List of Kentucky Wildcats in the NFL draft explained
The University of Kentucky Wildcats football team has had 206 players drafted into the National Football League (NFL) since the league began holding drafts in 1936.[1] Because of the NFL—AFL merger agreement, the history of the AFL is officially recognized by the NFL and therefore this list includes the AFL draft (1960–1966) and the common draft (1967–1969). This includes 16 players taken in the first round and one overall number one pick, Tim Couch in the 1999 NFL Draft.
Each NFL franchise seeks to add new players through the annual NFL draft. The draft rules were last updated in 2009. The team with the worst record the previous year picks first, the next-worst team second, and so on. Teams that did not make the playoffs are ordered by their regular-season record with any remaining ties broken by strength of schedule. Playoff participants are sequenced after non-playoff teams, based on their round of elimination (wild card, division, conference, and Super Bowl). Prior to the merger agreements in 1966, the American Football League (AFL) operated in direct competition with the NFL and held a separate draft. This led to a bidding war over top prospects between the two leagues. As part of the merger agreement on June 8, 1966, the two leagues held a multiple-round "common draft". Once the AFL officially merged with the NFL in 1970, the common draft became the NFL Draft.
Key
Selections
| Year | Round | Pick | Player | Team | Position | Notes |
|---|
| 1937 | 5 | 42 | | Brooklyn Dodgers | RB | — |
| 8 | 74 | | New York Giants | RB | — |
| 10 | 95 | | Pittsburgh Pirates | T | — |
| 1939 | 8 | 62 | | New York Giants | C | — |
| 1940 | 12 | 107 | | Chicago Bears | DE | — |
| 20 | 185 | | Cleveland Rams | T | — |
| 1941 | 11 | 99 | | Chicago Bears | DE | — |
| 15 | 133 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | T | — |
| 18 | 165 | | Detroit Lions | RB | — |
| 21 | 192 | | Green Bay Packers | C | — |
| 1942 | 10 | 90 | | Chicago Bears | RB | — |
| 1943 | 5 | 35 | | Cleveland Rams | T | — |
| 13 | 119 | | Chicago Bears | T | — |
| 1944 | 13 | 127 | | Washington Redskins | C | — |
| 26 | 273 | | Cleveland Rams | RB | — |
| 26 | 274 | | Boston Yanks | DE | — |
| 1945 | 9 | 78 | | Chicago Cardinals | RB | — |
| 16 | 163 | | New York Giants | T | — |
| 20 | 202 | | Cleveland Rams | T | — |
| 1946 | 26 | 244 | | Chicago Bears | B | — |
| 1947 | 3 | 18 | | Chicago Cardinals | B | — |
| 27 | 251 | | Philadelphia Eagles | B | — |
| 1948 | 7 | 51 | | Green Bay Packers | C | — |
| 1949 | 7 | 69 | | Chicago Bears | E | — |
| 11 | 106 | | New York Giants | E | — |
| 12 | 119 | | Chicago Bears | QB | NFL MVP (1970)
AFL All-Star (1961, 1962, 1963, 1967)
AFL Champion (1960, 1961, 1967)
Pro Football Hall of Fame (1981) |
| 1950 | 4 | 45 | | Washington Redskins | C | Pro Bowl (1955) |
| 5 | 65 | | Cleveland Browns | B | NFL Champion (1950) |
| 6 | 79 | | Philadelphia Eagles | T | — |
| 18 | 231 | | San Francisco 49ers | B | — |
| 20 | 251 | | Green Bay Packers | B | — |
| 25 | 321 | | Chicago Cardinals | B | — |
