For any NFL executive, there’s no better way to look smarter than by drafting a future superstar after round one. There’s nothing like taking on a chance that everybody else overlooked and passed on, only to watch them grow into a game-changer. All 32 NFL teams have at least one of those “draft steals” to brag about.
With the draft season upon us, let’s dive into every NFL club’s biggest steal over the past five years — from 2019 to 2023.
Which NFL players were the biggest draft steals in the last five years?
Arizona Cardinals: Trey McBride
McBride was taken in the second round — 55th overall — by the Redbirds in 2022. That move surprised many, since Arizona already had Pro Bowl Zach Ertz at tight end.
But after a “meh” rookie year, McBride broke out in 2023 with 81 receptions for 825 yards and three touchdowns. And that was without top quarterback Kyler Murray for most of the season.
Atlanta Falcons: Tyler Allgeier
The Falcons haven’t drafted particularly well after day one over the past decade or so, but Tyler Allgeier is certainly an exception.
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A fifth-round pick at No. 151 overall in 2022, Allgeier rushed for 1,035 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie year. Though he took a backseat to superstar rookie Bijan Robinson in 2023, Allgeier still tallied 876 yards of offense and five total touchdowns.
Baltimore Ravens: Justin Madubuike
The Ravens struck gold when they selected the Texas A&M defensive lineman in the third round — 71st overall — in 2020.
After two inconsistent seasons to begin his career, Madubuike came into his own as a quality starter in 2022. A year later, he racked up 13 sacks en route to Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro nods and began to look like one of the biggest NFL draft steal in recent years.
His efforts helped the Ravens to the league’s best record and to the franchise’s first AFC Championship Game appearance in 11 years.
Buffalo Bills: Gabe Davis
Davis more than exceeded expectations as a fourth-round pick in 2020.
Playing second-fiddle to Stefon Diggs, Davis tallied 163 receptions for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns over his four years in Buffalo.
“Big Game Gabe” was also an absolute beast in the postseason, with six TD receptions — including four in one game against Kansas City in the 2021 Divisional Round — in seven playoff games.
Carolina Panthers: Jeremy Chinn
Chinn was largely overlooked because the Panthers were so lousy during his four years with the organization. But Chinn proved to be an absolute gem of a find with the No. 64 pick back in 2020.
Chinn had two interceptions, 17 pass defenses, three forced fumbles, two defensive touchdowns, four sacks and 324 combined tackles over his tenure in Carolina.
Also read: 5 Most Unanticipated First-Round NFL Draft Picks This Decade… And The 5 Biggest Steals
Chicago Bears: Jaylon Johnson
Johnson was already a stellar cover corner in his first three seasons, but the No. 50 pick of 2020 took it to another level in his fourth year in Windy City.
Johnson earned his first career Pro Bowl and second-team all-pro nods in 2023 after recording four interceptions and 10 pass defenses white allowing a laughable passer rating of just 50.9 when targeted.
The Bears’ top corner was awarded with a four-year, $76 million extension following his career year.
Cincinnati Bengals: Logan Wilson
Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins were the Bengals’ two big prize catches in the 2020 NFL Draft…but don’t overlook Logan Wilson either.
The Wyoming linebacker was taken 65th overall that year, and it didn’t take him long to emerge as a key cog on their defense. Wilson led Cincy to a Super Bowl 56 berth and to another AFC title game appearance in 2022.
Wilson has 11 interceptions, 20 pass defenses and four forced fumbles through his first four seasons.
Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
J.O.K. felt like a steal from day-one, when the widely-projected first-round pick instead went 52nd overall to the Browns in 2021.
Sure enough, the Notre Dame product has outperformed his draft spot and is one of NFL’s biggest draft steal in recent years.
The star linebacker has been a force in the front seven working with Myles Garrett, earning his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2023 after tallying 3.5 sacks, six pass defenses and 101 combined tackles.
Dallas Cowboys: Trevon Diggs
Hate on Jerry Jones all you want, but it’s hilarious that he got both CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs with his first two picks in 2020.
Both are arguably top-five guys at their positions today, but Diggs qualifies for the “steal” spot here as a second-round pick at No. 51 overall. He earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in his 2021 sophomore year after leading the league with 11 interceptions.
Say what you want about his struggles in coverage, but Diggs more than makes up for it with his vulture-like ball-hawking skills. 18 picks and 52 pass defenses in 47 career games to begin your career is kinda ridiculous.
Denver Broncos: Dre’Mont Jones
The Broncos have been awful at drafting since Peyton Manning’s retirement in 2016…but even the worst teams get lucky once in a while.
