The NFL Draft is an inexact science. Every year, general managers spend millions of dollars scouting college prospects, yet some of the greatest players in NFL history manage to slip through the cracks. In the world of football trivia and games like Weddle Unlimited, these legendary late-round picks make for some of the most fascinating challenges.
A "draft steal" occurs when a team selects a player much later than their actual talent and career production would warrant. Some of these players go on to become Pro Bowlers, Hall of Famers, and even the greatest of all time (GOAT).
In this list, we count down the top 10 biggest NFL Draft steals of all time, looking at where they were drafted, why they fell, and how they proved everyone wrong.
10. Brock Purdy (QB) – Round 7, Pick 262 (2022)
Selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the very last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Brock Purdy was given the title of "Mr. Irrelevant." Usually, Mr. Irrelevant is lucky to make the practice squad. Instead, Purdy stepped in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, led the 49ers to an NFC Championship in his rookie year, and took them to the Super Bowl in his second year.
9. Stefon Diggs (WR) – Round 5, Pick 146 (2015)
Stefon Diggs fell to the 5th round due to a combination of injuries and inconsistent quarterback play during his college years at Maryland. The Minnesota Vikings took a chance on him, and he rewarded them by becoming one of the premier route runners in the league. He gave us the "Minneapolis Miracle" before being traded to Buffalo, where he blossomed into an All-Pro.
8. Puka Nacua (WR) – Round 5, Pick 177 (2023)
Entering the 2023 season, few people knew who Puka Nacua was. Selected in the 5th round by the Los Angeles Rams, Nacua immediately stepped up as Matthew Stafford's primary target. In his rookie season, he broke the NFL rookie records for both receptions (105) and receiving yards (,1486), proving that elite talent can be found deep in the draft.
7. Jared Allen (DE) – Round 4, Pick 126 (2004)
Coming out of a small school (Idaho State), Jared Allen wasn't highly touted by major scouts. The Kansas City Chiefs grabbed him in the fourth round. Allen would go on to terrorize quarterbacks for over a decade, accumulating 136 career sacks (12th all-time) and falling just a half-sack short of the single-season record in 2011.
6. Richard Sherman (CB) – Round 5, Pick 154 (2011)
Richard Sherman started his college career at Stanford as a wide receiver before converting to cornerback. Because he lacked elite straight-line speed (running a 4.56 40-yard dash), he fell to the 5th round. The Seattle Seahawks drafted him, and he became the intellectual and vocal leader of the legendary "Legion of Boom" defense, earning 3 first-team All-Pro selections.
5. Shannon Sharpe (TE) – Round 7, Pick 192 (1990)
Before he was an outspoken television analyst, Shannon Sharpe was a 7th-round pick out of Savannah State. Teams didn't know how to use him—he was considered too slow for a wide receiver but too small for a tight end. The Denver Broncos figured it out, and Sharpe revolutionized the tight end position, winning three Super Bowls and joining the Hall of Fame.
4. Antonio Brown (WR) – Round 6, Pick 195 (2010)
Despite his controversial exit from the league, Antonio Brown's peak as a wide receiver is undeniable. Drafted in the 6th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Central Michigan, Brown recorded an incredible six straight seasons with over 100 receptions and 1,200 receiving yards—an unprecedented feat in NFL history.
3. Jason Kelce (C) – Round 6, Pick 191 (2011)
Viewed as dramatically undersized for an NFL center, Jason Kelce was drafted in the 6th round by the Philadelphia Eagles. What he lacked in sheer mass, he made up for with unparalleled athleticism, football IQ, and heart. He became the anchor of the Eagles' offensive line for 13 seasons, securing a Super Bowl ring, 6 first-team All-Pro nods, and likely a gold jacket in Canton.
2. Terrell Davis (RB) – Round 6, Pick 196 (1995)
Terrell Davis was barely clinging to a roster spot in his rookie training camp until he made a series of massive hits on special teams. He quickly earned the starting running back job for the Denver Broncos. Davis would go on to win two Super Bowls, a Super Bowl MVP, a league MVP, and rush for over 2,000 yards in the 1998 season.
1. Tom Brady (QB) – Round 6, Pick 199 (2000)
You knew this was coming. The famous "Brady 6" documentary details the six quarterbacks taken before Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft. Brady had an unimpressive NFL combine and split playing time in college at Michigan. The New England Patriots took a flyer on him in the 6th round. Seven Super Bowl rings, three MVPs, and two decades of dominance later, Tom Brady is universally recognized as the greatest draft steal—and the greatest player—in NFL history.
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