Emmitt Smith was drafted No. 17 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990 NFL Draft out of Florida. 226 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 129 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #17
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1990
- NFL games
- 226
- Years as starter
- 14
- Career AV
- 1291st at Florida
- Pro Bowls
- 8
- All-Pro
- 4
The pick
How Emmitt Smith came off the board in 1990.
- Position
- Running back RB
- College
-
Florida
SEC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
226 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 129 career approximate value
- Games played
- 226
- Seasons as a starter
- 14
- Career approximate value
- 1291st among Florida picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 12698% of career value
- Final season
- 200414 years after the draft
- Accolades
- Hall of Fame · 4× All-Pro · 8× Pro Bowl
Around pick 17
Who came off the board on either side of Emmitt Smith.
Houston · 1× Pro Bowl
Fresno State
Ole Miss
Minnesota
Florida in the 1990 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other RB picks from Florida
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Emmitt Smith in the 1990 NFL Draft
Emmitt Smith is a Running back out of Florida selected No. 17 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990 NFL Draft. 226 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 129 career approximate value Florida has produced 246 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 Emmitt Smith drafted?
Emmitt Smith was selected No. 17 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1990/emmitt-smith.
What college did Emmitt Smith play for?
Emmitt Smith played college football at Florida in the SEC. See every Florida draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/florida-gators.
How did Emmitt Smith's NFL career turn out?
226 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 129 career approximate value Accolades: Hall of Fame · 4× All-Pro · 8× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1990/emmitt-smith.