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 to select quarterback Jim Plunkett, the Heisman Trophy winner. 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]

Player selections

* = compensatory selection
† = Pro Bowler[2]
‡ = Hall of Famer[3]
Positions key
OffenseDefenseSpecial teams
  1. ↑ Includes nose tackle (NT)
  2. ↑ Includes middle linebacker (MLB/MIKE), weakside linebacker (WILL), strongside linebacker (SAM), off-ball linebacker, and outside linebacker (OLB)
  3. ↑ Includes free safety (FS) and strong safety (SS)
  4. ↑ Also known as a placekicker (PK)
  5. ↑ Includes kickoff and punt returners

Round 1–10

Rnd. Pick Team Player Pos. College Notes
1 1 Boston Patriots Jim Plunkett  QB Stanford
1 2 New Orleans Saints Archie Manning † QB Ole Miss
1 3 Houston Oilers Dan Pastorini † QB/P Santa Clara
1 4 Buffalo Bills J. D. Hill † WR Arizona State
1 5 Philadelphia Eagles Richard Harris  DE Grambling
1 6 New York Jets John Riggins‡† RB Kansas
1 7 Atlanta Falcons Joe Profit  RB Northeast Louisiana
1 8 Pittsburgh Steelers Frank Lewis † WR Grambling
1 9 Green Bay Packers John Brockington † RB Ohio State
from Denver
1 10 Los Angeles Rams Isiah Robertson † LB Southern
1 11 Chicago Bears Joe Moore  RB Missouri
1 12 Denver Broncos Marv Montgomery  T USC
from Green Bay
1 13 San Diego Chargers Leon Burns  RB Long Beach State
1 14 Cleveland Browns Clarence Scott † CB Kansas State
1 15 Cincinnati Bengals Vernon Holland  T Tennessee State
1 16 Kansas City Chiefs Elmo Wright  WR Houston
1 17 St. Louis Cardinals Norm Thompson  CB Utah
1 18 New York Giants Rocky Thompson  RB West Texas A&M
1 19 Oakland Raiders Jack Tatum † S Ohio State
1 20 Los Angeles Rams Jack Youngblood‡† DE Florida
1 21 Detroit Lions Bob Bell  DT Cincinnati
1 22 Baltimore Colts Don McCauley  RB North Carolina
From Miami
1 23 San Francisco 49ers Tim Anderson  CB Ohio State
1 24 Minnesota Vikings Leo Hayden  RB Ohio State
1 25 Dallas Cowboys Tody Smith  DE USC
1 26 Baltimore Colts Leonard Dunlap  CB North Texas State
2 27 Boston Patriots Julius Adams † DT Texas Southern
2 28 Chicago Bears Jim Harrison  RB Missouri
from New Orleans
2 29 Buffalo Bills Jan White  TE Ohio State
2 30 Detroit Lions Dave Thompson  C Clemson
from Philadelphia
2 31 New Orleans Saints Sam Holden  G Grambling
from Houston
2 32 New York Jets John Mooring  T Tampa
2 33 Atlanta Falcons Ken Burrow  WR San Diego State
2 34 Pittsburgh Steelers Jack Ham‡† LB Penn State
2 35 Denver Broncos Dwight Harrison  WR Texas A&I
2 36 Chicago Bears Charlie Ford  CB Houston
2 37 San Francisco 49ers Ernie Janet  G Washington
from Green Bay
2 38 Washington Redskins Cotton Speyrer  WR Texas
2 39 Kansas City Chiefs Wilbur Young  DT William Penn
from San Diego
2 40 Cleveland Browns Bo Cornell  RB Washington
2 41 Cincinnati Bengals Stephen Lawson  G Kansas
2 42 Kansas City Chiefs Lewis, ScottScott Lewis  DE Grambling
2 43 St. Louis Cardinals Dan Dierdorf‡† T Michigan
2 44 New York Giants Wayne Walton  T Abilene Christian
2 45 Oakland Raiders Phil Villapiano † LB Bowling Green
2 46 Green Bay Packers Virgil Robinson  RB Grambling
from Los Angeles
2 47 Miami Dolphins Otto Stowe  WR Iowa State
2 48 Detroit Lions Charlie Weaver  LB USC
2 49 San Francisco 49ers Joe Orduna  RB Nebraska
2 50 Philadelphia Eagles Hank Allison  G San Diego State
from Minnesota
2 51 Dallas Cowboys Ike Thomas  CB Bishop
2 52 Baltimore Colts Bill Atessis  DE Texas
3 53 Buffalo Bills Bruce Jarvis  C Washington
from Boston vis Oakland
3 54 New Orleans Saints Bivian Lee  CB Prairie View A&M
3 55 San Francisco 49ers Dickerson, SamSam Dickerson  WR USC
from Philadelphia
3 56 Houston Oilers Lynn Dickey † QB Kansas State
3 57 Buffalo Bills Jim Braxton  RB West Virginia
3 58 New York Jets Chris Farasopoulos  S BYU
3 59 Atlanta Falcons Leo Hart  QB Duke
3 60 Pittsburgh Steelers Steve Davis  RB Delaware State
3 61 St. Louis Cardinals Livesay, JamesJames Livesay  WR Richmond
