Dennis Smith

Denver Broncos 15th pick

FS · USC · 1981–1994

Draft Details

Year

1981

Round

Round 1

Pick

15th overall

Team

Denver Broncos

Position

College

USC

Dennis Smith Career Stats

6× Pro Bowl selection.
Primary starter for 13 seasons.
Ranks 3rd in the 1981 draft class in interceptions (30).

Career Totals

Games	Sacks	Def INT
184	15	30

Career span: 1981–1994.

Source: nflverse · Updated Sep 28, 2026

Dennis Smith is a former free safety out of USC, selected by the Denver Broncos with the 15th overall pick (round 1) in the 1981 NFL Draft. He played 184 regular-season games from 1981 to 1994. He was named to 6 Pro Bowls.

More from the 1981 Draft

Rd	Pick	Team	Player	Pos	College
1	1	NO	George Rogers	RB	South Carolina
1	1	NO	Dave Wilson	QB	Illinois; Fullerton
1	2	NYG	Lawrence Taylor	OLB	North Carolina
1	3	NYJ	Freeman McNeil	RB	UCLA
1	4	SEA	Kenny Easley	DB	UCLA
1	5	LA	E.J. Junior	LB	Alabama
1	6	GB	Rich Campbell	QB	California
1	7	TB	Hugh Green	LB	Pittsburgh
1	8	SF	Ronnie Lott	SAF	USC
1	9	LA	Mel Owens	LB	Michigan

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