Wayne Smith was drafted No. 278 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1980 NFL Draft out of Purdue. 108 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 33 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #278
- Round
- 11
- Draft class
- 1980
- NFL games
- 108
- Years as starter
- 6
- Career AV
- 3326th at Purdue
The pick
How Wayne Smith came off the board in 1980.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- College
-
Purdue
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
108 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 33 career approximate value
- Games played
- 108
- Seasons as a starter
- 6
- Career approximate value
- 3326th among Purdue picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1648% of career value
- Final season
- 19877 years after the draft
Around pick 278
Who came off the board on either side of Wayne Smith.
Pittsburgh
Ohio State
Minnesota State
Kansas State
Purdue in the 1980 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DB picks from Purdue
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Purdue · Hall of Fame · 6× All-Pro · 11× Pro Bowl
#125
Cris Dishman
DB · TEN · 1988
Purdue · 1× All-Pro · 2× Pro Bowl
#54
Bernard Pollard
DB · KC · 2006
Purdue · 1× Pro Bowl
#147
Ricardo Allen
DB · ATL · 2014
Purdue
#71
Steve Jackson
DB · TEN · 1991
Purdue
#67
Stuart Schweigert
DB · LV · 2004
Purdue
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Wayne Smith in the 1980 NFL Draft
Wayne Smith is a Defensive back out of Purdue selected No. 278 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1980 NFL Draft. 108 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 33 career approximate value Purdue has produced 100 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Wayne Smith drafted?
Wayne Smith was selected No. 278 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1980 NFL Draft (Rd 11). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1980/wayne-smith.
What college did Wayne Smith play for?
Wayne Smith played college football at Purdue in the Big Ten. See every Purdue draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/purdue-boilermakers.
How did Wayne Smith's NFL career turn out?
108 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 33 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1980/wayne-smith.