NFL Draft History 1981
| Results | ||||||
| YEAR | ROUND | PK(OVR) | TEAM | NAME | POSITION | SCHOOL |
| 1981 | 1 | 1(1) | Saints | George Rogers | RB | South Carolina |
| Distinctions | Heisman Finalist: 1980 (1st); All Pro First Team: 1981; Offensive Rookie of the Year: 1981; Super Bowl Wins: XXII | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 2(2) | Giants | Lawrence Taylor | LB | North Carolina |
| Distinctions | MVP: 1986; All Pro First Team: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989; All Pro Second Team: 1987, 1990; Defensive Player of the Year: 1981,1982,1986; Defensive Rookie of the Year: 1981; Hall of Fame Induction: 1999; Super Bowl Wins: XXI, XXV | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 3(3) | Jets | Freeman McNeil | RB | UCLA |
| Distinctions | All Pro First Team: 1982 | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 4(4) | Seahawks | Kenny Easley | DB | UCLA |
| Distinctions | All Pro First Team: 1983, 1984, 1985; Defensive Player of the Year: 1984 | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 5(5) | Cardinals | E.J. Junior | LB | Alabama |
| Distinctions | All Pro First Team: 1984 | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 6(6) | Packers | Rich Campbell | QB | California |
| 1981 | 1 | 7(7) | Buccaneers | Hugh Green | LB | Pittsburgh |
| Distinctions | Heisman Finalist: 1980 (2nd); All Pro Second Team: 1982, 1983 | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 8(8) | 49ers | Ronnie Lott | DB | USC |
| Distinctions | All Pro First Team: 1981, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991; All Pro Second Team: 1988; Hall of Fame Induction: 2000; Super Bowl Wins: XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 9(9) | Rams | Mel Owens | LB | Michigan |
| Pick Note | from Washington | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 10(10) | Bengals | David Verser | WR | Kansas |
| Distinctions | Super Bowl Losses: XVI | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 11(11) | Bears | Keith Van Horne | OT | USC |
| Distinctions | Super Bowl Wins: XX | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 12(12) | Colts | Randy McMillan | RB | Pittsburgh |
| 1981 | 1 | 13(13) | Dolphins | David Overstreet | RB | Oklahoma |
| 1981 | 1 | 14(14) | Chiefs | Willie Scott | TE | South Carolina |
| 1981 | 1 | 15(15) | Broncos | Dennis Smith | DB | USC |
| Distinctions | All Pro Second Team: 1989; Super Bowl Losses: XXI, XXII, XXIV | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 16(16) | Lions | Mark Nichols | WR | San Jose State |
| 1981 | 1 | 17(17) | Steelers | Keith Gary | DE | Oklahoma |
| 1981 | 1 | 18(18) | Colts | Donnell Thompson | DE | North Carolina |
| Pick Note | from Minnesota | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 19(19) | Patriots | Brian Holloway | OT | Stanford |
| Distinctions | All Pro Second Team: 1985; Super Bowl Losses: XX | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 20(20) | Redskins | Mark May | OT | Pittsburgh |
| Pick Note | from Los Angeles | |||||
| Distinctions | Super Bowl Wins: XVII, XXII; Super Bowl Losses: XVIII | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 21(21) | Raiders | Ted Watts | DB | Texas Tech |
| Pick Note | from Houston | |||||
| Distinctions | Super Bowl Wins: XVIII | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 22(22) | Browns | Hanford Dixon | DB | Southern Miss |
| Distinctions | All Pro First Team: 1986, 1987; All Pro Second Team: 1988 | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 23(23) | Raiders | Curt Marsh | OG | Washington |
| Pick Note | from Buffalo | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 24(24) | Chargers | James Brooks | RB | Auburn |
| Distinctions | Super Bowl Losses: XXIII | |||||
| 1981 | 1 | 25(25) | Falcons | Bobby Butler | DB | Florida State |
| 1981 | 1 | 26(26) | Cowboys | Howard Richards | OT | Missouri |
| 1981 | 1 | 27(27) | Eagles | Leonard Mitchell | DE | Houston |
| 1981 | 1 | 28(28) | Bills | Booker Moore | RB | Penn State |
| Pick Note | from Oakland | |||||