Bruce Smith was drafted No. 1 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1985 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech. 279 regular-season games · 18 seasons as a starter · 152 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #1
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1985
- NFL games
- 279
- Years as starter
- 18
- Career AV
- 1521st at Virginia Tech
- Pro Bowls
- 11
- All-Pro
- 8
The pick
How Bruce Smith came off the board in 1985.
- Position
- Defensive end DE
- College
-
Virginia Tech
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
279 regular-season games · 18 seasons as a starter · 152 career approximate value
- Games played
- 279
- Seasons as a starter
- 18
- Career approximate value
- 1521st among Virginia Tech picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 14495% of career value
- Final season
- 200318 years after the draft
- Accolades
- Hall of Fame · 8× All-Pro · 11× Pro Bowl
Around pick 1
Who came off the board on either side of Bruce Smith.
Pittsburgh · 2× All-Pro · 4× Pro Bowl
Texas A&M · 1× All-Pro · 5× Pro Bowl
Virginia Tech in the 1985 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DE picks from Virginia Tech
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Bruce Smith in the 1985 NFL Draft
Bruce Smith is a Defensive end out of Virginia Tech selected No. 1 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1985 NFL Draft. 279 regular-season games · 18 seasons as a starter · 152 career approximate value Virginia Tech has produced 129 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 Bruce Smith drafted?
Bruce Smith was selected No. 1 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1985 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1985/bruce-smith.
What college did Bruce Smith play for?
Bruce Smith played college football at Virginia Tech in the ACC. See every Virginia Tech draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/virginia-tech-hokies.
How did Bruce Smith's NFL career turn out?
279 regular-season games · 18 seasons as a starter · 152 career approximate value Accolades: Hall of Fame · 8× All-Pro · 11× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1985/bruce-smith.