LB · pick 85 — first ever linebacker at #85 (1978)

LB·pick 85

FIRST LB EVER DRAFTED AT #85

Daniel Johnson

Drafted by KC · Tennessee State

1978

LBs drafted at #85 in NFL history

most recent: Daiyan Henley (LAC, 2023)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1977, the model gave a linebacker at #85 a 13.9% chance in 1978.

Linebacker at #85, 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: 20.5% · 2027 model: 9.8%

Surrounding picks · 1978 draft

#80CLeon WhiteLAR
#81WRJimmy CefaloMIA
#82OTLindsey MasonLV
#83WRDon BassCIN
#84OTDave HudgensDAL
#86SMaurice HarveyLV
#87SDon SchwartzNO
#88RBDonnell, DodieDodie DonnellNYJ
#89LBLucius SanfordBUF
#90RBBilly TaylorNYG

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 4 picks

2023Daiyan HenleyLAC — GM Tom Telesco · Washington St.
1999Dat NguyenDAL — GM Jerry Jones · Texas A&M
1993Dean WellsSEA — GM Tom Flores/Behring · Kentucky
1979Frank ManumaleugaKC · San Jose State

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