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American football player selection
The 1971 NFL draft was held January 28–29, 1971, at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York City , New York . The Boston Patriots, who did not officially change their name to New England Patriots until after the draft, used the first overall pick of the draft to select quarterback Jim Plunkett . It was the first draft where the first three selections were quarterbacks (Plunkett, Archie Manning , and Dan Pastorini ).
During round 17, after Falcons coach Norm Van Brocklin had yelled to his staff "Do we want the roughest, toughest s.o.b. in the draft?!", the team drafted the then-64-year-old actor John Wayne , though saying he was from "Fort Apache State" (Wayne actually played football at USC ); NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle rejected the selection.[ 1]
^ a b May sometimes be referred to as an edge rusher (EDGE)
^ Also known as offensive guard (OG)
^ Also known as placekicker (PK)
^ Also known as inside linebacker (ILB)
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
209
Boston Patriots
Josh Ashton
Running back
Tulsa
210
New Orleans Saints
Tom Williams
Defensive back
Willamette
211
Philadelphia Eagles
Len Pettigrew
Linebacker
Ashland
212
Houston Oilers
Floyd Rice
Linebacker
Alcorn A&M
213
Buffalo Bills
Bob Strickland
Linebacker
Auburn
214
New York Jets
John Curtis
Tight end
Springfield
215
Atlanta Falcons
Alvin Griffin
Wide receiver
Tuskegee
216
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Anderson
Linebacker
LSU
217
Denver Broncos
John Handy
Linebacker
Purdue
218
Green Bay Packers
Barry Mayer
Running back
Minnesota
219
Washington Redskins
Mike Fanucci
Defensive end
Arizona State
220
Chicago Bears
Lester McClain
Wide receiver
Tennessee
221
San Diego Chargers
John Tanner
Tight end
Tennessee Tech
222
Cleveland Browns
Wilmur Levels
Defensive back
North Texas State
223
Cincinnati Bengals
Gary Gustafson
Linebacker
Montana State
224
Kansas City Chiefs
Alvin Hawes
Tackle
Minnesota
225
St. Louis Cardinals
Mike Savoy
Wide receiver
Black Hills (S.D.)
226
New York Giants
Ed Thomas
Linebacker
Lebanon Valley
227
Oakland Raiders
Dave Garnett
Running back
Pittsburgh
228
Los Angeles Rams
Joe Schmidt
Wide receiver
Miami (FL)
229
Detroit Lions
Mickey Zofko
Running back
Auburn
230
Miami Dolphins
Vern Den Herder
Defensive end
Central Iowa
231
San Francisco 49ers
Therman Couch
Linebacker
Iowa State
232
Minnesota Vikings
Tim Sullivan
Running back
Iowa
233
Dallas Cowboys
Honor Jackson
Wide receiver
Pacific
234
Baltimore Colts
Bill Burnett
Running back
Arkansas
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
235
Boston Patriots
Layne McDowell
Tackle
Iowa
236
San Francisco 49ers
Ron Cardo
Running back
Wisconsin–Oshkosh
237
Houston Oilers
Russell Price
Defensive end
North Carolina Central
238
Oakland Raiders
William West
Defensive back
Tennessee State
239
New Orleans Saints
Rocky Pamplin
Running back
Hawaii
240
New York Jets
Jim Betts
Defensive back
Michigan
241
Atlanta Falcons
Faddie Tillman
Defensive end
Boise State
242
Pittsburgh Steelers
Jim O'Shea
Tight end
Boston College
243
Denver Broncos
Carlis Harris
Wide receiver
Idaho State
244
Washington Redskins
Jesse Taylor
Running back
Cincinnati
245
Chicago Bears
Larry Rowden
Linebacker
Houston
246
Green Bay Packers
Kevin Hunt
Tackle
Doane
247
San Diego Chargers
