Quarterback Doug Williams was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers first overall pick.
The 1979 draft was held May 3–4, 1979, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.
The Buffalo Bills held the first overall pick in the draft, acquired from the San Francisco 49ers in the trade which sent O.J. Simpson to his hometown team. The Bills' selection at No. 1, Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau, refused to sign with the Bills and instead inked a lucrative deal with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
Cousineau returned to the United States in 1982 to play for the Cleveland Browns, his hometown franchise.
The Buccaneers traded the 4th overall selection to Chicago for Wally Chambers. They gained additional 2nd and 3rd round picks from Oakland in return for DT Dave Pear. They also had the extra 3rd and 5th round picks from the Houston trade in 1978. They gained a 3rd round pick from Baltimore for RB Dan Hardeman but lost their own 3rd round pick to Miami as compensation ordered by the NFL for signing free agent Randy Crowder. The 8th round pick from Miami came in return for DE Council Rudolph.
Click Any Year Here To Review The Entire NFL Draft & Notable Undrafted Players
Player Selections
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
111 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Tom Seabron |
Linebacker |
Michigan |
112 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Earl Gant |
Running Back |
Missouri |
113 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Casey Merrill |
Defensive End |
California-Davis |
114 |
Buffalo Bills |
Rod Kush |
Defensive Back |
Nebraska-Omaha |
115 |
Baltimore Colts |
Larry Braziel |
Defensive Back |
USC |
116 |
Buffalo Bills |
Dan Manucci |
Quarterback |
Kansas State |
117 |
New York Giants |
Cleveland Jackson |
Tight End |
UNLV |
118 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Steve Henry |
Defensive Back |
Emporia State |
119 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Jerry Aldridge |
Running Back |
Angelo State |
120 |
New Orleans Saints |
Harlan Huckleby |
Running Back |
Michigan |
121 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Bob Hukill |
Offensive Guard |
North Carolina |
122 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Victor Hicks |
Tight End |
Oklahoma |
123 |
New York Jets |
Kelly Kirchbaum |
Linebacker |
Kentucky |
124 |
Cleveland Browns |
Rich Dimler |
Defensive Tackle |
USC |
125 |
New York Jets |
Stan Blinka |
Linebacker |
Sam Houston State |
126 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Scott Fitzkee |
Wide Receiver |
Penn State |
127 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Mike Zele |
Defensive Tackle |
Kent State |
128 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Curtis Anderson |
Defensive End |
Central State (OH) |
129 |
Minnesota Vikings |
Jerry Meter |
Linebacker |
Michigan |
130 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Mark Bell |
Wide Receiver |
Colorado State |
131 |
Detroit Lions |
Walt Brown |
Center |
Pittsburgh |
132 |
Denver Broncos |
Rick Leach |
Quarterback |
Michigan |
133 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Chuck Fusina |
Quarterback |
Penn State |
134 |
Miami Dolphins |
Don Bessillieu |
Defensive Back |
Georgia Tech |
135 |
New England Patriots |
John Zamberlin |
Linebacker |
Pacific Lutheran |
136 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Ron Springs |
Running Back |
Ohio State |
137 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Dwaine Board |
Defensive End |
North Carolina A&T |
Round 6
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
138 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Ruben Vaughan |
Defensive Tackle |
Colorado |
139 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Steve Kreider |
Wide Receiver |
Lehigh |
140 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Spider Gaines |
Wide Receiver |
Washington |
141 |
Buffalo Bills |
Mike Burrow |
Offensive Guard |
Auburn |
142 |
