1978 NFL draft: 20 picks in our player database
20 players from the 1978 draft are in our dataset. The earliest pick we hold is Art Still (round 1, pick 2). Most common positions: defensive end 5, wide receiver 2, offensive tackle 2.
Round 1
| Pick | Player | Pos | Drafted by | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Art Still | DE |  | Kentucky |
| 3 | Wes Chandler | WR |  | Florida |
| 6 | James Lofton | WR |  | Stanford |
| 8 | Ross Browner | NT |  | Notre Dame |
| 10 | Gordon King | OT |  | Stanford |
| 12 | Clay Matthews | DE |  | USC |
| 13 | Mike Kenn | OT |  | Michigan |
| 16 | Blair Bush | C | | Washington |
| 17 | Doug Williams | QB |  | Grambling State |
| 23 | Ozzie Newsome | TE | | Alabama |
| 26 | John Anderson | OLB | | Michigan |
Round 2
| Pick | Player | Pos | Drafted by | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Johnny Davis | RB | | Alabama |
| 32 | Dee Hardison | DE |  | North Carolina |
| 36 | Keith Butler | LB |  | Memphis |
| 40 | Al Baker | DE |  | Colorado State |
| 48 | John Turner | DB |  | Miami |
| 50 | Matt Cavanaugh | QB |  | Pittsburgh |
| 55 | Bill Gay | DE |  | USC / San Diego City College |
| 56 | Todd Christensen | TE |  | BYU |
Round 8
| Pick | Player | Pos | Drafted by | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 206 | Jim Breech | K | | California |
Only players in our dataset are listed (2025 rosters and long-career legends), not the full draft. Source: nflverse (CC BY 4.0).
1978 draft: questions
Who is the earliest 1978 pick on this page?
Art Still, round 1, pick 2, by the Kansas City Chiefs.
How many 1978 draftees are still playing?
0 of the 20 players listed here are on a 2025 roster.
Which colleges produced the most 1978 picks here?
Alabama (2), Michigan (2), Stanford (2).