Erik Howard was drafted No. 46 overall by the New York Giants in the 1986 NFL Draft out of Washington State. 139 regular-season games · 5 seasons as a starter · 49 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #46
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1986
- NFL games
- 139
- Years as starter
- 5
- Career AV
- 496th at Washington State
- Pro Bowls
- 1
The pick
How Erik Howard came off the board in 1986.
- Position
- Nose tackle NT
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
139 regular-season games · 5 seasons as a starter · 49 career approximate value
- Games played
- 139
- Seasons as a starter
- 5
- Career approximate value
- 496th among Washington State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 4286% of career value
- Final season
- 199610 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 1× Pro Bowl
Around pick 46
Who came off the board on either side of Erik Howard.
Hawai'i
Illinois College
Florida
Washington State in the 1986 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other NT picks from Washington State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Erik Howard in the 1986 NFL Draft
Erik Howard is a Nose tackle out of Washington State selected No. 46 overall by the New York Giants in the 1986 NFL Draft. 139 regular-season games · 5 seasons as a starter · 49 career approximate value Washington State has produced 96 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 Erik Howard drafted?
Erik Howard was selected No. 46 overall by the New York Giants in the 1986 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1986/erik-howard.
What college did Erik Howard play for?
Erik Howard played college football at Washington State in the Pac-12. See every Washington State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/washington-state-cougars.
How did Erik Howard's NFL career turn out?
139 regular-season games · 5 seasons as a starter · 49 career approximate value Accolades: 1× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1986/erik-howard.