James Farrior was drafted No. 8 overall by the New York Jets in the 1997 NFL Draft out of Virginia. 230 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #8
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1997
- NFL games
- 230
- Years as starter
- 12
- Career AV
- 953rd at Virginia
- Pro Bowls
- 2
- All-Pro
- 1
The pick
How James Farrior came off the board in 1997.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
Virginia
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
230 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value
- Games played
- 230
- Seasons as a starter
- 12
- Career approximate value
- 953rd among Virginia picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1516% of career value
- Final season
- 201114 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 1× All-Pro · 2× Pro Bowl
Around pick 8
Who came off the board on either side of James Farrior.
Florida State · Hall of Fame · 4× All-Pro · 9× Pro Bowl
Florida
Iowa
Colorado College
Virginia in the 1997 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from Virginia
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
James Farrior in the 1997 NFL Draft
James Farrior is a Linebacker out of Virginia selected No. 8 overall by the New York Jets in the 1997 NFL Draft. 230 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value Virginia has produced 104 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 Farrior drafted?
James Farrior was selected No. 8 overall by the New York Jets in the 1997 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/james-farrior.
What college did James Farrior play for?
James Farrior played college football at Virginia in the ACC. See every Virginia draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/virginia-cavaliers.
How did James Farrior's NFL career turn out?
230 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value Accolades: 1× All-Pro · 2× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/james-farrior.