S · pick 40 — first ever safety at #40 (1980)

S·pick 40

FIRST S EVER DRAFTED AT #40

Darrol Ray

Drafted by NYJ — GM Jim Kensil · Oklahoma

1980

safeties drafted at #40 in NFL history

most recent: Richie Grant (ATL, 2021)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1979, the model gave a safety at #40 a 4.3% chance in 1980.

Safety at #40, 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: 14.5% · 2027 model: 3.7%

Surrounding picks · 1980 draft

#35DEBob KohrsPIT — GM Dick Haley
#36LBBuddy CurryATL — GM Eddie LeBaron
#37QBGene BradleyBUF — GM Stew Barber
#38OTAngelo FieldsTEN — GM Bum Phillips
#39LBKeena TurnerSF — GM John McVay
#41SDave WaymerNO — GM Ken Meyer/staff
#42DERulon JonesDEN — GM Edgar Kaiser/staff
#43LBMatt MillenLV — GM Al Davis
#44OTAndre HinesSEA — GM John Thompson
#45LBLarry McGrewNE — GM Bucko Kilroy

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 5 picks

2021Richie GrantATL — GM Terry Fontenot · Central Florida
2006Daniel BullocksDET — GM Matt Millen · Nebraska
2005Josh BullocksNO — GM Mickey Loomis · Nebraska
1996Je'Rod CherryNO — GM Bill Kuharich · California
1985Lester LylesNYJ — GM Jim Kensil · Virginia

→ see this cell on the full chart