National Football League draft
The1978 NFL draft was the procedure by whichNational Football League teams selected amateurcollege football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. Thedraft was held May 2–3,1978 , at theRoosevelt Hotel inNew York City ,New York .[ 1] [ 2] supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.
TheTampa Bay Buccaneers had thefirst overall pick in the 1978 draft, by virtue of their 2–12 record in1977 . Tampa Bay traded the pick to the Oilers, fortight end Jimmie Giles and the Oilers' first- and second-round picks in the 1978 draft, and their third- and fifth-round picks in1979 .[ 3]
Leon White, who was drafted in the third round, went on to have an extensive professional wrestling career asBig Van Vader .[ 4]
^a b May sometimes be referred to as anedge rusher (EDGE) ^ Also known as offensive guard (OG) ^ Also known as placekicker (PK) ^ Also known as inside linebacker (ILB)
Rnd. Pick No. NFL team Player Pos. College Conf. Notes 6 139 Chicago Bears John Skibinski RB Purdue Big Ten from Kansas City
6 140 Oakland Raiders Davis, Tom Tom Davis C Nebraska Big Eight from Tampa Bay
6 141 New York Jets Bobby Jackson CB Florida State Ind. from Buffalo
6 142 New Orleans Saints Rieker, Mike Mike Rieker QB Lehigh Ind. (Div. II) 6 143 New York Jets Gregg Robinson DT Dartmouth Ivy 6 144 Green Bay Packers Leotis Harris OG Arkansas SWC 6 145 Buffalo Bills Smith, Eric Eric Smith OT Southern Miss Ind. from Philadelphia
6 146 Seattle Seahawks Starks, Glenn Glenn Starks WR Texas A&I LSC 6 147 New York Giants Pass, Randy Randy Pass OG Georgia Tech Ind. 6 148 San Francisco 49ers Elliott Walker RB Pittsburgh Ind. 6 149 Cleveland Browns Pitts, Al Al Pitts C Michigan State Big Ten 6 150 Detroit Lions Dwight Hicks † S Michigan Big Ten 6 151 St. Louis Cardinals Williams, Jack Jack Williams DE Bowling Green MAC 6 152 Atlanta Falcons Rodney Parker WR Tennessee State Ind. 6 153 Detroit Lions Tony Ardizzone OG Northwestern Big Ten from San Diego
6 154 Houston Oilers Conrad Rucker TE Southern SWAC 6 155 Cincinnati Bengals Geise, Steve Steve Geise RB Penn State Ind. 6 156 New England Patriots Coleman, Kem Kem Coleman LB Ole Miss SEC 6 157 New Orleans Saints Francis Chesley LB Wyoming WAC from Washington via Houston
6 158 Chicago Bears Mekeli Ieremia DE BYU WAC 6 159 Washington Redskins Tony Green † RB Florida SEC from San Francisco
6 160 Pittsburgh Steelers Randy Reutershan WR Pittsburgh Ind. 6 161 Baltimore Colts Ben Garry RB Southern Miss Ind. 6 162 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Marshall, Elijah Elijah Marshall WR NC State ACC from Los Angeles
6 163 Miami Dolphins Doug Betters † DE Nevada Ind. (Coll.) 6 164 Oakland Raiders Mike Levenseller WR Washington State Pac-8 6 165 Detroit Lions Jesse Thompson WR California Pac-8 from Denver
6 166 Dallas Cowboys Harold Randolph LB East Carolina Ind.
