The whole “If you ain’t first, you’re last” doesn’t apply in all aspects of life. If it did, then the first overall pick of any given NFL Draft would be heads-and-shoulders above every other draftee each year.
But in some cases, one of the best players — and sometimes even THE BEST player — in a certain draft ends up being a late-round selection. In this exercise, we are taking the best draft steal in every class from 2000 to 2002 and ranking them from worst to first. So let’s get right to it.
Which NFL Draft picks since 2000 became great steals and which ones were not?
24. Mike Wallace (2009)
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a knack for finding stud receivers after round one. Mike Wallace is one of the better examples of that.
Wallace was drafted 84th overall by the defending Super Bowl champions. Wallace went on to exceed 700 receiving yards in each of his four seasons with the Steelers — including 1K campaigns in 2010 and 2011. He played an instrumental role in helping the Steelers reach Super Bowl 45, where they fell to the Green Bay Packers.
For his career, Wallace hauled in 538 receptions for 8,072 yards and 57 touchdowns.
23. Corey Linsley (2014)
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Corey Linsley went to the Packers in round five at No. 161 overall. Linsley emerged as Green Bay’s starting center in 2014 and never looked back, holding down the fort there for seven years.
Linsley earned First-Team All-Pro nods in his final season with the Pack in 2020. He signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021, earning Pro Bowl and second-team all-pro nods in his first year with the club.
22. Puka Nacua (2023)
This ranking may feel low to some, but allow us to emphasize that Nacua should move up considerably on this list over time.
The Los Angeles Rams drafted Nacua in the fifth round at No. 177 overall in the 2023 NFL draft. All he did in year one was rack up 105 receptions for 1,486 yards — both rookie single-season records — for six touchdowns.
21. Amon-Ra St. Brown (2021)
The Detroit Lions took the USC product in round four at 112 overall, and boy did he exceed expectations. As a rookie, St. Brown recorded 90 receptions for 912 yards and five touchdowns.
Proving it was no fluke, he took it to another level by exceeding the 100-catch and 1,100-yard marks in 2022 and 2023.
20. Terry McLaurin (2019)
Part of the dream 2019 receiver draft class, McLaurin didn’t go until 76th overall to Washington.
After recording 919 receiving yards as a rookie, McLaurin followed it up with three straight years of 77-plus catches and over 1,000 yards receiving.
19. Jamaal Charles (2008)
The Kansas City Chiefs had a productive albeit troubled and unpopular Larry Johnson as their lead back heading into the ‘08 NFL draft. But they couldn’t pass on the talents of Texas RB Jamaal Charles, snagging him in round three in the 73rd slot.
Charles was among the NFL’s premier running backs from 2009 to 2014 before injuries tragically cut his career short. He hit over 1,000 yards rushing in five seasons over that six-year span.
Charles finished his career with 7,563 yards rushing and 44 touchdowns for his career. Not bad for a third-round pick!
18. Brett Keisel (2002)
The BYU product slipped to Pittsburgh all the way down to round seven at No. 242 overall. Keisel emerged as a game-wrecker on a defense that also had Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, Casey Hampton, James Farrior et al.
Keisel had 30 sacks over his career and helped Pittsburgh to three Super Bowl appearances, winning it all in the 2005 and 2008 seasons.
17. Brock Purdy (2022)
Purdy was the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, going No. 262 overall to the San Francisco 49ers. He went 17-4 over his first two years as a starter, leading San Fran to two straight NFC Championship Game appearances and a trip to Super Bowl 58.
The sample size is small-ish, but Purdy looks like a bonafide franchise QB in San Fran. In a couple of years, he could jump up significantly on this list.
16. Stefon Diggs (2015)
It’s stunning to think that this guy fell to the fifth round in an NFL draft class that, looking back with the benefit of hindsight, was rather underwhelming.
But indeed, the Maryland product didn’t go until 146th overall to the Minnesota Vikings that year. He greatly exceeded expectations by hauling in 52 receptions for 720 yards and four TDs, but Diggs was just getting started.
Diggs had 1K seasons for the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 and 2019 before getting traded to the Buffalo Bills. He has taken his game to a whole new level in Buffalo, exceeding the 100-catch and 1,200-yard receiving marks in each of his first three years there.
