Marcus Cotton was drafted No. 28 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1988 NFL Draft out of USC. 44 regular-season games · 5 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #28
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1988
- NFL games
- 44
- Career AV
- 5141st at USC
The pick
How Marcus Cotton came off the board in 1988.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
USC
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
44 regular-season games · 5 career approximate value
- Games played
- 44
- Career approximate value
- 5141st among USC picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 5100% of career value
- Final season
- 19913 years after the draft
Around pick 28
Who came off the board on either side of Marcus Cotton.
Syracuse
LSU
Ohio State · 1× All-Pro · 4× Pro Bowl
Arizona State · Hall of Fame · 1× All-Pro · 6× Pro Bowl
USC in the 1988 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from USC
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
USC · Hall of Fame · 6× All-Pro · 12× Pro Bowl
#26
Clay Matthews
LB · GB · 2009
USC · 1× All-Pro · 6× Pro Bowl
#3
Chip Banks
LB · CLE · 1982
USC · 1× All-Pro · 4× Pro Bowl
#45
Lofa Tatupu
LB · SEA · 2005
USC · 1× All-Pro · 3× Pro Bowl
#5
Duane Bickett
LB · IND · 1985
USC · 1× Pro Bowl
#68
Jack Del Rio
LB · NO · 1985
USC · 1× Pro Bowl
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Marcus Cotton in the 1988 NFL Draft
Marcus Cotton is a Linebacker out of USC selected No. 28 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1988 NFL Draft. 44 regular-season games · 5 career approximate value USC has produced 252 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 Marcus Cotton drafted?
Marcus Cotton was selected No. 28 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1988 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/marcus-cotton.
What college did Marcus Cotton play for?
Marcus Cotton played college football at USC in the Big Ten. See every USC draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/usc-trojans.
How did Marcus Cotton's NFL career turn out?
44 regular-season games · 5 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/marcus-cotton.