Top 7 NFL Draft Steals of All Time: Hidden Gems Who Became Legends
Dave Jones’s short-lived college football career began in 1958 at South Carolina State, which offered him a scholarship just before the start of the season. However, he quickly lost it as punishment for participating in a civil rights demonstration, a protest that ended when he was blasted by firefighter hoses in a dead-end alleyway.
After taking a year off, Jones was again offered a chance to play college football, this time at Mississippi Vocational College (now Mississippi Valley State). At 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, Jones became known as a top defensive playmaker, yet as a competitor at a small southern school in 1960, his play drew little national attention.
But the following spring, Jones caught the biggest break of his life.
A scout for the L.A. Rams happened to be watching film of running backs when something else caught his eye. This mammoth of a defensive tackle was outrunning the backs on film, leading the scout to dig a little deeper into this unknown guy from Mississippi Vocational.
This speck of interest led the Rams to give this player a shot. In the 1961 Draft, Los Angeles selected Jones in the 14th round, making him the 186th overall pick. Though he came into the league with little fanfare, Jones would go to become known as the “greatest defensive end of modern football,” making him one of the top draft steals in NFL draft history.
Early in his career, he would also embrace a nickname that over time would became synonymous with meanness and aggressiveness: Deacon.
All-Time NFL Draft Steals
Deacon Jones’s unlikely journey from Mississippi Vocational to NFL legend serves as an extraordinary example of how true football greatness can sometimes slip under the radar. Even despite meticulous modern scouting and assessment practices, the NFL Draft remains an imperfect process.
Scouts and executives routinely pass over prospects due to perceived shortcomings such as physical limitations, playing for smaller schools, off-field concerns, or sheer lack of hype and exposure. Yet as Jones demonstrated, once given a chance, some of these overlooked players not only seize the opportunity — they rewrite NFL history.
With the NFL Draft coming up, we decided to highlight seven of the greatest NFL Draft steals of all time, honoring those who seemingly emerged from obscurity to achieve NFL greatness — forever reshaping the narrative of talent evaluation in professional football.
Summary Table: Greatest NFL Draft Steals
| Player | Position | Draft Year | Round | Pick # | Team | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Brady | QB | 2000 | 6th | 199 | New England Patriots | 7× Super Bowl Champion, 3× MVP, NFL GOAT |
| Deacon Jones | DE | 1961 | 14th | 186 | Los Angeles Rams | 8× Pro Bowl, coined the term "sack", Hall of Fame |
| Shannon Sharpe | TE | 1990 | 7th | 192 | Denver Broncos | 3× Super Bowl Champion, 8× Pro Bowl, Hall of Fame |
| Bart Starr | QB | 1956 | 17th | 200+ | Green Bay Packers | 5× NFL Champion, 2× Super Bowl MVP, Hall of Fame |
| Terrell Davis | RB | 1995 | 6th | 196 | Denver Broncos | 2× Super Bowl Champion, 2,000-yard season, NFL MVP |
| Roger Staubach | QB | 1964 | 10th | 129 | Dallas Cowboys | 2× Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl MVP, Hall of Fame |
| Johnny Unitas | QB | 1955 | 9th | 102 | Pittsburgh Steelers (cut), Baltimore Colts | 3× MVP, 47-game TD streak, Hall of Fame |
7. Johnny Unitas, QB, Steelers (9th Round, Steelers)
Johnny Unitas’s path to NFL stardom was remarkably unlikely, beginning as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ ninth-round selection in the 1955 draft. Overlooked because scouts questioned his slight build, modest arm strength, and his college career at Louisville, Unitas was quickly cut by the Steelers in training camp without even playing a down. Determined, he spent a year playing semi-professional football before earning a second chance with the Baltimore Colts.
Unitas seized this opportunity, revolutionizing the quarterback position with his precision passing and late-game heroics. He became the first great modern-era quarterback, setting an NFL record with touchdown passes in 47 consecutive games and winning three MVP awards. He famously led the Colts to victory in the historic 1958 NFL Championship Game, dubbed “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979, Unitas’s story — from overlooked prospect to NFL legend — embodies the essence of a late-round draft steal.
6. Roger Staubach, QB, Cowboys (1961, 10th Round)
Drafted in the 10th round of the 1964 NFL Draft, Roger Staubach’s NFL prospects appeared limited. Despite winning the Heisman Trophy at Navy, his mandatory military service obligation scared teams away. So when he eventually joined the Cowboys in 1969 after serving four years, Staubach faced uncertainty and skepticism due to his prolonged absence from the sport.
Quickly silencing critics, Staubach established himself as a poised, dynamic leader and became renowned for clutch performances, earning the nickname "Captain Comeback." Throughout 11 stellar seasons, he led Dallas to two Super Bowl victories, winning Super Bowl VI MVP honors. His efficient, exciting play style earned him six Pro Bowl appearances, and he retired with the highest career passer rating of his era (83.4).
