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Buckeyes In The NFL Draft: NFC West

Matt Gutridge's picture
April 15, 2016 at 8:38pm
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In 1936 the NFL held its first draft. Two Buckeyes were selected and thus began the 80 year relationship of Ohio State providing talented players to the NFL machine. This series will break down all eight NFL divisions and the teams that drafted the 426 Ohio State players. 

New articles will be released on Tuesdays and Fridays through April 26th.  

ICYMI
AFC SOUTH
NFC SOUTH
AFC WEST
AFC EAST

Teams in the NFC West have selected 59 Buckeyes. 11 of the 59 were first round picks. Every team in the NFC West has drafted at least two Ohio State players in the first round. 

Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have selected and NFC West best 27 Buckeyes. That places the Rams at No. 3 all-time for Ohio State players drafted. Guard Inwood Smith became the first Buckeye to get drafted by the Rams (Cleveland) in 1937. In 2014 defensive back Christian Bryant became the latest Ohio State player drafted by the Rams.

Highest selected player
Orlando Pace was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1997 NFL Draft. During his 13-year career Pace played for two teams. 12 of the 13 years were with the Rams with whom he won Super Bowl XXXIV against the Tennessee Titans. His final season was with the Bears.

Pace was named to seven consecutive Pro Bowls (1999-2005) and was named first-team All-Pro three times. He is also a member of the 2000s All-Decade Team. In 2016 Pace was voted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are second in the NFC West and rank 10th all-time with 18 Ohio State draft picks. The first Ohio State player picked by the Cardinals (Chicago) was center Gomer Jones in 1936. In fact, Jones was the first Buckeye to get selected in the first NFL Draft. The last Ohio State player drafted by the Cardinals was running back Beanie Wells in 2009. 

Highest selected player
WR David Boston was the 8th selection of the 1999 NFL Draft. Boston played eight seasons in the NFL and half of them were with the Cardinals. He had his best season in 2001 when he led the NFL with 1,598 receiving yards, was named an All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl. In 2003 Boston signed with the Chargers. After one season he was traded to Miami and finished his career with Tampa Bay in 2006.

Boston finished his career with 315 receptions, 4,699 yards and 25 touchdowns.

San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have selected nine Ohio State players since 1957. The nine draft picks places San Francisco third in the NFC West 19th all-time. In 1957 back Don Vicic became the first Buckeye selected by the 49ers. The last Ohio State player drafted by the San Francisco was running back Carlos Hyde in 2014. 

Highest selected player
OT Dan James was selected 8th in the 1959 NFL Draft. James never played for the 49ers. In 1960 James signed with the Pittsburgh and played in 93 games with the Steelers. He played 2 games in his only and final season with the Bears in 1967.

Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are No. 4 in the NFC West and rank 25th all-time with 5 Ohio State draft picks. Cornerback Ray Jackson became the first Buckeye to get drafted by the Seahawks in 1988. In 2016 tight end Nick Vannett became the latest Ohio State player drafted by Seattle.

Highest selected player
Shawn Springs was the 3rd pick of the 1997 NFL Draft. Springs made the Pro Bowl with the Seahawks in his second season (1998). During his seven seasons with Seattle Springs played in 93 games, recorded 367 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 20 interceptions and 2 interception returns for touchdowns. For those efforts He was named to the Seattle Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team. 

Springs left the Seahawks in 2004 and signed with the Washington Redskins. He was named an All-Pro in 2004 and stayed with the Redskins through the 2008 seasons. Springs played his final season in the NFL with the Patriots in 2009.  

For his career Springs played in 169 games, recorded 364 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 33 interceptions and 2 interception returns for touchdown. 

59 BUCKEYES DRAFTED BY THE NFC WEST
TEAM YEAR PLAYER POS ROUND
RAMS 2014 CHRISTIAN BRYANT DB 7
RAMS 2011 JERMALE HINES DB 5
RAMS 2009 JAMES LAURINAITIS LB 2
RAMS 2002 COURTLAND BULLARD LB 5
RAMS 2002 STEVE BELLISARI DB 6
RAMS 2001 RYAN PICKETT DT 1
RAMS 1999 JOE GERMAINE QB 4
RAMS 1997 ORLANDO PACE OT 1
RAMS 1984 JOE DOOLEY C 10
RAMS 1977 BOB BRUDZINSKI LB 1
RAMS 1975 DOUG FRANCE T 1
RAMS 1972 HARRY HOWARD DB 9
RAMS 1970 TED PROVOST DB 7
RAMS 1961 ERNIE WRIGHT T 15
RAMS 1958 BILL JOBKO LB 7
RAMS 1957 LEE WILLIAMS B 30
RAMS 1950 BILL TRAUTWEIN T 14
RAMS 1947 DANTE LAVELLI OE 10
RAMS 1947 HAL DEAN G 30
RAMS 1946 JOE WHISLER B 8
RAMS 1946 TOM PHILLIPS B 11
RAMS 1944 BOB SHAW OE 8
RAMS 1943 LES HORVATH RB 6
RAMS 1943 BILL VICKROY C 12
RAMS 1942 JACK GRAF B 18
RAMS 1938 CHUCK REAM T 7
RAMS 1937 INWOOD SMITH G 5
         
CARDINALS 2009 BEANIE WELLS RB 1
CARDINALS 2004 ALEX STEPANOVICH C 4
CARDINALS 1999 DAVID BOSTON WR 1
CARDINALS 1997 TY HOWARD CB 3
CARDINALS 1995 TITO PAUL CB 5
CARDINALS 1988 TOM TUPA P 3
CARDINALS 1982 BOB ATHA K 12
CARDINALS 1972 TOM CAMPANA DB 13
CARDINALS 1970 CHUCK HUTCHISON G 2
CARDINALS 1962 CHUCK BRYANT OE 3
CARDINALS 1959 JERRY LEE MURPHY T 20
CARDINALS 1955 DAVE LEGGETT T 20
CARDINALS 1955 DICK BRUBAKER OE 15
CARDINALS 1953 TONY CURCILLO DB 6
CARDINALS 1950 JACK JENNINGS OT 2
CARDINALS 1944 CHUCK CSURI T 16
CARDINALS 1941 CLAUDE WHITE C 15
CARDINALS 1936 GOMER JONES C 2
         
49ers 2014 CARLOS HYDE RB 2
49ers 2008 LARRY GRANT LB 7
49ers 2000 AHMED PLUMMER CB 1
49ers 1984 JOHN FRANK TE 2
49ers 1971 TIM ANDERSON DB 1
49ers 1963 GARY MOELLER G 5
49ers 1959 DAN JAMES OT 1
49ers 1957 DICK GUY G 18
49ers 1957 DON VICIC B 27
         
SEAHAWKS 2016 NICK VANNETT TE 3
SEAHAWKS 2006 ROB SIMS OG 4
SEAHAWKS 1997 SHAWN SPRINGS CB 1
SEAHAWKS 1995 JOEY GALLOWAY WR 1
SEAHAWKS 1988 RAY JACKSON CB 7

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