Gary Nowak
Tight end
Michigan State
248
Cleveland Browns
Steve Casteel
Linebacker
Oklahoma
249
Cincinnati Bengals
Jack Stambaugh
Guard
Oregon
250
Kansas City Chiefs
Bruce Jankowski
Wide receiver
Ohio State
251
St. Louis Cardinals
Ronald Miller
Tackle
McNeese State
252
New York Giants
Henry Reed
Linebacker
Weber State
253
Oakland Raiders
Tim Oesterling
Defensive tackle
UCLA
254
Los Angeles Rams
Don Popplewell
Center
Colorado
255
Miami Dolphins
Ron Maree
Defensive tackle
Purdue
256
Philadelphia Eagles
Tom Bailey
Running back
Florida State
257
San Francisco 49ers
Ernie Jennings
Wide receiver
Air Force
258
Minnesota Vikings
Chris Morris
Guard
Indiana
259
Dallas Cowboys
Rodney Wallace
Defensive tackle
New Mexico
260
Baltimore Colts
Rex Kern
Quarterback
Ohio State
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
261
Boston Patriots
Dan Schneiss
Tight end
Nebraska
262
New Orleans Saints
Bob Pollard
Defensive end
Weber State
263
Buffalo Bills
Andy Browder
Tackle
Texas A&I
264
Philadelphia Eagles
Albert Davis
Running back
Tennessee State
265
Houston Oilers
Macon Hughes
Wide receiver
Rice
266
New York Jets
Vernon Studdard
Wide receiver
Mississippi
267
Atlanta Falcons
Larry Shears
Defensive back
Lincoln (MO)
268
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Wagner
Defensive back
Western Illinois
269
Denver Broncos
Roger Roitsch
Defensive tackle
Rice
270
Chicago Bears
Cliff Hardy
Defensive back
Michigan State
271
Green Bay Packers
John Lanier
Running back
Parsons
272
Washington Redskins
George Starke
Tackle
Columbia
273
San Diego Chargers
Don Pinson
Defensive back
Tennessee State
274
Cleveland Browns
Mike Sikich
Guard
Northwestern
275
Cincinnati Bengals
Edward Marshall
Wide receiver
Cameron State
276
Kansas City Chiefs
Nate Allen
Defensive back
Texas Southern
277
St. Louis Cardinals
Rick Ogle
Linebacker
Colorado
278
New York Giants
Marshall Ellison
Guard
Dayton
279
Oakland Raiders
Jim Poston
Defensive tackle
South Carolina
280
Los Angeles Rams
Charlie Richards
Quarterback
Richmond
281
Detroit Lions
Phil Webb
Defensive back
Colorado State
282
Miami Dolphins
Vic Surma
Tackle
Penn State
283
San Francisco 49ers
Joe Reed
Quarterback
Mississippi State
284
Minnesota Vikings
Mike Walker
Linebacker
Tulane
285
Dallas Cowboys
Ernest Bonwell
Defensive tackle
Lane (Tenn.)
286
Baltimore Colts
Dave Jones
Linebacker
Baylor
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
287
Boston Patriots
John Rodman
Tackle
Northwestern
288
New Orleans Saints
Ron Gathright
Defensive back
Morehead State
289
Philadelphia Eagles
Rich Saathoff
Defensive end
Northern Arizona
290
Houston Oilers
John Thompson
Guard
Minnesota
291
Buffalo Bills
Jim Sheffield
Kicker
Texas A&M
292
New York Jets
Rich Sowells
Defensive back
Alcorn A&M
293
Atlanta Falcons
Ronnie Lowe
Wide receiver
Ft. Valley State
294
Baltimore Colts
Bob Wuensch
Tackle
Texas
295
Denver Broncos
Floyd Franks
Wide receiver
Mississippi
296
Green Bay Packers
Greg Hendren
Guard
California
297
Washington Redskins
Jeff Severson
Defensive back
Cal State-Long Beach
298
Chicago Bears
Steve Booras
Defensive end
Mesa Jr. College
299
San Diego Chargers
Wesley Garnett
Wide receiver
Utah State
300
Cleveland Browns
Tony Blanchard
Tight end
North Carolina
301
Cincinnati Bengals
James Hayden
Defensive end
Memphis State
302
Kansas City Chiefs
Tony Esposito
Running back
Pittsburgh
303
St. Louis Cardinals
Tim Von Dulm
