The NFL draft is often associated with the first-round picks, but the real magic happens in the later rounds. Every year, teams uncover hidden gems in the fourth to seventh rounds, and these players go on to make a significant impact in the league.
The NFL draft is full of surprises
Take Brock Purdy, the “Mr. Irrelevant” of the 2022 NFL Draft, who has become the latest in a long line of stars picked on Day Three. Or George Kittle, a fifth-round selection in 2017, who has emerged as one of the NFL’s top tight ends in San Francisco.
Kittle has been a standout tight end for the 49ers
Tyreek Hill, now one of the most electrifying receivers in the NFL, played for three different colleges before eventually landing in the 2016 NFL draft. A fifth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs, Hill’s blazing speed helped him quickly carve out a role on one of the league’s top teams.
Hill’s speed has made him a standout receiver
Stefon Diggs was a three-year standout with the Maryland Terrapins, catching 14 touchdowns during his career in College Park. The Minnesota Vikings picked him up in the fifth round, and it took Diggs less than a season to work his way into the team’s receiving rotation.
Diggs has been a reliable receiver for the Vikings
Richard Sherman, one of the most feared defenses in NFL history, was built in large part with Day Three selections. The “Legion of Boom” Seattle Seahawks were a nightmare for opposing offenses, helping the Seahawks lift the Lombardi Trophy in 2013.
Sherman was a key part of the Seahawks’ defense
Jason Kelce, the recently retired Kelce leaves behind a long track record of stellar play with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former Cincinnati Bearcat rewarded the team that took him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.
Kelce was a stalwart for the Eagles
Jahri Evans entered the 2006 NFL draft with a low profile, having plied his trade at the collegiate level for Division II Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. However, he wasted no time establishing himself as a mainstay for the New Orleans Saints once joining the team, starting all 16 games as a rookie.
Evans was a surprise star for the Saints
Jared Allen, an Idaho State Bengals alum, entered the draft on the back of a mammoth senior campaign that included 17.5 sacks and over 100 tackles. Allen fell to the Chiefs in the fourth round and quickly carved out a role, including a prolific 2007 campaign that saw him record a league-high 15.5 sacks.
Allen was a dominant force on the defensive line
Tom Brady, the greatest late-round pick of them all, it’s difficult to find an achievement Brady didn’t compile over the course of a remarkable 23-year career.
Brady is the ultimate late-round success story
Zach Thomas made his name with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, and an average combine outing caused him to fall down draft boards. But Thomas’ consistent college production proved more than translatable to professional ranks, as he was named defensive rookie of the year.
Thomas was a surprise star for the Dolphins
Terrell Davis, the 1998 NFL MVP wasn’t selected until the sixth round of his draft. Davis made his mark quickly with the Denver Broncos, rushing for 1,117 yards and 7 touchdowns as a rookie.
Davis was a late-round steal for the Broncos
These players are a testament to the fact that talent can be found in the later rounds of the draft. While the first round gets all the attention, it’s the teams that do their due diligence in the later rounds that often reap the rewards.
