Linebacker, Hugh Green
Tampa Bay Buccaneers first overall pick.
The 1981 draft was held April 28–29, 1981, at the New York Sheraton Hotel in New York City. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.
For the first time, the top two picks of the draft were named Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year, respectively.
The Buccaneerss drafted 7th in the first round and then subsequent rounds saw them pick 6th and 7th alternatively due to tie-breakers.
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 |
112 |
New Orleans Saints |
Louis Oubre |
Tackle |
Oklahoma |
113 |
New York Jets |
Tyrone Keys |
Defensive end |
Mississippi State |
114 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Edwin Bailey |
Guard |
South Carolina State |
115 |
New York Giants |
Bill Neill |
Defensive tackle |
Pittsburgh |
116 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
John Gillen |
Linebacker |
Illinois |
117 |
Green Bay Packers |
Byron Braggs |
Defensive tackle |
Alabama |
118 |
Oakland Raiders |
James Davis |
Defensive back |
Southern |
119 |
Washington Redskins |
Dexter Manley |
Defensive end |
Oklahoma State |
120 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Benjie Pryor |
Tight end |
Pittsburgh |
121 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Lynn Thomas |
Defensive back |
Pittsburgh |
122 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Arrington Jones |
Running back |
Winston-Salem State |
123 |
Minnesota Vikings |
Wendell Ray |
Defensive end |
Missouri |
124 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Todd Thomas |
Tackle |
North Dakota |
125 |
Denver Broncos |
Ken Lanier |
Tackle |
Florida State |
126 |
Miami Dolphins |
Ken Poole |
Defensive end |
N.E. Louisiana |
127 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Ricky Martin |
Wide receiver |
New Mexico |
128 |
New Orleans Saints |
Jerry Boyarsky |
Defensive tackle |
Pittsburgh |
129 |
Detroit Lions |
Larry Lee |
Guard |
UCLA |
130 |
New England Patriots |
Steve Clark |
Defensive tackle |
Kansas State |
131 |
San Diego Chargers |
Keith Ferguson |
Linebacker |
Ohio State |
132 |
Washington Redskins |
Gary Sayre |
Guard |
Cameron |
133 |
Houston Oilers |
Delbert Fowler |
Linebacker |
West Virginia |
134 |
Cleveland Browns |
Steve Cox |
Punter/Kicker |
Arkansas |
135 |
Buffalo Bills |
Calvin Clark |
Defensive end |
Purdue |
136 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Eric Sanders |
Tackle |
Nevada |
137 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Danny Spradlin |
Linebacker |
Tennessee |
138 |
Miami Dolphins |
Tommy Vigorito |
Running back |
Virginia |
Round 6
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
139 |
New Orleans Saints |
Nat Hudson |
Guard |
Georgia |
140 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Steve Durham |
Defensive end |
Clemson |
141 |
San Diego Chargers |
Andy Gissinger |
Tackle |
Syracuse |
142 |
New York Jets |
John Woodring |
Linebacker |
Brown |
143 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Dave Ahrens |
Linebacker |
Wisconsin |
144 |
New Orleans Saints |
Johnnie Poe |
Cornerback |
Missouri |
145 |
New York Giants |
Mel Hoover |
Wide receiver |
Arizona State |
146 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Rex Robinson |
Kicker |
Georgia |
147 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Pete Kugler |
Defensive tackle |
Penn State |
148 |
Washington Redskins |
Larry Kubin |
Linebacker |
Penn State |
149 |
Baltimore Colts |
Bubba Green |
Defensive tackle |
North Carolina State |
150 |
Chicago Bears |
Reuben Henderson |
Cornerback |
San Diego State |
151 |
Denver Broncos |
Alvin Lewis |
Running back |
Colorado State |
152 |
Miami Dolphins |
Mack Moore |
Defensive end |
Texas A&M |
153 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Dock Luckie |
Defensive tackle |
Florida |
154 |
Miami Dolphins |
Fulton Walker |
Defensive back |
West Virginia |
155 |
Detroit Lions |
Sam Johnson |
Defensive back |
Maryland |
156 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Bryan Hinkle |
Linebacker |
Oregon |
157 |
New England Patriots |
Ron Wooten |
Guard |
North Carolina |
158 |
Los Angeles Rams |
William Daniels |
Defensive tackle |
Alabama State |
159 |
Houston Oilers |
Bill Kay |
Defensive back |
Purdue |
160 |
Cleveland Browns |
Ron Simmons |
Defensive tackle |
Florida State |
161 |
Buffalo Bills |
Robert Holt |
Wide receiver |
Baylor |
162 |
San Diego Chargers |
Bobby Duckworth |
Wide receiver |
Arkansas |
163 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Vince Skillings |
Defensive back |
Ohio State |
164 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Harry Stanback |
Defensive tackle |
North Carolina |
165 |
New York Giants |
Edward O'Neal |
Running back |
Tuskegee |
166 |
New Orleans Saints |
Glen Redd |
Linebacker |
Brigham Young |
Round 7
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
167 |
New Orleans Saints |
