| Pick | Rd | Team | Player | Pos | School | Age | G | PB | AP1 | AV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
ATL
Atlanta Falcons |
Steve Bartkowski | QB | California | 22 | 129 | 2 | — | 69 |
| 2 | 1 |
DAL
Dallas Cowboys |
Randy White ★ | DT | Maryland | 22 | 209 | 9 | 7 | 116 |
| 3 | 1 | BAL | Ken Huff | G | North Carolina | 22 | 145 | — | — | 47 |
| 4 | 1 |
CHI
Chicago Bears |
Walter Payton ★ | RB | Jackson State | 22 | 190 | 9 | 5 | 127 |
| 5 | 1 |
CLE
Cleveland Browns |
Mack Mitchell | DE | Houston | 23 | 69 | — | — | 18 |
| 6 | 1 |
HOU
Houston Oilers |
Robert Brazile ★ | LB | Jackson State | 22 | 147 | 7 | 2 | 76 |
| 7 | 1 |
NOR
New Orleans Saints |
Larry Burton | WR | Purdue | 23 | 43 | — | — | 7 |
| 8 | 1 |
SDG
San Diego Chargers |
Gary Johnson | DT | Grambling | 23 | 157 | 4 | 2 | 71 |
| 9 | 1 |
RAM
Los Angeles Rams |
Mike Fanning | DT | Notre Dame | 22 | 137 | — | — | 35 |
| 10 | 1 |
SFO
San Francisco 49ers |
Jimmy Webb | DT | Mississippi State | 23 | 106 | — | — | 31 |
| 11 | 1 |
RAM
Los Angeles Rams |
Dennis Harrah | G | Miami | 22 | 168 | 6 | 1 | 63 |
| 12 | 1 |
NOR
New Orleans Saints |
Kurt Schumacher | G | Ohio State | 22 | 45 | — | — | 9 |
| 13 | 1 |
DET
Detroit Lions |
Lynn Boden | G | South Dakota State | 22 | 67 | — | — | 18 |
| 14 | 1 |
CIN
Cincinnati Bengals |
Glenn Cameron | LB | Florida | 22 | 159 | — | — | 45 |
| 15 | 1 |
HOU
Houston Oilers |
Don Hardeman | RB | Texas A&M-Kingsville | 22 | 64 | — | — | 12 |
| 16 | 1 |
NWE
New England Patriots |
Russ Francis | TE | Oregon | 22 | 167 | 3 | — | 46 |
| 17 | 1 |
DEN
Denver Broncos |
Louis Wright | DB | San Jose State | 22 | 166 | 5 | 2 | 84 |
| 18 | 1 |
DAL
Dallas Cowboys |
Thomas Henderson | LB | Langston | 22 | 75 | 1 | — | 29 |
| 19 | 1 |
BUF
Buffalo Bills |
Tom Ruud | LB | Nebraska | 22 | 59 | — | — | 10 |
| 20 | 1 |
RAM
Los Angeles Rams |
Doug France | T | Ohio State | 22 | 110 | 2 | — | 43 |
| 21 | 1 |
STL
St. Louis Cardinals |
Tim Gray | DB | Texas A&M | 22 | 66 | — | — | 21 |
| 22 | 1 |
SDG
San Diego Chargers |
Mike Williams | DB | Louisiana State | 21 | 109 | — | — | 38 |
| 23 | 1 |
MIA
Miami Dolphins |
Darryl Carlton | T | Tampa | 22 | 71 | — | — | 15 |
| 24 | 1 |
OAK
Oakland Raiders |
Neal Colzie | DB | Ohio State | 21 | 118 | — | — | 34 |
| 25 | 1 |
MIN
Minnesota Vikings |
Mark Mullaney | DE | Colorado State | 22 | 151 | — | — | 48 |
| 26 | 1 |
PIT
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Dave Brown | DB | Michigan | 22 | 216 | 1 | — | 75 |
★ = Pro Football Hall of Fame · G = Games played · PB = Pro Bowls · AP1 = First-team All-Pro · AV = Career Approximate Value