NFL teams often look to their first-round picks in hopes of striking gold and securing long-term success for their franchise. Yet every year, fans like myself find ourselves shaking our heads as a late-round hero dominates the league while many first-rounders turn out to be busts. More often than not, these late-round players quickly go under the radar and slip down draft boards because of flaws in their athletic ability. However, all it may take is a player being put into the right system that properly maximizes their individual strengths to succeed. So, let’s take a closer look into three of my favorite late steals in the NFL draft in recent memory.
1) Tom Brady
How could we forget the greatest of all time, Tom Brady? Brady was drafted in the sixth round as the 199th pick. Brady famously walked into general manager Robert Kraft’s office and said, “I’m the best decision this organization has ever made.” Brady backed up his statement by leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl in his first year as a starter, and later winning seven more titles. Brady began his career from the ground up, starting as backup quarterback behind Drew Bledsoe, who had previously ended a seven year postseason drought. However, after a gruesome injury from Bledsoe, Brady stole the show (and too many Lombardi trophies to count). Watching the same guy win multiple championships caused me to build a driving hatred for Brady. However, as I reflect on Brady’s career years later, it is hard to deny his unprecedented greatness and longevity. Brady holds almost every playoff record, including the most Super Bowl appearances and wins. As the GOAT debate continues to feature new faces, names like Patrick Mahomes often arise. However, I feel that Brady has already proved twice that he was levels ahead of Mahomes: once in the 2019 AFC Championship and more recently in the 2022 Super Bowl. I personally couldn’t stand watching Mahomes win his third title in a row, but as a miserable Dallas Cowboys fan physically and emotionally incapable of rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles, I was left rooting for America’s most hated player. Truth be told, I have strong conviction that Brady’s legacy stands alone, well away from players like Mahomes. From Brady’s killer mentality to his unmatched intelligence, Brady’s success and influence on the game may never be replicated again. All we can do is shake our heads in unison and disbelief, wondering why our favorite teams couldn’t have just taken a chance on a immobile, weak-armed quarterback from Michigan and created a dynasty for the next 20 years.
2) Puka Nacua
At number two, we have Puka Nacua. Drafted in the fifth round, Nacua was seen as a slower and more injury prone receiver that didn’t possess the traits to succeed in the NFL. However, in the present day, he has emerged as one of the best wide receivers in the league. I truly stand by the belief that he has had the best start to a career for a wide receiver, with an NFL record 1486 yards in his rookie season. As a fellow football player, I greatly admire his unwavering toughness. Although undersized for NFL standards at 6’2” and 215 pounds, he continues to perform with a lionhearted spirit and the grit of a champion, inspiring smaller individuals like myself to continue to persevere and work harder. To me, he always seems to show up in the biggest moments when the lights are brightest and I still experience waves of nightmares watching Nacua continue to take the league by storm, when other teams had plenty of chances to get a hold of him in the rounds prior to the fifth.
3) Tyreek Hill
At number three we have Tyreek Hill. Hill was drafted in the fifth round, but not because people saw him as a bust. Rather, he dealt with several occasions of trouble with the law and struggled keeping up his grades throughout college. While a red flag for many NFL scouts, Andy Reid took a chance on him and has since maximized his potential. Hill has made five All Pro teams and made the Pro Bowl numerous times. His graceful way of coasting past defenders and effortlessly strolling into the endzone truly amazes me. I can only hope and wish to have his speed and acceleration, even if it is only for 10 seconds. His play has recently been on a decline, but I stand by the fact that his six year period of excellence between 2017-2023 has certainly made him one of the best wide receivers of this generation despite being just a hopeless fifth round pick many teams had sounded the alarm on just a few years ago.
As the countdown towards the NFL draft begins, teams face the exciting challenge of uncovering a “hidden gem” in the later rounds. Meanwhile, us fans watch with constant fear as opposing teams produce late-round stars or even future Hall of Fame caliber players that tear up the league. I am excited and will be watching to see who may “bust” and who may “flourish” in this year’s draft. Don’t be too disappointed as you watch your favorite team draft a no-name sixth round pick from some random school you’ve never heard of, you’ll never know who they will become years down the road.
Editors’ Note: The ideas expressed herein are the sole opinions of the writer, not of The Lance as a publication.