Kevin Williams |
Wide receiver |
USC |
168 |
New York Giants |
Louis Jackson |
Running back |
Cal Poly |
169 |
New York Jets |
Kenny Neil |
Defensive end |
Iowa State |
170 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Ron Johnson |
Wide receiver |
Long Beach State |
171 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Kevin Donnalley |
Defensive back |
North Dakota State |
172 |
Green Bay Packers |
Bill Whitaker |
Defensive back |
Missouri |
173 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Ron Fellows |
Defensive back |
Missouri |
174 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Alan Duncan |
Kicker |
Tennessee |
175 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Ron Battle |
Tight end |
North Texas State |
176 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Jeff Schuh |
Linebacker |
Minnesota |
177 |
Chicago Bears |
Jeff Fisher |
Defensive back |
USC |
178 |
Baltimore Colts |
Obed Ariri |
Kicker |
Clemson |
179 |
Miami Dolphins |
Mike Daum |
Tackle |
Cal Poly |
180 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Billy Jackson |
Running back |
Alabama |
181 |
Denver Broncos |
Steve Busick |
Linebacker |
USC |
182 |
Detroit Lions |
Lee Spivey |
Tackle |
Southern Methodist |
183 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
David Little |
Linebacker |
Florida |
184 |
Minnesota Vikings |
Don Shaver |
Running back |
Kutztown (PA) |
185 |
New England Patriots |
Ken Toler |
Wide receiver |
Mississippi |
186 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Brad Scovill |
Tight end |
Penn State |
187 |
Cleveland Browns |
Eddie Johnson |
Linebacker |
Louisiana Tech |
188 |
Buffalo Bills |
Steve Doolittle |
Linebacker |
Colorado |
189 |
San Diego Chargers |
Pete Holohan |
Tight end |
Notre Dame |
190 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Mike Clark |
Defensive end |
Florida |
191 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Ken Miller |
Defensive back |
Eastern Michigan |
192 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Doak Field |
Linebacker |
Baylor |
193 |
Houston Oilers |
Don Washington |
Defensive back |
Texas A&I |
Round 8
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
194 |
New England Patriots |
Ken Naber |
Kicker |
Stanford |
195 |
New York Jets |
Lloyd Jones |
Wide receiver |
Brigham Young |
196 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Eric Lane |
Running back |
Brigham Young |
197 |
New York Giants |
John Powers |
Guard |
Michigan |
198 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Mike Fisher |
Wide receiver |
Baylor |
199 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Denver Johnson |
Tackle |
Tulsa |
200 |
Green Bay Packers |
Larry Werts |
Linebacker |
Jackson State |
201 |
Washington Redskins |
Charlie Brown |
Wide receiver |
South Carolina State |
202 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Bobby Kemp |
Safety |
Fullerton State |
203 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Garry White |
Running back |
Minnesota |
204 |
Baltimore Colts |
Ken Sitton |
Defensive back |
Oklahoma |
205 |
Chicago Bears |
Scott Zettek |
Defensive tackle |
Notre Dame |
206 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
David Dorn |
Wide receiver |
Rutgers |
207 |
New York Giants |
Mark Reed |
Quarterback |
Morehead State |
208 |
Miami Dolphins |
William Judson |
Cornerback |
South Carolina State |
209 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Frank Wilson |
Running back |
Rice |
210 |
Minnesota Vikings |
Wade Wilson |
Quarterback |
East Texas State |
211 |
Detroit Lions |
Bob Niziolek |
Tight end |
Colorado |
212 |
New England Patriots |
Lin Dawson |
Tight end |
North Carolina State |
213 |
New York Jets |
J. C. Watts |
Quarterback |
Oklahoma |
214 |
New Orleans Saints |
Gene Gladys |
Linebacker |
Penn State |
215 |
New Orleans Saints |
Kevin Evans |
Defensive back |
Arkansas |
216 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Art Plunkett |
Tackle |
UNLV |
217 |
Houston Oilers |
Willie Tullis |
Wide receiver |
Troy State |
218 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Paul Piurowski |
Linebacker |
Florida State |
219 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Cliff Toney |
Defensive back |
Auburn |
220 |
Baltimore Colts |
Hosea Taylor |
Defensive tackle |
Houston |
221 |
New York Giants |
Billy Ard |
Guard |
Wake Forest |
Round 9
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
222 |
New Orleans Saints |
Toussaint Tyler |
Running back |
Washington |
223 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Jim Stone |
Running back |
Notre Dame |
224 |
New York Giants |
Byron Hunt |
Linebacker |
Southern Methodist |
225 |
New York Jets |
Admiral Dewey Larry |
Defensive back |
UNLV |
226 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Stump Mitchell |
Running back |
Citadel |
227 |
Green Bay Packers |
Tim Huffman |
Tackle |
Notre Dame |
