Joe Kelly was drafted No. 11 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1986 NFL Draft out of Washington. 156 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 43 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #11
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1986
- NFL games
- 156
- Years as starter
- 7
- Career AV
- 4317th at Washington
The pick
How Joe Kelly came off the board in 1986.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
Washington
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
156 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 43 career approximate value
- Games played
- 156
- Seasons as a starter
- 7
- Career approximate value
- 4317th among Washington picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1740% of career value
- Final season
- 199610 years after the draft
Around pick 11
Who came off the board on either side of Joe Kelly.
Temple
Ohio State · 1× Pro Bowl
Iowa
USC
Washington in the 1986 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from Washington
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Joe Kelly in the 1986 NFL Draft
Joe Kelly is a Linebacker out of Washington selected No. 11 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1986 NFL Draft. 156 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 43 career approximate value Washington has produced 191 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 Joe Kelly drafted?
Joe Kelly was selected No. 11 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1986 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1986/joe-kelly.
What college did Joe Kelly play for?
Joe Kelly played college football at Washington in the Big Ten. See every Washington draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/washington-huskies.
How did Joe Kelly's NFL career turn out?
156 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 43 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1986/joe-kelly.