Rod Rutledge was drafted No. 54 overall by the New England Patriots in the 1998 NFL Draft out of Alabama. 70 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 2 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #54
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1998
- NFL games
- 70
- Years as starter
- 2
- Career AV
- 2172nd at Alabama
The pick
How Rod Rutledge came off the board in 1998.
- Position
- Tight end TE
- College
-
Alabama
SEC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
70 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 2 career approximate value
- Games played
- 70
- Seasons as a starter
- 2
- Career approximate value
- 2172nd among Alabama picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 2100% of career value
- Final season
- 20024 years after the draft
Around pick 54
Who came off the board on either side of Rod Rutledge.
Wisconsin
Kent State
Penn State
Washington State
Alabama in the 1998 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other TE picks from Alabama
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Rod Rutledge in the 1998 NFL Draft
Rod Rutledge is a Tight end out of Alabama selected No. 54 overall by the New England Patriots in the 1998 NFL Draft. 70 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 2 career approximate value Alabama has produced 263 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 Rod Rutledge drafted?
Rod Rutledge was selected No. 54 overall by the New England Patriots in the 1998 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1998/rod-rutledge.
What college did Rod Rutledge play for?
Rod Rutledge played college football at Alabama in the SEC. See every Alabama draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/alabama-crimson-tide.
How did Rod Rutledge's NFL career turn out?
70 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 2 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1998/rod-rutledge.