Carlton Bailey was drafted No. 235 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1988 NFL Draft out of North Carolina. 142 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 43 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #235
- Round
- 9
- Draft class
- 1988
- NFL games
- 142
- Years as starter
- 6
- Career AV
- 4313th at North Carolina
The pick
How Carlton Bailey came off the board in 1988.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
North Carolina
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
142 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 43 career approximate value
- Games played
- 142
- Seasons as a starter
- 6
- Career approximate value
- 4313th among North Carolina picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1433% of career value
- Final season
- 19979 years after the draft
Around pick 235
Who came off the board on either side of Carlton Bailey.
Memphis
Ole Miss
Holy Cross
Florida State
North Carolina in the 1988 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from North Carolina
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
North Carolina · Hall of Fame · 8× All-Pro · 10× Pro Bowl
#52
Zach Brown
LB · TEN · 2012
North Carolina · 1× Pro Bowl
#36
Buddy Curry
LB · ATL · 1980
North Carolina
#17
Brian Simmons
LB · CIN · 1998
North Carolina
#36
Mike Wilcher
LB · LAR · 1983
North Carolina
#106
David Thornton
LB · IND · 2002
North Carolina
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Carlton Bailey in the 1988 NFL Draft
Carlton Bailey is a Linebacker out of North Carolina selected No. 235 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1988 NFL Draft. 142 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 43 career approximate value North Carolina has produced 154 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 Carlton Bailey drafted?
Carlton Bailey was selected No. 235 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1988 NFL Draft (Rd 9). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/carlton-bailey.
What college did Carlton Bailey play for?
Carlton Bailey played college football at North Carolina in the ACC. See every North Carolina draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/north-carolina-tar-heels.
How did Carlton Bailey's NFL career turn out?
142 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 43 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/carlton-bailey.