TE · pick 56 — first ever tight end at #56 (1978)

TE·pick 56

FIRST TE EVER DRAFTED AT #56

Todd Christensen

Drafted by DAL · BYU

1978

TEs drafted at #56 in NFL history

most recent: Nate Boerkircher (JAX, 2026)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1977, the model gave a tight end at #56 a 5.7% chance in 1978.

Tight end at #56, 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: 10.7% · 2027 model: 7.3%

Surrounding picks · 1978 draft

#51QBGuy BenjaminMIA
#52LBMike WoodsIND
#53WRRon SmithLAR
#54DEDave BrowningLV
#55TEBill GayDEN
#57RBDerrick JensenLV
#58LBGary SpaniKC
#59RBDennis JohnsonBUF
#60DTBarry BennettNO
#61TEMickey ShulerNYJ

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 4 picks

2026Nate BoerkircherJAX · Texas A&M
1989Wesley WallsSF — GM John McVay · Mississippi
1988Alex HigdonATL — GM Ken Herock · Ohio St.
1984John FrankSF — GM John McVay · Ohio St.

→ see this cell on the full chart