Mel Owens was drafted No. 9 overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Michigan. 122 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 42 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #9
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 122
- Years as starter
- 6
- Career AV
- 4230th at Michigan
The pick
How Mel Owens came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
Michigan
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
122 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 42 career approximate value
- Games played
- 122
- Seasons as a starter
- 6
- Career approximate value
- 4230th among Michigan picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 42100% of career value
- Final season
- 19898 years after the draft
Around pick 9
Who came off the board on either side of Mel Owens.
Pittsburgh · 2× Pro Bowl
USC · Hall of Fame · 6× All-Pro · 10× Pro Bowl
Kansas
Michigan in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from Michigan
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Mel Owens in the 1981 NFL Draft
Mel Owens is a Linebacker out of Michigan selected No. 9 overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1981 NFL Draft. 122 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 42 career approximate value Michigan has produced 231 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 Mel Owens drafted?
Mel Owens was selected No. 9 overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/mel-owens.
What college did Mel Owens play for?
Mel Owens played college football at Michigan in the Big Ten. See every Michigan draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/michigan-wolverines.
How did Mel Owens's NFL career turn out?
122 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 42 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/mel-owens.