from Denver
3 62 Green Bay Packers Charlie Hall  DB Pittsburgh
3 63 Los Angeles Rams Dave Elmendorf  S Texas A&M
from Washington
3 64 Chicago Bears Tony McGee  DE Bishop
3 65 San Diego Chargers Mike Montgomery  RB Kansas State
3 66 Cleveland Browns Paul Staroba  WR Michigan
3 67 Cincinnati Bengals Ken Anderson † QB Augustana (IL)
3 68 Cleveland Browns Charlie Hall  LB Houston
from N. Y. Jets
3 69 Dallas Cowboys Sam Scarber  RB New Mexico
from St. Louis
3 70 New York Giants Ronnie Hornsby  LB Southeastern Louisiana
3 71 Chicago Bears Bob Newton  T Nebraska
from Los Angeles
3 72 Detroit Lions Al Clark  CB Eastern Michigan
3 73 Oakland Raiders Warren Koegel  C Penn State
3 74 Miami Dolphins Dale Farley  LB West Virginia
3 75 San Francisco 49ers Willie Parker  C North Texas State
3 76 Minnesota Vikings Hackett, EddieEddie Hackett  WR Alcorn A&M
3 77 Dallas Cowboys Bill Gregory  DT Wisconsin
3 78 Baltimore Colts Karl Douglas  QB Texas A&I
4 79 Denver Broncos Lyle Alzado † DE Yankton (SD)
from Boston
4 80 Dallas Cowboys Carter, JoeJoe Carter  TE Grambling
from New Orleans
4 81 Houston Oilers Larron Jackson  T Missouri
4 82 New Orleans Saints Carlos Bell  RB Houston
from Buffalo
4 83 Philadelphia Eagles Happy Feller  K Texas
4 84 New York Jets Bill Zapalac  LB Texas
4 85 Atlanta Falcons Potchad, MikeMike Potchad  T Pittsburg (KS)
4 86 Pittsburgh Steelers Gerry Mullins  TE USC
4 87 Denver Broncos Johnson, CleoCleo Johnson  DB Alcorn A&M
4 88 New Orleans Saints Wimpy Winther  C Ole Miss
from Washington
4 89 Chicago Bears Jerry Morre  S Arkansas
4 90 Los Angeles Rams Steve Worster  RB Texas
from Green Bay
4 91 New Orleans Saints D'Artagnan Martin  CB Kentucky State
from San Diego
4 92 Cleveland Browns Pena, RobertRobert Pena  G UMass
4 93 Cincinnati Bengals Fred Willis  RB Boston College
4 94 Kansas City Chiefs Robinson, DavidDavid Robinson  TE Jacksonville State
4 95 St. Louis Cardinals Larry Willingham  DB Auburn
4 96 New York Giants Dave Tipton  DT Stanford
4 97 Oakland Raiders Clarence Davis  RB USC
4 98 New Orleans Saints Don Morrison  T Texas–Arlington
from Los Angeles
4 99 Miami Dolphins Joe Theismann † QB Notre Dame
4 100 Detroit Lions Larry Woods  DT Tennessee State
4 101 San Francisco 49ers Harris, TonyTony Harris  RB Toledo
4 102 Minnesota Vikings Vince Clements  RB Connecticut
4 103 Dallas Cowboys Mitchell, AdamAdam Mitchell  T Ole Miss
4 104 Pittsburgh Steelers Dwight White † DE East Texas State
from Baltimore
5 105 Boston Patriots Tim Kelly  LB Notre Dame
5 106 Pittsburgh Steelers Larry Brown † TE Kansas
5 107 Buffalo Bills Donnie Green  T Purdue
5 108 Philadelphia Eagles Shellabarger, TomTom Shellabarger  T San Diego State
5 109 Houston Oilers Armstrong, WillieWillie Armstrong  RB Grambling
5 110 Cincinnati Bengals Art May  DE Tuskegee
from N. Y. Jets
5 111 Atlanta Falcons Ray Jarvis  WR Norfolk State
5 112 Pittsburgh Steelers Melvin Holmes  T North Carolina A&T
5 113 Buffalo Bills Tim Beamer  CB Johnson C. Smith
from Denver
5 114 San Francisco 49ers Shaternick, DeanDean Shaternick  T Kansas State
from Chicago
5 115 San Diego Chargers Bryant Salter  S Pittsburgh
from Green Bay
5 116 Green Bay Packers Donnell Smith  DE Southern
from Washington
5 117 San Diego Chargers Ray White  LB Syracuse
5 118 Cleveland Browns Brown, StanStan Brown  WR Purdue
5 119 San Diego Chargers Asack, PhilPhil Asack  DE Duke
from Cincinnati
5 120 Kansas City Chiefs Mike Adamle  RB Northwestern
5 121 St. Louis Cardinals Wallace, RockyRocky Wallace  LB Missouri
5 122 San Francisco 49ers George Wells  LB New Mexico State
from N. Y. Giants
5 123 Oakland Raiders Bob Moore  TE Stanford
5 124 Green Bay Packers Jim Stillwagon  LB Ohio State
from Los Angeles via Washington
5 125 Detroit Lions Newell, PetePete Newell  G Michigan
5 126 Pittsburgh Steelers Ralph Anderson  DB West Texas A&M
5 127 San Francisco 49ers Marty Huff  LB Michigan
5 128 Pittsburgh Steelers Brister, FredFred Brister  LB Ole Miss
