRon SayersLAC
#47TEJim YarbroughDET
#48RBEd PodolakKC
#49WRRichmond FlowersDAL
#50OGGeorge BuehlerLV
#51CBTommy MaxwellIND

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 3 picks

2026Zion YoungBAL · Missouri
2025JT TuimoloauIND — GM Chris Ballard · Ohio St.
1985Mike GannATL — GM Tom Braatz · Notre Dame

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