Dennis Smith was drafted No. 15 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 1981 NFL Draft out of USC. 184 regular-season games · 13 seasons as a starter · 74 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #15
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 184
- Years as starter
- 13
- Career AV
- 7414th at USC
- Pro Bowls
- 6
The pick
How Dennis Smith came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- College
-
USC
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
184 regular-season games · 13 seasons as a starter · 74 career approximate value
- Games played
- 184
- Seasons as a starter
- 13
- Career approximate value
- 7414th among USC picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 74100% of career value
- Final season
- 199413 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 6× Pro Bowl
Around pick 15
Who came off the board on either side of Dennis Smith.
Oklahoma
South Carolina
San José State
USC in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
USC · Hall of Fame · 6× All-Pro · 10× Pro Bowl
#11
Keith Van Horne
T · CHI
USC
#71
Hoby Brenner
TE · NO
USC · 1× Pro Bowl
#167
Kevin Williams
WR · NO
USC
#177
Jeff Fisher
DB · CHI
USC
#181
Steve Busick
LB · DEN
USC
#239
James Hunter
NT · PIT
USC
#315
Eric Scoggins
LB · IND
USC
Other DB picks from USC
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
USC · Hall of Fame · 6× All-Pro · 10× Pro Bowl
#16
Troy Polamalu
DB · PIT · 2003
USC · Hall of Fame · 4× All-Pro · 8× Pro Bowl
#34
Tim McDonald
DB · ARI · 1987
USC · 6× Pro Bowl
#19
Joey Browner
DB · MIN · 1983
USC · 3× All-Pro · 6× Pro Bowl
#6
Mark Carrier
DB · CHI · 1990
USC · 3× Pro Bowl
#59
Jason Sehorn
DB · NYG · 1994
USC
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Dennis Smith in the 1981 NFL Draft
Dennis Smith is a Defensive back out of USC selected No. 15 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 1981 NFL Draft. 184 regular-season games · 13 seasons as a starter · 74 career approximate value USC has produced 252 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 Dennis Smith drafted?
Dennis Smith was selected No. 15 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/dennis-smith.
What college did Dennis Smith play for?
Dennis Smith played college football at USC in the Big Ten. See every USC draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/usc-trojans.
How did Dennis Smith's NFL career turn out?
184 regular-season games · 13 seasons as a starter · 74 career approximate value Accolades: 6× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/dennis-smith.