Oakland Raiders |
Ira Matthews |
Wide Receiver |
Wisconsin |
143 |
Houston Oilers |
Daryl Hunt |
Linebacker |
Oklahoma |
144 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Thomas Lott |
Running Back |
Oklahoma |
145 |
New York Giants |
Bob Torrey |
Running Back |
Penn State |
146 |
New Orleans Saints |
Ricky Ray |
Defensive Back |
Norfolk State |
147 |
Chicago Bears |
John Sullivan |
Linebacker |
Illinois |
148 |
Denver Broncos |
Jeff McIntyre |
Linebacker |
Arizona State |
149 |
New York Jets |
Bill Dufek |
Offensive Guard |
Michigan |
150 |
Baltimore Colts |
Jim Moore |
Tackle |
Ohio State |
151 |
Cleveland Browns |
Clinton Burrell |
Defensive Back |
Louisiana State |
152 |
Minnesota Vikings |
Joe Senser |
Tight End |
West Chester (PA) |
153 |
Green Bay Packers |
Dave Simmons |
Linebacker |
North Carolina |
154 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Mike Moroski |
Quarterback |
California-Davis |
155 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Tim Lavender |
Defensive Back |
USC |
156 |
Oakland Raiders |
Henry Williams |
Defensive Back |
San Diego State |
157 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Bill Murrell |
Tight End |
Winston-Salem State |
158 |
New York Giants |
Eddie Hicks |
Running Back |
East Carolina |
159 |
Houston Oilers |
Mike Murphy |
Linebacker |
SW Missouri State |
160 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Mike Salzano |
Offensive Guard |
North Carolina |
161 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Dwayne Woodruff |
Defensive Back |
Louisville |
162 |
Miami Dolphins |
Steve Lindquist |
Offensive Guard |
Nebraska |
163 |
Cleveland Browns |
Jim Ronan |
Defensive Tackle |
Minnesota |
164 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Chris DeFrance |
Wide Receiver |
Arizona State |
165 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Matt Bahr |
Kicker |
Penn State |
0 |
Buffalo Bills |
Rod Stewart |
Running Back |
Kentucky |
Round 7
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
166 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Phil Francis |
Running Back |
Stanford |
167 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Ken Kremer |
Defensive End |
Ball State |
168 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Max Montoya |
Offensive Tackle |
UCLA |
169 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Larry Polowski |
Linebacker |
Boise State |
170 |
Buffalo Bills |
Tom Mullady |
Tight End |
Rhodes College |
171 |
Houston Oilers |
Tim Ries |
Defensive Back |
SW Missouri State |
172 |
New York Giants |
Steve Alvers |
Tight End |
Miami (FL) |
173 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Kirk Gibson |
Wide Receiver |
Michigan State |
174 |
Chicago Bears |
Lee Kunz |
Linebacker |
Nebraska |
175 |
Oakland Raiders |
Jack Matia |
Offensive Tackle |
Drake |
176 |
New Orleans Saints |
Stan Sytsma |
Linebacker |
Minnesota |
177 |
New England Patriots |
Judson Flint |
Defensive Back |
Memphis State |
178 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Don Swafford |
Offensive Tackle |
Florida |
179 |
New York Jets |
Emmett King |
Running Back |
Houston |
180 |
Green Bay Packers |
Henry Monroe |
Defensive Back |
Mississippi State |
181 |
Minnesota Vikings |
Bob Winkel |
Defensive Tackle |
Kentucky |
182 |
Washington Redskins |
Rich Milot |
Linebacker |
Penn State |
183 |
Cleveland Browns |
Cody Risien |
Offensive Tackle |
Texas A&M |
184 |
Green Bay Packers |
Rich Wingo |
Linebacker |
Alabama |
185 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Curtis Bunche |
Defensive End |
Albany State |
186 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Roger Westlund |
Offensive Tackle |
Washington |
187 |
New York Jets |
Keith Brown |
Defensive Back |
Minnesota |
188 |
Denver Broncos |
Luke Prestridge |
Punter |
Baylor |
189 |
Miami Dolphins |
Uwe von Schamann |
Kicker |
Oklahoma |
190 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Jeff Delaney |
Defensive Back |
Pittsburgh |
191 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Greg Fitzpatrick |