| 29 | 368 | | Green Bay Packers | E |
| 1951 | 1 | 5 | | Green Bay Packers | T | Pro Bowl (1957) |
| 3 | 29 | | Washington Redskins | T | NFL Champion (1956) |
| 3 | 32 | | Philadelphia Eagles | DE | — |
| 11 | 130 | | Philadelphia Eagles | T | — |
| 14 | 163 | | Chicago Cardinals | B | — |
| 15 | 176 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | B | — |
| 15 | 179 | | New York Yanks | G | — |
| 18 | 210 | | Washington Redskins | B | — |
| 28 | 331 | | Chicago Cardinals | B | — |
| 1952 | 1 | 4 | | Green Bay Packers | QB | Super Bowl Champion (III)
AFL Champion (1968)
AFL All-Star (1963, 1964, 1966) |
| 6 | 71 | | New York Giants | T | — |
| 13 | 149 | | Philadelphia Eagles | B | — |
| 17 | 205 | | Los Angeles Rams | C | — |
| 26 | 313 | | Los Angeles Rams | T | Pro Bowl (1959) |
| 28 | 326 | | New York Yanks | C | — |
| 1953 | 3 | 36 | | Los Angeles Rams | T | — |
| 3 | 37 | | Cleveland Browns | G | — |
| 11 | 124 | | Chicago Bears | B | — |
| 23 | 269 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | G | — |
| 29 | 344 | | Philadelphia Eagles | B | — |
| 1954 | 1 | 8 | | Washington Redskins | DE | — |
| 17 | 197 | | Baltimore Colts | C | — |
| 1955 | 11 | 129 | | Philadelphia Eagles | B | — |
| 1956 | 11 | 129 | | New York Giants | B | — |
| 15 | 180 | | Los Angeles Rams | B | — |
| 17 | 204 | | Los Angeles Rams | T | — |
| 21 | 251 | | Washington Redskins | DE | — |
| 25 | 293 | | Chicago Cardinals | T | — |
| 25 | 295 | | Baltimore Colts | B | — |
| 1957 | 6 | 69 | | Cleveland Browns | B | — |
| 17 | 200 | | San Francisco 49ers | C | — |
| 1958 | 1 | 4 | | Los Angeles Rams | DT | — |
| 29 | 349 | | Detroit Lions | B | — |
| 1959 | 22 | 254 | | Philadelphia Eagles | T | — |
| 1960 | 11 | 129 | | Chicago Bears | RB | — |
| 1961 | 12 | 163 | | Detroit Lions | B | — |
| 17 | 237 | | Cleveland Browns | B | — |
| 1962 | 1 | 12 | | St. Louis Cardinals | C | Super Bowl Champion (VIII) |
| 9 | 124 | | Philadelphia Eagles | T | — |
| 18 | 241 | | Minnesota Vikings | T | — |
| 1963 | 1 | 9 | | Cleveland Browns | DE | — |
| 1964 | 2 | 24 | | Cleveland Browns | DE | — |
| 1966 | 1 | 15 | | Baltimore Colts | T | Super Bowl Champion (V) |
| 2 | 26 | | San Francisco 49ers | TE | — |
| 2 | 29 | | Cleveland Browns | QB | — |
| 3 | 47 | | Baltimore Colts | WR | — |
| 5 | 72 | | Minnesota Vikings | T | — |
| 1967 | 7 | 163 | | Miami Dolphins | RB | — |
| 11 | 185 | | Dallas Cowboys | WR | - |
| 1968 | 11 | 283 | | Detroit Lions | G | — |
| 1969 | 4 | 103 | | Atlanta Falcons | DB | — |
| 11 | 262 | | Atlanta Falcons | LB | Pro Bowl (1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982) |
| 1970 | 10 | 252 | | Baltimore Colts | LB | — |
| 17 | 436 | | New York Jets | RB | — |
| 1971 | 6 | 131 | | Boston Patriots | TE | — |
| 13 | 330 | | New York Giants | DT | — |
| 15 | 372 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | G | — |
| 16 | 414 | | San Francisco 49ers | DT | — |
| 1972 | 13 | 98 | | New Orleans Saints | LB | — |
| 7 | 163 | | Green Bay Packers | DT | — |
| 1973 | 9 | 213 | | St. Louis Cardinals | LB | — |
| 11 | 270 | | Baltimore Colts | C | — |
