The NFL Draft is next week and this is the time of year where a franchise can set their team up with a franchise star or two—as well as a few role players—for the next decade.
But you have to find players in later rounds of the draft to be able to do this.
Just look at what Seattle has done recently. The Seahawks have drafted Russell Wilson, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner, and finally Tyler Lockett in recent drafts to fuel their run to a pair of Super Bowls and only Thomas was a first-round selection.
Here are the 10 best steals in the NFL Draft, since it was abbreviated to seven rounds back in 1994.
10. DE Jared Allen: 4th Round, 126th overall in 2004 by Kansas City
Allen starred in college at Idaho State of all places when the Chiefs took a fourth-round chance on him a dozen years ago. A pass-rushing savant, Allen recorded nine sacks as a rookie and by his fourth season he posted a NFL-high 15.5. The four-time All-Pro has finally called it quits this offseason, retiring ninth on the all-time sack list with 136.
9. RB Terrell Davis: 6th Round, 196th overall in 1995 by Denver
Davis’s career was short due to an arthritic condition in his knee in 2002, but he made the most of his four full seasons. Overlooked coming out of Georgia—because of a pair of torn hamstrings suffered there—Davis was drafted and coached by the ultimate running game coach—Mike Shanahan. Davis’s first four seasons saw him average better than 1,600 rushing yards per year and win a pair of Super Bowl titles before knee injuries claimed his career.