from Minnesota
5 129 Dallas Cowboys Ron Kadziel  LB Stanford
5 130 Baltimore Colts John Andrews  TE Indiana
6 131 Boston Patriots Hardt, DavidDavid Hardt  TE Kentucky
6 132 New Orleans Saints Don Moorhead  RB Michigan
6 133 Philadelphia Eagles Jack Smith  DB Troy State
6 134 Houston Oilers Willie Alexander  CB Alcorn A&M
6 135 Chicago Bears Earl Thomas  WR Houston
from Buffalo
6 136 New York Jets Phil Wise  TE Nebraska–Omaha
6 137 Atlanta Falcons Tom Hayes  CB San Diego State
6 138 Pittsburgh Steelers Craig Hanneman  T Oregon State
6 139 Denver Broncos Phillips, HaroldHarold Phillips  DB Michigan State
6 140 Green Bay Packers Scott Hunter  QB Alabama
6 141 Washington Redskins Conway Hayman  G Delaware
6 142 Cleveland Browns Doug Dieken † T Illinois
from Chicago
6 143 San Diego Chargers Mayes, JacobJacob Mayes  RB Tennessee State
6 144 Cleveland Browns Dixon, JayJay Dixon  DE Boston University
6 145 Buffalo Bills Bill McKinley  DE Arizona
from Cincinnati
6 146 Kansas City Chiefs Kerry Reardon  CB Iowa
6 147 St. Louis Cardinals Mel Gray † WR Missouri
6 148 Atlanta Falcons Ray Brown  S West Texas State
from N. Y. Giants
6 149 Oakland Raiders Greg Slough  LB USC
6 150 Detroit Lions Frank Harris  QB Boston College
from Los Angeles via Philadelphia
6 151 Miami Dolphins Dennis Coleman  LB Ole Miss
6 152 Detroit Lions Franklin, HermanHerman Franklin  WR USC
6 153 San Francisco 49ers Bresler, AlAl Bresler  WR Auburn
6 154 Philadelphia Eagles Neely, WyckWyck Neely  DB Ole Miss
from Minnesota
6 155 Dallas Cowboys Maier, SteveSteve Maier  WR Northern Arizona
6 156 Baltimore Colts Ken Frith  DT Northeast Louisiana
7 157 Oakland Raiders Don Martin  DB Yale
from Boston
7 158 New Orleans Saints Larry DiNardo  G Notre Dame
7 159 Houston Oilers Phil Croyle  LB California
7 160 Buffalo Bills Bob Chandler  WR USC
7 161 Philadelphia Eagles Harold Carmichael‡† WR Southern
7 162 New York Jets Scott Palmer  DT Texas
7 163 Atlanta Falcons Wesley Chesson  WR Duke
7 164 Pittsburgh Steelers McClure, WorthyWorthy McClure  T Ole Miss
7 165 Denver Broncos Doug Adams  LB Ohio State
7 166 Washington Redskins Willie Germany  DB Morgan State
7 167 Chicago Bears Lee, BuddyBuddy Lee  QB LSU
7 168 Green Bay Packers Dave Davis  WR Tennessee State
7 169 San Diego Chargers Chuck Dicus  WR Arkansas
7 170 Cleveland Browns Jacobs, BobBob Jacobs  K Wyoming
7 171 Cincinnati Bengals Neal Craig  S Fisk
7 172 New Orleans Saints Bob Newland  WR Oregon
from Kansas City
7 173 St. Louis Cardinals Cooch, JamesJames Cooch  DB Colorado
7 174 Houston Oilers Watson, LarryLarry Watson  T Morgan State
from N. Y. Giants
7 175 Green Bay Packers Johnson, JamesJames Johnson  WR Bishop
from Oakland
7 176 Chicago Bears Ferris, DennisDennis Ferris  RB Pittsburgh
from Los Angeles
7 177 Detroit Lions Wheless, BrownieBrownie Wheless  T Rice
7 178 Miami Dolphins Ron Dickerson  DB Kansas State
7 179 San Francisco 49ers John Watson  T Oklahoma
7 180 Minnesota Vikings Gene Mack  LB UTEP
7 181 Dallas Cowboys Griffin, BillBill Griffin  T Catawba
7 182 Baltimore Colts Gordon Bowdell  WR Michigan State
8 183 Buffalo Bills Ross, LouisLouis Ross  DE South Carolina State
from Boston
8 184 Pittsburgh Steelers Crowe, LarryLarry Crowe  RB Texas Southern
from New Orleans
8 185 Buffalo Bills Tyrone Walls  RB Missouri
8 186 Philadelphia Eagles Leonard Gotschalk  C Humboldt State
8 187 Denver Broncos Beard, TomTom Beard  C Michigan State
from Houston
8 188 New York Jets Roy Kirksey  G Maryland State
8 189 Atlanta Falcons Dennis Havig  G Colorado
8 190 Pittsburgh Steelers Rogers, PaulPaul Rogers  K Nebraska
8 191 Kansas City Chiefs Mike Sensibaugh  S Ohio State
from Denver
8 192 Chicago Bears Weiss, KarlKarl Weiss  T Vanderbilt
8 193 Green Bay Packers Win Headley  C Wake Forest
8 194 New Orleans Saints Elder, JamesJames Elder  DB Southern
from Washington
8 195 San Diego Chargers Van Gorkum, LeonLeon Van Gorkum  DE San Diego State
