Gale Sayers was drafted 4th overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1965 NFL Draft. The University of Kansas Jayhawks football team has had 177 players drafted into the National Football League (NFL).[ 1] [ A 1] [ A 2] Gale Sayers , John Riggins , Ray Evans , Mike Butler , John Hadl , and David Verser . Sayers, a College and Pro Football Hall of Famer , was the highest pick from KU as the fourth overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft. Nine different Jayhawks have been drafted in the first round, Aqib Talib , who was drafted with the 20th overall selection in the 2008 NFL draft is the most recent Jayhawk to be drafted in the first round.
Through the annual NFL Draft each NFL franchise gets the chance to add new players to their teams. The current draft rules were established in 2009. The team with the worst record the previous year gets to pick first, then the next-worst team picks second, and so on. Teams that were not in the playoffs receive their draft order by their regular-season record. If 2 or more non-playoff teams have the same record the tie breaker used is their strength of schedule. Playoff teams receive their draft order after all the non-playoff teams, based on their round of elimination (wild card, division, conference, and Super Bowl).[ 3]
In 1944 the All-America Football Conference was established and it began play in 1946 in direct competition with the NFL. From 1946 to 1949 the two leagues fiercely competed for the top college football prospects with each league holding their own drafts, before the AAFC finally merged with the NFL at the end of the 1949 season.
Like the AAFC earlier, the American Football League (AFL) operated in direct competition with the NFL and held a separate draft. This led to a massive bidding war over top prospects between the two leagues. As part of the merger agreement on June 8, 1966, the two leagues would hold a multiple round "Common Draft". Once the AFL officially merged with the NFL in 1970, the "Common Draft" simply became the NFL Draft.[ 2] [ 4]
Sixteen former Jayhawks who were drafted have been selected to a Pro Bowl or AFL All-Star Game. Twelve former Jayhawks who were drafted have won a championship with their respective teams, one was named MVP, John Riggins in Super Bowl XVII .
John Riggins was drafted 6th overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 1971 NFL Draft. Aqib Talib was drafted 20th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2008 NFL Draft. Anthony Collins was drafted 112th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2008 NFL Draft. Darrell Stuckey was drafted 110th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2010 NFL Draft. Dexter McDonald was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 2015 NFL Draft. Moran Norris was selected by the New Orleans Saints as the 115th overall draft pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. Year[ A 3] [ A 4] Round Pick Overall Player Team[ A 5] Position Notes 1938 9 6 76 Clarence Douglass Detroit Lions B 1939 18 1 161 Dave Shirk Pittsburgh Pirates E 19 35 175 Ferrell Anderson Brooklyn Dodgers G 1940 14 3 123 Bill Bunson Philadelphia Eagles B 1942 9 2 72 Hubert Ulrich Cleveland Rams E 16 7 147 Ralph Miller Brooklyn Dodgers B Hall of fame basketball coach 1944 