The NFL draft is an exciting time for football fans, as teams look to pick up the next generation of superstars. But not every successful player comes from a high draft pick. In fact, some of the best players of the past decade were selected in later rounds, proving that talent can be found anywhere.
One prime example is Maxx Crosby, a defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders. Drafted in the fourth round in 2019, Crosby has become one of the league’s top pass rushers with 52 sacks in his five-year career. Another steal was George Kittle, a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers who was picked in the fifth round in 2017. Kittle has put together a Hall of Fame resume with three 1,000-yard seasons and four All-Pro team selections.
Chris Jones, a defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, was taken in the second round in 2016 and has been a cornerstone of the team’s success. Davante Adams, a wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders, was picked in the second round in 2014 and has over 10,000 receiving yards in his career.
But perhaps the biggest steal of the past decade was Lamar Jackson, a quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. Selected in the first round in 2018, Jackson has already won two MVP awards and has led the Ravens to the playoffs every year of his six-year career.
Other notable players include Brock Purdy, Aaron Donald, Tyreek Hill, Dak Prescott, and the top pick of the past decade, Patrick Mahomes. These players have proven that greatness can come from any round of the draft, and teams must be diligent in their scouting to find the next hidden gem.
