1981 NFL Draft
The New Orleans Saints took George Rogers first overall in the 1981 NFL draft, the first of 332 picks over 12 rounds. The most decorated name in the class is Lawrence Taylor, with 5 awards on the NFL honours list.
What the 1981 class won
- Lawrence Taylor — NFL MVP, 3x NFL Defensive Player of the Year, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Mike Singletary — 2x NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- George Rogers — NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Kenny Easley — NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Counted from the NFL award history, every season a pick has won something.
Round 1
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Rogers |  New Orleans Saints |
| 2 | Lawrence Taylor |  New York Giants |
| 3 | Freeman McNeil |  New York Jets |
| 4 | Kenny Easley |  Seattle Seahawks |
| 5 | E.J. Junior |  Arizona Cardinals |
| 6 | Rich Campbell |  Green Bay Packers |
| 7 | Hugh Green |  Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 8 | Ronnie Lott |  San Francisco 49ers |
| 9 | Mel Owens |  Los Angeles Rams |
| 10 | David Verser |  Cincinnati Bengals |
| 11 | Keith Van Horne |  Chicago Bears |
| 12 | Randy McMillan |  Indianapolis Colts |
| 13 | David Overstreet |  Miami Dolphins |
| 14 | Willie Scott |  Kansas City Chiefs |
| 15 | Dennis Smith |  Denver Broncos |
| 16 | Mark Nichols |  Detroit Lions |
| 17 | Keith Gary |  Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 18 | Donnell Thompson | Indianapolis Colts |
| 19 | Brian Holloway |  New England Patriots |
| 20 | Mark May |  Washington Commanders |
| 21 | Ted Watts |  Las Vegas Raiders |
| 22 | Hanford Dixon |  Cleveland Browns |
| 23 | Curt Marsh | Las Vegas Raiders |
| 24 | James Brooks |  Los Angeles Chargers |
| 25 | Bobby Butler |  Atlanta Falcons |
| 26 | Howard Richards |  Dallas Cowboys |
| 27 | Leonard Mitchell |  Philadelphia Eagles |
| 28 | Booker Moore |  Buffalo Bills |
All 12 rounds
Round 2
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Russell Gary | New Orleans Saints |
| 30 | Marion Barber | New York Jets |
| 31 | David Hughes | Seattle Seahawks |
| 32 | Dave Young | New York Giants |
| 33 | Neil Lomax | Arizona Cardinals |
| 34 | James Wilder | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 35 | Gary Lewis | Green Bay Packers |
| 36 | John Harty | San Francisco 49ers |
| 37 | Cris Collinsworth | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 38 | Mike Singletary | Chicago Bears |
| 39 | Mardye McDole |  Minnesota Vikings |
| 40 | Eric Wright | San Francisco 49ers |
| 41 | Joe Delaney | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 42 | Clay Brown | Denver Broncos |
| 43 | Jim Collins | Los Angeles Rams |
| 44 | Anthony Washington | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 45 | Robin Sendlein | Minnesota Vikings |
| 46 | Curtis Green | Detroit Lions |
| 47 | Tony Collins | New England Patriots |
| 48 | Howie Long | Las Vegas Raiders |
| 49 | Chris Williams | Buffalo Bills |
| 50 | Byron Franklin | Buffalo Bills |
| 51 | Rickey Jackson | New Orleans Saints |
| 52 | Jarvis Redwine | Minnesota Vikings |
| 53 | Doug Donley | Dallas Cowboys |
| 54 | Lyman White | Atlanta Falcons |
| 55 | Dean Miraldi | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 56 | Andra Franklin | Miami Dolphins |
Round 3
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Frank Warren | New Orleans Saints |
| 58 | Bill Dugan | Seattle Seahawks |
| 59 | John Mistler | New York Giants |
| 60 | Ben Rudolph | New York Jets |
| 61 | Jeff Griffin | Arizona Cardinals |
| 62 | Ray Stachowicz | Green Bay Packers |
| 63 | Greg Meisner | Los Angeles Rams |
| 64 | John Simmons | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 65 | Carlton Williamson | San Francisco 49ers |
| 66 | Robert Cobb | Los Angeles Rams |
| 67 | Ken Margerum | Chicago Bears |
| 68 | Randy Van Divier | Indianapolis Colts |
| 69 | Russ Grimm | Washington Commanders |
| 70 | Marvin Harvey | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 71 | Hoby Brenner | New Orleans Saints |
| 72 | Don Greco | Detroit Lions |
| 73 | Rick Donnalley | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 74 | Tim Irwin | Minnesota Vikings |
| 75 | Roger Taylor | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 76 | Mike Mosley | Buffalo Bills |