8 196 Cleveland Browns Zelina, LarryLarry Zelina  RB Ohio State
8 197 Cincinnati Bengals Herring, FredFred Herring  DB Tennessee State
8 198 Kansas City Chiefs Rick Telander  DB Northwestern
8 199 St. Louis Cardinals Ron Yankowski  DE Kansas State
8 200 New York Giants Gregory, TedTed Gregory  DE Delaware
8 201 New Orleans Saints Bob Gresham  RB West Virginia
from Oakland
8 202 Los Angeles Rams Garay, TonyTony Garay  DE Hofstra
8 203 Pittsburgh Steelers Ernie Holmes  DT Texas Southern
from Miami
8 204 Detroit Lions Ken Lee  LB Washington
8 205 San Francisco 49ers Jim McCann  P Arizona State
8 206 Dallas Cowboys Ron Jessie † WR Kansas
8 207 Baltimore Colts Bogan, WillieWillie Bogan  DB Dartmouth
8 208 Minnesota Vikings Fairley, JohnJohn Fairley  DE Johnson C. Smith
9 209 Boston Patriots Josh Ashton  RB Tulsa
9 210 New Orleans Saints Williams, TomTom Williams  DB Willamette
9 211 Philadelphia Eagles Pettigrew, LenLen Pettigrew  LB Ashland
9 212 Houston Oilers Floyd Rice  LB Alcorn A&M
9 213 Buffalo Bills Strickland, BobBob Strickland  LB Auburn
9 214 New York Jets Curtis, JohnJohn Curtis  TE Springfield
9 215 Atlanta Falcons Griffin, AlvinAlvin Griffin  WR Tuskegee
9 216 Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Anderson  LB LSU
9 217 Denver Broncos Handy, JohnJohn Handy  LB Purdue
9 218 Green Bay Packers Mayer, BarryBarry Mayer  RB Minnesota
9 219 Washington Redskins Mike Fanucci  DE Arizona State
9 220 Chicago Bears Lester McClain  WR Tennessee
9 221 San Diego Chargers John Tanner  TE Tennessee Tech
9 222 Cleveland Browns Levels, WilmurWilmur Levels  DB North Texas State
9 223 Cincinnati Bengals Gustafson, GaryGary Gustafson  LB Montana State
9 224 Kansas City Chiefs Hawes, AlvinAlvin Hawes  T Minnesota
9 225 St. Louis Cardinals Savoy, MikeMike Savoy  WR Black Hills (SD)
9 226 New York Giants Thomas, EdEd Thomas  LB Lebanon Valley
9 227 Oakland Raiders Garnett, DaveDave Garnett  RB Pittsburgh
9 228 Los Angeles Rams Schmidt, JoeJoe Schmidt  WR Miami (FL)
9 229 Detroit Lions Mickey Zofko  RB Auburn
9 230 Miami Dolphins Vern Den Herder † DE Central Iowa
9 231 San Francisco 49ers Couch, ThermanTherman Couch  LB Iowa State
9 232 Minnesota Vikings Sullivan, TimTim Sullivan  RB Iowa
9 233 Dallas Cowboys Honor Jackson  WR Pacific
9 234 Baltimore Colts Burnett, BillBill Burnett  RB Arkansas
10 235 Boston Patriots Layne McDowell  T Iowa
10 236 San Francisco 49ers Ron Cardo  RB Wisconsin–Oshkosh
from New Orleans
10 237 Houston Oilers Price, RussellRussell Price  DE North Carolina Central
10 238 Oakland Raiders West, WilliamWilliam West  DB Tennessee State
from Buffalo
10 239 New Orleans Saints Rocky Pamplin  RB Hawaii
from Philadelphia
10 240 New York Jets Jim Betts  DB Michigan
10 241 Atlanta Falcons Tillman, FaddieFaddie Tillman  DE Boise State
10 242 Pittsburgh Steelers O'Shea, JimJim O'Shea  TE Boston College
10 243 Denver Broncos Harris, CarlisCarlis Harris  WR Idaho State
10 244 Washington Redskins Taylor, JesseJesse Taylor  RB Cincinnati
10 245 Chicago Bears Larry Rowden  LB Houston
10 246 Green Bay Packers Kevin Hunt  T Doane
10 247 San Diego Chargers Gary Nowak  TE Michigan State
10 248 Cleveland Browns Casteel, SteveSteve Casteel  LB Oklahoma
10 249 Cincinnati Bengals Stambaugh, JackJack Stambaugh  G Oregon
10 250 Kansas City Chiefs Bruce Jankowski  WR Ohio State
10 251 St. Louis Cardinals Miller, RonaldRonald Miller  T McNeese State
10 252 New York Giants Henry Reed  LB Weber State
10 253 Oakland Raiders Oesterling, TimTim Oesterling  DT UCLA
10 254 Los Angeles Rams Don Popplewell  C Colorado
10 255 Miami Dolphins Maree, RonRon Maree  DT Purdue
10 256 Philadelphia Eagles Tom Bailey  RB Florida State
from Detroit
10 257 San Francisco 49ers Ernie Jennings  WR Air Force
10 258 Minnesota Vikings Morris, ChrisChris Morris  G Indiana
10 259 Dallas Cowboys Rodney Wallace  DT New Mexico
10 260 Baltimore Colts Rex Kern  QB Ohio State

