Dave Ahrens was drafted No. 143 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin. 130 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #143
- Round
- 6
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 130
- Years as starter
- 3
- Career AV
- 2635th at Wisconsin
The pick
How Dave Ahrens came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
Wisconsin
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
130 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value
- Games played
- 130
- Seasons as a starter
- 3
- Career approximate value
- 2635th among Wisconsin picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1558% of career value
- Final season
- 19909 years after the draft
Around pick 143
Who came off the board on either side of Dave Ahrens.
Syracuse
Brown
Missouri
Arizona State
Other LB picks from Wisconsin
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Dave Ahrens in the 1981 NFL Draft
Dave Ahrens is a Linebacker out of Wisconsin selected No. 143 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1981 NFL Draft. 130 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value Wisconsin has produced 164 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 Dave Ahrens drafted?
Dave Ahrens was selected No. 143 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 6). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/dave-ahrens.
What college did Dave Ahrens play for?
Dave Ahrens played college football at Wisconsin in the Big Ten. See every Wisconsin draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/wisconsin-badgers.
How did Dave Ahrens's NFL career turn out?
130 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/dave-ahrens.