Since 1994, the NFL Draft has gone seven rounds deep. There used to be even more rounds in the draft, with the ’80s and ’90s having 10-plus rounds and the pre-merger drafts going as deep as round 30. Finding talent atop the draft is a necessity, but the best teams find contributors in the later rounds, too. There are great players in every draft class, and while number one picks and highly touted prospects are the most coveted, sometimes it is the unheralded players who end up becoming stars at the next level. The art of scouting is not easy, especially with the context of every prospect being so drastically different. So, who are the best steals in NFL Draft history who far outplayed their lowly draft status?
10. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers, QB, 2022
Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Selection: Seventh round, pick 262
Brock Purdy still has a long career ahead of himself, but he ranks as one of the greatest NFL Draft steals ever already because of the circumstances of his selection. He was 2022’s Mr. Irrelevant, meaning he was the last player to hear his name called on draft day. Most players would prefer to go undrafted at that point because they would be free to sign where they so choose, and the last player selected rarely makes the team as a rookie, let alone becomes a key contributor right away. Purdy has done so at the NFL’s most important position.
Purdy entered his rookie season as the third-string quarterback behind Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, but it didn’t take too long for the San Francisco 49ers to hand him the reins as their starter. The Iowa State product took over behind center in Week 13 of his first season and became the first Mr. Irrelevant with a regular season touchdown pass. He has done a whole lot of winning ever since.
He started his career 10-0 and has regularly had his 49ers in contention despite the team constantly being ravaged by injuries. Purdy was the lowest-drafted quarterback to start in a Super Bowl, and his poise and pocket presence have helped establish him as one of the league’s most reliable pigskin hurlers.
9. Dwight Clark, San Francisco 49ers, WR, 1979
Selection: 10th round, pick 249
Another 49ers draftee and one of two on this list from the 1979 NFL Draft class, Dwight Clark played a huge role in the 49ers of the ’80s becoming one of the greatest dynasties ever. The fact that he was even drafted came by mere chance. Clark was collegiate roomates with Steve Fuller at Clemson, and when San Francisco arrived on campus to scout the quarterback, Clark coincidentally picked up a phone call intended for Fuller. That led to him participating in Fuller’s workout, and in turn, the 49ers eventually drafted him in the 10th round.
The two-time Super Bowl champion led the league in receptions in 1982 en route to tallying 506 catches for 6,750 yards and 48 touchdowns over his career. Of course, he is most known for ‘The Catch’, one of the most memorable plays in league history. The game-winning grab in the 1981 NFC Championship Game, in which Clark leaped up along the back of the end zone with less than a minute to go to secure six points, ultimately led to the start of San Francisco’s dynasty.
8. Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos, RB, 1995
Selection: Sixth round, pick 196
Nine NFL players have rushed for 2,000-plus yards in a single season. Terrell Davis accomplished that feat in just his fourth season. He also had 21 rushing touchdowns to lead the league in that regard for the second time. Davis won the MVP that year and was crowned Super Bowl champion for the second-straight time.
Unfortunately, injuries resulted in Davis’ production falling off after that, but by having arguably the best running back prime ever, Davis still ranks among the best ball carriers in league history. Davis’ superb talent apparently wasn’t evident in the 1995 NFL Draft, as he fell all the way to the sixth round.
Davis made a name for himself with a huge tackle on special teams in the preseason during his rookie year. It resulted in him making the Denver Broncos team and quickly becoming a phenom.
7. Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles, C, 2011
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Selection: Sixth round, pick 191
The 2011 NFL Draft was one of the greatest draft classes ever. Cam Newton, Von Miller, Marcell Dareus, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, Julio Jones, and Aldon Smith made up the first seven picks, and Tyron Smith, J.J. Watt, Robert Quinn, Mike Pouncey, Cameron Jordan, Mark Ingram, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Cameron Heyward were all drafted in round one, too.
The class was so great because there was also depth in the later rounds. Richard Sherman was a standout from the fifth round, and Jason Kelce wasn’t taken until round six. The brother of Travis, who was also a big draft-day steal, had arguably the best career of any center ever before retiring ahead of last season.
He fell in the draft because he was undersized for the position, but great technique, footwork, and strength resulted in Kelce becoming a six-time First-Team All-Pro and a Super Bowl champion. With 193 games played, Kelce was the ultimate iron man, and the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive lines were elite during the entire time he was commanding them.
6. Shannon Sharpe, Denver Broncos, TE, 1990
Selection: Seventh round, pick 192
This list of the biggest draft steals in NFL history is littered with 49ers and Broncos. The two programs have become some of the most winningest and prestigious franchises because they seem to find hits late in the draft with frequency. Shannon Sharpe was another example, as he went from a seventh-rounder to one of the best tight ends in NFL history.