Quarterback
Portland State
304
New York Giants
Tom Blanchard
Kicker
Oregon
305
Oakland Raiders
Horace Jones
Defensive tackle
Louisville
306
Los Angeles Rams
Kirk Behrendt
Tackle
Whitewater
307
Miami Dolphins
Leroy Byars
Running back
Alcorn A&M
308
Detroit Lions
Bill Pilconis
Wide receiver
Pittsburgh
309
San Francisco 49ers
Jim Bunch
Defensive tackle
Wisconsin–Platteville
310
Minnesota Vikings
Reggie Holmes
Defensive back
Wisconsin–Stout
311
Dallas Cowboys
Steve Goepel
Quarterback
Colgate
312
Baltimore Colts
Bill Triplett
Wide receiver
Michigan State
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
313
Boston Patriots
Lewis Swain
Defensive back
Alabama A&M
314
New Orleans Saints
Don Burchfield
Tight end
Ball State
315
Houston Oilers
Joe Hoing
Guard
Arkansas Tech
316
Buffalo Bills
Busty Underwood
Quarterback
Texas Christian
317
Philadelphia Eagles
Danny Lester
Defensive back
Texas
318
New York Jets
John Eggold
Defensive end
Arizona
319
Atlanta Falcons
Dan Crooks
Defensive back
Wisconsin
320
Pittsburgh Steelers
Alfred Young
Wide receiver
South Carolina State
321
Denver Broncos
Craig Blackford
Quarterback
Evansville
322
Washington Redskins
Dan Ryczek
Center
Virginia
323
Chicago Bears
Ed Nicholas
Tackle
North Carolina State
324
Green Bay Packers
Jack Martin
Running back
Angelo State
325
San Diego Chargers
Sammy Milner
Wide receiver
Mississippi State
326
Cleveland Browns
Thad Jamula
Tackle
Lehigh
327
Cincinnati Bengals
David Knapman
Tight end
Central Washington
328
Kansas City Chiefs
Chuck Hixson
Quarterback
Southern Methodist
329
St. Louis Cardinals
Jeff Allen
Defensive back
Iowa State
330
New York Giants
Dave Roller
Defensive tackle
Kentucky
331
Los Angeles Rams
Russell Harrison
Running back
Kansas State
332
Detroit Lions
David Abercrombie
Running back
Tulane
333
Miami Dolphins
Lionel Hepburn
Defensive back
Texas Southern
334
Oakland Raiders
Mick Natzel
Defensive back
Central Michigan
335
San Francisco 49ers
John Bullock
Running back
Purdue
336
Minnesota Vikings
Benny Fry
Center
Houston
337
Dallas Cowboys
James Ford
Running back
Texas Southern
338
Baltimore Colts
Tom Neville
Linebacker
Yale
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
339
Boston Patriots
Alfred Sykes
Wide receiver
Florida A&M
340
New Orleans Saints
Bobby Scott
Quarterback
Tennessee
341
Buffalo Bills
Jim Hoots
Defensive end
Missouri Southern
342
Philadelphia Eagles
Robert Creech
Linebacker
Texas Christian
343
Houston Oilers
Dick Adams
Defensive back
Miami (OH)
344
New York Jets
John Harpring
Guard
Michigan
345
Atlanta Falcons
Daryl Comer
Tight end
Texas
346
Pittsburgh Steelers
McKinney Evans
Defensive back
New Mexico Highlands
347
Chicago Bears
Willie Lewis
Running back
Arizona
348
Green Bay Packers
LeRoy Spears
Defensive end
Moorhead (MN)
349
Washington Redskins
Bill Bynum
Quarterback
W. New Mexico
350
Denver Broncos
Tommy Lyons
Center
Georgia
351
San Diego Chargers
Edward O'Daniel
Defensive end
Texas Southern
352
Cleveland Browns
Rick Kingrea
Linebacker
Tulane
353
Cincinnati Bengals
Irvin Mallory
Defensive back
Virginia Union
354
Kansas City Chiefs
Bruce Bergey
Defensive end
UCLA
355
St. Louis Cardinals
Doug Klausen
Tackle
Arizona
356
New York Giants
Charlie Evans
Running back
USC
357
Oakland Raiders
Tom Gipson
Defensive tackle
North Texas State
358
Los Angeles Rams
Lionel Coleman
Defensive back
Oregon
359
Miami Dolphins
David Vaughn
Tight end
Memphis State
