Billy Ray Smith was drafted No. 5 overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 1983 NFL Draft out of Arkansas. 126 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #5
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1983
- NFL games
- 126
- Years as starter
- 7
- Career AV
- 465th at Arkansas
The pick
How Billy Ray Smith came off the board in 1983.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
Arkansas
SEC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
126 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value
- Games played
- 126
- Seasons as a starter
- 7
- Career approximate value
- 465th among Arkansas picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 46100% of career value
- Final season
- 19929 years after the draft
Around pick 5
Who came off the board on either side of Billy Ray Smith.
Penn State · 3× Pro Bowl
Northwestern · 1× All-Pro · 7× Pro Bowl
Pittsburgh · Hall of Fame · 2× All-Pro · 2× Pro Bowl
Arkansas in the 1983 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from Arkansas
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Billy Ray Smith in the 1983 NFL Draft
Billy Ray Smith is a Linebacker out of Arkansas selected No. 5 overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 1983 NFL Draft. 126 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value Arkansas has produced 127 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 Billy Ray Smith drafted?
Billy Ray Smith was selected No. 5 overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 1983 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1983/billy-ray-smith.
What college did Billy Ray Smith play for?
Billy Ray Smith played college football at Arkansas in the SEC. See every Arkansas draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/arkansas-razorbacks.
How did Billy Ray Smith's NFL career turn out?
126 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1983/billy-ray-smith.