In fact, Sharpe really revolutionized the position. He fell in the draft not only because he hailed from a small school, Savannah State, but because he was viewed as a tweener. That ended up working to his benefit, though. Before Sharpe took over the league, tight ends were used more so as blockers than anything else.
Sharpe helped popularize NFL teams using tight ends as a focal point in the passing attack. He ranks top-six among tight ends in receptions (815) and receiving yards (10,060). Not only did Sharpe win two championships with the Broncos, but he won a third Super Bowl as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
5. Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers, QB, 1979
Selection: Third round, pick 82
Joe Montana was the earliest drafted player on this list. Still, securing one of the top-five best players in NFL history in round three is pretty impressive. Montana won four championships with the 49ers, earning Super Bowl MVP honors three of those times. The two-time regular season MVP was uber accurate and was the league leader in completion percentage five times.
Had it not been for Montana, Jerry Rice likely wouldn’t have become the greatest non-quarterback in NFL history. Montana probably never should have fallen in the draft, though. He won a national championship at Notre Dame, yet he wasn’t chosen as one of the three first-round quarterbacks in 1979.
Montana is the prime example of why evaluating for raw talent and athletic traits over an ability to just win football games is a risky idea for scouts.
4. Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys, QB, 1964
Selection: 10th round, pick 129
As a Heisman Trophy winner and one of the greatest college football players ever, one would have assumed Roger Staubach would have been drafted before the 10th round in the 1964 NFL Draft. However, as a member of the Navy Academy, Staubach had four years of required military service time after his collegiate career.
Teams weren’t that interested in drafting a player who wasn’t going to be a rookie until he reached the age of 27 and had been out of competitive football for nearly a half-decade. The gutsy draft decision paid off for the Dallas Cowboys, as despite his delayed debut, Staubach would go on to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
He helped turn America’s Team into must-watch TV, and his advanced scrambling ability resulted in two championships with the team. Staubach was a late-round gem, but he had the talent of someone much greater. Ultimately, context resulted in him becoming one of the best draft-day steals ever.
3. Johnny Unitas, Pittsburgh Steelers, QB, 1955
Selection: Ninth round, pick 102
Johnny Unitas was not drafted highly, nor was he even selected by the team where he’d find NFL success. The Pittsburgh Steelers took Unitas in the ninth round in 1955. However, head coach Walt Kiesling didn’t give Unitas a chance, and he was released before the start of the season. Before he landed another NFL gig, Unitas worked in construction and kept his football skills sharp by playing for a semi-pro team called the Bloomfield Rams for $6 a game.
Unitas eventually did land on his feet. He joined the Baltimore Colts, where he’d earn three MVP nods and win three NFL Championships. Unitas also won Super Bowl V, the first modern era, post-merger Super Bowl played between AFC and NFC teams, which became one of the greatest games in the history of the big game. Unitas’ 40,239 career passing yards are the 25th most ever, which is quite impressive because he played in a time where the aerial attack wasn’t as prioritized.
While the Steelers didn’t reap the rewards of finding Unitas so late in the draft, there is no question that he was one of the biggest draft steals in history.
2. Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers, QB, 1956
Selection: 17th round, pick 200
One year after Unitas was drafted, the Green Bay Packers landed one of his biggest rivals. Bart Starr was drafted nearly 100 selections later than Unitas was, making him the greater NFL Draft day steal. Starr similarly racked up the accolades after being overlooked in the draft.
Starr won the 1966 MVP award, five NFL Championships, and two Super Bowls. He was also a four-time passer rating leader and a four-time completion percentage leader. Unitas was the superior individual performer, but Starr is viewed as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history because his resume is topped by few in league history, excluding the next player on this list.
1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots, QB, 2000
Matthew Emmons
Selection: Sixth round, pick 199
Teams expect to find superstars at the beginning of the NFL Draft. Peyton Manning and John Elway, for example, were picked first overall. The best player in NFL history was picked much later, though, proving that any prospect can disprove draft status. Tom Brady fell to round six, and the 31 teams that passed on him for 198 picks can be somewhat excused when looking at Brady’s Scouting Combine profile.
The Michigan quarterback didn’t have a body that inspired much confidence that he’d perform at the highest level in a sport as physical as football, and he was far from fleet of foot when his athleticism was put to the test. He even entered his rookie season fourth on the New England Patriots depth chart.
That didn’t matter, though, as a high IQ and stellar accuracy resulted in him owning nearly every record in the books. Brady finished his career with seven Super Bowl titles, three MVPs, and 15 Pro Bowls. His 89,214 passing yards and 649 passing touchdowns are far and away the most in NFL history. It is safe to say that the greatest player in NFL history was also the biggest draft steal ever.
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