Round 11

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
261Boston PatriotsDan SchneissTight endNebraska
262New Orleans SaintsBob PollardDefensive endWeber State
263Buffalo BillsAndy BrowderTackleTexas A&I
264Philadelphia EaglesAlbert DavisRunning backTennessee State
265Houston OilersMacon HughesWide receiverRice
266New York JetsVernon StuddardWide receiverMississippi
267Atlanta FalconsLarry ShearsDefensive backLincoln (MO)
268Pittsburgh SteelersMike WagnerDefensive backWestern Illinois
269Denver BroncosRoger RoitschDefensive tackleRice
270Chicago BearsCliff HardyDefensive backMichigan State
271Green Bay PackersJohn LanierRunning backParsons
272Washington RedskinsGeorge StarkeTackleColumbia
273San Diego ChargersDon PinsonDefensive backTennessee State
274Cleveland BrownsMike SikichGuardNorthwestern
275Cincinnati BengalsEdward MarshallWide receiverCameron State
276Kansas City ChiefsNate AllenDefensive backTexas Southern
277St. Louis CardinalsRick OgleLinebackerColorado
278New York GiantsMarshall EllisonGuardDayton
279Oakland RaidersJim PostonDefensive tackleSouth Carolina
280Los Angeles RamsCharlie RichardsQuarterbackRichmond
281Detroit LionsPhil WebbDefensive backColorado State
282Miami DolphinsVic SurmaTacklePenn State
283San Francisco 49ersJoe ReedQuarterbackMississippi State
284Minnesota VikingsMike WalkerLinebackerTulane
285Dallas CowboysErnest BonwellDefensive tackleLane (Tenn.)
286Baltimore ColtsDave JonesLinebackerBaylor