Linebacker |
Youngstown State |
192 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Bruce Kimball |
Offensive Guard |
Massachusetts |
Round 8
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
193 |
Green Bay Packers |
Ron Cassidy |
Wide Receiver |
Utah State |
194 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Howie Kurnick |
Linebacker |
Cincinnati |
195 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Mike Williams |
Running Back |
New Mexico |
196 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Chuck Correal |
Center |
Penn State |
197 |
Baltimore Colts |
Steve Heimkreiter |
Linebacker |
Notre Dame |
198 |
New York Jets |
Marshall Harris |
Defensive Tackle |
Texas Christian |
199 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Larry Miller |
Linebacker |
Brigham Young |
200 |
New York Giants |
D.K. Perry |
Defensive Back |
Southern Methodist |
201 |
New York Giants |
Roy Simmons |
Offensive Guard |
Georgia Tech |
202 |
New Orleans Saints |
Doug Panfil |
Offensive Guard |
Tulsa |
203 |
Chicago Bears |
Rick Moss |
Defensive Back |
Purdue |
204 |
Cleveland Browns |
Kent Perkov |
Defensive End |
San Diego State |
205 |
New York Jets |
Willie Beamon |
Linebacker |
Boise State |
206 |
Miami Dolphins |
Jeff Groth |
Wide Receiver |
Bowling Green |
207 |
Baltimore Colts |
Nesby Glasgow |
Defensive Back |
Washington |
208 |
Green Bay Packers |
Rick Partridge |
Punter |
Utah |
209 |
Oakland Raiders |
Robert Hawkins |
Running Back |
Kentucky |
210 |
San Diego Chargers |
Wilbert Haslip |
Running Back |
Hawaii |
211 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Max Runager |
Punter |
South Carolina |
212 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Keith Miller |
Linebacker |
N.E. Oklahoma |
213 |
Detroit Lions |
John Mohring |
Linebacker |
C.W. Post |
214 |
Houston Oilers |
Carter Hartwig |
Defensive Back |
USC |
215 |
Miami Dolphins |
Glenn Blackwood |
Defensive Back |
Texas |
216 |
New England Patriots |
Randy Love |
Running Back |
Houston |
217 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Gene Sanders |
Defensive Tackle |
Texas A&M |
218 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Robert Brewer |
Offensive Guard |
Temple |
219 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Bruce Thornton |
Defensive Tackle |
Illinois |
220 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Tom Graves |
Linebacker |
Michigan State |
Round 9
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
221 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Steve Hamilton |
Defensive Tackle |
Missouri |
222 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
James Folston |
Tight End |
Cameron |
223 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Scott Burk |
Defensive Back |
Oklahoma State |
224 |
Baltimore Colts |
Russ Henderson |
Punter |
Virginia |
225 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Henry Vereen |
Wide Receiver |
UNLV |
226 |
Buffalo Bills |
Keven Baker |
Defensive End |
William Penn |
227 |
New York Giants |
Tom Rusk |
Linebacker |
Iowa |
228 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Bob Rozier |
Defensive End |
California |
229 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Joe Robinson |
Offensive Tackle |
Ohio State |
230 |
Chicago Bears |
Jerome Heavens |
Running Back |
Notre Dame |
231 |
Detroit Lions |
Jeff Komlo |
Quarterback |
Delaware |
232 |
New York Jets |
Gordy Sprattler |
Running Back |
North Dakota State |
233 |
Washington Redskins |
Kris Haines |
Wide Receiver |
Notre Dame |
234 |
Cleveland Browns |
Carl McGee |
Linebacker |
Duke |
235 |
Green Bay Packers |
John Thompson |
Tight End |
Utah State |
236 |
Minnesota Vikings |
Billy Diggs |
Wide Receiver |
Winston-Salem State |
237 |
San Diego Chargers |
Alvin Garrett |
Wide Receiver |
Angelo State |
238 |
Oakland Raiders |
Jim Rourke |
Offensive Tackle |
Boston College |
239 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Dave Parkin |
Defensive Back |
Utah State |
240 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Ezra Tate |
