Don Smith was drafted No. 51 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1987 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. 37 regular-season games · 6 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #51
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1987
- NFL games
- 37
- Career AV
- 657th at Mississippi State
The pick
How Don Smith came off the board in 1987.
- Position
- Running back RB
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
37 regular-season games · 6 career approximate value
- Games played
- 37
- Career approximate value
- 657th among Mississippi State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 233% of career value
- Final season
- 19903 years after the draft
Around pick 51
Who came off the board on either side of Don Smith.
Tulane · 1× Pro Bowl
Miami
Tennessee
USC
Mississippi State in the 1987 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other RB picks from Mississippi State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Jerious Norwood
RB · ATL · 2006
Mississippi State
#8
Michael Haddix
RB · PHI · 1983
Mississippi State
#103
George Wonsley
RB · IND · 1984
Mississippi State
#39
J.J. Johnson
RB · MIA · 1999
Mississippi State
#173
Anthony Dixon
RB · SF · 2010
Mississippi State
#80
James Jones
RB · DAL · 1980
Mississippi State
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Don Smith in the 1987 NFL Draft
Don Smith is a Running back out of Mississippi State selected No. 51 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1987 NFL Draft. 37 regular-season games · 6 career approximate value Mississippi State has produced 113 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 Don Smith drafted?
Don Smith was selected No. 51 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1987 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1987/don-smith.
What college did Don Smith play for?
Don Smith played college football at Mississippi State in the SEC. See every Mississippi State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/mississippi-state-bulldogs.
How did Don Smith's NFL career turn out?
37 regular-season games · 6 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1987/don-smith.