Washington Huskies' highest NFL draft picks since 1970

While most colleges and universities field a football team as part of its general athletics program, there are some for which football is more than merely a sport—it's akin almost to a religion. Devotion to the team and its colors is as important to that school's culture as a religious icon is to a believer. These programs actively scout and recruit notable high school players, and are in turn rigorously applied to by matriculating seniors eager to make a name for themselves at the collegiate level.

Among the most notable college football empires are Notre Dame, the universities of Alabama, Michigan, Texas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State—the list goes on and on.

But for every touchstone football school, there is an outlier that has produced some of the most successful and cherished players in the game. Think Jackson State, which gave us "Sweetness" himself, Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton. Or Mississippi Valley State, which yielded 3-time Super Bowl champion and #1 Player in NFL History, as voted by the NFL Network, '49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Each year, the college draft serves as a source of renewal to professional football and a testament to the quality of college programs nationwide. With the 2022 NFL draft set to take place April 28-30 in Las Vegas, Stacker compiled a list of the highest NFL draft picks from the Washington Huskies using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Mark Bruener (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #27 overall in 1995
- Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 10 (0 Pro Bowls)

#19. Shaq Thompson (OLB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #25 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: Carolina Panthers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#18. Bern Brostek (C)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #23 overall in 1990
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#17. Curt Marsh (G)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #23 overall in 1981
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Desmond Trufant (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #22 overall in 2013
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (1 Pro Bowls)

#15. Marcus Peters (CB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #18 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (3 Pro Bowls)

#14. Napoleon Kaufman (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #18 overall in 1995
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#13. Dana Hall (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #18 overall in 1992
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#12. Blair Bush (C)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #16 overall in 1978
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 12 (0 Pro Bowls)

#11. Vita Vea (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #12 overall in 2018
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#10. Danny Shelton (NT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #12 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#9. Joe Kelly (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #11 overall in 1986
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Doug Martin (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 1980
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. John Ross (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 2017
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#6. Reggie Williams (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 2004
- Drafted by: Jacksonville Jaguars
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Lincoln Kennedy (T)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 1993
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (3 Pro Bowls)

#4. Ron Holmes (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #8 overall in 1985
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Jake Locker (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #8 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Tennessee Titans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Reggie Rogers (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #7 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#1. Steve Emtman (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #1 overall in 1992
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)