65. San Francisco - Frank Gore, RB, Miami-FL (2005)
Although Frank Gore's stint with the 49ers ended in 2014, he stuck around five more years with the Colts and Bills. That was long enough to amass the third-most rushing yards by a single player in NFL history. His 11,073 yards in red and gold will likely stand as a 49ers franchise record long after Gore is enshrined in Canton.
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| Gore reached five Pro Bowls with San Francisco. (Tony Avelar/Associated Press) |
That Ronde Barber has been eligible for Hall of Fame inclusion for three years and still doesn't have a gold jacket is a massive disappointment. For 16 years, Barber was the cornerstone of Tampa Bay's defensive backfield. He won a Super Bowl at the end of the 2002 season; 10 years later the cornerback was putting up just as good, if not better, stats.
67. Cincinnati - Ken Anderson, QB, Augustana (1971)
Years ago, I referred to Cincinnati's two-time AFC Champion in the 1980s as "Boomer's Bengals." I obviously forgot about the 1981 NFL MVP, who led Cincinnati to their first Super Bowl appearance. After four Pro Bowls and a Man of the Year award, I think Anderson is beginning to have some potential as a senior candidate for the Hall of Fame.
68. Chicago - Lance Briggs, LB, Arizona (2003)
In my tease for yesterday, I mentioned five people who should be or will be in the Hall of Fame. Of those five, Briggs is the one I'm least certain about. He was an incredibly valuable asset for some pretty great Bears defenses, reaching seven Pro Bowls in his 12 seasons. I'm just not sure that's good enough to be considered one of the all-time greats. That said, if he does get into the Hall I won't think it undeserved.
69. Dallas - Jason Witten, TE, Tennessee (2003)
A person whose Hall of Fame credentials are unquestioned is the Cowboys' long-time star tight end. His franchise's all-time receiving leader, Witten is also fourth and (potentially still) climbing on the NFL's career receptions list. 2012's Man of the Year will be an easy choice for Canton whenever he decides to retire for good.
70. Dallas - Erik Williams, OT, Central State (1991)
Erik Williams was one of the younger members of the admittedly young team that won the 1990s Cowboys' first Super Bowl in his second year, drafted after most of the offensive core was in place. But Williams definitely played a critical role as part of the Great Wall of Dallas that blocked for Aikman, Smith and company to three championships in four years.
71. New Orleans - Hoby Brenner, TE, Southern Cal (1981)
Brenner is the prime example of a mid-round selection who may not have shined among his contemporaries league wide, but was a valuable part of the team which drafted him. In 13 years with the Saints, Brenner only reached one Pro Bowl. However, when he retired Brenner was the third-leading receiver in franchise history. In the over 25 years since, only Jimmy Graham has had a more successful career than Brenner as a Saints tight end.
72. Philadelphia - Jeremiah Trotter, LB, Stephen F. Austin (1998)
Add Trotter to a growing list of people in this project who could be classified as "Hall of Very Good." In his 12 seasons as an Eagle, Trotter appeared in four Pro Bowls. After his retirement, the middle linebacker was honored as a member of the Eagles' Hall of Fame.
73. Miami - Jason Taylor, DE, Akron (1997)
After 13 years with the Dolphins, Taylor was a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 2017. One of the best but still somehow more underrated defensive ends of his era, a lot of people shook their heads at the time compared to some of the other names up for consideration that year. That said, 2006's Defensive Player of the Year deserves his bust more than a certain grocery store clerk inducted alongside him.
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| Nobody did it quite like 99. (Allen Eyestone/The Palm Beach Post) |
The Chiefs picked up one of the greatest offensive linemen of the last 25 years with a third-round selection. In 14 seasons, Shields didn't miss a single game for Kansas City, starting all but one. He also made the Pro Bowl in his third season, and every one after that until his final season in 2006. Also picking up a very special piece of hardware as the NFL's Man of the Year in 2003, Shields was another Hall of Fame no-brainer.
75. Seattle - Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin (2012)
Picked out of "a whole pack of badgers," as he likes to say on his Sunday Night Football intro, Wilson quickly proved himself the best quarterback taken in a draft class touted for its first-round talents at the position. If his 2020s were as good as his 2010s have been, the NFL's second all-time leader in passer rating will undoubtedly be a lock for the Hall of Fame.
