Mark Nichols was drafted No. 16 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1981 NFL Draft out of San José State. 76 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 21 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #16
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 76
- Years as starter
- 3
- Career AV
- 219th at San José State
The pick
How Mark Nichols came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Wide receiver WR
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
76 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 21 career approximate value
- Games played
- 76
- Seasons as a starter
- 3
- Career approximate value
- 219th among San José State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 21100% of career value
- Final season
- 19876 years after the draft
Around pick 16
Who came off the board on either side of Mark Nichols.
South Carolina
USC · 6× Pro Bowl
Oklahoma
North Carolina
Other WR picks from San José State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Other players named Mark Nichols
Different people who share this name in the draft archive.
Michigan State
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Mark Nichols in the 1981 NFL Draft
Mark Nichols is a Wide receiver out of San José State selected No. 16 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1981 NFL Draft. 76 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 21 career approximate value San José State has produced 40 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 Mark Nichols drafted?
Mark Nichols was selected No. 16 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/mark-nichols.
What college did Mark Nichols play for?
Mark Nichols played college football at San José State in the Mountain West. See every San José State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/san-jos-state-spartans.
How did Mark Nichols's NFL career turn out?
76 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 21 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/mark-nichols.