360
Detroit Lions
Tom Lorenz
Tight end
Iowa State
361
San Francisco 49ers
Bill Dunstan
Defensive end
Utah State
362
Minnesota Vikings
Jim Gallagher
Linebacker
Yale
363
Dallas Cowboys
Tyrone Covey
Defensive back
Utah State
364
Baltimore Colts
Mike Mikolayunas
Running back
Davidson
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
365
Boston Patriots
Nick McGarry
Tight end
Massachusetts
366
New Orleans Saints
Bart Graves
Tackle
Tulane
367
Philadelphia Eagles
Ed Fisher
Guard
Prairie View A&M
368
Houston Oilers
Andy Hopkins
Running back
Stephen F. Austin
369
Buffalo Bills
Charles Cole
Running back
Toledo
370
New York Jets
Dan Dyches
Center
South Carolina
371
Atlanta Falcons
Wallace Clark
Running back
Auburn
372
Pittsburgh Steelers
Ray Makin
Guard
Kentucky
373
Denver Broncos
Larry James
Running back
Norfolk State
374
Green Bay Packers
Len Garrett
Tight end
New Mexico Highlands
375
Washington Redskins
Anthony Christnovich
Guard
LaCrosse (Wisc)
376
Chicago Bears
Ron Maciejowski
Quarterback
Ohio State
377
San Diego Chargers
Eric Humston
Linebacker
Muskingum
378
Cleveland Browns
Bill Green
Defensive back
Western Kentucky
379
Cincinnati Bengals
Bob Thomas
Running back
Arizona State
380
Kansas City Chiefs
Mike Montgomery
Defensive back
Southwest Texas State
381
St. Louis Cardinals
Ted Heiskell
Running back
Houston
382
New York Giants
Jim Wright
Linebacker
Notre Dame
383
Oakland Raiders
Andy Giles
Defensive end
William & Mary
384
Los Angeles Rams
Vontez Norman VI
Guard
Notre Dame
385
Detroit Lions
Ed Coates
Wide receiver
Central Missouri
386
Miami Dolphins
Bob Richards
Guard
California
387
San Francisco 49ers
John Lennon
Tackle
Colgate
388
Minnesota Vikings
Jeff Wright
Defensive back
Minnesota
389
Dallas Cowboys
Bob Young
Tight end
Delaware
390
Baltimore Colts
Mike Hogan
Linebacker
Michigan State
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
391
Boston Patriots
Jim Zikmund
Defensive back
Kearney State
392
New Orleans Saints
Craig Robinson
Tackle
Houston
393
Houston Oilers
Mose Denson
Running back
Maryland State
394
Buffalo Bills
Billy Hunter
Defensive back
Utah
395
Philadelphia Eagles
Bruce James
Linebacker
Arkansas
396
New York Jets
Steve Harkey
Running back
Georgia Tech
397
Atlanta Falcons
Lindsey James
Running back
San Diego State
398
Pittsburgh Steelers
Walter Huntley
Defensive back
Trinity
399
Denver Broncos
Steve Thompson
Defensive tackle
Minnesota
400
Washington Redskins
Glenn Tucker
Linebacker
North Texas State
401
Chicago Bears
Sid Bailey
Defensive end
Texas-Arlington
402
Green Bay Packers
Jack O'Donnell
Guard
Central State (OK)
403
San Diego Chargers
Ed Foote
Center
Hawaii
404
Cleveland Browns
Dave Smith
Wide receiver
Mississippi State
405
Cincinnati Bengals
Mark Debevc
Linebacker
Ohio State
406
Kansas City Chiefs
Darrell Jansonius
Guard
Iowa State
407
St. Louis Cardinals
Lawrence Brame
Linebacker
Western Kentucky
408
New York Giants
Dick Gibbs
Tight end
Texas-El Paso
409
Los Angeles Rams
Ross Boice
Linebacker
Pacific Lutheran
410
Miami Dolphins
Chris Myers
Wide receiver
Kenyon
411
Detroit Lions
Tom Kutchinski
Defensive back
Michigan State
412
Oakland Raiders
Tony Stawarz
Defensive back
Miami (FL)
413
Minnesota Vikings
Greg Edmonds
Wide receiver
Penn State
414
San Francisco 49ers
Dave Purcell
Defensive tackle
Kentucky
415
Dallas Cowboys
John Brennan
Tackle
Boston College
416
Baltimore Colts
Rich Harrington