Rnd. Pick No. NFL team Player Pos. College Conf. Notes 8 195 Kansas City Chiefs John Henry White RB Louisiana Tech Southland 8 196 Tampa Bay Buccaneers McGriff, John John McGriff LB Miami (FL) Ind. 8 197 New York Jets Derrick Gaffney WR Florida SEC 8 198 New England Patriots Terry Falcon OG Montana Big Sky 8 199 New Orleans Saints Brooks Williams TE North Carolina ACC 8 200 Green Bay Packers Dennis Sproul QB Arizona State WAC 8 201 New York Giants Grady, Jeff Jeff Grady LB Florida A&M SIAC 8 202 Washington Redskins Lee, Walker Walker Lee WR North Carolina ACC 8 203 New York Jets Mike Mock P Texas Tech SWC 8 204 Minnesota Vikings Mike Wood K Southeast Missouri State MIAA 8 205 Cleveland Browns Jesse Turnbow DT Tennessee SEC 8 206 Detroit Lions Jim Breech K California Pac-8 8 207 Oakland Raiders Nichols, Mark Mark Nichols DE Colorado State WAC 8 208 Pittsburgh Steelers Rick Moser RB Rhode Island Yankee 8 209 Atlanta Falcons Adkins, David David Adkins LB Ohio State Big Ten 8 210 Houston Oilers J. C. Wilson DB Pittsburgh Ind. 8 211 Cincinnati Bengals Miller, Bill Bill Miller T Western Illinois Ind. (Coll.) 8 212 Chicago Bears Freitas, George George Freitas TE California Pac-8 8 213 New York Jets Eppes, Roy Roy Eppes DB Clemson ACC 8 214 Pittsburgh Steelers Keyes, Andre Andre Keyes WR Cal Poly CCAA 8 215 New England Patriots Mosi Tatupu † RB USC Pac-8 8 216 Atlanta Falcons Williams, David David Williams DB Tennessee–Martin Gulf South 8 217 Miami Dolphins Sean Clancy LB Amherst NESCAC 8 218 Baltimore Colts Anthony, Monte Monte Anthony RB Nebraska Big Eight 8 219 Washington Redskins Don Hover LB Washington State Pac-8 8 220 San Diego Chargers Hendrick, Gavin Gavin Hendrick P Washington State Pac-8 8 221 Denver Broncos Smith, Frank Frank Smith T Alabama A&M SIAC 8 222 Dallas Cowboys Homer Butler WR UCLA Pac-8
Rnd. Pick No. NFL team Player Pos. College Conf. Notes 9 223 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Willie Taylor WR Pittsburgh Ind. 9 224 Kansas City Chiefs Brown, Larry Larry Brown T Miami (FL) Ind. 9 225 New York Jets Reggie Grant DB Oregon Pac-8 9 226 New Orleans Saints Carter, Richard Richard Carter DB NC State ACC 9 227 New York Jets Hutton, Neil Neil Hutton DB Penn State Ind. 9 228 Green Bay Packers Myers, Keith Keith Myers QB Utah State Big West 9 229 San Francisco 49ers Redden, Herman Herman Redden DB Howard MEAC 9 230 Philadelphia Eagles Charles Williams DB Jackson State SWAC 9 231 Seattle Seahawks Grimmett, Rich Rich Grimmett T Illinois Big Ten 9 232 New York Giants Swiacki, Bill Bill Swiacki TE Amherst NESCAC 9 233 San Francisco 49ers Moore, Dean Dean Moore LB Iowa Big Ten 9 234 Cleveland Browns Kramer, Jon Jon Kramer OG Baylor SWC 9 235 St. Louis Cardinals Mosley, Joe Joe Mosley TE Central State (OH) Ind. (NAIA) 9 236 Atlanta Falcons Tom Pridemore S West Virginia Ind. 9 237 San Diego Chargers Henry Bradley DT Alcorn State SWAC 9 238 Cincinnati Bengals Ron Shumon LB Wichita State MVC 9 239 Houston Oilers Mol, Jim Jim Mol DE Morningside — 9 240 Minnesota Vikings Deutsch, Mike Mike Deutsch P Colorado State WAC 9 241 Pittsburgh Steelers Reynolds, Lance Lance Reynolds T BYU WAC 9 242 New England Patriots Peterson, Tim Tim Peterson LB Arizona State WAC 9 243 Washington Redskins Martin, Mike Mike Martin QB Santa Clara — 9 244 Chicago Bears Martin, Mike Mike Martin LB Kentucky SEC 9 245 Baltimore Colts Dave Studdard T Texas SWC 9 246 Los Angeles Rams Andre Anderson DE New Mexico State MVC 9 247 Miami Dolphins Bruce Hardy TE Arizona State WAC 9 248 San Diego Chargers Blake Whitlatch LB LSU SEC 9 249 San Francisco 49ers McDaniels, Steve Steve McDaniels T Notre Dame Ind. 9 250 Dallas Cowboys Williams, Russ Russ Williams DB Tennessee SEC