1 9 9 Ray Evans | Chicago Bears B 9 11 87 Gene Long Boston Yanks G 26 1 264 Warren Hodges Chicago Cardinals T 30 3 310 George Dick Detroit Lions E 1945 27 5 276 Don Fambrough Chicago Cardinals B 27 11 285 Bill Chestnut Green Bay Packers B 1947 23 6 211 Otto Schnellbacher Chicago Cardinals NFL DB 1951 ) 29 5 270 Bill Hogan Green Bay Packers NFL B 1948 19 1 166 Don Ettinger New York Giants NFL G 20 10 185 Dick Monroe Chicago Cardinals NFL C 1949 22 8 219 Dick Bertuzzi Chicago Bears NFL B 23 7 228 Frank Pattee Washington Redskins NFL B 1950 5 6 59 Forrest Griffith New York Giants B 21 2 263 Bud French New York Bulldogs B 21 7 268 Dick Tomlinson Pittsburgh Steelers G 27 5 344 Ed Lee Washington Redskins T 1951 3 8 34 Mike McCormack ‡± New York Yanks T 1954 , 1955 )1951 , 1956 , 1957 , 1960 , 1961 , 1962 ) 5 2 52 Wade Stinson Green Bay Packers B 29 3 342 S. P. Garnett San Francisco 49ers T 1952 20 11 240 Bob Brandenberry Cleveland Browns B 25 8 297 Bud Laughlin San Francisco 49ers B 1953 2 6 19 Gil Reich Green Bay Packers B 4 8 45 George Mrkonic Philadelphia Eagles G 6 12 73 Ollie Spencer Detroit Lions T 12 5 138 Jerry Robertson Pittsburgh Steelers B 13 10 155 Galen Fiss ‡ Cleveland Browns B 1964 )1962 , 1963 ) 22 1 254 Merlin Gish Baltimore Colts C 26 10 311 Charlie Hoag Cleveland Browns B 1954 5 6 55 Bob Hantla San Francisco 49ers G 14 8 165 Hal Patterson Philadelphia Eagles B 18 10 215 Morris Kay San Francisco 49ers E 26 11 312 Joe Lundy Cleveland Browns G 1955 21 8 249 John Anderson Philadelphia Eagles E 1956 13 2 147 Ralph Moody San Francisco 49ers B 26 8 309 Bev Butler New York Giants B 1957 11 9 130 Bob Kraus Chicago Cardinals G 14 4 161 Don Feller Cleveland Browns B 16 6 187 Ed Prelock Baltimore Colts T 20 9 238 Tom Horner Chicago Cardinals T 22 6 259 Chet Vanatta Baltimore Colts T 26 9 310 Ted Rohde Chicago Cardinals B 30 8 357 Frank Gibson Chicago Cardinals T 1958 12 6 139 Ron Clairborne Los Angeles Rams T 18 12 217 Larry Carrier Detroit Lions B 1959 14 7 163 John Peppercorn Pittsburgh Steelers E 26 11 311 Homer Floyd Cleveland Browns B 1960 8 12 96 Fred Hageman New York Giants NFL C 10 2 110 Curtis McClinton †‡ Los Angeles Rams NFL RB IV )1962 , 1966, 1967) (Offensive MVP in 1962) 1961 14 6 110 Curtis McClinton †‡ Dallas Texans AFL RB IV )1962 , 1966, 1967) (Offensive MVP in 1962) 14 3 185 Doyle Schick Washington Redskins NFL B 1962 1 10 10 John Hadl | Detroit Lions NFL QB 1964 , 1965, 1968, 1969) (1969 MVP)1972 , 1973 ) 3 8 24 John Hadl | San Diego Chargers AFL QB 1964 , 1965, 1968, 1969) (1969 MVP)1972 , 1973 ) 7 1 85 Bert Coan Washington Redskins NFL RB 14 1 105 Bert Coan San Diego Chargers AFL RB 20 8 274 Roger McFarland San Francisco 49ers NFL RB 23 1 177 Elvin Basham Oakland Raiders AFL G 27 7 215 Roger McFarland Houston Oilers AFL RB 1963 7 6 90 Marv Clothier Dallas Cowboys NFL G 1965 1 4 4 Gale Sayers |± Chicago Bears NFL RB 1965 , 1966 , 1967 , 1968 , 1969 ) 1 5 5 Gale Sayers |± Kansas City Chiefs AFL B 1965 , 1966 , 1967 , 1968 , 1969 ) 8 3 101 Brian Schweda Chicago Bears NFL T 8 10 108 Mike Shinn Green Bay Packers NFL E 16 1 121 Brian Schweda Denver Broncos AFL T 19 1 145 Ron Oelschlager Denver Broncos AFL RB 1966 11 6 97 Willie Ray Smith Kansas City Chiefs AFL DB 14 7 125 Mike Johnson Oakland Raiders AFL DB 15 7 134 Steve Renko Oakland