Defensive back
Houston
Pick #
NFL team
Player
Position
College
417
Boston Patriots
Ronald Leigh
Defensive end
Elizabeth City State
418
Los Angeles Rams
Randy Vataha
Wide receiver
Stanford
419
Buffalo Bills
Pat Morrison
Tight end
Arkansas
420
Philadelphia Eagles
John Sage
Linebacker
LSU
421
Houston Oilers
Calvin Fox
Linebacker
Michigan State
422
New York Jets
Greg Flaska
Defensive end
Western Michigan
423
Atlanta Falcons
Willie Martin
Running back
Johnson C. Smith
424
Pittsburgh Steelers
Danny Ehle
Running back
Howard Payne
425
Denver Broncos
Jack Simcsak
Kicker
Virginia Tech
426
Chicago Bears
Ray Garganes
Linebacker
Millersville (PA)
427
Green Bay Packers
Monty Johnson
Defensive back
Oklahoma
428
New Orleans Saints
Hermann Eben
Wide receiver
Oklahoma State
429
San Diego Chargers
Chip Kell
Center
Tennessee
430
Cleveland Browns
Leo Dillon
Center
Dayton
431
Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Hill
Defensive back
Prairie View A&M
432
Cincinnati Bengals
Sam Pearson
Defensive back
Western Kentucky
433
St. Louis Cardinals
Preston Watkins
Wide receiver
Bluefield (WV)
434
New York Giants
Coleman Zeno
Wide receiver
Grambling
435
Los Angeles Rams
Joe Sweet
Wide receiver
Tennessee State
436
Detroit Lions
Gordon Jolley
Tackle
Utah
437
Miami Dolphins
Curt Mark
Linebacker
Mayville (N.D.)
438
San Francisco 49ers
Leroy Charlton
Defensive back
Florida A&M
439
Minnesota Vikings
Ken Duncan
Punter
Tulsa
440
Dallas Cowboys
John Bomer
Center
Memphis State
441
Baltimore Colts
Don Nottingham
Running back
Kent State
442 [ 5]
Oakland Raiders
Charles Hill
Wide receiver
Sam Houston State
= Pro Bowler [ 2]
= Hall of Famer
Notable undrafted players [ edit ]
Jack Ham , linebacker from Pennsylvania State, taken 2nd round 34th overall by Pittsburgh Steelers
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1988.[ 6]
John Riggins , running back from Kansas, taken 1st round 6th overall by New York Jets
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1992.[ 7]
Dan Dierdorf , offensive tackle from Michigan, taken 2nd round 43rd overall by St. Louis Cardinals
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1996.[ 7]
Jack Youngblood , defensive end from Florida, taken 1st round 20th overall by Los Angeles Rams
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2001.[ 8]
Harold Carmichael , wide receiver from Southern, taken 7th round 161st overall by Philadelphia Eagles
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2020
^ Prewitt, Alex (April 29, 2022). "Inside the 1971 NFL Draft, Where Atlanta Selected...John Wayne?" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved July 23, 2022 .
^ a b c d Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
^ Players are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
^ "Heisman Trophy" . Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2013 .
^ This last selection is commonly referred to as Mr. Irrelevant .
^ List of 1980s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com "Pro Football Hall of Fame" . Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2008 .
^ a b List of 1990s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com "Pro Football Hall of Fame" . Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2008 .
^ List of 2000s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com "Pro Football Hall of Fame" . Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2008 .