1978 NFL draft


The 1978 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 2–3, 1978, at the Roosevelt Hotel (Manhattan)|Roosevelt Hotel] in New York City, New York. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers] had the List of first overall [National Football League Draft picks|first overall pick] in the 1978 draft, by virtue of their 2–12 record in 1977. Tampa Bay traded the pick to the Oilers, for tight end Jimmie Giles and the Oilers' first- and second-round picks in the 1978 draft, and their third- and fifth-round picks in 1979.
Leon White, who was drafted in the third round, went on to have an extensive professional wrestling career as Big Van Vader.

Player selections

Round 12

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
307Kansas City ChiefsWillie BrockCenterColorado
308Tampa Bay BuccaneersKevin McLeeRunning backGeorgia
309Buffalo BillsRichard CrumpRunning backNortheastern State
310New Orleans SaintsLarry HardyTight endJackson State
311New York JetsAlan WilliamsPunterFlorida
312Green Bay PackersEason RamsonTight endWashington State
313New York GiantsGreg LawsonRunning backWestern Illinois
314San Francisco 49ersDan IronsTackleTexas Tech
315Philadelphia EaglesMark SlaterCenterMinnesota
316Seattle SeahawksJeff BergeronRunning backLamar
317Cleveland BrownsLeo BiedermannTackleCalifornia
318Detroit LionsMark PattersonDefensive backWashington State
319St. Louis CardinalsAnthony ClayLinebackerSouth Carolina State
320Atlanta FalconsDaria ButlerLinebackerOklahoma State
321San Diego ChargersKevin BellWide receiverLamar
322Houston OilersJohn SchuhmacherGuardUSC
323Cincinnati BengalsKim FeatsentWide receiverKent State
324Washington RedskinsSteve McCabeGuardBowdoin
325Chicago BearsLew SibleyLinebackerLouisiana State
326Minnesota VikingsJeff MorrowTackleMinnesota
327Pittsburgh SteelersBrad CarrLinebackerMaryland
328New England PatriotsJohn GibneyCenterColgate
329Baltimore ColtsBruce AllenPunterRichmond
330Los Angeles RamsGus CoppensTackleUCLA
331Miami DolphinsMike MooreRunning backMiddle Tennessee State
332Oakland RaidersJoe ConronWide receiverPacific
333Miami DolphinsBill KenneyQuarterbackNorthern Colorado
334Dallas CowboysLee WashburnGuardMontana State

Supplemental draft

Notable undrafted players

Hall of Famers