James Francis was drafted No. 12 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1990 NFL Draft out of Baylor. 143 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 45 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #12
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1990
- NFL games
- 143
- Years as starter
- 9
- Career AV
- 456th at Baylor
The pick
How James Francis came off the board in 1990.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
Baylor
Big 12 at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
143 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 45 career approximate value
- Games played
- 143
- Seasons as a starter
- 9
- Career approximate value
- 456th among Baylor picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 4498% of career value
- Final season
- 19999 years after the draft
Around pick 12
Who came off the board on either side of James Francis.
NC State
Arizona
Michigan State
West Virginia · 1× All-Pro · 1× Pro Bowl
Baylor in the 1990 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from Baylor
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
James Francis in the 1990 NFL Draft
James Francis is a Linebacker out of Baylor selected No. 12 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1990 NFL Draft. 143 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 45 career approximate value Baylor has produced 109 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 James Francis drafted?
James Francis was selected No. 12 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1990 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1990/james-francis.
What college did James Francis play for?
James Francis played college football at Baylor in the Big 12. See every Baylor draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/baylor-bears.
How did James Francis's NFL career turn out?
143 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 45 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1990/james-francis.