Brian Simmons was drafted No. 17 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1998 NFL Draft out of North Carolina. 137 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 42 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #17
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1998
- NFL games
- 137
- Years as starter
- 8
- Career AV
- 4214th at North Carolina
The pick
How Brian Simmons came off the board in 1998.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
North Carolina
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
137 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 42 career approximate value
- Games played
- 137
- Seasons as a starter
- 8
- Career approximate value
- 4214th among North Carolina picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 4198% of career value
- Final season
- 20079 years after the draft
Around pick 17
Who came off the board on either side of Brian Simmons.
Clemson
Utah
Georgia
North Carolina in the 1998 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from North Carolina
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
North Carolina · Hall of Fame · 8× All-Pro · 10× Pro Bowl
#52
Zach Brown
LB · TEN · 2012
North Carolina · 1× Pro Bowl
#36
Buddy Curry
LB · ATL · 1980
North Carolina
#235
Carlton Bailey
LB · BUF · 1988
North Carolina
#36
Mike Wilcher
LB · LAR · 1983
North Carolina
#106
David Thornton
LB · IND · 2002
North Carolina
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Brian Simmons in the 1998 NFL Draft
Brian Simmons is a Linebacker out of North Carolina selected No. 17 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1998 NFL Draft. 137 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 42 career approximate value North Carolina has produced 154 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 Brian Simmons drafted?
Brian Simmons was selected No. 17 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1998 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1998/brian-simmons.
What college did Brian Simmons play for?
Brian Simmons played college football at North Carolina in the ACC. See every North Carolina draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/north-carolina-tar-heels.
How did Brian Simmons's NFL career turn out?
137 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 42 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1998/brian-simmons.