| 77 | Irvin Phillips | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 78 | Lloyd Burruss | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 79 | Michael Holston |  Tennessee Titans |
| 80 | Scott Woerner | Atlanta Falcons |
| 81 | Glen Titensor | Dallas Cowboys |
| 82 | Greg LaFleur | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 83 | Robert Geathers | Buffalo Bills |
Round 4
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 84 | Sam Greene | Miami Dolphins |
| 85 | Clifford Chatman | New York Giants |
| 86 | Al Washington | New York Jets |
| 87 | Scott Phillips | Seattle Seahawks |
| 88 | Steve Rhodes | Arizona Cardinals |
| 89 | John Holt | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 90 | Tom Flick | Washington Commanders |
| 91 | Scott Pelluer | Dallas Cowboys |
| 92 | Mike Robinson | Cleveland Browns |
| 93 | Guy Frazier | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 94 | Tim Sherwin | Indianapolis Colts |
| 95 | Todd Bell | Chicago Bears |
| 96 | Brad Wright | Miami Dolphins |
| 97 | Ron Washington | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 98 | Mark Herrmann | Denver Broncos |
| 99 | Tracy Porter | Detroit Lions |
| 100 | Robbie Martin | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 101 | John Swain | Minnesota Vikings |
| 102 | Don Blackmon | New England Patriots |
| 103 | Amos Lawrence | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 104 | George Lilja | Los Angeles Rams |
| 105 | Richard Turner | Green Bay Packers |
| 106 | Nick Eyre | Tennessee Titans |
| 107 | Eric Sievers | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 108 | Derrie Nelson | Dallas Cowboys |
| 109 | John Scully | Atlanta Falcons |
| 110 | Calvin Murray | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 111 | Johnny Robinson | Las Vegas Raiders |
Round 5
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 112 | Louis Oubre | New Orleans Saints |
| 113 | Tyrone Keys | New York Jets |
| 114 | Edwin Bailey | Seattle Seahawks |
| 115 | Bill Neill | New York Giants |
| 116 | John Gillen | Arizona Cardinals |
| 117 | Byron Braggs | Green Bay Packers |
| 118 | James Davis | Las Vegas Raiders |
| 119 | Dexter Manley | Washington Commanders |
| 120 | Benjie Pryor | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 121 | Lynn Thomas | San Francisco 49ers |
| 122 | Arrington Jones | San Francisco 49ers |
| 123 | Wendell Ray | Minnesota Vikings |
| 124 | Todd Thomas | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 125 | Ken Lanier | Denver Broncos |
| 126 | Ken Poole | Miami Dolphins |
| 127 | Ricky Martin | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 128 | Jerry Boyarsky | New Orleans Saints |
| 129 | Larry Lee | Detroit Lions |
| 130 | Steve Clark | New England Patriots |
| 131 | Keith Ferguson | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 132 | Gary Sayre | Washington Commanders |
| 133 | Delbert Fowler | Tennessee Titans |
| 134 | Steve Cox | Cleveland Browns |
| 135 | Calvin Clark | Buffalo Bills |
| 136 | Eric Sanders | Atlanta Falcons |
| 137 | Danny Spradlin | Dallas Cowboys |
| 138 | Tommy Vigorito | Miami Dolphins |
Round 6
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 139 | Nat Hudson | New Orleans Saints |
| 140 | Steve Durham | Seattle Seahawks |
| 141 | Andy Gissinger | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 142 | John Woodring | New York Jets |
| 143 | Dave Ahrens | Arizona Cardinals |
| 144 | Johnnie Poe | New Orleans Saints |
| 145 | Mel Hoover | New York Giants |
| 146 | Rex Robinson | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 147 | Pete Kugler | San Francisco 49ers |
| 148 | Larry Kubin | Washington Commanders |
| 149 | Bubba Green | Indianapolis Colts |
| 150 | Reuben Henderson | Chicago Bears |
| 151 | Alvin Lewis | Denver Broncos |
| 152 | Mack Moore | Miami Dolphins |
| 153 | Dock Luckie | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 154 | Fulton Walker | Miami Dolphins |
| 155 | Sam Johnson | Detroit Lions |
| 156 | Bryan Hinkle | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 157 | Ron Wooten | New England Patriots |
| 158 | William Daniels | Los Angeles Rams |
| 159 | Bill Kay | Tennessee Titans |
| 160 | Ron Simmons | Cleveland Browns |
| 161 | Robert Holt | Buffalo Bills |
