Donnell Thompson was drafted No. 18 overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1981 NFL Draft out of North Carolina. 147 regular-season games · 11 seasons as a starter · 50 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #18
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 147
- Years as starter
- 11
- Career AV
- 509th at North Carolina
The pick
How Donnell Thompson came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Defensive end DE
- College
-
North Carolina
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
147 regular-season games · 11 seasons as a starter · 50 career approximate value
- Games played
- 147
- Seasons as a starter
- 11
- Career approximate value
- 509th among North Carolina picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 50100% of career value
- Final season
- 199110 years after the draft
Around pick 18
Who came off the board on either side of Donnell Thompson.
San José State
Oklahoma
Stanford · 3× Pro Bowl
Pittsburgh · 1× Pro Bowl
North Carolina in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DE picks from North Carolina
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
North Carolina · Hall of Fame · 3× All-Pro · 9× Pro Bowl
#14
Robert Quinn
DE · LAR · 2011
North Carolina · 1× All-Pro · 3× Pro Bowl
#8
Greg Ellis
DE · DAL · 1998
North Carolina · 1× Pro Bowl
#19
Vonnie Holliday
DE · GB · 1998
North Carolina
#225
Reuben Davis
DE · TB · 1988
North Carolina
#98
Roy Barker
DE · MIN · 1992
North Carolina
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Donnell Thompson in the 1981 NFL Draft
Donnell Thompson is a Defensive end out of North Carolina selected No. 18 overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1981 NFL Draft. 147 regular-season games · 11 seasons as a starter · 50 career approximate value North Carolina has produced 154 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 Donnell Thompson drafted?
Donnell Thompson was selected No. 18 overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/donnell-thompson.
What college did Donnell Thompson play for?
Donnell Thompson played college football at North Carolina in the ACC. See every North Carolina draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/north-carolina-tar-heels.
How did Donnell Thompson's NFL career turn out?
147 regular-season games · 11 seasons as a starter · 50 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/donnell-thompson.