RB · pick 81 — first ever running back at #81 (1987)

RB·pick 81

FIRST RB EVER DRAFTED AT #81

Steve Smith

Drafted by LV — GM Al Davis · Penn St.

1987

RBs drafted at #81 in NFL history

most recent: Tyjae Spears (TEN, 2023)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1986, the model gave a running back at #81 a 10.8% chance in 1987.

Running back at #81, 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: 24.1% · 2027 model: 6.5%

Surrounding picks · 1987 draft

#76SLen BellCIN — GM Mike Brown / Duke Tobin
#77DESkip McClendonCIN — GM Mike Brown / Duke Tobin
#78RBJamie MuellerBUF — GM Bill Polian
#79RBBob PerrymanNE — GM Patrick Sullivan
#80RBTim ManoaCLE — GM Ernie Accorsi
#82STJeff JaegerCLE — GM Ernie Accorsi
#83WRStephen BakerNYG — GM George Young
#84LBDon GrahamTB — GM Phil Krueger
#85OGRandy DixonIND — GM Jim Irsay/staff
#86LBMichael BrooksDEN — GM John Beake

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 4 picks

2023Tyjae SpearsTEN — GM Ran Carthon · Tulane
2000Reuben DroughnsDET — GM Chuck Schmidt · Oregon
1998Chris FloydNE — GM Bobby Grier · Michigan
1991Chuck WebbGB — GM Tom Braatz · Tennessee

→ see this cell on the full chart