Every year, NFL teams pour endless hours into scouting, interviews, and film study, hoping to land their next franchise star in the early rounds of the draft. But sometimes, the real gems are found deep in the later rounds — the picks that no one talks about until they suddenly take over the league.
These players didn’t just beat the odds; they stomped on them, laughed, and then threw a touchdown or made a game-saving tackle for good measure. Here are 20 late-round NFL draft picks who went from afterthoughts to absolute stars.
20. Matt Birk
Drafted in the sixth round, Matt Birk went on to anchor offensive lines for over a decade and snag a Super Bowl ring to boot. He made it pretty clear that Harvard guys can be a whole lot tougher than you think.
19. Jay Ratliff
Taken in the seventh round, Jay Ratliff became a four-time Pro Bowler and a key force on the Cowboys’ defensive line. Not bad for a guy who had to wait until almost the very end to hear his name called.
18. Marques Colston
Marques Colston was a seventh-round pick who became Drew Brees’ favorite target for years and a quiet killer at wide receiver. He made “who?” turn into “wow” almost overnight.
17. Alfred Morris
Alfred Morris was drafted in the sixth round and immediately looked like he had been running through NFL defenses his whole life. His rookie season in Washington was basically one long “you passed on me?” flex.
16. Adalius Thomas
Adalius Thomas, a sixth-round pick, became one of the most versatile defenders of his era with the Ravens and Patriots. He was basically a Swiss Army knife that hit people really hard.
15. Justin Forsett
Drafted in the seventh round, Justin Forsett bounced around before finally exploding for over 1,200 rushing yards with the Ravens. He proved that sometimes all a player needs is a real shot — and a little patience.
14. David Givens
David Givens, a seventh-round pick, became a touchdown machine for the early-2000s Patriots dynasty. When the lights got brightest, he always seemed to pop up in the end zone.
13. Shannon Sharpe
Drafted in the seventh round, Shannon Sharpe somehow turned being “too small” into becoming one of the greatest tight ends ever. Plus, he’s stayed iconic long after retirement thanks to his legendary trash talk.
12. Donald Driver
Donald Driver was drafted in the seventh round (213th overall) in 1999 by the Green Bay Packers. He defied expectations to become a three-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champion, and the Packers’ all-time leading receiver with over 10,000 career receiving yards.
11. Jared Allen
Jared Allen was a fourth-round pick, but he played like a man who carried that draft-day snub on his shoulder every single snap. His patented sack celebrations became almost as famous as his actual sacks.
10. Antonio Brown
Before all the drama, Antonio Brown was a sixth-round steal who rewrote the record books with the Steelers. He went from an unknown to an unstoppable force at wide receiver in a hurry.
9. T.J. Houshmandzadeh
T.J. Houshmandzadeh was a seventh-round pick who teamed up with Chad Johnson to create one of the most dangerous receiving duos of the 2000s. It’s safe to say the Bengals got way more than they bargained for.
8. Jason Kelce
Taken in the sixth round, Jason Kelce developed into one of the most beloved and dominant centers in the entire NFL. His speeches, his play, and his beer-chugging abilities all became the stuff of legend.
7. Mark Brunell
Drafted in the fifth round, Mark Brunell carved out a sneaky-good career, especially during his run with the Jaguars. He showed that not every franchise quarterback needs a first-round pedigree.
6. Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck, a sixth-rounder, led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl and racked up over 30,000 passing yards during his career. Not bad for a guy most people initially confused for a clipboard holder.
5. Chris Carson
Drafted in the seventh round, Chris Carson became a workhorse back for Seattle, refusing to go down on first contact—or second, or third. He was basically a human battering ram with cleats.
4. Robert Mathis
Robert Mathis, a fifth-round pick, ended up with more career sacks than a ton of first-rounders combined. He became Peyton Manning’s best friend on defense without ever needing the spotlight.
3. Terrell Davis
Drafted in the sixth round, Terrell Davis didn’t just help the Broncos win two Super Bowls — he ran his way into Canton. His rise was so fast, it almost felt like a cheat code.
Read More: Ranking the 20 Biggest Steals of the 2025 NFL Draft
2. Richard Sherman
A fifth-round pick with a chip the size of Seattle on his shoulder, Richard Sherman talked the talk — and definitely walked the walk. “You mad, bro?” became the rallying cry of an entire defense.
Read More: Ranking the 20 Biggest Steals of the 2025 NFL Draft
1. Tom Brady
The ultimate late-round pick success story, Tom Brady turned being picked 199th into a motivation-fueled run as the greatest quarterback ever. Twenty years later, every team that passed on him still hears about it.
Read More: 15 Late-Round NFL Picks Who Became Absolute Legends