Denver found a gem in Jones, the No. 71 pick of 2019. He was a quality starter on their d-line, posting 22 sacks and six pass defenses before making the jump to Seattle in 2023 free agency.
Detroit Lions: Amon-Ra St. Brown
Can someone remind us how he was a fourth-round pick in 2021 again?
Since entering the league, St. Brown ranks fifth in receptions with 315. AND he helped the Lions reach their first NFC Championship Game in 32 years last season. Not bad for a guy who was taken 112th overall!
Green Bay Packers: Elgton Jenkins
Few teams draft better than the Packers, as this star offensive lineman will happily remind you.
The No. 44 pick of 2019 has emerged as a rock on the Packers’ o-line, with two Pro Bowl nods through his first five seasons. No wonder life was so easy for Jordan Love in his first year as “the guy” in Green Bay. Guys like Jenkins just made it such a smooth transition.
Also read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams’ 2024 Free Agency Moves So far
Houston Texans: Nico Collins
After two “meh” seasons to begin his career, the No. 89 pick of 2023 finally broke out once Houston supplied him with a quality QB — aka CJ Stroud.
Collins broke out in 2023 with 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. He and Stroud are just getting started, and then Collins will continue to assert himself as one of the biggest NFL draft “steals” of his class.
Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor
If it weren’t for injuries, Taylor would have opened his career with four straight 1,000-yard seasons.
The No. 41 pick of 2020 rushed for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie before taking his game to an MVP-like level in 2021. That year, Taylor led the NFL in rushing with 1,811 yards and in rushing scores with 18.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Tyson Campbell
Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne Jr. headline the Jaguars’ elite 2021 draft class, but don’t overlook Campbell’s contributions up to this point.
The No. 33 pick of 2021 has been the rock of the Jags’ secondary, with six interceptions and 30 pass defenses since his arrival. In 2022, Campbell allowed just a 78.0 passer rating when targeted – an indicator that future stardom is on the way.
Kansas City Chiefs: L’Jarius Sneed
Four years of L’Jarius Sneed in Kansas City: Four AFC Championship Game appearances, three Super Bowl berths and back-to-back Lombardi Trophy-winning seasons. According to our calculations, that’s pretty darn good.
The No. 138 pick of 2020 had 10 interceptions and 40 pass breakups during his four years in KC before getting traded to Tennessee. Without Sneed, the Chiefs simply do not cement themselves as a dynasty.
Las Vegas Raiders: Maxx Crosby
The Raiders haven’t drafted well in the first-round for a while now, but they sure hit the jackpot when they took Eastern Michigan edge rusher Maxx Crosby with the No. 106 selection in 2019.
Crosby has emerged as a game-wrecking force in Sin City. Since his 2019 rookie year, only TJ Watt, Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson and Nick Bosa have more sacks than Crosby’s 52.
Los Angeles Chargers: Asante Samuel Jr.
It remains a surprise to this day that the ball-hawking specialist fell to the Bolts in round two at No. 47 overall back in 2021.
Like his old man Asante Sr., Asante Jr. has been a dangerous weapon in the secondary, with six interceptions and 35 pass breakups to begin his career.
He hasn’t hit superstar-level just yet…but we’re confident it’s coming with Jim Harbaugh here to make sure the Chargers stop underachieving once and for all.
Los Angeles Rams: Puka Nacua
All Nacua did in his 2023 rookie season was rack up 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. Those 105 catches and 1,486 yards, by the way, marked new single-season rookie records.
And by the way, he was a fifth-round pick at No. 177 overall. Carry on!
Miami Dolphins: Jevon Holland
The Canadian kid has been a rock in Miami’s secondary since they took him 36th overall in 2021.
Holland did wonders with ex-Dolphin Xavien Howard as his running mate for three years, with five picks, 21 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and four sacks to begin his career. Oh, and he finished with a ridiculous 2023 Pro Football Focus grade of 90.4.
Minnesota Vikings: Ezra Cleveland
Not much to choose from here, as the Vikings’ draft history on day two and three has been spotty in recent years. But they did find themselves a potential NFL draft steal in Ezra Cleveland, the No. 58 pick of the 2020 draft.
Cleveland made 49 starts over his three-and-a-half years in Minny before getting traded to Jacksonville in the 2023 season. His efforts helped Kirk Cousins retain Pro Bowl-caliber play, and Dalvin Cook had three 1,000-yard seasons with Cleveland blocking for him.
New England Patriots: Rhamondre Stevenson
The No. 120 pick of 2021 has been a beast in New England’s backfield, with 2,265 rushing yards and 14 rushing scores through his first three seasons.
