Paul Lankford was drafted No. 80 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1982 NFL Draft out of Penn State. 130 regular-season games · 5 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #80
- Round
- 3
- Draft class
- 1982
- NFL games
- 130
- Years as starter
- 5
- Career AV
- 2659th at Penn State
The pick
How Paul Lankford came off the board in 1982.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- College
-
Penn State
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
130 regular-season games · 5 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value
- Games played
- 130
- Seasons as a starter
- 5
- Career approximate value
- 2659th among Penn State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 26100% of career value
- Final season
- 19919 years after the draft
Around pick 80
Who came off the board on either side of Paul Lankford.
Iowa State
Wyoming
Tulane · 3× Pro Bowl
Penn State in the 1982 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Penn State · Hall of Fame · 2× All-Pro · 9× Pro Bowl
#17
Sean Farrell
G · TB
Penn State
#28
Leo Wisniewski
NT · IND
Penn State
#37
Jim Romano
C · LV
Penn State
#78
Vyto Kab
TE · PHI
Penn State
#126
Mike Meade
RB · GB
Penn State
#152
Chet Parlavecchio
LB · GB
Penn State
#234
Matt Bradley
DB · TEN
Penn State
#263
Rich D'Amico
LB · LV
Penn State
Other DB picks from Penn State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Paul Lankford in the 1982 NFL Draft
Paul Lankford is a Defensive back out of Penn State selected No. 80 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1982 NFL Draft. 130 regular-season games · 5 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value Penn State has produced 248 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 Paul Lankford drafted?
Paul Lankford was selected No. 80 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1982 NFL Draft (Rd 3). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1982/paul-lankford.
What college did Paul Lankford play for?
Paul Lankford played college football at Penn State in the Big Ten. See every Penn State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/penn-state-nittany-lions.
How did Paul Lankford's NFL career turn out?
130 regular-season games · 5 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1982/paul-lankford.