Matt Finkes was drafted No. 189 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 1997 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. 8 regular-season games · 1 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #189
- Round
- 6
- Draft class
- 1997
- NFL games
- 8
- Career AV
- 1204th at Ohio State
The pick
How Matt Finkes came off the board in 1997.
- Position
- Defensive end DE
- College
-
Ohio State
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
8 regular-season games · 1 career approximate value
- Games played
- 8
- Career approximate value
- 1204th among Ohio State picks
- Final season
- 19970 years after the draft
Around pick 189
Who came off the board on either side of Matt Finkes.
Wyoming
Eastern Kentucky
Bethune-Cookman
Houston
Ohio State in the 1997 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DE picks from Ohio State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Cameron Heyward
DE · PIT · 2011
Ohio State · 4× All-Pro · 7× Pro Bowl
#3
Joey Bosa
DE · LAC · 2016
Ohio State · 5× Pro Bowl
#2
Nick Bosa
DE · SF · 2019
Ohio State · 1× All-Pro · 5× Pro Bowl
#18
Will Smith
DE · NO · 2004
Ohio State · 1× Pro Bowl
#2
Chase Young
DE · WAS · 2020
Ohio State · 1× Pro Bowl
#77
Sam Hubbard
DE · CIN · 2018
Ohio State
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Matt Finkes in the 1997 NFL Draft
Matt Finkes is a Defensive end out of Ohio State selected No. 189 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 1997 NFL Draft. 8 regular-season games · 1 career approximate value Ohio State has produced 284 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 Matt Finkes drafted?
Matt Finkes was selected No. 189 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 1997 NFL Draft (Rd 6). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/matt-finkes.
What college did Matt Finkes play for?
Matt Finkes played college football at Ohio State in the Big Ten. See every Ohio State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/ohio-state-buckeyes.
How did Matt Finkes's NFL career turn out?
8 regular-season games · 1 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/matt-finkes.