| 162 | Bobby Duckworth | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 163 | Vince Skillings | Dallas Cowboys |
| 164 | Harry Stanback | Atlanta Falcons |
| 165 | Edward O'Neal | New York Giants |
| 166 | Glen Redd | New Orleans Saints |
Round 7
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 167 | Kevin Williams | New Orleans Saints |
| 168 | Louis Jackson | New York Giants |
| 169 | Kenny Neil | New York Jets |
| 170 | Ron Johnson | Seattle Seahawks |
| 171 | Kevin Donnalley | Arizona Cardinals |
| 172 | Bill Whitaker | Green Bay Packers |
| 173 | Ron Fellows | Dallas Cowboys |
| 174 | Alan Duncan | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 175 | Ron Battle | Los Angeles Rams |
| 176 | Jeff Schuh | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 177 | Jeff Fisher | Chicago Bears |
| 178 | Obed Ariri | Indianapolis Colts |
| 179 | Mike Daum | Miami Dolphins |
| 180 | Billy Jackson | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 181 | Steve Busick | Denver Broncos |
| 182 | Lee Spivey | Detroit Lions |
| 183 | David Little | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 184 | Don Shaver | Minnesota Vikings |
| 185 | Ken Toler | New England Patriots |
| 186 | Brad Scovill | Seattle Seahawks |
| 187 | Eddie Johnson | Cleveland Browns |
| 188 | Steve Doolittle | Buffalo Bills |
| 189 | Pete Holohan | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 190 | Mike Clark | Los Angeles Rams |
| 191 | Ken Miller | Dallas Cowboys |
| 192 | Doak Field | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 193 | Don Washington | Tennessee Titans |
Round 8
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 194 | Ken Naber | New England Patriots |
| 195 | Lloyd Jones | New York Jets |
| 196 | Eric Lane | Seattle Seahawks |
| 197 | John Powers | New York Giants |
| 198 | Mike Fisher | Arizona Cardinals |
| 199 | Denver Johnson | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 200 | Larry Werts | Green Bay Packers |
| 201 | Charlie Brown | Washington Commanders |
| 202 | Bobby Kemp | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 203 | Garry White | San Francisco 49ers |
| 204 | Ken Sitton | Indianapolis Colts |
| 205 | Scott Zettek | Chicago Bears |
| 206 | David Dorn | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 207 | Mark Reed | New York Giants |
| 208 | William Judson | Miami Dolphins |
| 209 | Frank Wilson | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 210 | Wade Wilson | Minnesota Vikings |
| 211 | Bob Niziolek | Detroit Lions |
| 212 | Lin Dawson | New England Patriots |
| 213 | J.C. Watts | New York Jets |
| 214 | Gene Gladys | New Orleans Saints |
| 215 | Kevin Evans | New Orleans Saints |
| 216 | Art Plunkett | Los Angeles Rams |
| 217 | Willie Tullis | Tennessee Titans |
| 218 | Paul Piurowski | Dallas Cowboys |
| 219 | Clifford Toney | Atlanta Falcons |
| 220 | Hosea Taylor | Indianapolis Colts |
| 221 | Billy Ard | New York Giants |
Round 9
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 222 | Toussaint Tyler | New Orleans Saints |
| 223 | Jim Stone | Seattle Seahawks |
| 224 | Byron Hunt | New York Giants |
| 225 | Admiral Dewey Larry | New York Jets |
| 226 | Stump Mitchell | Arizona Cardinals |
| 227 | Tim Huffman | Green Bay Packers |
| 228 | Mike Ford | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 229 | Jim Hannula | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 230 | Samoa Samoa | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 231 | Darryl Grant | Washington Commanders |
| 232 | Frank Ditta | Chicago Bears |
| 233 | Tim Gooch | Indianapolis Colts |
| 234 | Rusty Olsen | Denver Broncos |
| 235 | John Noonan | Miami Dolphins |
| 236 | Jim Whatley | Seattle Seahawks |
| 237 | Anthony Vereen | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 238 | Hugh Jernigan | Detroit Lions |
| 239 | James Hunter | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 240 | David Martin | Detroit Lions |
| 241 | Robb Riddick | Buffalo Bills |
| 242 | Ron Seawell | Los Angeles Rams |
| 243 | Avon Riley | Tennessee Titans |
| 244 | Randy Schleusener | Cleveland Browns |
| 245 | Calvin Fance | Atlanta Falcons |
| 246 | Mike Wilson | Dallas Cowboys |
| 247 | Chuck Commiskey | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 248 | Curt Mohl | Las Vegas Raiders |
Round 10
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 249 | Hokie Gajan | New Orleans Saints |