Rnd. Pick No. NFL team Player Pos. College Conf. Notes 10 251 Kansas City Chiefs Bryant, Earl Earl Bryant DE Jackson State SWAC 10 252 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aaron Brown LB Ohio State Big Ten 10 253 New York Giants Jorgensen, Greg Greg Jorgensen OG Nebraska Big Eight 10 254 New York Jets Richardson, Louis Louis Richardson DE Florida State Ind. 10 255 Buffalo Bills Will Grant C Kentucky SEC 10 256 Green Bay Packers Larry Key RB Florida State Ind. 10 257 Atlanta Falcons Ricky Patton RB Jackson State SWAC 10 258 Seattle Seahawks Stewart, Rob Rob Stewart N/A Lafayette Ind. (I-AA) 10 259 Green Bay Packers Totten, Mark Mark Totten C Florida SEC 10 260 San Francisco 49ers Mike Connell P Cincinnati Ind. 10 261 Cleveland Browns Watson, Brent Brent Watson T Tennessee SEC 10 262 Detroit Lions Arrington, Fred Fred Arrington LB Purdue Big Ten 10 263 Atlanta Falcons Ray Strong RB UNLV Ind. (Coll.) 10 264 San Diego Chargers Price, Charles Charles Price TE Cincinnati Ind. 10 265 St. Louis Cardinals Gill, Randy Randy Gill LB San Jose State PCAA 10 266 Houston Oilers Young, Steve Steve Young TE Wake Forest ACC 10 267 Cincinnati Bengals Tom DePaso LB Penn State Ind. 10 268 Pittsburgh Steelers Doug Becker LB Notre Dame Ind. 10 269 New England Patriots Ferguson, Bryan Bryan Ferguson DB Miami (FL) Ind. 10 270 Washington Redskins Hartenstein, Scott Scott Hartenstein DE Azusa Pacific Ind. (NAIA) 10 271 Chicago Bears Ben Zambiasi LB Georgia SEC 10 272 Minnesota Vikings Shaw, Hughie Hughie Shaw RB Texas A&I LSC 10 273 Los Angeles Rams Peal, Charles Charles Peal T Indiana Big Ten 10 274 Miami Dolphins Mark Dennard C Texas A&M SWC 10 275 Baltimore Colts Owens, Dallas Dallas Owens DB Kentucky SEC 10 276 Pittsburgh Steelers Tom Jurich K Northern Arizona Big Sky 10 277 Denver Broncos Vince Kinney WR Maryland ACC 10 278 Dallas Cowboys Tomasetti, Barry Barry Tomasetti T Iowa Big Ten
Pick # NFL team Player Position College 279 Pittsburgh Steelers(from Buccaneers forErnie Holmes )[ 8] Nat Terry Defensive back Florida State 280 Kansas City Chiefs Ray Milo Defensive back New Mexico State 281 New York Jets Pat Ryan Quarterback Tennessee 282 Buffalo Bills Jerry Blanton Linebacker Kentucky 283 New Orleans Saints Nathan Besaint Defensive tackle Southern 284 Green Bay Packers Terry Jones Defensive tackle Alabama 285 New Orleans Saints Dave Riley Running back West Virginia 286 New York Giants Dennis Heim Defensive tackle SW Missouri State 287 San Francisco 49ers Willie McCray Defensive end Troy State 288 Philadelphia Eagles Billy Campfield Running back Kansas 289 Detroit Lions Richard Murray Defensive tackle Oklahoma 290 Cleveland Browns Larry Gillard Defensive tackle Mississippi State 291 Oakland Raiders Dean Jones Defensive back Fresno State 292 Cincinnati Bengals Cal Prince Running back Louisville 293 Atlanta Falcons Scooter Reed Defensive back Baylor 294 Cincinnati Bengals Mark Donahue Guard Michigan 295 Houston Oilers Willie Thicklen Wide receiver Alabama State 296 New England Patriots Charlie Williams Linebacker Florida 297 Washington Redskins Mike Williams Defensive back Texas A&M 298 Chicago Bears Walt Underwood Defensive end USC 299 Minnesota Vikings Ron Harris Running back Colorado State 300 Pittsburgh Steelers Tom Brzoza Center Pittsburgh 301 Seattle Seahawks George Halas Linebacker Miami (FL) 302 Baltimore Colts Henry Mason Wide receiver Central Missouri State 303 Los Angeles Rams Ron Hostetler Linebacker Penn State 304 Oakland Raiders Bob Glazebrook Defensive back Fresno State 305 Denver Broncos Lacy Brumley Tackle Clemson 306 Dallas Cowboys Dennis Thurman Cornerback USC
