James Wilder was drafted No. 34 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Missouri. 129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 63 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #34
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 129
- Years as starter
- 7
- Career AV
- 632nd at Missouri
- Pro Bowls
- 1
The pick
How James Wilder came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Running back RB
- College
-
Missouri
SEC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 63 career approximate value
- Games played
- 129
- Seasons as a starter
- 7
- Career approximate value
- 632nd among Missouri picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 63100% of career value
- Final season
- 19909 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 1× Pro Bowl
Around pick 34
Who came off the board on either side of James Wilder.
Purdue
Portland State · 2× Pro Bowl
Iowa
Missouri in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other RB picks from Missouri
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
James Wilder in the 1981 NFL Draft
James Wilder is a Running back out of Missouri selected No. 34 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1981 NFL Draft. 129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 63 career approximate value Missouri has produced 108 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 James Wilder drafted?
James Wilder was selected No. 34 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/james-wilder.
What college did James Wilder play for?
James Wilder played college football at Missouri in the SEC. See every Missouri draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/missouri-tigers.
How did James Wilder's NFL career turn out?
129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 63 career approximate value Accolades: 1× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/james-wilder.