A part of the magic of the NFL Draft is when groups flip missed prospects into top-of-the-line late-round NFL Draft picks of all time.
In any case, the ultimate day is when groups get essentially the most worth from their draft capital and provides their Tremendous Bowl probabilities an enormous increase. Granted, there have been numerous successful undrafted players as nicely. However among the biggest picks on the final day of the NFL Draft are additionally thought-about among the many best picks in draft history.
Greatest late spherical NFL Draft picks of all time
After all, most followers can assume of some apparent gamers who went from late-round picks to superstars or Corridor of Famers. However we wished to take an excellent deeper dive into the late rounds of NFL Draft historical past. That’s how we got here up with an inventory of the 20 finest late-round NFL Draft picks of all time.
20. Stefon Diggs
His profession doesn’t should be over for us to know that Stefon Diggs was an absolute steal at 146th total in 2015. In 2018, he started a run of 5 consecutive (and counting) 1,000-yard seasons.
Diggs took issues a step additional when he joined the Payments in 2020, main the league in each receptions and yards that season whereas incomes his first Professional Bowl choice.
19. Joe Horn
Even when most individuals simply bear in mind his cellphone celebration, Joe Horn was a lot greater than that. He really spent two years out of soccer till spending time with three totally different CFL franchises.
It was solely after that that he was chosen one hundred and thirty fifth total by the Chiefs. After some forgettable years in Kansas Metropolis, Horn signed with the Saints in 2000 and instantly turned a Professional Bowler. He in the end went to 4 Professional Bowls, creating one of many nice rags-to-riches tales in NFL historical past.
18. George Kittle
By now, the NFL ought to know to not wait to draft tight ends out of Iowa. Nonetheless, George Kittle remained out there till the 49ers took him 146th total within the 2017 Draft. It solely took Kittle till his second season to develop into one of many league’s elite tight ends, main all tight ends with over 1,300 receiving yards that season.
Throughout his first six seasons within the league, Kittle went to the Professional Bowl 4 instances and stays on the shortlist of one of the best tight ends in soccer.
17. Joe Klecko
Ignored till the 144th decide of the 1977 Draft, it solely took Joe Klecko till 1981 to earn Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors. As a defensive lineman for the Jets, he earned the nickname of the “New York Sack Trade,” gathering 78 of them throughout his Corridor of Fame profession.
Even earlier than knee issues compelled him into retirement, Klecko spent over a decade with the Jets, incomes 4 Professional Bowl choices.
16. Bo Jackson
Regardless of as soon as being the highest total decide within the NFL Draft, Bo Jackson can be technically a late-round decide. He selected baseball over soccer after the Buccaneers used the primary decide within the 1986 Draft on him. A 12 months later, the Raiders used the 183rd total decide on Jackson on a whim.
Al Davis then supplied Jackson the possibility to play each sports activities, so Jackson jumped on the alternative. After all, a career-ending harm prevented Jackson from turning into an all-time nice. However he had 28 whole touchdowns and averaged 5.4 yards per carry within the 38 video games he performed for the Raiders. Even by these requirements, he was a steal that late within the draft.
15. Matt Birk
It’s wonderful what number of nice offensive linemen like Matt Birk get missed within the draft. In Birk’s case, the Harvard graduate was chosen 173rd total within the 1998 Draft.
He endured a few years as a backup earlier than turning into a full-time starter and a six-time Professional Bowler for the Vikings, in the end ending his profession with the Ravens, enjoying 14 seasons within the league.
14. Robert Mathis
Few individuals knew about Robert Mathis whereas he performed at Alabama A&M, which is why he wasn’t chosen by the Colts 138th total in 2003.
After all, the Colts struck gold with that decide. Mathis turned a feared move rusher throughout his profession, going to 5 Professional Bowls throughout his 14 years in Indy. He led the NFL in compelled fumbles thrice, which explains why he owns the all-time report with 54 compelled fumbles. His 123 profession sacks aren’t too unhealthy both.
13. Jason Kelce
Whereas his youthful brother was a sizzling commodity within the draft, Jason Kelce needed to wait till the 191st decide in 2011 to listen to his title.
After all, the Eagles aren’t complaining about that call. He anchored their offensive line for over a decade, serving to Philly win Tremendous Bowl LII whereas making six Professional Bowls (as of 2022).
12. Donald Driver
Regardless of being a soccer participant, observe star, and Olympic-level excessive jumper at Alcorn State, no person drafted Donald Driver till the Packers took him 213th total within the 1999 Draft.
It seems the Packers discovered a most well-liked goal for each Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Driver spent his complete 14-year profession in Inexperienced Bay, amassing over 10,000 receiving yards and going to 5 Professional Bowls, turning into probably the most constant receivers in franchise historical past.
11. Jake Scott
He was so missed popping out of school that Jake Scott needed to play one season within the CFL earlier than the Dolphins drafted him 159th total within the 1970 Draft. He instantly turned a starter and ended up beginning all 126 video games of his NFL profession.
Throughout that point, the protection went to 5 straight Professional Bowls and received two Tremendous Bowls for the Dolphins. He was even the MVP of Tremendous Bowl VII after choosing off two passes within the recreation, turning into one of many few defensive gamers to earn Tremendous Bowl MVP honors.
10. Rayfield Wright
Sadly, most trendy followers aren’t conversant in Rayfield Wright. After all, when he was the 182nd total decide in 1967, most NFL groups weren’t that conversant in him both.
