ESPN: Top 10 Draft Steals in NFL History

[Hostile]

NFL's top 10 draft steals in league history

NFL Network

Tom Brady, sixth-round pick in 2000
Brady has led the Patriots to four Super Bowls and three titles since 2001. As the MVP in 2007, he set an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes.
Watch Clip | Player Page | Photos | 2000 Draft



Joe Montana, third-round pick in 1979
The 49ers won four Super Bowls with Montana at quarterback during the 1980s and he landed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Watch Clip | Player Page | Photos | 1979 Draft



Terrell Davis, sixth-round pick in 1995
Davis rushed for 6,413 yards in his first four seasons for the Broncos, helping Denver to wins in Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII.
Watch Clip | Player Page | Photos | 1995 Draft



Deacon Jones, 14th-round pick in 1961
Jones played in eight Pro Bowls, including seven straight for the Rams, as a pass rush specialist and won Defensive Player of the Year honors twice.
Watch Clip | Player Page | Photos | 1961 Draft



Dan Marino, first-round pick in 1983
Even though the Dolphins took Marino 27th overall, five quarterbacks were taken before the man who rewrote the NFL's passing record book.
Watch Clip | Player Page | Photos | 1983 Draft



Bo Jackson, seventh-round pick in 1987
Jackson was the top overall pick in 1986, but didn't sign with the Bucs. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry with Oakland in a career shortened by injury.
Watch Clip | Player Page | Photos | 1987 Draft



Shannon Sharpe, seventh-round pick in 1990
In 14 seasons, Sharpe won three Super Bowls. At the time he retired in 2003, he held the tight end record for receptions, yards and touchdowns.
Watch Clip | Player Page | Photos | 1990 Draft



Ray Guy, first-round pick in 1973
The only punter ever to be taken in the first round of the draft, Guy averaged 42.4 yards on his punts over 14 seasons with the Raiders.
Watch Clip | Player Page | Photos | 1973 Draft



Larry Wilson, seventh-round pick in 1960
During Wilson's 13-year career with the Cardinals, the safety made eight Pro Bowls and had 52 interceptions en route to being enshrined in Canton.
Watch Clip | Player Page | Photos | 1960 Draft



Roger Staubach, 10th-round pick in 1964
With Staubach under center, the Cowboys scored victories in Super Bowls VI and XII. He led the NFL in passing four times and went to six Pro Bowls.
Watch Clip | Player Page | Photos | 1964 Draft

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Pretty darn good list.

 

[Hostile]

Pretty darn good list.

Except for the freaking punter in the 1st round. How is that a steal?

Bart Starr should be on that list.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Except for the freaking punter in the 1st round. How is that a steal?

Bart Starr should be on that list.

True, true.

But that's why it's pretty darn good and not a great list.

 

[hendog]

You could make a case for Emmitt to be on that list.

 

[Chief]

Except for the freaking punter in the 1st round. How is that a steal?

No kidding.

Is that some sort of joke?

 

[lkelly]

Ray Guy was supposed to be on the "you could almost justify this pick but not quite" list. I'm sure the teams picking at the top of the first round were steamed that they passed on Guy.

 

[speedkilz88]

I agree that Guy shouldn't be on the list. I would think that they could come up with a better one than Marino also just because of him still being a first round pick.

 

[THUMPER]

I don't see how anyone taken in the first round could be considered a "steal".

If anything, Ray Guy was a "reach" that panned out.

 

[superpunk]

We could add to this list in the future with Jason Witten and Tony Romo. (Maybe Tony doesn't count)

Respect.

 

[marchetta]

How about the Herschel Walker selection? Didn't we get Herschel with a late rd pick while he was still in the USFL? Then, once he came into the NFL his rights were ours. That one pick indirectly resulted in our 90's dynasty team after we made the Herschel trade with the Vikes.

 

[lkelly]

How about the Herschel Walker selection? Didn't we get Herschel with a late rd pick while he was still in the USFL? Then, once he came into the NFL his rights were ours. That one pick indirectly resulted in our 90's dynasty team after we made the Herschel trade with the Vikes.

You know you'd trade that entire Herschel Walker bounty for one shot at Ray Guy.

 

[joseephuss]

I don't see how anyone taken in the first round could be considered a "steal".

If anything, Ray Guy was a "reach" that panned out.

That is what I was thinking. Marino and Guy were not steals in the first round. That is why I would not put Emmitt on this list. He was just a great first round pick by Dallas.

It is even a little difficult to put someone like Montana on the list because the 3rd round is still pretty high. I would think guys on the second day of the draft or 4th round or lower are more of steals.

 

[jobberone]

Except for the freaking punter in the 1st round. How is that a steal?

Bart Starr should be on that list.

So should the Walker draft and even the TD draft. At the time I thought Dallas had lost its mind but Seattle got raped on that one.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Except for the freaking punter in the 1st round. How is that a steal?

You're never going to lose that thing you have against kickers and punters are you?

NTTAWWT mind you!

 

[joseephuss]

I would also take Bo Jackson off the list. He only played four seasons and had less than 3000 rushing yards for his career. He was very dynamic and clearly could have been one of the best had he played full time and not been injured, but that is not what happened. Julius Jones has more rushing yards after four seasons. If we are talking all time steals, then I think you can find another player that was drafted as low as Bo, but was able to accomplish more.

 

[adamknite]

Yeah.... I don't care what the reasoning is... if a player is drafted in the first round they're not a "steal" IMHO.

Other than that, it was a good list.

 

[Hostile]

You're never going to lose that thing you have against kickers and punters are you?

NTTAWWT mind you!

No, I never will. You want to see me in jail? Have one of my daughters fall in love with a Kicker. Somethign somewhere is going to be criminally broken.

 

[Randy White]

a steal over Emmitt Smith ?

Plluuaaazzzzeee...

 

[Randy White]

How about the Herschel Walker selection? Didn't we get Herschel with a late rd pick while he was still in the USFL? Then, once he came into the NFL his rights were ours. That one pick indirectly resulted in our 90's dynasty team after we made the Herschel trade with the Vikes.

5th round draft pick acquired from, if I remember correctly, the Mike Renfro ( WR ) trade.