Round 12

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
287Boston PatriotsJohn RodmanTackleNorthwestern
288New Orleans SaintsRon GathrightDefensive backMorehead State
289Philadelphia EaglesRich SaathoffDefensive endNorthern Arizona
290Houston OilersJohn ThompsonGuardMinnesota
291Buffalo BillsJim SheffieldKickerTexas A&M
292New York JetsRich SowellsDefensive backAlcorn A&M
293Atlanta FalconsRonnie LoweWide receiverFt. Valley State
294Baltimore ColtsBob WuenschTackleTexas
295Denver BroncosFloyd FranksWide receiverMississippi
296Green Bay PackersGreg HendrenGuardCalifornia
297Washington RedskinsJeff SeversonDefensive backCal State-Long Beach
298Chicago BearsSteve BoorasDefensive endMesa Jr. College
299San Diego ChargersWesley GarnettWide receiverUtah State
300Cleveland BrownsTony BlanchardTight endNorth Carolina
301Cincinnati BengalsJames HaydenDefensive endMemphis State
302Kansas City ChiefsTony EspositoRunning backPittsburgh
303St. Louis CardinalsTim Von DulmQuarterbackPortland State
304New York GiantsTom BlanchardKickerOregon
305Oakland RaidersHorace JonesDefensive tackleLouisville
306Los Angeles RamsKirk BehrendtTackleWhitewater
307Miami DolphinsLeroy ByarsRunning backAlcorn A&M
308Detroit LionsBill PilconisWide receiverPittsburgh
309San Francisco 49ersJim BunchDefensive tackleWisconsin–Platteville
310Minnesota VikingsReggie HolmesDefensive backWisconsin–Stout
311Dallas CowboysSteve GoepelQuarterbackColgate
312Baltimore ColtsBill TriplettWide receiverMichigan State

Round 13

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
313Boston PatriotsLewis SwainDefensive backAlabama A&M
314New Orleans SaintsDon BurchfieldTight endBall State
315Houston OilersJoe HoingGuardArkansas Tech
316Buffalo BillsBusty UnderwoodQuarterbackTexas Christian
317Philadelphia EaglesDanny LesterDefensive backTexas
318New York JetsJohn EggoldDefensive endArizona
319Atlanta FalconsDan CrooksDefensive backWisconsin
320Pittsburgh SteelersAlfred YoungWide receiverSouth Carolina State
321Denver BroncosCraig BlackfordQuarterbackEvansville
322Washington RedskinsDan RyczekCenterVirginia
323Chicago BearsEd NicholasTackleNorth Carolina State
324Green Bay PackersJack MartinRunning backAngelo State
325San Diego ChargersSammy MilnerWide receiverMississippi State
326Cleveland BrownsThad JamulaTackleLehigh
327Cincinnati BengalsDavid KnapmanTight endCentral Washington
328Kansas City ChiefsChuck HixsonQuarterbackSouthern Methodist
329St. Louis CardinalsJeff AllenDefensive backIowa State
330New York GiantsDave RollerDefensive tackleKentucky
331Los Angeles RamsRussell HarrisonRunning backKansas State
332Detroit LionsDavid AbercrombieRunning backTulane
333Miami DolphinsLionel HepburnDefensive backTexas Southern
334Oakland RaidersMick NatzelDefensive backCentral Michigan
335San Francisco 49ersJohn BullockRunning backPurdue
336Minnesota VikingsBenny FryCenterHouston
337Dallas CowboysJames FordRunning backTexas Southern
338Baltimore ColtsTom NevilleLinebackerYale

