Rueben Mayes was drafted No. 57 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1986 NFL Draft out of Washington State. 76 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 28 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #57
- Round
- 3
- Draft class
- 1986
- NFL games
- 76
- Years as starter
- 3
- Career AV
- 2818th at Washington State
- Pro Bowls
- 2
The pick
How Rueben Mayes came off the board in 1986.
- Position
- Running back RB
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
76 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 28 career approximate value
- Games played
- 76
- Seasons as a starter
- 3
- Career approximate value
- 2818th among Washington State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 28100% of career value
- Final season
- 19937 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 2× Pro Bowl
Around pick 57
Who came off the board on either side of Rueben Mayes.
Washington
Nebraska
Texas
Washington State in the 1986 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other RB picks from Washington State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Washington State
#145
Jerome Harrison
RB · CLE · 2006
Washington State
#261
Junior Tautalatasi
RB · PHI
Washington State
#307
Ray Williams
RB · DET · 1980
Washington State
#171
Kerry Porter
RB · BUF · 1987
Washington State
#230
Samoa Samoa
RB · CIN · 1981
Washington State
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Rueben Mayes in the 1986 NFL Draft
Rueben Mayes is a Running back out of Washington State selected No. 57 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1986 NFL Draft. 76 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 28 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 Rueben Mayes drafted?
Rueben Mayes was selected No. 57 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1986 NFL Draft (Rd 3). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1986/rueben-mayes.
What college did Rueben Mayes play for?
Rueben Mayes 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 Rueben Mayes's NFL career turn out?
76 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 28 career approximate value Accolades: 2× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1986/rueben-mayes.