15. Fred Warner (2018)
Orlando Brown Jr. and Mark Andrews deserve honorable mentions, but Warner might be the best off-ball linebacker in the game.
Warner was taken 70th overall in the NFL draft by San Francisco in 2018. This do-it-all beast and Nick Bosa have been the engines of a stingy San Fran defense that powered the team to a Super Bowl 54 appearance as well as NFC Championship Game berths in 2021 and 2022.
Also read: REPORT: 2 NFL Teams Revealed As Trade Candidates To Snag JJ McCarthy In The NFL Draft
14. Cooper Kupp (2017)
Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones, Chris Godwin and George Kittle get shout-outs before we proceed. Now moving onto Kupp…
There wasn’t any real hype on the Eastern Washington product, but the Los Angeles Rams took a chance on him in round three at No. 69 overall. How did that work out for LA?
Well, they recorded winning seasons in each of Kupp’s first five years — winning three NFC West division titles and earning a wild card berth. They won two NFC Championship banners and Super Bowl 56 – where Kupp, by the way, was named the big-game MVP.
Kupp won 2021 Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs. And he had to watch 68 guys go before him? Wowza.
13. Steve Smith Sr. (2001)
Smith Sr. was overlooked by NFL draft scouts and analysts because of his 5-foot-9 frame, which was especially small for receivers in those days. But he sure rewarded the Carolina Panthers handsomely for taking him with the No. 74 selection in ‘01.
All Smith Sr. did was earn five Pro Bowl nods in his career while racking up 1,031 receptions for 14,731 yards and 81 touchdowns. He led Carolina to the playoffs on four occasions — including to the 2003 and ‘05 NFC Championship Games and, of course, to a surprise appearance in Super Bowl 38.
As they say…it’s not the size of the dog in the fight…
12. Brandon Marshall (2006)
The Denver Broncos drafted the big-bodied Central Florida wideout in round four in the 119th spot in 2006. Marshall had a quiet rookie year with only 309 receiving yards, but he kicked in another gear as a sophomore.
In 2007, Marshall racked up 102 receptions for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns. ‘07 was the first of seven consecutive 1K receiving seasons for Marshall despite ever lacking an above-average quarterback.
Marshall had six seasons of 100-plus receptions and eight 1,000-yard receiving campaigns. He finished with 970 career catches for 12,351 yards and 83 touchdowns.
11. Marshal Yanda (2007)
The ‘07 draft class — thanks largely to the stacked first round – is held in regard as one of the absolute best ever. But there was also no shortage of late-round gems who made big-time impacts for their franchise — most notably Baltimore Ravens’ offensive tackle Marshal Yanda.
The Ravens took Yanda 86th overall in that star-studded ‘07 NFL draft. Yanda enjoyed a Hall of Fame career that saw him earn a whopping seven all-pro nods — two first-team and five second-team selections. Yanda was also named to eight Pro Bowls and to the 2010s All-Decade Team.
Yanda played a huge role in helping the Ravens win Super Bowl 47 in what would be Ray Lewis’ swan song year.
10. Jalen Hurts (2020)
Second-round picks rarely count as NFL draft steals, but we had to make an exception for Hurts. Plus, aside from Alex Highsmith — who went 102nd overall to Pittsburgh — there aren’t any other late-round selections from the 2020 class who have greatly exceeded expectations to this point.
Despite having Carson Wentz under contract, the Eagles stunned everybody by taking Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts 53rd overall in 2020. NOW we see why we did it!
Wentz’s play regressed dramatically in 2020, leading then-head coach Doug Pederson to bench him in favor of Hurts. The latter showed enough promise to earn the starting job in 2021, and he responded by helping Philly to a surprise playoff appearance.
Hurts then raised his game to an MVP level in 2022, throwing for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns while racking up 760 rushing yards and 13 rushing scores. Hurts led the Eagles to the NFC’s top seed and helped them to a Super Bowl 57 appearance, where they narrowly fell to Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs.
9. Frank Gore (2005)
Third all-time in rushing with 16,000 yards. Tied for 19th in rushing touchdowns with 81. Five Pro Bowl nods and 2010s all-decade team honors. Yep, Frank Gore did pretty well for a guy who was taken in round three at No. 65 overall in 2005.
