WR · pick 31 — first ever wide receiver at #31 (1985)

WR·pick 31

FIRST WR EVER DRAFTED AT #31

Vance Johnson

Drafted by DEN — GM John Beake · Arizona

1985

WRs drafted at #31 in NFL history

most recent: Ricky Pearsall (SF, 2024)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1984, the model gave a wide receiver at #31 a 9.6% chance in 1985.

Wide receiver at #31, 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: 14.9% · 2027 model: 12.8%

Surrounding picks · 1985 draft

#26RBSteve SewellDEN — GM John Beake
#27RBLorenzo HamptonMIA — GM Don Shula
#28CTrevor MatichNE — GM Patrick Sullivan
#29OGMark TraynowiczBUF — GM Bill Polian
#30CBIssiac HoltMIN — GM Mike Lynn
#32CBDon AndersonIND — GM Jim Irsay/staff
#33CBTory NixonWAS — GM Bobby Beathard
#34CKevin GloverDET — GM Russ Thomas
#35RBGreg AllenCLE — GM Ernie Accorsi
#36DERichard ByrdTEN — GM Ladd Herzeg

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 5 picks

2024Ricky PearsallSF — GM John Lynch · Florida
2004Rashaun WoodsSF — GM Terry Donahue · Oklahoma St.
1996Alex Van DykeNYJ — GM Steve Gutman / Pat Kirwan · Nevada
1992Carl PickensCIN — GM Mike Brown / Duke Tobin · Tennessee
1989Lawyer TillmanCLE — GM Ernie Accorsi · Auburn

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