Saturday, June 10, 2006

NFL All-Time Draft Steals Team

After the Corner compiled its all-time undrafted team, we got to thinking about putting together a list for the all-time draft day steals. Players who were drafted on the second day (fourth round or later) and wound up being superstars.

So the Corner (which is a one man operation by the way) got to work leafing through encyclopedia's, researching the Internet and looking at my own draft day lists from the past to come up with the team you'll read below. As always, if you disagree or think we left somebody deserving off the list, send us a comment.

Carson's Corner NFL All-Time Draft Steals Team

Offense

QB: Tom Brady, sixth round - Has led the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles in five years. Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr, fifth and seventh round picks respectively, are a close second.
RB: Terrell Davis, sixth round - Super Bowl MVP who owns two rings. One of only five backs to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Curtis Martin is not on the list because he was a first day selection (third round).
FB: Larry Centers, fifth round - Has more career receptions (827) than any back in NFL history.
WR: Mark Clayton, 12th round - Dan Marino's favorite target. He had five 1,000 yard seasons and finished with 582 receptions in 11 seasons.
WR: Keenan McCardell, 12th round - Has over 800 receptions and over 10,000 yards in his 15-year career. Andre Reed belongs here as well, but since he was fourth rounder, McCardell wins out.
TE: Shannon Sharpe, seventh round - Only the greatest tight end in NFL history. Holds career marks for a TE in receptions (815), yards (10,060) and TDs (62).
C: Tom Nalen, seventh round - 12-year veteran who owns two Super Bowl rings. Five-time Pro Bowl selection.
G: Jesse Sapolu, 11th round - Owns four Super Bowl rings in 15-year career. Two Pro Bowl appearances.
G: Mark Schlereth, 10th round - Was a member of three Super Bowl winners in his 12-year career.
T: Jon Runyan, fourth round - Pro Bowl right tackle who's played in 10 NFL seasons.
T: Ephraim Salaam, seventh round - Eight year starter with the Atlanta Falcons.
K: Matt Stover, 12th round - Has played 15 seasons in the league. Has scored over 1,300 points and made 80 percent of his kicks. Morten Andersen was drafted in the fourth round, but that's high for a kicker, so Stover won out.

Defense

DE: Deacon Jones, 14th round - Quite possibly the greatest end to ever play the game and he's stolen in the 14th round by the Rams. Awesome pick! Enshrined in Canton.
DE: Richard Dent, eighth round - MVP of Super Bowl XX. His 137.5 sacks are fifth best in NFL history.
DT: La'Roi Glover, fifth round - Perennial pro bowler since he came into the league in 1996.
DT: Mike Lodish, 10th round - Only player in NFL history to appear in six Super Bowls.
MLB: Zach Thomas, fifth round - Considered too small. Has played in five Pro Bowls and is considered one of the best middle backers ever.
LB: Kevin Greene, fifth round - Played DE as well. His 160 career sacks are the best ever by a linebacker and third all-time.
LB: Karl Mecklenberg, 12th round - Switched from DE to LB and proceeded to be selected to six Pro Bowls. His 79 sacks are second in Denver history.
FS: Brock Marion, seventh round - Three-time All-Pro with 31 career interceptions.
SS: Rodney Harrison, fifth round - Consider by many to be one of the best strong safeties to ever play. Selected to the Pro Bowl three times. His 27.5 sacks are the most ever by a defensive back.
CB: Tyrone Braxton, 12th round - Played 13 seasons in the NFL and won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Broncos.
CB: Merton Hanks, fifth round - Didn't have blazing speed, but had excellent instincts and hands. Played 11 years.
P: Reggie Roby, sixth round - The late punter had a booming leg and played 16 seasons in the NFL. Three-time pro bowler.

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