Craig Heyward was drafted No. 24 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1988 NFL Draft out of Pittsburgh. 149 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 38 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #24
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1988
- NFL games
- 149
- Years as starter
- 6
- Career AV
- 3828th at Pittsburgh
- Pro Bowls
- 1
The pick
How Craig Heyward came off the board in 1988.
- Position
- Running back RB
- College
-
Pittsburgh
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
149 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 38 career approximate value
- Games played
- 149
- Seasons as a starter
- 6
- Career approximate value
- 3828th among Pittsburgh picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1437% of career value
- Final season
- 199810 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 1× Pro Bowl
Around pick 24
Who came off the board on either side of Craig Heyward.
Michigan State · 1× Pro Bowl
Stanford
Illinois College
Syracuse
Pittsburgh in the 1988 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other RB picks from Pittsburgh
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Pittsburgh · Hall of Fame · 1× All-Pro · 5× Pro Bowl
#53
LeSean McCoy
RB · PHI · 2009
Pittsburgh · 2× All-Pro · 6× Pro Bowl
#105
James Conner
RB · PIT · 2017
Pittsburgh · 2× Pro Bowl
#80
Kevan Barlow
RB · SF · 2001
Pittsburgh
#12
Randy McMillan
RB · IND · 1981
Pittsburgh
#149
Dion Lewis
RB · PHI · 2011
Pittsburgh
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Craig Heyward in the 1988 NFL Draft
Craig Heyward is a Running back out of Pittsburgh selected No. 24 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1988 NFL Draft. 149 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 38 career approximate value Pittsburgh has produced 151 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 Craig Heyward drafted?
Craig Heyward was selected No. 24 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1988 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/craig-heyward.
What college did Craig Heyward play for?
Craig Heyward played college football at Pittsburgh in the ACC. See every Pittsburgh draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/pittsburgh-panthers.
How did Craig Heyward's NFL career turn out?
149 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 38 career approximate value Accolades: 1× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/craig-heyward.