228 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Mike Ford |
Quarterback |
Southern Methodist |
229 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Jim Hannula |
Tackle |
Northern Illinois |
230 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Samoa Samoa |
Running back |
Washington State |
231 |
Washington Redskins |
Darryl Grant |
Guard |
Rice |
232 |
Chicago Bears |
Frank Ditta |
Guard |
Baylor |
233 |
Baltimore Colts |
Tim Gooch |
Defensive tackle |
Kentucky |
234 |
Denver Broncos |
Rusty Olsen |
Defensive end |
Washington |
235 |
Miami Dolphins |
John Noonan |
Wide receiver |
Nebraska |
236 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Jim Whatley |
Wide receiver |
Washington State |
237 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Tony Vereen |
Defensive back |
Southeastern Louisiana |
238 |
Detroit Lions |
Hugh Jernigan |
Defensive back |
Arkansas |
239 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
James Hunter |
Tackle |
USC |
240 |
Detroit Lions |
Dave Martin |
Defensive back |
Villanova |
241 |
Buffalo Bills |
Robb Riddick |
Running back |
Millersville (PA) |
242 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Ron Seawell |
Linebacker |
Portland State |
243 |
Houston Oilers |
Avon Riley |
Linebacker |
UCLA |
244 |
Cleveland Browns |
Randy Schleusener |
Guard |
Nebraska |
245 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Calvin Fance |
Running back |
Rice |
246 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Mike Wilson |
Wide receiver |
Washington State |
247 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Chuck Commiskey |
Offensive lineman |
Mississippi |
248 |
Oakland Raiders |
Curt Mohl |
Tackle |
UCLA |
Round 10
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
249 |
New Orleans Saints |
Hokie Gajan |
Running back |
Louisiana State |
250 |
New York Giants |
Mike Barker |
Defensive tackle |
Grambling |
251 |
New York Jets |
Marty Wetzel |
Linebacker |
Tulane |
252 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Ken Dawson |
Running back |
Savannah State |
253 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
James Mallard |
Wide receiver |
Alabama |
254 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Ken McCune |
Defensive end |
Texas |
255 |
Green Bay Packers |
Nickie Hall |
Quarterback |
Tulane |
256 |
Baltimore Colts |
Gregg Gerken |
Linebacker |
Northern Arizona |
257 |
Washington Redskins |
Phil Kessel |
Quarterback |
Northern Michigan |
258 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Hubert Simpson |
Running back |
Tennessee |
259 |
Baltimore Colts |
Trent Bryant |
Defensive back |
Arkansas |
260 |
Chicago Bears |
Tim Clifford |
Quarterback |
Indiana |
261 |
Miami Dolphins |
Steve Folsom |
Tight end |
Utah |
262 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Les Studdard |
Guard |
Texas |
263 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Jim Joiner |
Wide receiver |
Miami (FL) |
264 |
Detroit Lions |
Andy Cannavino |
Linebacker |
Michigan |
265 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Mike Mayock |
Safety |
Boston College |
266 |
Minnesota Vikings |
James Murphy |
Wide receiver |
Utah State |
267 |
Washington Redskins |
Allan Kennedy |
Tackle |
Washington State |
268 |
San Diego Chargers |
Robert Parham |
Running back |
Grambling |
269 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Robert Alexander |
Running back |
West Virginia |
270 |
Houston Oilers |
Larry Jones |
Running back |
Colorado State |
271 |
Cleveland Browns |
Dean Prater |
Defensive end |
Oklahoma State |
272 |
Buffalo Bills |
Justin Cross |
Tackle |
Western Colorado |
273 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Pat Graham |
Defensive tackle |
California |
274 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Robert Murphy |
Defensive back |
Ohio State |
275 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Hubert Oliver |
Running back |
Arizona |
276 |
Oakland Raiders |
Frank Hawkins |
Running back |
Nevada |
Round 11
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
277 |
New Orleans Saints |
Lester Mickens |
Wide receiver |
Kansas |
278 |
New York Jets |
Ed Gall |
Defensive tackle |
Maryland |
279 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Lance Olander |
Running back |
Colorado |
280 |
San Diego Chargers |
Matt Petrzelka |
Tackle |
Iowa |
281 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Mike Sherrod |
Tight end |
Illinois |
282 |
Green Bay Packers |
Forrest Valora |
Linebacker |
Oklahoma |
283 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Johnny Ray Smith |
Defensive back |
Lamar |
284 |
Washington Redskins |
Jerry Hill |
Wide receiver |
North Alabama |
285 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Robert Jackson |
Defensive back |
Central Michigan |
286 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Rob DeBose |
Tight end |
UCLA |
287 |
Chicago Bears |
Lonnie Johnson |
Running back |