| 1974 | 4 | 89 | | Philadelphia Eagles | LB | — |
| 14 | 346 | | New England Patriots | RB | — |
| 16 | 396 | | Baltimore Colts | T | — |
| 16 | 410 | | Cincinnati Bengals | DB | — |
| 1975 | 2 | 34 | | Kansas City Chiefs | TE | — |
| 5 | 126 | | Los Angeles Rams | C | — |
| 13 | 323 | | Philadelphia Eagles | LB | — |
| 1976 | 2 | 36 | | Atlanta Falcons | RB | — |
| 5 | 151 | | Dallas Cowboys | T | — |
| 16 | 439 | | Philadelphia Eagles | RB | — |
| 1977 | 1 | 6 | | Atlanta Falcons | T | — |
| 1 | 26 | | Baltimore Colts | WR | — |
| 1978 | 1 | 2 | | Kansas City Chiefs | DE | Pro Bowl (1980, 1981, 1982, 1984) |
| 5 | 136 | | Oakland Raiders | TE | — |
| 9 | 244 | | Chicago Bears | LB | — |
| 10 | 255 | | Buffalo Bills | C | — |
| 10 | 275 | | Baltimore Colts | DB | — |
| 11 | 282 | | Buffalo Bills | LB | — |
| 1979 | 3 | 70 | | Cleveland Browns | DE | — |
| 4 | 93 | | New Orleans Saints | LB | — |
| 5 | 123 | | New York Jets | LB | — |
| 7 | 181 | | Minnesota Vikings | DT | — |
| 8 | 209 | | Oakland Raiders | RB | — |
| 10 | 256 | | New York Giants | G | — |
| 12 | 317 | | Minnesota Vikings | LB | — |
| 1979s | 6 | 0 | | Buffalo Bills | RB | — |
| 1980 | 3 | 74 | | Denver Broncos | DB | — |
| 6 | 150 | | New Orleans Saints | LB | — |
| 7 | 180 | | New England Patriots | G | — |
| 1981 | 9 | 233 | | Baltimore Colts | DT | — |
| 1982 | 11 | 287 | | Houston Oilers | TE | — |
| 1984 | 6 | 141 | | Houston Oilers | LB | — |
| 1985 | 1 | 19 | | New York Giants | RB | — |
| 5 | 136 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | LB | — |
| 10 | 268 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | TE | — |
| 11 | 291 | | San Diego Chargers | DT | — |
| 1986 | 8 | 221 | | Chicago Bears | DB | — |
| 10 | 253 | | New Orleans Saints | DE | — |
| 1987 | 5 | 130 | | Cincinnati Bengals | RB | — |
| 5 | 137 | | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DB | — |
| 12 | 327 | | New York Jets | QB | — |
| 1988 | 2 | 44 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | C | Pro Bowl (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)
Pro Football Hall of Fame (2012) |
| 5 | 128 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | DE | — |
| 8 | 205 | | Dallas Cowboys | RB | — |
| 12 | 205 | | Los Angeles Raiders | G | — |
| 1989 | 7 | 174 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | DB | — |
| 7 | 182 | | Indianapolis Colts | RB | — |
| 8 | 222 | | Cincinnati Bengals | LB | — |
| 9 | 233 | | Washington Redskins | TE | — |
| 1990 | 3 | 55 | | Atlanta Falcons | DE | — |
| 7 | 171 | | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DE | — |
| 8 | 184 | | Houston Oilers | RB | — |
| 1991 | 5 | 261 | | New York Jets | RB | — |
| 12 | 323 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | LB | — |
| 1993 | 4 | 85 | | Seattle Seahawks | LB | — |
| 4 | 97 | | Chicago Bears | G | — |
| 6 | 158 | | Houston Oilers | T | — |
| 8 | 158 | | Cincinnati Bengals | K | — |
| 1994 | 6 | 172 | | Arizona Cardinals | TE | — |
| 7 | 207 | | San Diego Chargers | LB | — |
| 7 | 222 | | New England Patriots | LB | — |
