OT · pick 97 — first ever offensive tackle at #97 (1987)

OT·pick 97

FIRST OT EVER DRAFTED AT #97

Ralph Van Dyke

Drafted by ATL — GM Ken Herock · Southern Illinois

1987

OTs drafted at #97 in NFL history

most recent: Caleb Tiernan (MIN, 2026)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1986, the model gave a offensive tackle at #97 a 5.9% chance in 1987.

Offensive tackle at #97, 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: 17.9% · 2027 model: 3.2%

Surrounding picks · 1987 draft

#92SGarland RiversDET — GM Russ Thomas
#93LBByron EvansPHI — GM Harry Gamble
#94SThomas EverettPIT — GM Dick Haley
#95WRKelvin MartinDAL — GM Tex Schramm
#96OGSteve TrapiloNO — GM Jim Finks
#98QBRich GannonNE — GM Patrick Sullivan
#99RBTroy StradfordMIA — GM Don Shula
#100CBNajee MustafaaMIN — GM Mike Lynn
#101DESean SmithCHI — GM Bill Tobin
#102SDerrick BeasleyNE — GM Patrick Sullivan

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 3 picks

2026Caleb TiernanMIN · Northwestern
2019Bobby EvansLAR — GM Les Snead · Oklahoma
1994Joe PattonWAS — GM Charley Casserly · Alabama A&M

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