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College Football

1986 NFL Draft · Rd 2 · #29 overall

Garry James LSU Draft

Garry James was drafted No. 29 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1986 NFL Draft out of LSU. 40 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value

Overall pick
#29
Round
2
Draft class
1986
NFL games
40
Years as starter
3
Career AV
1796th at LSU

The pick

How Garry James came off the board in 1986.

Drafted by

Detroit Lions

Rd 2 · #29 overall · NFC North

Full 1986 draft class (333 picks)
Position
Running back RB
College
LSU SEC at the draft
Side of the ball
Offense

NFL career

40 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value

Games played
40
Seasons as a starter
3
Career approximate value
1796th among LSU picks
AV with the drafting club
17100% of career value
Final season
19882 years after the draft

Around pick 29

Who came off the board on either side of Garry James.

#27 Neal Anderson RB · CHI Florida · 4× Pro Bowl #28 Jackie Walker LB · TB Jackson State #30 Markus Koch DE · WAS Boise State #31 Dalton Hilliard RB · NO LSU · 1× Pro Bowl

LSU in the 1986 draft

Teammates who went in the same class.

#31 Dalton Hilliard RB · NO LSU · 1× Pro Bowl #274 Jeff Wickersham QB · MIA LSU

Other RB picks from LSU

The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.

#30 Joseph Addai RB · IND · 2006 LSU · 1× Pro Bowl #31 Dalton Hilliard RB · NO LSU · 1× Pro Bowl #46 Kevin Faulk RB · NE · 1999 LSU #4 Leonard Fournette RB · JAX · 2017 LSU #21 Harvey Williams RB · KC · 1991 LSU #101 Domanick Williams RB · HOU · 2003 LSU

About this draft profile

Last updated Aug 24, 2026

Garry James in the 1986 NFL Draft

Garry James is a Running back out of LSU selected No. 29 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1986 NFL Draft. 40 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value LSU has produced 244 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.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

Where was Garry James drafted?

Garry James was selected No. 29 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1986 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1986/garry-james.

What college did Garry James play for?

Garry James played college football at LSU in the SEC. See every LSU draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/lsu-tigers.

How did Garry James's NFL career turn out?

40 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1986/garry-james.