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The NFL Draft is one of the most unpredictable events in all of sports. Every April, scouts, coaches, and general managers put months of work into evaluating prospects, hoping to land the next franchise cornerstone. Yet, for all the preparation, the draft is anything but an exact science.
Some highly touted players fade into obscurity, while others, overlooked and undervalued on draft day, rise to become legends. These are the players who slipped through the cracks, chosen far later than their talent deserved, only to carve out iconic careers.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the 10 biggest draft steals in NFL history, ranked by their impact, legacy, and just how much they outperformed expectations. Let’s dive right in!
10. Richard Sherman – 5th Round, 154th Overall (2011)
Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
Richard Sherman was not even a full-time cornerback at Stanford, as he began his college career as a wide receiver. That uncertainty around his position likely pushed him down the board. However, when the Seattle Seahawks took a chance on him in the fifth round of the 2011 draft, they struck gold.
Sherman became the vocal leader and shutdown corner of the “Legion of Boom”, one of the most dominant defenses in modern NFL history. He led the league in interceptions in 2013, helped Seattle win Super Bowl XLVIII, and earned five Pro Bowl nods.
9. Shannon Sharpe – 7th Round, 192nd Overall (1990)
Drafted by: Denver Broncos
At Savannah State, Shannon Sharpe was a dominant small-school player, but many scouts thought he was “too big” to be a wide receiver and “too small” to be a tight end. The Denver Broncos took a chance in the seventh round, and the rest is history.
Sharpe revolutionized the tight end position, blending receiver-like speed with physical toughness. He won three Super Bowls (two with Denver, one with Baltimore), earned eight Pro Bowl selections, and was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
8. Terrell Davis – 6th Round, 196th Overall (1995)
Drafted by: Denver Broncos
By the mid-1990s, late-round running backs were rarely seen as potential stars. Terrell Davis flipped that script. Drafted in the sixth round out of Georgia, Davis quickly became the engine of Denver’s offense.
He rushed for over 1,000 yards as a rookie, won league MVP in 1998, and powered the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles. His 2,008-yard rushing season remains one of the greatest single-year performances by any running back. Though injuries shortened his career, Davis’s peak was so dominant that he still earned a place in Canton, a remarkable achievement for a 196th overall pick.
7. Antonio Brown – 6th Round, 195th Overall (2010)
Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
Few players in modern NFL history illustrate the word “steal” quite like Antonio Brown. Coming out of Central Michigan, he was considered undersized and raw. Drafted in the sixth round, Brown exceeded every expectation imaginable.
From 2013 to 2018, Brown was arguably the best wide receiver in football. He led the league in receptions twice, receiving yards twice, and receiving touchdowns once. A seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro, Brown’s production far outstripped that of players drafted rounds earlier.
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6. Deacon Jones – 14th Round, 186th Overall (1961)
Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams
Yes, the NFL Draft once stretched deep into the double-digit rounds, and sometimes, all-time greats were hiding there. Deacon Jones, selected in the 14th round in 1961, became one of the most feared pass rushers in history.
Nicknamed the “Secretary of Defense,” Jones is often credited with coining the term “sack” and redefining defensive dominance. Though sacks weren’t officially recorded during his era, retrospective statistics suggest he would’ve led the league multiple times.
Jones earned eight Pro Bowl selections and was named to the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams. For a 14th-round pick, that’s nothing short of astounding.
5. Bart Starr – 17th Round, 200th Overall (1956)
Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
When you’re drafted in the 17th round, expectations are minimal. But Bart Starr rewrote that script entirely. Initially a backup, Starr blossomed into the steady leader of Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers dynasty.
Starr won five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls, where he was named MVP both times. Known for his poise and precision, Starr embodied the Packers’ dominance of the 1960s.
4. Roger Staubach – 10th Round, 129th Overall (1964)
Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
Roger Staubach’s draft story is unusual; he was drafted by the Cowboys in 1964 but didn’t play until 1969 due to a four-year Navy service commitment. Many teams avoided him because of that obligation, but Dallas took the gamble.
That gamble paid off in spectacular fashion. Staubach became the face of the Cowboys, leading them to two Super Bowl titles and earning the nickname “Captain America.” He was a six-time Pro Bowler, a league MVP, and ultimately a Hall of Famer. Passing on him because of his military service opened the door for Dallas to land one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, at the cost of a tenth-round pick.
3. Johnny Unitas – 9th Round, 102nd Overall (1955)
Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
Johnny Unitas’s story is the ultimate underdog tale. Drafted in the ninth round by the Steelers, he was cut before ever throwing a pass in a regular-season game. Baltimore later picked him up off the scrap heap, and he went on to rewrite the quarterback position.
Unitas won three NFL championships, one Super Bowl, and set numerous passing records, including 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass, a record that stood for over 50 years. He was a three-time league MVP and is still regarded as one of the most influential quarterbacks ever.
2. Joe Montana – 3rd Round, 82nd Overall (1979)
Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
Joe Montana wasn’t ignored entirely; being picked in the third round still suggests some potential. But no one could have predicted he’d become arguably the most clutch quarterback the game has ever seen.
Drafted out of Notre Dame, Montana went on to lead the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories, winning Super Bowl MVP three times. His career defined the 49ers dynasty of the 1980s.
1. Tom Brady – 6th Round, 199th Overall (2000)
Drafted by: New England Patriots
There’s no debate here. Tom Brady is not only the biggest draft steal in NFL history, but arguably in all of sports.
Coming out of Michigan, Brady was viewed as too slow, too skinny, and not athletic enough. The Patriots took him with the 199th pick in the sixth round, a pick that changed the trajectory of the franchise and the NFL forever.
Brady went on to win seven Super Bowls, earn three league MVPs, and set nearly every major passing record imaginable. Today, many regard him as the greatest NFL player in history.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What makes a player a “draft steal” in the NFL?
A draft steal is a player selected much later than expected who goes on to have a career far more impactful than his draft position suggested. These players often outperform first-round picks and sometimes redefine entire positions.
Who is considered the biggest draft steal in NFL history?
Most fans and analysts agree that Tom Brady holds that title. Drafted 199th overall in the sixth round of the 2000 draft, Brady went on to win seven Super Bowls and become the NFL’s all-time leader in multiple passing categories.
Why do some great players fall so far in the draft?
There are many reasons: concerns about size, speed, position fit, or even external factors like military commitments (Roger Staubach) or small-school competition (Shannon Sharpe). Sometimes, teams simply underestimate a player’s intangibles, like leadership and competitiveness.
