LB · pick 9 — first ever linebacker at #9 (1981)

LB·pick 9

FIRST LB EVER DRAFTED AT #9

Mel Owens

Drafted by LAR — GM Don Klosterman · Michigan

1981

LBs drafted at #9 in NFL history

most recent: Leonard Floyd (CHI, 2016)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1980, the model gave a linebacker at #9 a 9.7% chance in 1981.

Linebacker at #9, 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: 22.6% · 2027 model: 7.6%

Surrounding picks · 1981 draft

#4SKenny EasleySEA — GM John Thompson
#5LBE.J. JuniorARI — GM Bill Bidwill
#6QBRich CampbellGB — GM Bart Starr
#7LBHugh GreenTB — GM Phil Krueger
#8SRonnie LottSF — GM John McVay
#10WRDavid VerserCIN — GM Mike Brown / Duke Tobin
#11OTKeith Van HorneCHI — GM Jim Finks
#12RBRandy McMillanIND — GM Dick Szymanski
#13RBDavid OverstreetMIA — GM Don Shula
#14TEWillie ScottKC — GM Jim Schaaf

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 7 picks

2016Leonard FloydCHI — GM Ryan Pace · Georgia
2014Anthony BarrMIN — GM Rick Spielman · UCLA
2012Luke KuechlyCAR — GM Marty Hurney · Boston Col.
2008Keith RiversCIN — GM Mike Brown / Duke Tobin · USC
2006Ernie SimsDET — GM Matt Millen · Florida St.
2000Brian UrlacherCHI — GM Mark Hatley · New Mexico
1999Chris ClaiborneDET — GM Chuck Schmidt · USC

→ see this cell on the full chart