OT · pick 97, First OT at #97 in the Common Draft since 1967, rounds 1-7, OT grouping. (1987)

OT·pick 97

FIRST OT IN OUR WINDOW AT #97

Ralph Van Dyke

Drafted by ATL , GM Ken Herock · Southern Illinois

1987 · round 4

Common Draft since 1967, rounds 1-7, OT grouping.

OTs drafted at #97 in NFL history

most recent: Caleb Tiernan (MIN, 2026)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1986, the model gave a offensive tackle at #97 a 5.8% chance in 1987.

Offensive tackle at #97, year by year

Each year's estimate uses only that year's draft and the years before it , no peeking ahead. The line smooths across neighboring picks and seasons so a single oddball draft doesn't dominate. The shaded band is the model's 90% uncertainty range.

Peak: 11.7% · 2027 model: 4.0%

Surrounding picks · 1987 draft

#92SGarland RiversDET , GM Russ Thomas
#93LBByron EvansPHI , GM Harry Gamble
#94SThomas EverettPIT , GM Dick Haley
#95WRKelvin MartinDAL , GM Tex Schramm
#96OGSteve TrapiloNO , GM Jim Finks
#98QBRich GannonNE , GM Patrick Sullivan
#99RBTroy StradfordMIA , GM Don Shula
#100CBNajee MustafaaMIN , GM Mike Lynn
#101DESean SmithCHI , GM Bill Tobin
#102SDerrick BeasleyNE , GM Patrick Sullivan

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 3 picks

2026Caleb TiernanMIN · Northwestern
2019Bobby EvansLAR , GM Les Snead · Oklahoma
1994Joe PattonWAS , GM Charley Casserly · Alabama A&M

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