76. Chicago - Ray Bray, G Western Michigan (1939)
A ninth-round pick in a seemingly ancient time, Ray Bray was part of three NFL championship teams. He reached his first of four Pro Bowls in 1940, despite only playing half the season, and missing the historic 73-0 NFL Championship win over Washington. His last season with the Bears was in 1951, after which Bray spent a year in Green Bay before calling it quits for good.
77. Tennessee - Elvin Bethea, DE, North Carolina A&T (1968)
Bethea wasn't inducted into the Hall of Fame until his 15th year of eligibility. However, that shouldn't diminish his accomplishments with the largely underachieving Oilers of the 1970s. Bethea was named to eight Pro Bowls, and to this day remains second all-time for his franchise in total games played.
78. Cleveland - Gene Hickerson, G, Mississippi (1957)
The Browns' most successful era was just about over when they drafted Hickerson in the seventh round. He didn't play until 1958; from then, barring a leg injury that kept him out for all of 1961, Hickerson played in every Browns game until 1973. His first of six Pro Bowls came a year after Cleveland won the 1964 Championship. For his efforts, Hickerson was a senior inductee to the Hall of Fame in 2007.
79. Atlanta - William Andrews, RB, Auburn (1979)
Williams was perhaps the premier all-purpose running back in the early 1980s. He reached four Pro Bowls in his first five seasons, twice gaining more than 2000 yards from scrimmage in a single season. A knee injury eventually shortened Andrews' career; he missed the 1984 and 1985 seasons, and when he came back in 1986 he was a shell of his former self. Still, five years were enough for Andrews to earn a place in Atlanta's Ring of Honor.
80. Las Vegas - Art Shell, OT, Maryland Eastern Shore (1968)
A lifelong Raider in every sense of the phrase, Shell was a member of Oakland's Super Bowl winning teams in 1976 and 1980. 1980 was Shell's final of eight Pro Bowl seasons with the Raiders. He retired after 1982, staying on as the team's offensive line coach when they moved to Los Angeles in 1983 and, in 1989, the Raiders made Shell the first black head coach in the NFL's modern era.
81. NY Giants - Greg Larson, C, Minnesota (1961)
In 13 seasons, Larson made just one Pro Bowl as a member of the New York Giants. However, almost 50 years after he retired Larson still holds his franchise's record for games played by an offensive lineman.
82. San Francisco - Joe Montana, QB, Notre Dame (1979)
The legendary Joe Montana was a scrawny third-round draft pick when he entered the NFL. This was quickly forgotten as he led San Francisco to four Super Bowl titles. The eight-time Pro Bowler won three Super Bowl MVP awards and had back-to-back league MVP seasons in 1989 and 1990. Leaving the 49ers after the 1992 season, he took Kansas City to the 1993 AFC Championship and was inducted into Canton in 2000.
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| Nobody tell him that Brady guy is going to break all his Super Bowl records. (Otto Greule Jr./Getty) |
Raise your hand if you knew Brooklyn had an NFL team! If your hand is up, I expect to hear from you soon, because you are now my friend, ya nerd. Anyway, Jim Sivell was a serviceable guard who was with the Dodgers until their final season - as the Tigers - in 1944.
84. Washington - Charles Mann, DE, Nevada (1983)
Mann was drafted by a defending Super Bowl champion, by the time he left Washington in 1993 he had helped his team win two more titles. Mann's last season was in 1994, when he won his third ring as a member of the 49ers. Recently deceased Hall of Fame halfback and flanker Bobby Mitchell was Cleveland's 84th overall pick in 1958, but he only spent four seasons with the Browns before completing his career in Washington.
85. Dallas - Tony Tolbert, DE, Texas-El Paso (1989)
An unappreciated but still incredibly important part of the Cowboys' 1990s dynasty was its defense. Chief among the Dallas defensive line was Tony Tolbert, the fourth person drafted by the team in 1989 who later became a regular starter. He recorded a sack each in Super Bowls XXVIII and XXX and made his sole Pro Bowl in 1996.
86. Detroit - Joe Schmidt, LB, Pittsburgh (1953)
I never really knew about Hall of Fame linebacker Joe Schmidt, one of the best players of his era, until far too recently. He dominated the league, reaching the Pro Bowl 10 times in his 13 years with the Lions, and was instrumental in Detroit's 1953 and 1957 Championship runs. Two years after retiring, Schmidt was named the Lions' head coach. He put up a 43-34-7 record in six seasons at the helm.
