S · pick 87, First confirmed S at #87 in the Common Draft since 1967, rounds 1-7, S grouping. (1972)

S·pick 87

FIRST CONFIRMED S IN OUR WINDOW AT #87

John Saunders

Drafted by LAR · Toledo

1972 · round unknown

Common Draft since 1967, rounds 1-7, S grouping. Earlier unassigned DB selections may change this result.

safeties drafted at #87 in NFL history

most recent: Ji'Ayir Brown (SF, 2023)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1971, the model gave a safety at #87 a 6.6% chance in 1972.

Safety at #87, 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: 10.6% · 2027 model: 5.5%

🟣 Unassigned DBs at pick #87

A defensive back was drafted at this pick whose CB-vs-S couldn't be confirmed (raw position label "DB" only). With further research one of these picks may turn out to be the actual draftigami at this cell.

1971Johnson, CleoCleo JohnsonDEN · Alcorn A&M

Surrounding picks · 1972 draft

#82LBJeff LymanARI
#83LBTim KearneyDAL
#84DTMartin ImhofARI
#85DEMike CrangleNO
#86LBEric PattonGB
#88LBEd BradleyPIT
#89DEEd GaligherNYJ
#90WRRobert WestDAL
#91DELarry BallMIA
#92RBPo JamesPHI

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 5 picks

2023Ji'Ayir BrownSF , GM John Lynch · Penn St.
1996Matt StevensBUF , GM John Butler · Appalachian St.
1979Jeff NixonBUF · Richmond
1978Don SchwartzNO · Washington State
1973Walker, DonDon WalkerBUF · Central State (OH)

→ see this cell on the full chart