Stevenson broke out in 2022 with 1,040 rushing yards and five TDs. If he didn’t miss five games in both 2021 and 2023, we could be talking about a three-time 1,000-yard rusher by now.
New Orleans Saints: Paulson Adebo
Looking to find a new standout corner to complement Marshon Lattimore, the Saints drafted Adebo with the No. 76 pick in 2021.
Adebo had two uneven years to begin his career, but he broke out in 2023 by recording four interceptions and 18 pass breakups while allowing just a 62.7 passer rating when targeted. Adebo also allowed just one TD in coverage on 100 throws in his direction, per Pro Football Reference.
Adebo has arrived, and he’s only going to get better from here.
New York Giants: Darius Slayton
They messed up the Daniel Jones pick at No. 6 in 2019, but at least the G-Men partially made up for it by finding a gem in Darius Slayton.
The Auburn product was drafted in the fifth round at No. 171 overall in 2019. Despite awful QB play around him, Slayton has hit the 40-catch and 700-yard marks in four of his first five NFL seasons.
New York Jets: Breece Hall
The Jets haven’t drafted well at all over the past decade, especially on days two and three. We didn’t have much to choose from here, but at least Breece Hall is looking like a steal from the 2022 class.
The former No. 36 overall pick was on his way to a 1,000-yard season before suffering a torn ACL in his seventh game. A year later, he broke out with 1,585 yards of offense and nine total touchdowns.
Multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons await…
Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts
The Eagles got an MVP candidate and franchise-changing star with the No. 53 pick back in 2020. So who else were we gonna use here?
Hurts has gone 33-14-0 as the Eagles’ starting QB since his 2021 sophomore season. And he was this-close to leading Philly to a Super Bowl 57 victory over the Chiefs.
That $255 million extension was well deserved.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Highsmith
Tough choice between Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Alex Highsmith here. But seeing how much harder it is to find superstar edge-rushers after round one, we had to settle on Highsmith here.
The 102nd overall pick of 2020 has formed a terrifying three-headed pass-rushing monster alongside superstars TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward. Highsmith broke out in 2022 with 14.5 sacks and a league-leading five forced fumbles with Watt missing seven games.
Watt sorely needed a running mate off the edge. The Steelers found it in Highsmith, now widely viewed as an NFL draft steal in 2020.
San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy
What more can be said about Purdy that hasn’t already been said?
He was the very last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft — aka Mr. Irrelevant — at No. 262 overall. Following a season-ending injury to Jimmy Garoppolo late in the 2022 season, Purdy took over as the starting QB and never looked back.
Purdy went 17-4 over his first two years as the 49ers starting QB, leading them to consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances and a trip to Super Bowl 58. Not bad for a guy who was only known as “Mr. Irrelevant” to begin his career!
Seattle Seahawks: D.K. Metcalf
Such a tough call here between Metcalf and 2022 fifth-rounder Riq Woolen, but we had to go with a guy who’s been a borderline top-five wideout since his 2019 rookie year.
Metcalf somehow fell to Seattle at No. 64 overall in 2019. He’s exceeded 50 receptions and 900 yards each year while putting up seven-plus TD receptions in four of his five seasons.Since Metcalf’s arrival in 2019, only three receivers have topped his 43 receiving TDs: Davante Adams, Mike Evans and Tyreek Hill.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Antoine Winfield Jr.
Winfield Jr. was one of several marquee newcomers for the Bucs in 2020, along with Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and fellow 2020 draftee Tristan Wirfs Jr. Hindsight is 20/20, but it’s impossible to understand now how 44 players went before Winfield in 2020.
The Swiss Army Knife has done it all as a cover man, run-defender, elite ball-hawker and pass-rusher. His efforts helped Tampa to a Super Bowl 55 championship — the first of four straight playoff appearances for a rejuvenated Tampa franchise.
Tennessee Titans: Amani Hooker
Hooker wasn’t exactly a household name when he entered the league as a fourth-round pick — 116th overall — however.
But Hooker has gradually developed into a quality safety for the Titans, helping them to three straight playoff appearances from 2019 to 2021 — including the AFC title game in his rookie year.
Through his first five years, Hooker had racked up seven interceptions, 22 pass breakups and 264 combined tackles.
Washington Commanders: Terry McLaurin
Even with mediocre QB play in Washington, “Scary Terry” has been a model of consistency since joining the league in 2019.
The No. 76 pick of 2019 hit the 70-catch and 1,000-yard marks for the fourth straight year in 2023. Imagine how much better this big-time NFL draft steal could be with an elite QB throwing him the football.
Also read: 5 Teams Set To Crush The 2024 NFL Draft And 5 That Are Totally Screwed