87. New England - Tim Goad, DT, North Carolina (1988)
Pick 87 is the first selection in this draft not represented by a Pro Bowler or All-Pro player. Two such players were eligible, but neither stayed with the team that drafted him for more than three years. Instead Goad, who is 10th all-time in solo tackles for the Patriots, is my highlighted player at this spot.
88. Dallas - Bob Hayes, WR, Florida A&M (1965)
In his amateur career, Bullet Bob Hayes won two gold medals for sprinting in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He was just as quick out of the starting gate as a pro. Leading the league in receiving touchdowns each of his first two seasons in Dallas, Hayes was honored with Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections for the first four years of his career. He caught two passes for 23 yards in the Cowboys' Super Bowl VI victory over the Dolphins and retired as Dallas's all-time leading receiver. Bullet Bob became a senior inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
89. San Francisco - Terrell Owens, WR, Chattanooga (1996)
T.O. was a legend by the time he left the 49ers. Four Pro Bowls and more receptions, yards and touchdowns than any San Francisco receiver not named Jerry Rice will do that for a person. Yet somehow, after seven more years with several other teams and amassing a stat line no one in NFL history had bested but Rice, it still took the Hall of Fame three years to enshrine Owens.
90. Dallas - Pat Donovan, OT, Stanford (1975)
In Pat Donovan's first full season as a starter, and his only year starting primarily at right tackle, the Cowboys won Super Bowl XII. He made the switch to the left side of the line in 1978, then made the Pro Bowl in four straight years from 1979 until 1982. After 1983, his ninth season in Dallas, Donovan called it a career.
91. San Francisco - NaVorro Bowman, LB, Penn State (2010)
At first drafted to play alongside Patrick Willis, Bowman continued to produce after Willis's sudden retirement in 2014. Bowman's 2015 season was one of his finest; he led the league in tackles and was named to his fourth All Pro team in five years. After eight years with the 49ers, Bowman had done just enough to earn this spot over long-time Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, who was selected 91st overall in 2002.
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| San Francisco has done really well drafting in the third round. (Christian Petersen/Getty) |
The last pick of the third round in 1998 eventually became Pittsburgh's all time leading receiver. Ward picked up 12,083 yards in his 14 years, all played in the Steel City. The dependable target who caught passes from quarterbacks like Kordell Stewart, Tommy Maddox, and Ben Roethlisberger had his most memorable reception during an MVP performance in Super Bowl XL; the game-clinching touchdown was thrown by a fellow receiver, Antwan Randle El.
93. Indianapolis - Fred Miller, DT, Louisiana State (1963)
Miller was a regular presence on Baltimore's interior defensive line for a decade. He reached three Pro Bowls as a member of the Colts. His best season, 1968, culminated in the Colts' shocking Super Bowl III loss to the Jets. He earned half a sack in the Colts' redemption win during Super Bowl V.
94. Baltimore - Brandon Williams, DL, Missouri Southern (2013)
Williams started out his career with the Ravens as a nose tackle. He moved to left end after signing a five-year contract extension in 2017, and made his first Pro Bowl in 2018. Barring injury or trade, Williams has at least two more years to further increase his value to his drafted team.
95. Denver - Rick Upchurch, WR, Minnesota (1975)
The first special teams pick to make this list, Upchurch was a four-time Pro Bowler as the Broncos' punt returner. Also a threat on offense - he caught 267 balls for over 4300 yards and 24 touchdowns in his career - Upchurch also found the end times eight times on punt returns. He was such a threat, the NFL named him first team all-decade for just five years of work in the 1970s, and second team all-decade after playing only four years in the 1980s.
96. San Francisco - Charles Haley, DE, James Madison (1986)
At the time I was beginning to study football in earnest, Haley had won more Super Bowls than any other player in NFL history. His first two titles came with the team who drafted him. After his three rings in Dallas, he came back to the Bay for a two-season swan song in 1998 and 1999. When all was said and done, the Hall of Fame enshrinee was second on San Francisco's all-time sacks list.
97. New Orleans - Joel Hilgenberg, C, Iowa (1984)
Joel was the second-most accomplished member of the Hilgenberg family in pro football. After his brother Jay went undrafted to the Bears in 1981, the Saints took a fourth-round gamble on the younger model. While he didn't make it to seven Pro Bowls like Jay, Joel did make the 1992 all-star contest and ended his career as New Orleans' second most-tenured center of all time.