Staubach was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, a remarkable journey from draft afterthought to one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
5. Terrell Davis, RB, Broncos (1995, 6th Round)
Coming out of Georgia, Terrell Davis flew under NFL scouts' radar due to concerns about injury history, limited playing time, and modest collegiate statistics. But after being drafted late in the sixth round, Davis immediately proved doubters wrong.
Known for incredible vision, patience, and power, Davis quickly transformed Denver's rushing attack. He reached superstar status, becoming one of the most dominant running backs in NFL history. In 1998, Davis eclipsed the elusive 2,000-yard rushing mark, earning league MVP honors. A critical contributor to Denver’s back-to-back Super Bowl titles (XXXII and XXXIII), he was named Super Bowl XXXII MVP after rushing for 157 yards and three touchdowns.
Davis’s career was relatively short due to injury, but he was remarkably productive, earning him entry into Hall of Fame. Compared to his profound impact, his late-round draft status defines Davis as one of the most striking steals ever.
4. Bart Starr, QB, Packers (1956, 17th Round)
Selected by Green Bay in the 17th round in 1956 (it seems crazy today, but the draft had 30 rounds back then), Bart Starr seemed destined for a modest NFL career after playing sparingly at Alabama. Starr was considered physically unremarkable, lacking notable arm strength or speed.
However, his keen football intellect and legendary leadership ultimately separated him from peers. Under coach Vince Lombardi, Starr flourished, transforming into the quintessential field general of the Packers dynasty of the 1960s. Starr led Green Bay to five NFL championships and won the first two Super Bowls, earning Super Bowl MVP honors each time.
Known for poise as well as precision, Starr became synonymous with clutch performances. He retired holding numerous passing records, cementing himself among football’s elite. Starr’s improbable ascension from a forgotten late-round pick to a Hall-of-Fame quarterback epitomizes the very concept of an NFL draft steal.
3. Shannon Sharpe, TE, Broncos (1990, 7th Round)
Drafted by Denver from tiny Savannah State, Shannon Sharpe was seen as a positional "tweener" lacking a clear NFL position. He wasn't quite big enough to be a traditional tight end, nor was he fast enough to play wide receiver. So rather than fitting the traditional mold, he broke it, revolutionizing the tight end position with his athleticism, versatility, and receiving prowess.
Becoming an offensive nightmare for opposing defenses, Sharpe blended wide receiver speed with a powerful tight end frame. He helped the Broncos secure back-to-back Super Bowl titles (XXXII, XXXIII), later adding a third championship with the Ravens (XXXV).
Sharpe finished his career as the NFL’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions and receiving yards, earning eight Pro Bowl selections and an eventual Hall of Fame induction. Sharpe’s emergence as a superstar from such a humble draft position makes him a true NFL draft steal.
2. Deacon Jones, DE, Rams (1961, 14th Round)
After being drafted 186th overall in the 1961 NFL Draft, Jones truly changed the defensive end position. Credited with coining the term "sack," Jones dominated offensive linemen with explosive quickness, toughness, and relentless aggression. He became the cornerstone of the Rams' "Fearsome Foursome," one of football's most legendary defensive units.
Over his brilliant career, Jones earned eight Pro Bowl honors and five All-Pro selections. Although sacks weren't an official stat during his playing days, unofficial counts credit him with 173.5 career sacks — placing him among history's greatest pass rushers.
A Hall-of-Famer and iconic defender, Deacon Jones’s remarkable career path from forgotten late-round choice to defensive legend firmly establishes him among the NFL’s most noteworthy draft steals.
1. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots (2000, 6th Round)
By now, Tom Brady’s draft story is well-known among fans due to his status as arguably the greatest quarterback of all time. But let’s recap anyway.
Famously selected 199th overall by the New England Patriots in 2000, Brady was lightly regarded entering the NFL, overshadowed by his perceived physical limitations — average arm strength, slow 40-yard dash time, and a slender build. Teams and scouts dismissed him as unlikely to have meaningful NFL success. Yet, Brady defied all evaluations.
Known for relentless competitiveness, remarkable preparation, and clutch performances, Brady delivered historic success that included seven Super Bowl championships (six with New England, one with Tampa Bay), five Super Bowl MVP awards, and three league MVP honors. Brady retired as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and quarterback wins.
No player in NFL history has more thoroughly exceeded his draft position, making Brady the definitive example of the ultimate NFL draft steal. His improbable journey from late-round afterthought to legend will forever define scouting failures — and football greatness.
The NFL Draft is often viewed as a calculated science — a careful blend of scouting reports, combine metrics, and statistical models. Yet as history proves time and again, even the most advanced systems can overlook greatness. From Tom Brady’s meteoric rise as pick #199 to Deacon Jones redefining defense after being barely noticed in the 14th round, these hidden gems remind us that character, grit, and opportunity are just as important as draft position.
For teams and fans alike, these stories are more than just anomalies — they’re a powerful reminder that legends aren’t always born at the top of the board. Sometimes, the biggest stars come from the smallest print on draft day.
As the next NFL Draft approaches, keep an eye on those late-round names. One of them just might be the league’s next all-time great.
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