Round 14

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
339Boston PatriotsAlfred SykesWide receiverFlorida A&M
340New Orleans SaintsBobby ScottQuarterbackTennessee
341Buffalo BillsJim HootsDefensive endMissouri Southern
342Philadelphia EaglesRobert CreechLinebackerTexas Christian
343Houston OilersDick AdamsDefensive backMiami (OH)
344New York JetsJohn HarpringGuardMichigan
345Atlanta FalconsDaryl ComerTight endTexas
346Pittsburgh SteelersMcKinney EvansDefensive backNew Mexico Highlands
347Chicago BearsWillie LewisRunning backArizona
348Green Bay PackersLeRoy SpearsDefensive endMoorhead (MN)
349Washington RedskinsBill BynumQuarterbackW. New Mexico
350Denver BroncosTommy LyonsCenterGeorgia
351San Diego ChargersEdward O'DanielDefensive endTexas Southern
352Cleveland BrownsRick KingreaLinebackerTulane
353Cincinnati BengalsIrvin MalloryDefensive backVirginia Union
354Kansas City ChiefsBruce BergeyDefensive endUCLA
355St. Louis CardinalsDoug KlausenTackleArizona
356New York GiantsCharlie EvansRunning backUSC
357Oakland RaidersTom GipsonDefensive tackleNorth Texas State
358Los Angeles RamsLionel ColemanDefensive backOregon
359Miami DolphinsDavid VaughnTight endMemphis State
360Detroit LionsTom LorenzTight endIowa State
361San Francisco 49ersBill DunstanDefensive endUtah State
362Minnesota VikingsJim GallagherLinebackerYale
363Dallas CowboysTyrone CoveyDefensive backUtah State
364Baltimore ColtsMike MikolayunasRunning backDavidson

Round 15

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
365Boston PatriotsNick McGarryTight endMassachusetts
366New Orleans SaintsBart GravesTackleTulane
367Philadelphia EaglesEd FisherGuardPrairie View A&M
368Houston OilersAndy HopkinsRunning backStephen F. Austin
369Buffalo BillsCharles ColeRunning backToledo
370New York JetsDan DychesCenterSouth Carolina
371Atlanta FalconsWallace ClarkRunning backAuburn
372Pittsburgh SteelersRay MakinGuardKentucky
373Denver BroncosLarry JamesRunning backNorfolk State
374Green Bay PackersLen GarrettTight endNew Mexico Highlands
375Washington RedskinsAnthony ChristnovichGuardLaCrosse (Wisc)
376Chicago BearsRon MaciejowskiQuarterbackOhio State
377San Diego ChargersEric HumstonLinebackerMuskingum
378Cleveland BrownsBill GreenDefensive backWestern Kentucky
379Cincinnati BengalsBob ThomasRunning backArizona State
380Kansas City ChiefsMike MontgomeryDefensive backSouthwest Texas State
381St. Louis CardinalsTed HeiskellRunning backHouston
382New York GiantsJim WrightLinebackerNotre Dame
383Oakland RaidersAndy GilesDefensive endWilliam & Mary
384Los Angeles RamsVontez Norman VIGuardNotre Dame
385Detroit LionsEd CoatesWide receiverCentral Missouri
386Miami DolphinsBob RichardsGuardCalifornia
387San Francisco 49ersJohn LennonTackleColgate
388Minnesota VikingsJeff WrightDefensive backMinnesota
389Dallas CowboysBob YoungTight endDelaware
390Baltimore ColtsMike HoganLinebackerMichigan State

Round 16

Rnd. Pick Team Player Pos. College Notes
16 391 Boston Patriots Zikmund, JimJim Zikmund  DB Kearney State
16 392 New Orleans Saints Robinson, CraigCraig Robinson  T Houston
16 393 Houston Oilers Denson, MoseMose Denson  RB Maryland State
16 394 Buffalo Bills Hunter, BillyBilly Hunter  DB Utah
16 395 Philadelphia Eagles James, BruceBruce James  LB Arkansas
16 396 New York Jets Steve Harkey  RB Georgia Tech
16 397 Atlanta Falcons James, LindseyLindsey James  RB San Diego State
16 398 Pittsburgh Steelers Huntley, WalterWalter Huntley  DB Trinity (TX)
16 399 Denver Broncos Thompson, SteveSteve Thompson  DT Minnesota
16 400 Washington Redskins Tucker, GlennGlenn Tucker  LB North Texas State
16 401 Chicago Bears Bailey, SidSid Bailey  DE Texas–Arlington
16 402 Green Bay Packers O'Donnell, JackJack O'Donnell  G Central State (OK)
16 403 San Diego Chargers Foote, EdEd Foote  C Hawaii
16 404 Cleveland Browns Smith, DaveDave Smith  WR Mississippi State
16 405 Cincinnati Bengals Debevc, MarkMark Debevc  LB Ohio State
16 406 Kansas City Chiefs Jansonius, DarrellDarrell Jansonius  G Iowa State
16 407 St. Louis Cardinals Brame, LawrenceLawrence Brame  LB Western Kentucky
16 408 New York Giants Dick Gibbs  TE UTEP
16 409 Los Angeles Rams Boice, RossRoss Boice  LB Pacific Lutheran
16 410 Miami Dolphins Myers, ChrisChris Myers  WR Kenyon
16 411 Detroit Lions Kutchinski, TomTom Kutchinski  DB Michigan State
16 412 Oakland Raiders Stawarz, TonyTony Stawarz  DB Miami (FL)
16 413 Minnesota Vikings Edmonds, GregGreg Edmonds  WR Penn State
16 414 San Francisco 49ers Purcell, DaveDave Purcell  DT Kentucky
16 415 Dallas Cowboys Brennan, JohnJohn Brennan  T Boston College
16 416 Baltimore Colts Harrington, RichRich Harrington  DB Houston