98. Las Vegas - Cliff Branch, WR, Colorado (1972)
Branch's name is thrown around often by football pundits as one that should have a display in Canton. The star Raiders pass-catcher made four Pro Bowls, was the league's receiving leader in 1974, and was a member of all three Raiders teams to win the Super Bowl. He ended his 14-year career with the second-most receiving yards of any Raider at the time of his retirement.
99. Kansas City - Dustin Colquitt, P, Tennessee (2005)
A member of the famed Colquitt family of punters, Dustin has punted the ball in every Chiefs game for the last 15 years. He's the most prolific punter his franchise has ever had; indeed, his 50,393 punt yards ranks as eighth most in NFL history. Despite this, Colquitt seems to have flown under the radar. He has only made two Pro Bowl rosters in his illustrious career.
100. Minnesota - Everson Griffen, DE, Southern Cal (2010)
I had just heard of Everson Griffen when I included his picture in this 2016 predictions post. He was fresh off his first Pro Bowl. Since he was featured on my blog, he's been to three more Pro Bowls over the last four years. Griffen's 11th season in a Vikings uniform is a contract year; if he does well in 2020, he may add to his value years into the future.
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| Don't worry, I gave the photographer credit on the picture I used four years ago too. (Adam Bettcher/Getty) |
In what would have been Rudnay's rookie season, the Chiefs won Super Bowl IV. He earned his roster spot in 1970, eventually spending 13 years as Kansas City's starting center. Rudnay reached four Pro Bowls and was honored behind Mike Webster as the second-team center for the 1970s all-decade team.
102. Washington - Stephen Davis, RB, Auburn (1996)
In just seven years wearing burgundy and gold, Davis became Washington's fourth all-time leading rusher. He did this behind three thousand-yard seasons, including 1432 yards on a league-high 356 carries in 2001. Davis spent three years with the Panthers and one in St. Louis before his career was over.
103. LA Rams - Tom Fears, WR, California Los Angeles (1948)
Technically playing as an offensive end before the position of wide receiver was even established or so named, the great Tom Fears led the NFL in catches in each of his first three seasons. He gained more than 1000 yards by reception in two different seasons, at the time a remarkable feat. Fears wound up in the Hall of Fame some 14 years after he stopped playing, and was notably the first head coach in New Orleans Saints history.
104. Pittsburgh - Dwight White, DE, Texas A&M-Commerce (1971)
White didn't have Joe Greene's nickname or L.C. Greenwood's golden shoes, but he was a key edge rusher for the Steel Curtain defense. Despite making just two Pro Bowls, White was on the roster for all four championships of the Pittsburgh dynasty. He sacked Roger Staubach twice in Super Bowl X, and once more in the greatest Super Bowl ever played.
105. NY Giants - Harry Carson, LB, South Carolina State (1976)
Harry Carson would be the greatest linebacker in Giants history if not for some dude named Taylor. Playing 13 years for Big Blue, Carson appeared in nine Pro Bowls. After L.T. joined the party, Carson had his finest season in 1986 while helping the Giants bring home their first Super Bowl title.
106. Pittsburgh - Larry Brown, OT, Kansas (1971)
Just minutes after getting their starting right defensive end for the next decade, the Steelers had another fifth round selection. The man they picked was an exceptional role player in the Pittsburgh dynasty. A tight end in the first half of his career, Brown pulled in Super Bowl IX's final touchdown reception. By the second stretch of back-to-back championships, he was entrenched as the Steelers' starting right tackle. He earned his only Pro Bowl berth at that position in 1982 and retired after 14 years in Pittsburgh.
Round 4
107. San Francisco - Ted Connolly, G, Tulsa (1954)
Connolly was a reliable guard during the 49ers' early years. His one Pro Bowl came after the 1961, the only 14-game season of his career in which the Oakland-born Connolly started every contest. Additionally, The Sporting News named Connolly to their second team all-Western Conference squad in 1962.
108. New Orleans - Jahri Evans, G, Bloomsburg (2006)
The Saints' recovery from Hurricane Katrina to Super Bowl XLIV champions has been well-documented. Two major components of that Lombardi-winning team came to New Orleans in 2006. The more-heralded Drew Brees came in as a free agent, but fourth-round draft pick Jahri Evans immediately earned the starting right guard position. Evans went on to six Pro Bowls and all-decade honors with the Saints over his 11 year Saints career, the first of those during the Super Bowl season.
