Better Late Than Never – Top 3 Greatest Late-Round NFL Draft Picks
Ask any scout or general manager of a professional sports team and they will tell you that making the proper draft pick is not an exact science. Regardless of how much time and resources are put into doing the proper research and making sure a player is the right fit, sometimes they get things wrong. While early picks are often viewed as the “safe bets”, late-round selections where players are passed over multiple times can prove to have the same or even more value.
Some of the greatest players in NFL history were once considered underdogs, players for whom the odds of success seemed to be on par with hitting the jackpot in an online casino. In other words, a long shot. Yet through hard work, talent, determination, and a little bit of luck, they not only earned their way into the Pro Football Hall of Fame but more importantly, became legends of the game.
Tom Brady – 2000, New England Patriots, 6th round, 199th pick
There is no debate as to who should be atop this list. Arguably the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, Tom Bradyprobably made a number of scouts second guess their career choice. Coming out of Michigan with little fanfare, with teams questioning his arm strength, footwork, speed, and overall athleticism, Brady ended up proving everyone wrong. Well,except for the speed part.
An unfortunate injury to starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe opened the door for Brady to take over the QB1 role, a position he didn’t relinquish until retiring in 2022. Seven championship rings in ten appearances (nine with New England, one with Tampa Bay), five Super Bowl MVPs, and 3 NFL MVPs highlight one of the most incredible professional football resumes of all time.
Shannon Sharpe – 1990, Denver Broncos, 7th round, 192nd pick
Regarded by many as the greatest tight end of all time, Sharpe entered the league with the odds stacked against him. A star at Div II Savannah State, Sharpe entered the league as a “tweener”, deemed too small to play tight end, and too big to be a receiver. Standing 6’2”, 230lbs, Sharpe proved the naysayers wrong with his athleticism and talent.
During his fourteen seasons in the NFL, Sharpe redefined the tight end position, multitasking as a powerful blocker, an elite pass-catcher, and a bulldozer of a runner. En route to winning three Super Bowls (two with Denver, one with Baltimore), Sharpe picked up eight Pro Bowl appearances, making the Broncos late-round pick payout in dividends.
Terrell Davis – 1995, Denver Broncos, 6th round, 196th pick
Fans can only imagine how great T.D.’s career would have been had it not been for injuries that cut his time in the NFL down to just seven years. However, what he accomplished in those 78 games, especially during his first four seasons was nothing short of spectacular. After four years of college ball that were spackled with injuries, Davis entered the 1995 draft and would ultimately join a Broncos team deep with running backs.
It would take just a couple of pre-season games to show the Broncos coaching staff his true value as Davis would be named to the starting unit for the season opener. During his rookie season, Davis ran for 1,117 yards, and 7 touchdowns while adding 367 receiving yards and another trip to the end zone. Within a four-year span, Davis recorded 6,413 rushing yards, 1,181 receiving yards, and 59 touchdowns, earning a pair of Super Bowl titles, two NFL Offensive Player of the Year Awards, a Super Bowl MVP, an NFL MVP, and a signature touchdown celebration.
As late-round picks, ones that could easily have been forgotten, Brady, Sharpe, and Davis’s success stories are a perfect example of how late-round picks can defy the odds and become superstars.
NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com