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College Football

1986 NFL Draft · Rd 1 · #25 overall

Rod Jones SMU Draft

Rod Jones was drafted No. 25 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1986 NFL Draft out of SMU. 144 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 34 career approximate value

Overall pick
#25
Round
1
Draft class
1986
NFL games
144
Years as starter
7
Career AV
349th at SMU

The pick

How Rod Jones came off the board in 1986.

Drafted by

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rd 1 · #25 overall · NFC South

Full 1986 draft class (333 picks)
Position
Defensive back DB
College
SMU ACC at the draft
Side of the ball
Defense

NFL career

144 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 34 career approximate value

Games played
144
Seasons as a starter
7
Career approximate value
349th among SMU picks
AV with the drafting club
1338% of career value
Final season
199610 years after the draft

Around pick 25

Who came off the board on either side of Rod Jones.

#23 Mike Schad G · LAR Queens (Canada) #24 Bob Buczkowski DE · LV Pittsburgh #26 Reggie Dupard RB · NE SMU #27 Neal Anderson RB · CHI Florida · 4× Pro Bowl

SMU in the 1986 draft

Teammates who went in the same class.

#26 Reggie Dupard RB · NE SMU #93 Joe Phillips NT · MIN SMU

Other DB picks from SMU

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

#35 Wes Hopkins DB · PHI · 1983 SMU · 1× All-Pro · 1× Pro Bowl #10 Russell Carter DB · NYJ · 1984 SMU #49 Reggie Phillips DB · CHI · 1985 SMU #180 Kenneth Acker DB · SF · 2014 SMU #117 Donald Mitchell DB · TEN · 1999 SMU #64 John Simmons DB · CIN · 1981 SMU

Other players named Rod Jones

Different people who share this name in the draft archive.

#219 Rod Jones T · CIN · 1996 Kansas #223 Rod Jones TE · NYG · 1987 Washington

About this draft profile

Last updated Aug 24, 2026

Rod Jones in the 1986 NFL Draft

Rod Jones is a Defensive back out of SMU selected No. 25 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1986 NFL Draft. 144 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 34 career approximate value SMU has produced 55 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 Rod Jones drafted?

Rod Jones was selected No. 25 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1986 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1986/rod-jones.

What college did Rod Jones play for?

Rod Jones played college football at SMU in the ACC. See every SMU draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/smu-mustangs.

How did Rod Jones's NFL career turn out?

144 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 34 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1986/rod-jones.