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| After the Saints traded out of the third round in 2006, Evans fell into their lap at 108. (Sean Gardner/Getty) |
Bakhtiari has been a recognizable name, if nothing else, in the Packers lineup for what seems much longer than the seven seasons he's played in Green Bay. He's not just a name, of course; in the past four years, Bakhtiari has been to two Pro Bowls and named first-team All Pro once.
110. Cleveland - Leroy Kelly, RB, Morgan State (1964)
Succeeding a legend is not easy. When the Browns spent an eighth-round selection on Kelly, Jim Brown was about to enter his eighth season. Kelly took over the workload in 1966 after Brown retired. While the student wasn't quite as dominant as the teacher, Kelly joined Brown in the Hall of Fame after six Pro Bowls and two NFL rushing titles.
111. Buffalo - Terrence McGee, DB, Northwestern State (2003)
McGee emerged early in his career as one of the better return specialists in the league. His 2004 season ended in the Pro Bowl after he returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and was named special teams player of the week twice. While he stayed with the Bills until 2012, McGee became less productive with each passing year.
112. New England - Fred Marion, DB, Miami-FL (1982)
The ball-hawking Marion joined the Patriots in the strike-shortened 1982 season. By 1985, he had asserted himself as one of the best interceptors in the league. His seven picks for a league-best 189 return yards earned Marion his one Pro Bowl berth in that season, and by the time his career ended in 1991 he was tied for third on New England's career interceptions list.
113. Miami - Bryan Cox, LB, Western Illinois (1991)
Cox only played five years of his 12-season career in Miami, but he was a force throughout. He amassed over 100 tackles in each of his last four seasons with the Dolphins, making three Pro Bowl rosters in that stretch. His last seven seasons were played on four different teams, eventually earning a Super Bowl ring with Miami's division rivals up in Foxborough.
114. Kansas City - Carlos Carson, WR, Louisiana State (1980)
Carson spent close to a decade as a member of the Chiefs. He reached the Pro Bowl in 1983 and 1987, and joined the Eagles for the last half of the 1989 season. A member of the Chiefs' Hall of Fame, Carson's 6360 receiving yards are sixth-most by any player in Kansas City history.
115. Washington - Len Hauss, C, Georgia (1964)
Before Washington's offensive line was known as the "Hogs," a prototype for the unit existed in another of the 1970s' top centers. Hauss anchored Washington's offensive front for 14 years, playing the fifth-most games of any player in his franchise's storied history.
116. New England - Steve Grogan, QB, Kansas State (1975)
The Patriots drafted Tony Eason in the historic 1983 first round, but they held onto their fifth-round selection from 1975 as his backup. The decision was a good one, as New England needed their second all-time leading passer to start in at least two games during each season in the 1980s.
117. Chicago - Harry Clarke, RB, West Virginia (1940)
Harry Clarke played just four seasons with the Bears. In that time, he won three NFL titles and earned two Pro Bowl invitations. In 1943 Clarke amassed an impressive 1091 yards from scrimmage. He scored two touchdowns in each of Chicago's championship wins against Washington before spending the rest of his career in the ultimately doomed All American Football Conference.
118. New England - Stephen Gostkowski, K, Memphis (2006)
After losing future Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri to free agency, the Patriots found his replacement in the fourth round of that year's draft. Gostkowski has been one of the most reliable placekickers in his Patriots tenure, reaching four Pro Bowls and surpassing Vinatieri as New England's all-time points leader.
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| The greatest kicker in Patriots history. (Elise Amendola/Associated Press) |
While Johnny Unitas was in the midst of a Hall of Fame career captaining Baltimore's offense, Bobby Boyd was a defensive leader for the team throughout the 1960s. Boyd picked off nine passes each in 1964 and 1965, and still stands 10th on the Colts' all-time interceptions list.
120. Cincinnati - Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia (2010)
Few things were as quietly reliable in the 2010s as Geno Atkins stuffing dudes at or behind the line for Cincinnati. The eight-time Pro Bowler and all-decade team representative is already second all time among all Bengals sack masters. Under contract through 2021, Atkins has plenty of time to continue extending his legacy as a Bengal and, perhaps, eventually be recognized as one of the game's all-time greats.