However the offensive sort out proved his price and have become a fixture on the Dallas offensive line within the Nineteen Seventies. Wright went to 6 straight Professional Bowls throughout his Corridor of Fame profession and performed for the Cowboys in 5 Tremendous Bowls, serving to Dallas win two of them.
9. Mike Webster
The Steelers might not have constructed one of many nice NFL dynasties within the Nineteen Seventies with out Mike Webster. Whereas he was largely a backup throughout Pittsburgh’s first two Tremendous Bowl wins that decade after being the a hundred and twenty fifth total decide in 1974, Webster turned a vital a part of the final two.
He was additionally a nine-time Professional Bowler who began 217 video games throughout his Corridor of Fame profession.
8. Richard Dent
The Bears had been fortunate to discover a key a part of their dominant protection from the Eighties within the eighth spherical of the Draft. In 1983, Chicago drafted Richard Dent 203rd total. He rapidly turned a key pass-rusher and an vital contributor to the group that received two Tremendous Bowls.
Dent was even the MVP of Tremendous Bowl XX with 1.5 sacks and two compelled fumbles in Chicago’s 46-10 win after main the league in sacks through the common season. Dent additionally led the NFL in compelled fumbles twice and was additionally a four-time Professional Bowler.
7. Terrell Davis
Within the Nineties, the Broncos had a knack for locating nice operating backs late within the draft. However no person excelled of their zone-blocking scheme greater than Terrell Davis. The previous Georgia operating again was chosen 196th total in 1995.
Regardless of enjoying simply seven seasons earlier than accidents compelled him to retire, Davis was one thing particular. He received MVP honors in 1998 after racing for over 2,000 yards and serving to the Broncos to their second straight Tremendous Bowl win. In each of Denver’s Tremendous Bowl seasons, he led the league in speeding touchdowns and was additionally MVP of their first Tremendous Bowl win. Whereas Davis lacked longevity, he achieved lots in a brief time frame.
6. Antonio Brown
Neglect about all the drama and controversy he might have brought about throughout his profession and Antonio Brown is clearly top-of-the-line late-round NFL Draft picks of all time. The Steelers discovered him 195th total within the 2010 Draft out of Central Michigan and he rapidly turned a Professional Bowl vast receiver.
Earlier than issues turned south for him in Pittsburgh, Brown was Ben Roethlisberger’s primary goal. He went to seven Professional Bowls throughout his time in Pittsburgh whereas main the NFL in receptions twice and receiving yards twice. Granted, his previous few years had been ugly, however earlier than that, Brown was top-of-the-line within the league.
5. Shannon Sharpe
Someway, one of many best tight ends in NFL history was handed on by each NFL group till the Broncos took him 192nd total in 1990. Popping out of tiny Savannah State, it was in all probability simple to overlook Shannon Sharpe, particularly as a result of most tight ends didn’t have his physique sort.
However with the Broncos, he rapidly remodeled right into a vital a part of their offense. On his method to the Corridor of Fame, Sharpe went to the Professional Bowl eight instances and amassed over 10,000 receiving yards. He received back-to-back Tremendous Bowls with the Broncos after which earned a 3rd ring with the Ravens late in his profession, serving to Sharpe to solidify his legacy as one of the best tight finish of his technology and top-of-the-line late-round NFL Draft picks of all time.
4. Bart Starr
The quarterback who led the Packers to wins within the first two Tremendous Bowls was as soon as the 2 hundredth total decide, chosen by Inexperienced Bay within the seventeenth spherical of the 1956 Draft. Bart Starr was a backup when he first entered the league, however when Vince Lombardi made Starr the starter, he turned the Packers right into a dynasty.
Starr wouldn’t simply win two Tremendous Bowls however 5 NFL championships with the Packers. He additionally led the league in passer score 5 instances and was undoubtedly the NFL’s premier quarterback through the Sixties.
3. Deacon Jones
It’s virtually incomprehensible {that a} participant as gifted and influential as Deacon Jones wasn’t chosen till the 14th spherical and the 186th total decide of the 1961 Draft. Regardless of being missed, Jones was top-of-the-line pass-rushers in NFL historical past. The time period sack was coined due to him, and Jones ended up retroactively main the league in sacks 5 instances whereas going to eight Professional Bowls.
Nicknamed “the Secretary of Protection,” Jones is a Corridor of Famer and one of many all-time greats, even successful Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors in back-to-back seasons. Along with being a terrific participant, his influence on the sport continues to be felt at present.
2. Ken Houston
It took 9 rounds and 214 picks for anyone to draft Ken Houston, however when the Oilers did that, they didn’t remorse the transfer one bit. He turned Houston’s beginning security as a rookie after which proceeded to have a Corridor of Fame profession.
Houston performed six years in Houston and eight extra in Washington, making the Professional Bowl 14 instances. He collected 49 interceptions and 21 fumbles throughout his profession whereas additionally scoring 12 touchdowns. In reality, Houston continues to be tied for the single-season report of 4 interceptions returned for a landing, though that report solely scratches the floor of what he achieved.
1. Tom Brady
It goes with out saying, however there’ll by no means be a greater late-round decide than Tom Brady. The Patriots took an opportunity on him with the 199th total decide in 2000 and the NFL would by no means be the identical once more.
Pressured into responsibility by an harm to Drew Bledsoe, Brady led the Patriots to a Tremendous Bowl in his second season, foreshadowing the best profession in league historical past. Someway, Brady solely received MVP thrice throughout his profession. However he knew how you can win higher than every other quarterback, in the end successful seven Tremendous Bowl rings, being named MVP in 5 of these Tremendous Bowls, and leaving little doubt that he’s the best of all time.
Source link