| 250 | Mike Barker | New York Giants |
| 251 | Marty Wetzel | New York Jets |
| 252 | Ken Dawson | Seattle Seahawks |
| 253 | James Mallard | Arizona Cardinals |
| 254 | Ken McCune | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 255 | Nickie Hall | Green Bay Packers |
| 256 | Gregg Gerken | Indianapolis Colts |
| 257 | Phil Kessel | Washington Commanders |
| 258 | Hubert Simpson | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 259 | Trent Bryant | Indianapolis Colts |
| 260 | Tim Clifford | Chicago Bears |
| 261 | Steve Folsom | Miami Dolphins |
| 262 | Les Studdard | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 263 | Jim Joiner | Arizona Cardinals |
| 264 | Andy Cannavino | Detroit Lions |
| 265 | Mike Mayock | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 266 | James Murphy | Minnesota Vikings |
| 267 | Allan Kennedy | Washington Commanders |
| 268 | Robert Parham | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 269 | Robert Alexander | Los Angeles Rams |
| 270 | Larry Jones | Tennessee Titans |
| 271 | Dean Prater | Cleveland Browns |
| 272 | Justin Cross | Buffalo Bills |
| 273 | Pat Graham | Dallas Cowboys |
| 274 | Robert Murphy | Atlanta Falcons |
| 275 | Hubie Oliver | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 276 | Frank Hawkins | Las Vegas Raiders |
Round 11
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 277 | Lester Mickens | New Orleans Saints |
| 278 | Ed Gall | New York Jets |
| 279 | Lance Olander | Seattle Seahawks |
| 280 | Matt Petrzelka | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 281 | Mike Sherrod | Arizona Cardinals |
| 282 | Forrest Valora | Green Bay Packers |
| 283 | Johnny Ray Smith | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 284 | Jerry Hill | Washington Commanders |
| 285 | Robert Jackson | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 286 | Ronnie DeBose | San Francisco 49ers |
| 287 | Lonnie Johnson | Chicago Bears |
| 288 | Holden Smith | Indianapolis Colts |
| 289 | Frank Case | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 290 | Pat Walker | Denver Broncos |
| 291 | Jim Jensen | Miami Dolphins |
| 292 | Rick Trocano | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 293 | Bill Stephanos | Minnesota Vikings |
| 294 | Willie Jackson | Detroit Lions |
| 295 | Brian Buckley | New England Patriots |
| 296 | Marcellus Greene | Los Angeles Rams |
| 297 | Claude Mathews | Tennessee Titans |
| 298 | Larry Friday | Cleveland Browns |
| 299 | Buster Barnett | Buffalo Bills |
| 300 | Carlos Bradley | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 301 | Keith Chappelle | Atlanta Falcons |
| 302 | Tim Morrison | Dallas Cowboys |
| 303 | Gail Davis | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 304 | Chester Willis | Las Vegas Raiders |
Round 12
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 305 | Jim Wilks | New Orleans Saints |
| 306 | Jeff Bednarek | Seattle Seahawks |
| 307 | Mike Maher | New York Giants |
| 308 | Mike Moeller | New York Jets |
| 309 | Joe Adams | Arizona Cardinals |
| 310 | Brad White | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 311 | Cliff Lewis | Green Bay Packers |
| 312 | Mark O'Connell | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 313 | Major Ogilvie | San Francisco 49ers |
| 314 | Clint Didier | Washington Commanders |
| 315 | Eric Scoggins | Indianapolis Colts |
| 316 | Bob Shupryt | Chicago Bears |
| 317 | John Hankerd | Denver Broncos |
| 318 | John Alford | Miami Dolphins |
| 319 | Bob Gagliano | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 320 | Brian Williams | Minnesota Vikings |
| 321 | Mandel Robinson | Denver Broncos |
| 322 | Joe Adams | San Francisco 49ers |
| 323 | Cris Crissy | New England Patriots |
| 324 | Bill Capece | Tennessee Titans |
| 325 | Kevin McGill | Cleveland Browns |
| 326 | Keith Clark | Buffalo Bills |
| 327 | Stacy Charles | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 328 | Jairo Penaranda | Los Angeles Rams |
| 329 | Nate Lundy | Dallas Cowboys |
| 330 | Mark McCants | Atlanta Falcons |
| 331 | Ray Ellis | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 332 | Phil Nelson | Las Vegas Raiders |
Picks from ESPN's draft pages. A team links to the franchise that carries it today; a player links when the player is on file.