121. San Francisco - Michael Carter, DT, Southern Methodist (1984)
A rookie when the 49ers beat Miami in Super Bowl XIX, Carter was the regular starter at nose tackle, and fresh off his third Pro Bowl season, when San Francisco won its next championship four seasons later. He earned a sack in Super Bowl XXIII and helped make Super Bowl XXIV the most lopsided post-merger championship to date. Carter played nine total seasons in San Francisco.
122. San Francisco - Merton Hanks, DB, Iowa (1991)
Hanks and Carter played together on the 49ers' defense for two years; it was in 1993 when Hanks became San Fran's starting free safety full-time. Four straight Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl XXIX victory followed; after eight years in San Francisco, Hanks ended his career with a season in Seattle.
123. Washington - Eddie LeBaron, QB, Pacific (1950)
Washington likely picked up LeBaron in the tenth round to replace Slingin' Sammy. Naturally, LeBaron's first action with Washington wasn't until Baugh's last season, when the young gun took over during the 1952 campaign. LeBaron made the dropoff from a legend much less painful than it could have been, reaching three Pro Bowls in an eight-year career and still holding the seventh position on Washington's all-time passing yards list.
124. New England - Ben Coates, TE, Livingston (1991)
Coates emerged as one of the best tight ends in the 1990s. His accolades include five Pro Bowls as a Patriot and a spot on the all-decade second team. He left New England after nine seasons; the year after he left the team that drafted him, Coates won Super Bowl XXXV with the Ravens.
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| Gronk who? (Rick Stewart/Allsport) |
The most celebrated center of the NFL's modern era was a fifth-round selection in the legendary Pittsburgh 1974 draft class. Dubbed Iron Mike, Webster remained with the Steelers for 15 seasons. His last season with the team was nine years after Pittsburgh's fourth Super Bowl win; after two years in Kansas City Webster joined many of the players from that Steelers dynasty - almost all of whom he outlasted - in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
126. Las Vegas - Lester Hayes, DB, Texas A&M (1977)
Lester Hayes was a dominant force in the Raiders' dynasty, despite only being on the team for the last two of their three championships. 1980's Defensive Player of the Year is on many a pundit's "Best Players Not In Canton" list, most likely because of his liberal use of the now-illegal adhesive product known as Stick-um.
127. Tennessee - Zeke Moore, DB, Lincoln (1967)
A stud for the Oilers on both defense and special teams, Zeke Moore has the fifth-most interception yards and the eighth-most punt return yards in franchise history. Moore spent 11 seasons in Houston, reaching the Pro Bowl in 1969 and 1970.
128. San Francisco - Tommy Davis, K, Louisiana State (1957)
More than 50 years after his last kick for the 49ers, Davis still leads his franchise in field goal attempts. He's also second in team history in field goals made, extra points scored, punts, and total punt yards. The two-time Pro Bowl participant spent 13 years in San Francisco.
129. Dallas - Roger Staubach, QB, Navy (1964)
1963's Heisman Trophy winner lasted into the 10th round of the following spring's draft because of his guarantees that he'd put his military service above his football career. After time in Vietnam, the 27-year old Staubach finally played the first season of his Hall of Fame career in 1969. He lasted 11 years in Dallas, winning two Super Bowls and an MVP trophy along the way.
130. LA Rams - Joe Scibelli, G, Notre Dame (1961)
Scibelli made just one Pro Bowl as a member of the Rams. Regardless, to this day he's played the fourth most games of anyone representing his franchise. Scibelli went 11 of his 15 seasons without missing a game or a start.
131. Denver - Sammy Winder, RB, Southern Mississippi (1982)
Denver's third all-time leading rusher is one of the less celebrated running backs of the 1980s. Winder reached the Pro Bowl after a career-best 1153 rushing yards in 1984, then again after reaching the end zone nine times in 1986.
132. Phil-Pitt - Russ Craft, DB, Alabama (1943)
In the midst of World War II, certain teams had to combine at times for financial reasons. In 1943, Pennsylvania's two teams merged to form a squad known as the "Steagles." Craft was drafted by this hybrid team; by the time he saw his first NFL action, the war was over and the teams had split. His rights belonged to Philadelphia, where played eight years. Craft joined the Steelers in his last season, meaning he ended up contributing to both teams that drafted him.
133. Seattle - Kam Chancellor, DB, Virginia Tech (2010)
The starting strong safety in the Legion of Boom was a fifth-round draft pick. Chancellor earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 2011, and got to the all-star contest three straight times from 2013 until 2015. After a Super Bowl XLVIII win following the 2014 season, Chancellor ultimately retired after 2017, just eight seasons into a stellar career for the Seahawks.