A model of consistency, Gore reached 1K rushing in nine of his 16 NFL seasons.
8. Jared Allen (2004)
This class is remembered for being the year of the QB — see Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers. It was also the class where the Chiefs found one of the all-time great pass-rushers in round four in the No. 126 slot.
Kansas City took defensive end Jared Allen with that pick, and the rest is history. Allen twice led the NFL in sacks, including a career-best 22 for the Vikings in 2011. Allen, a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team all-pro, sits 12th all-time in career sacks with 136.
7. Dak Prescott (2016)
The Cowboys took the Mississippi State product in round four with the No. 135 selection in the 2016 NFL draft, even though they had a Pro Bowler in Tony Romo. Well, let’s just say Jerry Jones saved the franchise with this pick.
Romo suffered a vertebral compression fracture in a preseason game, forcing the Cowboys to roll with Dak. All he did was win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after leading Dallas to the NFC’s top record at 13-3.
Though his playoff performances have been disappointing, Prescott consistently puts up Pro Bowl stats and has Dallas in contention every year. They made the playoffs under his guidance in 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2022 – including three NFC East division crowns.
6. Jason Witten (2003)
As they did with Prescott, Dallas also got excellent value out of Witten.
The tight end out of Tennessee earned 11 Pro Bowl nods, recording at least 500 receiving yards in 15 of his 17 seasons. His 1,228 receptions are fourth all-time behind only Jerry Rice, Larry Fitzgerald and Tony Gonzalez.
5. Antonio Brown (2010)
Brown’s gross and inexcusable on-and-off-the-field behaviors ended a potential Hall of Fame career quickly. It’s sad.
Brown was taken in the sixth round at 195th overall in the 2010 NFL draft by the Steelers – there’s Pittsburgh again! – in 2010. The Central Michigan wideout turned in seven Pro Bowl seasons and seven 1K receiving seasons. He led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards twice apiece and earned 2010s All-Decade Team honors.
Brown also won a Super Bowl 55 ring with Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2020 season. It’s just too bad his behavior spiraled out of control rapidly after his excellent 2018 season.
4. Jason Kelce (2011)
Richard Sherman was considered here, but Kelce’s career AND PRIME lasted much longer — so he gets the nod here.
The Cincinnati center didn’t go until the sixth round at 191st overall by Philadelphia. More than a decade later, how do six Pro Bowls and five first-team all-pro nods sound? And how about two NFC championship banners and a Super Bowl 52 ring?
Moving on…
3. Russell Wilson (2012)
Unfair that Seattle got Bruce Irvin, Bobby Wagner, Russell Wilson and Jeremy Lane out of this class. All four played a pivotal role in the team’s Super Bowl 48 championship season and in their trip to Super Bowl 59.
But Wilson, the 75th overall pick in round three, was the most impactful of them all. Seattle had only winning seasons in each of his first nine years there. Wilson led Seattle to two NFC Championships, a Super Bowl title in the 2013 campaign and to seven postseason appearances.
Oh, and he was a Pro Bowler in nine of his ten seasons with the Seahawks. Need we say more?
2. Travis Kelce (2013)
Jason isn’t the only Kelce brother to emerge as an all-time NFL draft steal!
With two Super Bowl rings and all-world stats, the only thing Travis is playing for now is the title of the greatest tight end of all time. You can already argue that he’s above Tony Gonzalez and Rob Gronkowski at this point.
An absolute hidden gem of a find by Kansas City at No. 63 overall back in a rather lackluster 2013 class. See you in Canton someday with your older bro, Travis!
1.Tom Brady (2000)
Do we need to say much here? Brady is the football GOAT. And he was somehow the No. 199 selection of the New England Patriots way-back-when in the 2000 NFL Draft. How in the world did every team pass on this guy multiple times?
All this little-known Michigan product did was win a record seven Super Bowls, five Super Bowl MVPs, three NFL MVP awards while also retiring as the NFL’s all-time leader in completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns and QB wins.
Also Read: Re-Drafting The First-Round Of The Stacked 2021 NFL Draft