| 1995 | 2 | 43 | | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DB | — |
| 1996 | 3 | 75 | | Minnesota Vikings | RB | — |
| 7 | 221 | | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DB | — |
| 1997 | 5 | 141 | | Chicago Bears | DB | — |
| 7 | 205 | | Baltimore Ravens | DE | — |
| 1998 | 7 | 234 | | San Diego Chargers | WR | — |
| 1999 | 1 | 1 | | Cleveland Browns | QB | — |
| 4 | 98 | | Cincinnati Bengals | WR | — |
| 2000 | 5 | 157 | | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TE | — |
| 2001 | 3 | 69 | | Minnesota Vikings | DB | — |
| 7 | 233 | | Jacksonville Jaguars | DB | — |
| 7 | 236 | | Atlanta Falcons | WR | — |
| 2002 | 3 | 98 | | Arizona Cardinals | DE | — |
| 2003 | 1 | 4 | | New York Jets | DT | — |
| 4 | 99 | | Detroit Lions | RB | — |
| 2004 | 7 | 244 | | Baltimore Ravens | WR | — |
| 2005 | 3 | 92 | | Indianapolis Colts | DE | — |
| 2008 | 4 | 127 | | Indianapolis Colts | TE | — |
| 4 | 128 | | St. Louis Rams | WR | — |
| 6 | 198 | | New York Giants | QB | — |
| 7 | 224 | | Buffalo Bills | WR | — |
| 2009 | 6 | 207 | | New England Patriots | DT | — |
| 2010 | 3 | 83 | | Atlanta Falcons | DT | — |
| 4 | 105 | | Philadelphia Eagles | DB | — |
| 5 | 139 | | New York Jets | FB | — |
| 2011 | 2 | 64 | | Green Bay Packers | WR | Pro Bowl (2014, 2015) |
| 2012 | 6 | 181 | | Seattle Seahawks | DB | — |
| 6 | 188 | † | Denver Broncos | LB | Super Bowl Champion (50) |
| 2013 | 3 | 65 | | Detroit Lions | G | Pro Bowl (2017, 2018, 2019) |
| 2014 | 5 | 151 | | Tennessee Titans | LB | — |
| 2015 | 1 | 22 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | LB | — |
| 4 | 122 | | Baltimore Ravens | DE | Pro Bowl (2019, 2020) |
| 2016 | 6 | 190 | | Los Angeles Rams | LB | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 7 | | Jacksonville Jaguars | LB | Pro Bowl (2019) |
| 2 | 54 | | Houston Texans | DB | — |
| 3 | 99 | | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DB | Super Bowl Champion (LV) |
| 4 | 122 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | RB | — |
| 7 | 232 | | New York Giants | T | — |
| 2020 | 3 | 80 | | Las Vegas Raiders | WR | — |
| 4 | 121 | | Detroit Lions | G | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 19 | | Washington Football Team | LB | — |
| 2 | 44 | | Dallas Cowboys | DB | — |
| 6 | 192 | | Dallas Cowboys | DT | — |
| 6 | 200 | | New York Jets | DB | — |
| 6 | 206 | | New Orleans Saints | T | — |
| 7 | 232 | | Carolina Panthers | DT | — |
| 2022 | 2 | 43 | | New York Giants | WR | — |
| 2 | 46 | | Detroit Lions | DE | — |
| 3 | 65 | | Jacksonville Jaguars | C | — |
| 5 | 145 | | Kansas City Chiefs | T | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 33 | | Tennessee Titans | QB | — |
| 6 | 193 | | Washington Commanders | RB | — |
| 7 | 232 | | Green Bay Packers | DB | — |
| 2024 | 3 | 70 | | New York Giants | DB | — |
| 3 | 72 | | Carolina Panthers | LB | — |
| 4 | 128 | | Buffalo Bills | RB | — |
| 6 | 218 | | Baltimore Ravens | QB | — | |
Notable undrafted players
Note: No drafts held before 1920
Notes and References
- Web site: Kentucky Drafted Players/Alumni Pro-Football-Reference.com.