Running Back |
Mississippi State |
241 |
Cleveland Browns |
Curtis Weathers |
Tight End |
Mississippi |
242 |
Denver Broncos |
Charlie Taylor |
Wide Receiver |
Rice |
243 |
Houston Oilers |
Richard Ellender |
Wide Receiver |
McNeese State |
244 |
Miami Dolphins |
Jeff Weston |
Defensive Tackle |
Notre Dame |
245 |
New England Patriots |
John Spagnola |
Tight End |
Yale |
246 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Jeff Rutledge |
Quarterback |
Alabama |
247 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Garry Cobb |
Linebacker |
USC |
248 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Rick Kirk |
Defensive End |
Denison |
Round 10
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
249 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Dwight Clark |
Wide Receiver |
Clemson |
250 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Nathan Poole |
Running Back |
Louisville |
251 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Mike DuPree |
Linebacker |
Florida |
252 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Howard Ballage |
Defensive Back |
Colorado |
253 |
Buffalo Bills |
Dave Marler |
Quarterback |
Mississippi State |
254 |
Baltimore Colts |
Steve Stephens |
Tight End |
Oklahoma State |
255 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Jerry Holloway |
Tight End |
Western Illinois |
256 |
New York Giants |
Dan Fowler |
Offensive Guard |
Kentucky |
257 |
Chicago Bears |
Joe Restic |
Defensive Back |
Notre Dame |
258 |
Miami Dolphins |
Jerome Stanton |
Defensive Back |
Michigan State |
259 |
Oakland Raiders |
Ricky Smith |
Defensive Back |
Tulane |
260 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Gerald Jackson |
Defensive Back |
Mississippi State |
261 |
Cleveland Browns |
John Smith |
Wide Receiver |
Tennessee State |
262 |
New York Jets |
Steve Sybeldon |
Offensive Tackle |
North Dakota |
263 |
New York Jets |
Ed McGlasson |
Center |
Youngstown State |
264 |
Green Bay Packers |
Frank Lockett |
Wide Receiver |
Nebraska |
265 |
San Diego Chargers |
Tony Petruccio |
Defensive Tackle |
Penn State |
266 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Bruce Beekley |
Linebacker |
Oregon |
267 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Robert Hardy |
Defensive Tackle |
Jackson State |
268 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Larry Willis |
Wide Receiver |
Alcorn State |
269 |
San Diego Chargers |
Al Green |
Defensive Back |
LSU |
270 |
New England Patriots |
Martin Cox |
Wide Receiver |
Vanderbilt |
271 |
New England Patriots |
Allan Clark |
Running Back |
Northern Arizona |
272 |
Miami Dolphins |
Mike Kozlowski |
Running Back |
Colorado |
273 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Grady Ebensberger |
Defensive Tackle |
Houston |
274 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Mike Calhoun |
Defensive Tackle |
Notre Dame |
275 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Tod Thompson |
Tight End |
Brigham Young |
Round 11
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
276 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Billy McBride |
Defensive Back |
Tennessee State |
277 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Stan Rome |
Wide Receiver |
Clemson |
278 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Ken Bungarda |
Defensive End |
Missouri |
279 |
Buffalo Bills |
Paul Lawler |
Defensive Back |
Colgate |
280 |
Baltimore Colts |
John Priestner |
Linebacker |
Western Ontario |
281 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Bob Rippentrop |
Tight End |
Fresno State |
282 |
New York Giants |
Mike Mince |
Defensive Back |
Fresno State |
283 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Nate Henderson |
Offensive Tackle |
Florida State |
284 |
New York Giants |
Ken Johnson |
Running Back |
Miami (FL) |
285 |
New Orleans Saints |
David Hall |
Wide Receiver |
Missouri-Rolla |
286 |
Chicago Bears |
Bob Wright |
Offensive Tackle |
Cincinnati |
287 |
Cleveland Browns |
Randy Poeschl |
