LB · pick 53 — first ever linebacker at #53 (1976)

LB·pick 53

FIRST LB EVER DRAFTED AT #53

Ron McCartney

Drafted by LAR · Tennessee

1976

LBs drafted at #53 in NFL history

most recent: CJ Allen (IND, 2026)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1975, the model gave a linebacker at #53 a 14.4% chance in 1976.

Linebacker at #53, 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: 22.1% · 2027 model: 8.4%

Surrounding picks · 1976 draft

#48TEMike BarberTEN
#49TELoaird McCrearyMIA
#50QBJeb BlountLV
#51STChris BahrCIN
#52OTJoe DevlinBUF
#54WRSammy WhiteMIN
#55OGJim EidsonDAL
#56CFiles, JamesJames FilesPIT
#57SEddie LewisSF
#58RBSherman SmithSEA

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 10 picks

2026CJ AllenIND · Georgia
2016Su'a CravensWAS — GM Bruce Allen · USC
2010Jermaine CunninghamNE — GM Bill Belichick · Florida
2003Victor HobsonNYJ — GM Terry Bradway · Michigan
1996Gabe NorthernBUF — GM John Butler · LSU
1994Kevin MitchellSF — GM Carmen Policy · Syracuse
1993Reggie FreemanNO — GM Jim Finks · Florida St.
1991John JohnsonSF — GM John McVay · Clemson
1984Jay BrophyMIA — GM Don Shula · Miami (FL)
1982Jeff RohrerDAL — GM Tex Schramm · Yale

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