Defensive Lineman (DL) Draft History

Since 1980, NFL teams have drafted 2,105 defensive linemen in the NFL Draft, 307 of them in the first round. 15 of those picks are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Steve McMichael (1980), Howie Long (1981), Richard Dent (1983), Bruce Smith (1985), Chris Doleman (1985) and Charles Haley (1986), plus 9 more. By career Approximate Value, the most productive pick was Bruce Smith (DE, Virginia Tech), taken in round 1 of the 1985 draft. The biggest value pick was Geno Atkins, a round-4 selection in 2010 who made 8 Pro Bowls. Of the picks made through 2025, 189 (9%) made at least one Pro Bowl and 86% appeared in at least one NFL game. The most common school was Alabama, with 51 picks.

Figures cover the 1980–2026 drafts. Source: nflverse.