Defensive End |
Nebraska |
288 |
New York Jets |
Danny Sanders |
Quarterback |
Carson-Newman |
289 |
Washington Redskins |
Monte Coleman |
Linebacker |
Central Arkansas |
290 |
Green Bay Packers |
Mark Thorson |
Defensive Back |
Ottawa (KS) |
291 |
Minnesota Vikings |
Brian Nelson |
Wide Receiver |
Texas Tech |
292 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Bill Leer |
Center |
Colorado State |
293 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Jim Hinesly |
Offensive Guard |
Michigan State |
294 |
Oakland Raiders |
Bruce Davis |
Offensive Tackle |
UCLA |
295 |
San Diego Chargers |
Dave Rader |
Quarterback |
Tulsa |
296 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Al Chesley |
Linebacker |
Pittsburgh |
297 |
Denver Broncos |
Zach Dixon |
Running Back |
Temple |
298 |
Houston Oilers |
Mike Taylor |
Offensive Tackle |
Georgia Tech |
299 |
Miami Dolphins |
Mike Blanton |
Defensive End |
Georgia Tech |
300 |
Washington Redskins |
Tony Hall |
Wide Receiver |
Knoxville |
301 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Jesse Deremus |
Defensive Tackle |
Tennessee State |
302 |
Detroit Lions |
Eddie Cole |
Linebacker |
Mississippi |
303 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Charlie Moore |
Center |
Wichita State |
Round 12
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
304 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Jim Browner |
Defensive Back |
Notre Dame |
305 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Michael Forrest |
Running Back |
Arkansas |
306 |
Baltimore Colts |
Charlie Green |
Wide Receiver |
Kansas State |
307 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Dave Logan |
Defensive Tackle |
Pittsburgh |
308 |
Buffalo Bills |
Mike Harris |
Running Back |
Arizona State |
309 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Rick McBride |
Linebacker |
Georgia |
310 |
New York Giants |
Tim Gillespie |
Offensive Guard |
North Carolina State |
311 |
New Orleans Saints |
Kelsey Finch |
Running Back |
Tennessee |
312 |
Chicago Bears |
Dave Becker |
Defensive Back |
Iowa |
313 |
Detroit Lions |
Bob Forster |
Center |
Brown |
314 |
New York Jets |
Paul Darby |
Wide Receiver |
Southwest Texas State |
315 |
Cleveland Browns |
Dewitt Methvin |
Center |
Tulane |
316 |
Oakland Raiders |
Dirk Abernathy |
Defensive Back |
Bowling Green |
317 |
Minnesota Vikings |
David Stephens |
Linebacker |
Kentucky |
318 |
Green Bay Packers |
Bill Moats |
Punter |
South Dakota |
319 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Jeff Moore |
Running Back |
Jackson State |
320 |
Oakland Raiders |
Reggie Kinlaw |
Defensive Tackle |
Oklahoma |
321 |
San Diego Chargers |
Frank Duncan |
Defensive Back |
San Francisco State |
322 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Ed Smith |
Linebacker |
Vanderbilt |
323 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Stuard Walker |
Linebacker |
Colorado |
324 |
Houston Oilers |
Wayne Wilson |
Running Back |
Shepherd College |
325 |
Denver Broncos |
Dave Jacobs |
Kicker |
Syracuse |
326 |
Detroit Lions |
Brian Sweeney |
Wide Receiver |
Texas A&I |
327 |
Miami Dolphins |
Larry Fortnet |
Quarterback |
Miami (OH) |
328 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Drew Hill |
Wide Receiver |
Georgia Tech |
329 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Quentin Lowry |
Linebacker |
Youngstown State |
330 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Mike Almond |
Wide Receiver |
Northwest Louisiana |
Hall of Famers
- Kellen Winslow, tight end from Missouri taken 1st round 13th overall by the San Diego Chargers.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1995.
- Joe Montana, quarterback from Notre Dame taken 3rd round 82nd overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2000.
- Dan Hampton, defensive tackle from Arkansas taken 1st round 4th overall by the Chicago Bears.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2002.
Notable Undrafted Players
Click Any Year Here To Review The Entire NFL Draft & Notable Undrafted Players