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| The L.O.B. was a fun group, wasn't it? (John Froschauer/Associated Press) |
In a career that spanned 13 years - all in Buffalo - Williams established himself as one of the franchise's greatest players. By his celebrated retirement in 2018, no one in Bills history had more tackles for loss. Williams also ranks fifth in franchise history in sacks and seventh in games played for the Bills.
135. Green Bay - Josh Sitton, OL, Central Florida (2008)
The versatile Sitton was the Packers' starting right guard when Green Bay won Super Bowl XLV. He moved over to the left side of the line in 2013, still next to the center but filling in as a tackle at times in the second half of his career. Sitton played in over 120 games over his eight-year Packer career, making three Pro Bowls in the process.
136. LA Chargers - Billy Shields, OT, Georgia Tech (1975)
Shields was San Diego's starting left tackle full-time for seven of the nine season he wore the lightning bolt. He was never counted as among the league's best, but he was an above-average player who provided enormous value for his team nonetheless.
137. Chicago - Johnny Morris, WR, California-Santa Barbara (1958)
In the pre-wide receiver days, Morris served as Chicago's lead flanker. His 1200 receiving yards in 1964 were a career best, and also the best such mark by any player across the league that season. Coming off a 1963 championship, Morris's 1964 accomplishments were rewarded by the only All-Pro team selection of his 10-year career.
138. Indianapolis - Robert Mathis, DE, Alabama A&M (2003)
Future Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney was an instant star for the Colts, but the year after drafting him, Indianapolis deemed it necessary to add another edge rusher to complement their young sack master. Enter Robert Mathis. The fifth-round draft pick helped lead Indianapolis to glory in Super Bowl XLI, and has forced more fumbles than any player ever since the stat has been tracked.
139. Tennessee - Benji Olson, G, Washington (1998)
As a young Titans fan, I always loved Benji. I think it was his name as much as anything, but Olson still put in a solid decade in Tennessee. Spending six full seasons at right guard and four more years playing in more contests than he missed, Olson has appeared in the 10th-most games of any player in franchise history.
140. NY Jets - Bobby Jackson, DB, Florida State (1978)
Another player who was among his team's more reliable players without being considered one of the best, Jackson was the Jet's primary starting left side cornerback for six of his eight seasons with the team. 35 years after his last season with the team, Jackson is still 10th all-time when ranked by interceptions recorded for his franchise.
141. Detroit - Stephen Boyd, LB, Boston College (1995)
Boyd only spent seven years with the Lions, but he left his mark. The middle linebacker was named the NFC's defensive player of the month in December of 1998 then reached the Pro Bowl in both 1999 and 2000.
142. Las Vegas - Shane Lechler, P, Texas A&M (2000)
The Raiders' fifth-round draft pick at the turn of the century turned into one of the greatest punters of all time. He reached seven Pro Bowls during his 13 years in Oakland; after five more years with the Texans, Lechler has a better yards per punt average than any other player in NFL history.
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| Raise your hand if you should be the second pure punter ever enshrined in the Hall of Fame. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty) |
Norman is a prime example in this list of a player being drafted low enough that only a few good years is enough to merit inclusion. Despite just four seasons as a Panther, the tenacious Norman was one of the few 143rd overall picks to contribute at all to his drafted team.
144. NY Jets - Joe Klecko, DL, Temple (1977)
In 11 seasons as a Jets defensive lineman, Klecko starred at three different tackle positions (left, right and nose), as well as spending three seasons primarily at right end. He reached four Pro Bowls in three of those positions, and exhibited his versatility in 140 games for the Jets.
145. LA Chargers - Rodney Harrison, DB, Western Illinois (1994)
The current NBC commentator was seen during his playing days as one of the league's hardest-hitting players. Harrison also had a mind and hands for interceptions. He picked off 26 passes during his nine years in San Diego, third-most in franchise history.
146. Philadelphia - Trent Cole, DE, Cincinnati (2005)
Cole made an immediate impact for the Eagles. He was named to the all-rookie team in 2005, and didn't stop there. In 10 years, Cole reached two Pro Bowls and got all the way to second place on the team's all-time sacks list.
Two more rounds as the 2020 Draft begins tomorrow!
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