Donnell Thompson

Baltimore Ravens 18th pick

DE · North Carolina · 1981–1992

Draft Details

Year

1981

Round

Round 1

Pick

18th overall

Team

Baltimore Ravens

Position

College

North Carolina

Donnell Thompson Career Stats

Primary starter for 11 seasons.
Ranks 8th in the 1981 draft class in sacks (41).

Career Totals

Games	Sacks
147	41

Career span: 1981–1991.

Source: nflverse · Updated Sep 28, 2026

Donnell Thompson is a former defensive end out of North Carolina, selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 18th overall pick (round 1) in the 1981 NFL Draft. He played 147 regular-season games from 1981 to 1991.

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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