Indiana |
288 |
Baltimore Colts |
Holden Smith |
Wide receiver |
California |
289 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Frank Case |
Defensive end |
Penn State |
290 |
Denver Broncos |
Pat Walker |
Wide receiver |
Miami (FL) |
291 |
Miami Dolphins |
Jim Jensen |
Quarterback |
Boston University |
292 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Rick Trocano |
Quarterback |
Pittsburgh |
293 |
Minnesota Vikings |
Brent Knourek |
Fullback |
Oregon State |
294 |
Detroit Lions |
Willie Jackson |
Defensive back |
Mississippi State |
295 |
New England Patriots |
Brian Buckley |
Quarterback |
Harvard |
296 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Marcellus Greene |
Defensive back |
Arizona |
297 |
Houston Oilers |
Claude Matthews |
Guard |
Auburn |
298 |
Cleveland Browns |
Larry Friday |
Defensive back |
Mississippi State |
299 |
Buffalo Bills |
Buster Barnett |
Tight end |
Jackson State |
300 |
San Diego Chargers |
Carlos Bradley |
Linebacker |
Wake Forest |
301 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Keith Chappelle |
Wide receiver |
Iowa |
302 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Tim Morrison |
Guard |
Georgia |
303 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Gail Davis |
Defensive tackle |
Virginia Union |
304 |
Oakland Raiders |
Chester Willis |
Running back |
Auburn |
- |
New England Patriots |
Chy Davidson |
Wide receiver |
Rhode Island |
Round 12
Pick # |
NFL Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
305 |
New Orleans Saints |
Jim Wilks |
Defensive tackle |
San Diego State |
306 |
Seattle Seahawks |
Jeff Bednarek |
Defensive tackle |
Pacific |
307 |
New York Giants |
Mike Maher |
Tight end |
Western Illinois |
308 |
New York Jets |
Mike Moeller |
Tackle |
Drake |
309 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Joe Adams |
Guard |
Nebraska |
310 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Brad White |
Defensive tackle |
Tennessee |
311 |
Green Bay Packers |
Cliff Lewis |
Linebacker |
Southern Mississippi |
312 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Mark O'Connell |
Quarterback |
Ball State |
313 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Major Ogilvie |
Running back |
Alabama |
314 |
Washington Redskins |
Clint Didier |
Tight end |
Portland State |
315 |
Baltimore Colts |
Eric Scoggins |
Linebacker |
USC |
316 |
Chicago Bears |
Bob Shupryt |
Linebacker |
New Mexico |
317 |
Denver Broncos |
John Hankerd |
Linebacker |
Notre Dame |
318 |
Miami Dolphins |
John Alford |
Defensive tackle |
South Carolina State |
319 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Bob Gagliano |
Quarterback |
Utah State |
320 |
Minnesota Vikings |
Brian Williams |
Tight end |
Southern |
321 |
Denver Broncos |
Mandel Robinson |
Running back |
Wyoming |
322 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Joe Adams |
Quarterback |
Tennessee State |
323 |
New England Patriots |
Cris Crissy |
Defensive back |
Princeton |
324 |
Houston Oilers |
Bill Capece |
Kicker |
Florida State |
325 |
Cleveland Browns |
Kevin McGill |
Tackle |
Oregon |
326 |
Buffalo Bills |
Keith Clark |
Linebacker |
Memphis State |
327 |
San Diego Chargers |
Stacy Charles |
Wide receiver |
Bethune-Cookman |
328 |
Los Angeles Rams |
Jairo Penaranda |
Running back |
UCLA |
329 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Nate Lundy |
Wide receiver |
Indiana |
330 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Mark McCants |
Defensive back |
Temple |
331 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Ray Ellis |
Defensive back |
Ohio State |
332 |
Oakland Raiders |
Phil Nelson |
Tight end |
Delaware |
Hall of Famers
- Mike Singletary, linebacker from Baylor University taken 2nd round 38th overall by the Chicago Bears.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1998.
- Lawrence Taylor, linebacker from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill taken 1st round 2nd overall by the New York Giants.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1999.
- Ronnie Lott, cornerback from the University of Southern California taken 1st round 8th overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2000.
- Howie Long, defensive tackle from Villanova University taken 2nd round 48th overall by the Oakland Raiders.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2000.
- Rickey Jackson, linebacker from University of Pittsburgh taken 2nd round 51st overall by the New Orleans Saints.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2010.
- Russ Grimm, Offensive guard from University of Pittsburgh taken 3rd round 69th overall by the Washington Redskins.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2010.
- Kenny Easley, safety from UCLA taken 1st round 4th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2017.
Notable undrafted Players
Click Any Year Here To Review The Entire NFL Draft & Notable Undrafted Players