LB · pick 49 — first ever linebacker at #49 (1973)

LB·pick 49

FIRST LB EVER DRAFTED AT #49

Monte Johnson

Drafted by LV · Nebraska

1973

LBs drafted at #49 in NFL history

most recent: Demetrius Knight (CIN, 2025)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1972, the model gave a linebacker at #49 a 11.8% chance in 1973.

Linebacker at #49, 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: 22.2% · 2027 model: 8.1%

Surrounding picks · 1973 draft

#44RBLeon CrosswhiteDET
#45QBGary KeithleyARI
#46WRGolden RichardsDAL
#47CBJim StienkeCLE
#48DTGary HrivnakCHI
#51DESteve BaumgartnerNO
#52CChuck BradleyMIA
#53DEHarvey MartinDAL
#54OGPaul HowardDEN
#55SRandy LoganPHI

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 7 picks

2025Demetrius KnightCIN — GM Mike Brown / Duke Tobin · South Carolina
2019Ben BanoguIND — GM Chris Ballard · TCU
2017Ryan AndersonWAS — GM Bruce Allen · Alabama
2003Eddie MooreMIA — GM Rick Spielman · Tennessee
2002Levar FisherARI — GM Bob Ferguson · North Carolina St.
1996Randall GodfreyDAL — GM Jerry Jones · Georgia
1989Jessie SmallPHI — GM Harry Gamble · Eastern Kentucky

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