Pick # NFL team Player Position College 307 Kansas City Chiefs Willie Brock Center Colorado 308 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kevin McLee Running back Georgia 309 Buffalo Bills Richard Crump Running back Northeastern State (OK) 310 New Orleans Saints Larry Hardy Tight end Jackson State 311 New York Jets Alan Williams Punter Florida 312 Green Bay Packers Eason Ramson Tight end Washington State 313 New York Giants Greg Lawson Running back Western Illinois 314 San Francisco 49ers Dan Irons Tackle Texas Tech 315 Philadelphia Eagles Mark Slater Center Minnesota 316 Seattle Seahawks Jeff Bergeron Running back Lamar 317 Cleveland Browns Leo Biedermann Tackle California 318 Detroit Lions Mark Patterson Defensive back Washington State 319 St. Louis Cardinals Anthony Clay Linebacker South Carolina State 320 Atlanta Falcons Daria Butler Linebacker Oklahoma State 321 San Diego Chargers Kevin Bell Wide receiver Lamar 322 Houston Oilers John Schuhmacher Guard USC 323 Cincinnati Bengals Kim Featsent Wide receiver Kent State 324 Washington Redskins Steve McCabe Guard Bowdoin 325 Chicago Bears Lew Sibley Linebacker Louisiana State 326 Minnesota Vikings Jeff Morrow Tackle Minnesota 327 Pittsburgh Steelers Brad Carr Linebacker Maryland 328 New England Patriots John Gibney Center Colgate 329 Baltimore Colts Bruce Allen Punter Richmond 330 Los Angeles Rams Gus Coppens Tackle UCLA 331 Miami Dolphins Mike Moore Running back Middle Tennessee State 332 Oakland Raiders Joe Conron Wide receiver Pacific 333 Miami Dolphins Bill Kenney Quarterback Northern Colorado 334[ 9] Dallas Cowboys Lee Washburn Guard Montana State
Notable undrafted players [ edit ] Earl Campbell , running back from Texas, taken 1st round 1st overall by Houston OilersInducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1991.[ 10] Ozzie Newsome , wide receiver from Alabama, taken 1st round 23rd overall by Cleveland BrownsInducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1999.[ 10] James Lofton , wide receiver from Stanford, taken 1st round 6th overall by Green Bay PackersInducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2003.[ 11] Warren Moon , quarterback from Washington, signed undrafted by Houston OilersInducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2006.[ 11] ^ "NFL Draft Locations" .FootballGeography.com . October 2, 2014. Archived fromthe original on September 5, 2015. RetrievedOctober 23, 2014 .^ Salomone, Dan (October 2, 2014)."NFL Draft headed to Chicago in 2015" .Giants.com .New York Giants . Archived fromthe original on September 30, 2015. RetrievedJune 3, 2015 . ^ Wire services. "Oilers make a deal". Eugene Register-Guard. Apr 25, 1978 ^ Buckner, Brandon (October 23, 2005)."NFL career was ended by an injury - Pro wrestler Vader has son playing with OU" .NewsOK.com .The Oklahoman . RetrievedDecember 11, 2017 . ^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. ^a b Players are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ^ "Heisman Trophy" . RetrievedAugust 14, 2013 .[permanent dead link ] ^a b Sheeley, Glenn (May 3, 1978)."Did Noll Win Draft Lottery?" .Pittsburgh Press . RetrievedApril 2, 2010 . ^ This last selection is commonly referred to asMr. Irrelevant . ^a b List of 1990s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com"Pro Football Hall of Fame" . Archived fromthe original on July 31, 2008. RetrievedOctober 11, 2008 . ^a b List of 2000s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com"Pro Football Hall of Fame" . Archived fromthe original on July 31, 2008. RetrievedOctober 11, 2008 .
