50 Biggest Steals in NFL Draft History
With the first pick of the 1936 NFL draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select Jay Berwanger, halfback, University of Chicago. The former Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Fame member never played a single snap in the NFL. 1936 not only marked the first draft in NFL history, it also marked the first time a player would holdout for more money, a negotiating tactic that rarely works in the league anymore. Bert Bell, Philadelphia’s owner, traded the rights of Jay to the Chicago Bears because he was afraid that he could not meet the demands of his request contract. George Halas, Bears owner, had about the same amount of luck negotiating. Jay demanded $15,000 per game, the biggest offer from Chicago was $13,500. Jay left the game and never played football again.
That’s the NFL Draft, a crazy place filled with scouting reports, backdoor deals, trades, rumors, debates, and surprisingly shocking moments like when 198 players were drafted before Tom Brady. Today we take a look back at the players who were selected much lower than you would have imagined. This is a chance to see some of the athletes that were passed on, team after team, round by round, until finally someone took the gamble on them. And it paid off.
Before you go all postal on us, here are the things we considered when selecting our list.
- Were they drafted? This isn’t going to be a list of undrafted players that made it big, that list will come out later this year. (Or when we have the time to put down our beers and turn off the Bears games)
- No one in the first three rounds should be considered a steal. (We agree)
- For every Dallas Cowboys player that makes the list, New York Giants fans will earn a free taco dinner courtesy of Jerry Jones. (Just go tell him to reimburse you)
That should be a good enough explanation that even the Atlanta Falcon fans will understand. Enjoy.
50. Marques Colston, WR, Saints
Drafted: 2006
Round (Overall): 7th (252nd)
49. Zach Thomas, LB, Dolphins
Drafted: 1996
Round (Overall): 5th (154th)
48. La’Roi Glover, DT, Raiders
Drafted: 1996
Round (Overall): 5th (166th)
47. Dwight Clark, WR, 49ers
Drafted: 1979
Round (Overall): 10th (249th)
46. Michael Sinclair, DE, Seahawks
Drafted: 1991
Round (Overall): 6th (155th)
45. Donald Driver, WR, Packers
Drafted: 1999
Round (Overall): 7th (213th)
44. Joe Klecko, DL, Jets
Drafted: 1977
Round (Overall): 6th (144th)
43. Jeff Van Note, OC, Falcons
Drafted: 1969
Round (Overall): 11th (262nd)
42. Mark Schlereth, OG, Redskins
Drafted: 1989
Round (Overall): 10th (263rd)
41. Herbert Scott, OL, Cowboys
Drafted: 1975
Round (Overall): 13th (330th)
40. Billy Johnson, WR, Oilers
Drafted: 1974
Round (Overall): 15th (365th)
39. Robert Mathis, LB, Colts
Drafted: 2003
Round (Overall): 5th (138th)
38. Tom Nalen, OC, Broncos
Drafted: 1994
Round (Overall): 7th (218th)
37. Adalius Thomas, LB, Ravens
Drafted: 2000
Round (Overall): 6th (186th)
36. Dave Meggett, RB, Giants
Drafted: 1989
Round (Overall): 5th (132nd)
35. Joe Horn, WR, Chiefs
Drafted: 1996
Round (Overall): 5th (135th)
34. Jay Novacek, TE, Cardinals
Drafted: 1985
Round (Overall): 6th (158th)
33. Rodney Harrison, S, Chargers
Drafted: 1994
Round (Overall): 5th (145th)
32. Mark Clayton, WR, Dolphins
Drafted: 1983
Round (Overall): 8th (223rd)
31. Bob Hayes, WR, Cowboys
Drafted: 1964
Round (Overall): 7th (88th)
30. Kevin Greene, LB, Rams
Drafted: 1985
Round (Overall): 5th (113th)
29. Leroy Kelly, RB, Browns
Drafted: 1964
Round (Overall): 8th (110th)
28. Ken Houston, S, Oilers
Drafted: 1967
Round (Overall): 9th (214th)
27. Marco Rivera, OG, Packers
Drafted: 1996
Round (Overall): 6th (208th)
26. Terrell Davis, RB, Broncos
Drafted: 1995
Round (Overall): 6th (196th)
25. Rosey “Roosevelt” Brown, OT, Giants
Drafted: 1953
Round (Overall): 27th (321st)
24. Leon Lett, DT, Cowboys
Drafted: 1991
Round (Overall): 7th (173rd)
23. Harold Carmichael, WR, Eagles
Drafted: 1971
Round (Overall): 7th (161st)
22. Matt Birk, OC, Vikings
Drafted: 1998
Round (Overall): 6th (173rd)
21. Andre Reed, WR, Bills
Drafted: 1985
Round (Overall): 4th (86th)
20. Raymond Berry, WR, Colts
Drafted: 1954
Round (Overall): 20th (232nd)
19. Cliff Branch, WR, Raiders
Drafted: 1972
Round (Overall): 4th (98th)
18. Rayfield Wright, OT, Cowboys
Drafted: 1967
Round (Overall): 7th (182nd)
17. Jackie Smith, TE, Cardinals
Drafted: 1963
Round (Overall): 10th (129th)
16. Shannon Sharpe, TE, Broncos
Drafted: 1990
Round (Overall): 7th (192nd)
15. Charles Haley, DE/LB, 49ers
Drafted: 1986
Round (Overall): 4th (96th)
14. Mike Webster, OC, Steelers
Drafted: 1974
Round (Overall): 5th (125th)
13. Lester Hayes, CB, Raiders
Drafted: 1977
Round (Overall): 5th (126th)
12. Joe Schmidt, LB, Lions
Drafted: 1953
Round (Overall): 7th (85th)
11. Steve Tasker, WR, Oilers
Drafted: 1985
Round (Overall): 9th (226th)
10. Chris Hanburger, LB, Redskins
Drafted: 1965
Round (Overall): 18th (245th)
9. Roger Staubach, QB, Cowboys
Drafted: 1964
Round (Overall): 10th (129th)
8. Willie Davis, DE, Browns
Drafted: 1956
Round (Overall): 15th (181st)
7. L.C. Greenwood, DE, Steelers
Drafted: 1969
Round (Overall): 10th (238th)
6. Cris Carter, WR, Eagles
Drafted: 1987
Round (Overall): Supplemental Pick following 4th Round
5. Richard Dent, DE, Bears
Drafted: 1983
Round (Overall): 8th (203rd)
4. Bart Starr, QB, Packers
Drafted: 1956
Round (Overall): 17th (200th)
3. Johnny Unitas, QB, Steelers
Drafted: 1955
Round (Overall): 9th (102nd)
2. Deacon Jones, DE, Cardinals
Drafted: 1961
Round (Overall): 14th (186th)
1. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
Drafted: 2000
Round (Overall): 6th (199th)
There are so many reasons why Tom Brady belongs in this spot but we need to only give you one. In the 40 years before Tom Brady, The New England Patriots had two Super Bowl appearances, both were losses. (1985 to Chicago Bears, 1996 to Green Bay Packers) When Tom Brady got his chance to start after Drew Bledsoe got injured during the second game of the 2001 season, he led the Patriots to his first of many Super Bowl titles.
Over the past 19 years, the Patriots have made it to the AFC championship game thirteen times and won nine of them. Those nine Super Bowl appearances became six Super Bowl titles and a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for Mr.Brady. Some players are winners but Tom Brady raised the bar when he single handedly transformed a franchise into a powerhouse. Can you imagine what the Patriots organization would look like without Brady behind center? Neither can they.