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College Football

2008 NFL Draft · Rd 1, Pick 9 · #9 overall

Keith Rivers USC Draft

Keith Rivers was drafted No. 9 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2008 NFL Draft out of USC. 74 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 24 career approximate value

Overall pick
#9
Round
1
Draft class
2008
NFL games
74
Years as starter
4
Career AV
2474th at USC

The pick

How Keith Rivers came off the board in 2008.

Drafted by

Cincinnati Bengals

Rd 1, Pick 9 · #9 overall · AFC North

Full 2008 draft class (252 picks)
Position
Linebacker LB
College
USC Pac-10 at the draft
Measurables
6'2" · 241 lbs
Pre-draft board
No. 8 prospect96.0 grade
Side of the ball
Defense

NFL career

74 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 24 career approximate value

Games played
74
Seasons as a starter
4
Career approximate value
2474th among USC picks
AV with the drafting club
1562% of career value
Final season
20146 years after the draft

Around pick 9

Who came off the board on either side of Keith Rivers.

#7 Sedrick Ellis DT · NO USC #8 Derrick Harvey DE · JAX Florida #10 Jerod Mayo LB · NE Tennessee · 1× All-Pro · 2× Pro Bowl #11 Leodis McKelvin DB · BUF Troy

USC in the 2008 draft

Teammates who went in the same class.

#7 Sedrick Ellis DT · NO USC #21 Sam Baker T · ATL USC #28 Lawrence Jackson DE · SEA USC #39 Chilo Rachal G · SF USC #48 Fred Davis TE · WAS USC #63 Terrell Thomas DB · NYG USC #137 John David Booty QB · MIN USC #155 Thomas Williams LB · JAX USC #213 Chauncey Washington RB · JAX USC

Other LB picks from USC

The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.

#5 Junior Seau LB · LAC · 1990 USC · Hall of Fame · 6× All-Pro · 12× Pro Bowl #26 Clay Matthews LB · GB · 2009 USC · 1× All-Pro · 6× Pro Bowl #3 Chip Banks LB · CLE · 1982 USC · 1× All-Pro · 4× Pro Bowl #45 Lofa Tatupu LB · SEA · 2005 USC · 1× All-Pro · 3× Pro Bowl #5 Duane Bickett LB · IND · 1985 USC · 1× Pro Bowl #68 Jack Del Rio LB · NO · 1985 USC · 1× Pro Bowl

About this draft profile

Last updated Aug 24, 2026

Keith Rivers in the 2008 NFL Draft

Keith Rivers is a Linebacker out of USC selected No. 9 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2008 NFL Draft. 74 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 24 career approximate value USC has produced 252 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.

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Frequently asked questions

Where was Keith Rivers drafted?

Keith Rivers was selected No. 9 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2008 NFL Draft (Rd 1, Pick 9). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2008/keith-rivers.

What college did Keith Rivers play for?

Keith Rivers played college football at USC in the Pac-10. See every USC draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/usc-trojans.

How did Keith Rivers's NFL career turn out?

74 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 24 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2008/keith-rivers.