Round 17

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
417Boston PatriotsRonald LeighDefensive endElizabeth City State
418Los Angeles RamsRandy VatahaWide receiverStanford
419Buffalo BillsPat MorrisonTight endArkansas
420Philadelphia EaglesJohn SageLinebackerLSU
421Houston OilersCalvin FoxLinebackerMichigan State
422New York JetsGreg FlaskaDefensive endWestern Michigan
423Atlanta FalconsWillie MartinRunning backJohnson C. Smith
424Pittsburgh SteelersDanny EhleRunning backHoward Payne
425Denver BroncosJack SimcsakKickerVirginia Tech
426Chicago BearsRay GarganesLinebackerMillersville (PA)
427Green Bay PackersMonty JohnsonDefensive backOklahoma
428New Orleans SaintsHermann EbenWide receiverOklahoma State
429San Diego ChargersChip KellCenterTennessee
430Cleveland BrownsLeo DillonCenterDayton
431Kansas City ChiefsTravis HillDefensive backPrairie View A&M
432Cincinnati BengalsSam PearsonDefensive backWestern Kentucky
433St. Louis CardinalsPreston WatkinsWide receiverBluefield (WV)
434New York GiantsColeman ZenoWide receiverGrambling
435Los Angeles RamsJoe SweetWide receiverTennessee State
436Detroit LionsGordon JolleyTackleUtah
437Miami DolphinsCurt MarkLinebackerMayville (N.D.)
438San Francisco 49ersLeroy CharltonDefensive backFlorida A&M
439Minnesota VikingsKen DuncanPunterTulsa
440Dallas CowboysJohn BomerCenterMemphis State
441Baltimore ColtsDon NottinghamRunning backKent State
442[5]Oakland RaidersCharles HillWide receiverSam Houston State

Notable undrafted players

† = Pro Bowler[2]
Original NFL team Player Pos. College Notes
Atlanta Falcons Jim Miller  G Iowa
Buffalo Bills Tony Greene † S Maryland
Buffalo Bills John Leypoldt  K Northern Virginia
Cincinnati Bengals Tony Bertuca  LB Chico State
Cincinnati Bengals Cookie Brinkman  WR Louisville
Dallas Cowboys Toni Fritsch † K  
Green Bay Packers Jim DeLisle  DT Wisconsin
Green Bay Packers Tim Webster  K Arkansas
Houston Oilers Ward Walsh  RB Colorado
Los Angeles Rams Matt Maslowski  WR San Diego
Los Angeles Rams Dave Mays  QB Texas Southern
Miami Dolphins Maulty Moore  DT Bethune-Cookman
Minnesota Vikings Chuck Winfrey  LB Wisconsin
New England Patriots Kenny Price  LB Iowa
New Orleans Saints Bill Line  DT SMU
New York Giants Dick Hanson  T North Dakota State
Oakland Raiders Don Milan  QB Cal Poly
Pittsburgh Steelers Glen Edwards † S Florida A&M
St. Louis Cardinals George Jakowenko  K Syracuse

Hall of Famers

  • 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

References

  1. ↑ Prewitt, Alex (April 29, 2022). "Inside the 1971 NFL Draft, Where Atlanta Selected...John Wayne?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
  3. ↑ Players are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
  4. ↑ "Heisman Trophy". Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  5. ↑ This last selection is commonly referred to as Mr. Irrelevant.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. 1 2 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.
  8. ↑ 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.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_NFL_draft