Raiders AFL FB 1967 6 1 134 George Harvey New Orleans Saints G 17 25 444 Jeff Elias Green Bay Packers TE 1968 10 20 266 Ben Olison Dallas Cowboys WR 1969 2 15 41 Bobby Douglass Chicago Bears QB 3 8 60 Vernon Vanoy New York Giants DE 4 21 99 John Zook Los Angeles Rams DE 1973 ) 5 13 117 Keith Christensen New Orleans Saints T 10 9 243 Donnie Shanklin Philadelphia Eagles RB 14 3 341 Billy Hunt Atlanta Falcons DB 16 19 409 Junior Riggins St. Louis Cardinals RB 1970 2 18 44 Jim Bailey Baltimore Colts DT 6 11 141 John Mosier Denver Broncos TE 10 13 247 Jim Hatcher Atlanta Falcons DB 11 24 284 Emery Hicks Oakland Raiders LB 17 12 428 Bill Bell Atlanta Falcons K 1971 1 6 6 John Riggins ‡± New York Jets FB XVII )1975 ) 2 15 41 Stephen Lawson Cincinnati Bengals G 5 2 106 Larry Brown ‡ Pittsburgh Steelers TE IX , X , XIII , XIV )1982 ) 8 24 206 Ron Jessie Dallas Cowboys WR 1976 ) 1972 5 16 120 Bob Childs Los Angeles Rams G 7 2 158 Steve Conley Cincinnati Bengals RB 14 2 340 Karl Salb Buffalo Bills DT 15 16 380 Steve Roach Detroit Lions LB 15 17 381 Kenny Page Los Angeles Rams LB 1973 3 24 76 Roger Bernhardt Pittsburgh Steelers G 4 5 83 Gery Palmer Baltimore Colts T 9 25 233 Eddie Sheats Washington Redskins LB 15 15 379 Vince O'Neil Buffalo Bills RB 1974 1 15 15 Don Goode San Diego Chargers LB 2 23 49 Delvin Williams San Francisco 49ers RB 1976 , 1978 ) 3 11 63 Mitch Sutton Philadelphia Eagles DT 3 14 66 David Jaynes Kansas City Chiefs QB 16 19 409 Delario Robinson Oakland Raiders WR 1975 2 14 40 Emmett Edwards Houston Oilers WR 4 25 103 Bruce Adams Minnesota Vikings WR 5 25 129 Robert Miller Minnesota Vikings RB 6 13 143 Steve Towle Miami Dolphins LB 6 19 149 Mike Lemon New Orleans Saints LB 1976 2 15 43 Kurt Knoff Los Angeles Rams DB 2 29 57 Eddie Lewis San Francisco 49ers DB 3 11 71 Dave Scott Atlanta Falcons G 6 10 166 Steve Taylor Kansas City Chiefs DB 9 4 241 Jeff Turner Buffalo Bills LB 1977 1 9 9 Mike Butler Green Bay Packers DE 2 3 31 Nolan Cromwell Los Angeles Rams DB 1980 , 1981 , 1982 , 1983 ) 2 13 41 Terry Beeson Seattle Seahawks LB 4 15 99 Laverne Smith Pittsburgh Steelers RB 5 7 119 Skip Sharp Philadelphia Eagles DB 7 10 177 Chris Golub Kansas City Chiefs DB 8 20 215 Waddell Smith Kansas City Chiefs WR 1978 3 26 82 Lindsey Mason Oakland Raiders T 5 16 126 Tom Dinkel Cincinnati Bengals LB 5 20 130 Norris Banks Philadelphia Eagles RB 11 10 288 Billy Campfield Philadelphia Eagles RB 1979 3 25 81 Mike Wellman Los Angeles Rams C 1980 2 3 31 Kirby Criswell Cincinnati Bengals LB 3 14 70 LeRoy Irvin Los Angeles Rams DB 1985 , 1986 ) 5 13 123 Jim Zidd New York Jets LB 11 16 293 Mike Hubach New England Patriots P 1981 1 10 10 David Verser Cincinnati Bengals WR 11 1 277 Lester Mickens New Orleans Saints WR 1982 7 17 184 Greg Smith Kansas City Chiefs DT 9 8 231 Dan Wagoner Detroit Lions DB 1983 2 24 52 Wayne Capers Pittsburgh Steelers WR 11 20 299 Bucky Scribner Green Bay Packers P 1984 5 12 124 Paul Fairchild New England Patriots G 7 16 184 Bruce Kallmeyer New England Patriots K 7 19 187 Renwick Atkins Detroit Lions T 1984s 3 20 76 Frank Seurer Seattle Seahawks QB 3 22 78 Reggie Smith Denver Broncos T 1986 3 20 75 Alvin Walton † Washington Redskins DB XXII ) 6 22 160 Lynn Williams Los Angeles Rams RB 7 8 174 Mike Norseth Cleveland Browns QB 7 19 185 Johnny