Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, April 17, 2015

Purdue has had some surprising success in the last 10 NFL drafts, with 19 overall selections and three first-round picks. Not bad for a program that has been to just four bowls in the last 10 years.

Linemen have been the most common picks, with six coming on defense and five on offense. The Boilermakers? ability to produce defensive ends/outside linebackers has been remarkable, with the likes of Ryan Kerrigan, Anthony Spencer, Cliff Avril, Ray Edwards and Rob Ninkovich coming off the board in recent years. And the ?cradle of quarterbacks? has had two picks, with Kyle Orton and Curtis Painter being tabbed.

Here is a look at how Purdue has fared in the last 10 NFL drafts.

PURDUE DRAFT 2005-14

Highest pick: 16th overall, LB Ryan Kerrigan, 2011/Redskins

Most fertile draft: 2006, 2007, 2008, three selections

Total first-round picks: 3

Total picks: 19

Position breakdown:

  • Defensive line: 6
  • Offensive line: 5
  • Linebacker: 3
  • Defensive back: 2
  • Quarterback: 2
  • Tight end: 1

2005

Fourth round: QB Kyle Orton, Bears

2006

Second round: DB Bernard Pollard, Chiefs

Fourth round: DE Ray Edwards, Vikings

Fifth round: DE Rob Ninkovich, Saints

2007

First round: LB Anthony Spencer, Cowboys

Fifth round: G Uche Nwaneri, Jaguars

Seventh round: OT Mike Otto, Titans

2008

First round: TE Dustin Keller, Jets

Third round: DE Cliff Avril, Lions

Fourth round: LB Stanford Keglar, Titans

2009

Third round: DT Alex Magee, Chiefs

Sixth round: QB Curtis Painter, Colts

2010

Second round: DE Mike Neal, Packers

2011

First round: LB Ryan Kerrigan, Redskins

2012

Fifth round: OT Dennis Kelly, Eagles

Sixth round: OT Nick Mondek, Titans

2013

Second round: DT Kawann Short, Panthers

2014

Fifth round: CB Ricardo Allen, Falcons

Fifth round: OT Kevin Pamphile, Buccaneers

About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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