Holloway Dallas Cowboys WR 1987 11 10 289 Paul Oswald Pittsburgh Steelers C 1991 10 17 267 Curtis Moore Houston Oilers LB 1992 5 12 124 Chris Perez Miami Dolphins T 9 9 233 Tim Hill Cleveland Browns DB 1993 1 26 26 Dana Stubblefield ‡ San Francisco 49ers DT XXIX )1994 , 1995 , 1997 ) 3 23 79 Gilbert Brown † Minnesota Vikings DT XXXI ) 1994 4 25 128 Chris Maumalanga New York Giants DT 1995 7 6 214 Gerald McBurrows St. Louis Rams DB 7 20 228 Hessley Hempstead Detroit Lions G 1996 3 18 79 Dorian Brew Miami Dolphins DB 7 10 219 Rod Jones Cincinnati Bengals T 7 17 226 Chris Banks † Denver Broncos G XXXIII ) 7 26 235 L. T. Levine Denver Broncos RB 1997 3 33 93 Ronnie Ward Miami Dolphins RB 5 33 163 June Henley Kansas City Chiefs RB 6 32 195 Isaac Byrd Kansas City Chiefs WR 1998 7 50 239 Ron Warner † New Orleans Saints LB XXXVII ) 2001 4 20 115 Moran Norris New Orleans Saints FB 2002 4 15 113 Nate Dwyer Arizona Cardinals DT 6 15 187 Justin Hartwig † Tennessee Titans C XLIII ) 2004 4 36 132 Adrian Jones New York Jets T 2005 5 3 139 David McMillan Cleveland Browns DE 2008 1 20 20 Aqib Talib ‡ Tampa Bay Buccaneers DB 50 )2013 , 2014 , 2015 , 2016 ) 4 13 112 Anthony Collins Cincinnati Bengals T 4 33 132 Derek Fine Buffalo Bills TE 6 5 171 Marcus Henry New York Jets WR 2010 4 12 110 Darrell Stuckey San Diego Chargers DB 2014 ) 5 34 165 Kerry Meier Atlanta Falcons WR 6 22 191 Dezmon Briscoe Cincinnati Bengals WR 2013 5 23 156 Tanner Hawkinson Cincinnati Bengals T 2015 5 4 140 Ben Heeney Oakland Raiders LB 6 15 191 JaCorey Shepherd Philadelphia Eagles DB 7 25 242 Dexter McDonald Oakland Raiders DB 2018 4 16 116 Dorance Armstrong Dallas Cowboys DE 2020 6 1 180 Hakeem Adeniji Cincinnati Bengals T 2022 6 2 181 Kyron Johnson Philadelphia Eagles LB 2024 3 22 86 Dominick Puni San Francisco 49ers G 5 9 144 Austin Booker Chicago Bears DE
Notable undrafted players [ edit ] Below are players who played at least two seasons in the NFL.
Note: No drafts held before 1936
^ The history of the AFL is officially recognized by the NFL and so this list includes the AFL Draft (1960–1966) and the Common Draft (1967–1969).[ 2] ^ The AAFC merged with the NFL at the end of the 1949 season and so this list includes the AAFC Draft (1946–1949). ^ From 1960 through 1966, teams with a superscript AFL denotes a player drafted in the AFL Draft and teams with a superscript NFL denotes a player drafted in the NFL Draft . ^ From 1946 through 1949, teams with a superscript AAFC denotes a player drafted in the All-America Football Conference and teams with a superscript NFL denotes a player drafted in the NFL Draft . ^ This is the team that drafted the player, not their most recent team. ^ "Kansas Drafted Players/Alumni" . Sports Reference LLC . Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2012 .^ a b Cross, B. Duane (January 22, 2001). "The AFL: A Football Legacy" . Sports Illustrated . Archived from the original on December 17, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2012 . ^ Clayton, John (March 26, 2009). "Draft order to change for playoff teams" . ESPN.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2010. ^ "Time Changes for 2008 NFL Draft" . NFL . April 22, 2008. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2009 .
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