With the No. 259 overall pick (7th round) in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams selected Desjuan Johnson, a defensive lineman out of the University of Toledo. Considering it was the final pick of the NFL Draft, Desjuan was named this year’s Mr. Irrelevant – a title held by quarterback Brock Purdy in 2022.
Johnson is a 6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive end who spent five seasons with the Toledo Rockets in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). He played in 88 games and recorded 210 tackles, 45.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 forced fumbles throughout his college football career.
Desjuan really came into his own over the past two seasons, totaling 135 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 forced fumbles in 27 games with Toledo. He’ll have an uphill battle to climb if he wants to make the Rams’ 53-man roster, but it’s something he’s willing to earn.
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Other Players Who Were Honored as Mr. Irrelevant at the NFL Draft
Being selected as Mr. Irrelevant at the NFL Draft is something that sounds demeaning, but players rarely take exception to it – after all, they achieved their lifelong dream of being drafted by an NFL team and earning an opportunity that not many players get to experience. It’s a tremendous honor, regardless.
Kelvin Kirk was the first player to wear the honor after being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the No. 487 pick in the 1976 NFL Draft – when the name Mr. Irrelevant was first used. Unfortunately, Kirk didn’t make the team and was eventually cut before spending the next seven seasons in the CFL.
Over the past 45+ years, Mr. Irrelevant has struggled to make a name for himself in the NFL. While Desjuan Johnson could rewrite that ship, he has some pretty big shoes to fill after Brock Purdy (last year’s Mr. Irrelevant) helped lead San Francisco to an NFC Championship game appearance.
With that said, let’s take a look at the past 20 players to be named Mr. Irrelevant at the NFL Draft.
20. Brock Purdy – 2022
Brock Purdy was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 262 overall (7th round) pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He just completed his rookie season and it was one no one could’ve predicted as he was thrust into the starting role towards the end of the season and played in the NFC Championship game.
Purdy won all five of the games he played in during the regular season, throwing for 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions – he also ran for one TD. He then went 2-1 in the playoffs, throwing for 569 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions – coming just one game shy of a Super Bowl appearance.
19. Grant Stuard – 2021
Grant Stuard was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 259 overall (7th round) pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He just completed his second season in the NFL, but has already been traded once and has struggled to make a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball, but is a special teams player.
He spent last season with the Indianapolis Colts and, while he didn’t take a single snap on defense, he ended up taking 264 snaps on special teams – which amounts to 67% of their total special teams snaps. He finished the season with 11 tackles on special teams after recording 15 total tackles his rookie year.
18. Tae Crowder – 2020
Tae Crowder was drafted by the New York Giants with the No. 255 overall (7th round) pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent the past three seasons with the Giants and had a career year in 2021 (starting all 17 games at inside linebacker), but was benched and eventually waived towards the end of last season.
In 41 games played and 31 games started with the Giants, Crowder had 232 tackles (including 130 in 2021), 9 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 27, one week after being sent to the Giants’ practice squad.
17. Caleb Wilson – 2019
Caleb Wilson was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 254 overall (7th round) pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. He failed to make the team’s opening week roster and was signed to the Cardinals’ practice squad one week before the regular season started. He has only played in five games in his career.
Between 2019 and 2021, Wilson spent time with the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, and Denver Broncos – most of which was spent on the practice squad. He played 5 games with the Eagles in 2020, but only as a special teams player. His most recent NFL contract expired on January 8, 2022.
16. Trey Quinn – 2018
Trey Quinn was drafted by the Washington Commanders with the No. 256 overall (7th round) pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent the first two seasons of his career with Washington and had 35 catches off 57 targets for 273 yards and 2 touchdowns – playing in more than half of their offensive snaps in that time.
Quinn was waived ahead of the 2020 season and was immediately snagged by the Jacksonville Jaguars, but only played in one game that season. He spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos between 2021 and 2022, eventually signing a contract with the Michigan Panthers of the USFL in 2023.
15. Chad Kelly – 2017
Chad Kelly was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the No. 253 overall (7th round) pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. He missed his entire rookie season after having surgery on his wrist, but was given an opportunity to compete for a backup role in 2018 – which he eventually earned, working behind Case Keenum.
Kelly was arrested in October 2018, which ultimately led to his release from the Broncos. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts in May 2019, but only lasted one season with the team before being released in September 2020. He last played for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, serving as their backup in 2022.
14. Kalan Reed – 2016
Kalan Reed was drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 253 overall (7th round) pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. He started his rookie season as part of the team’s practice squad, but ended up playing in four games during the 2016 season – a majority of his snaps (which were limited) came on special teams
Reed played in three games during the 2017 season, most of which on special teams, but struggled to make a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball. He was released by the Titans after breaking his foot in August 2018 and suffered a career-ending injury with the Seattle Seahawks the following year.
13. Gerald Christian – 2015
Gerald Christian was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 256 overall (7th round) pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. He missed his entire rookie season due to an MCL tear during the team’s final preseason game and was released by the team prior to the start of the 2016 season before joining the Buffalo Bills.
He appeared in three games with the Bills in 2016 and recorded one catch for 14 yards, but spent most of his time on the practice squad. Buffalo released him in March 2017 and he returned to the Cardinals for a couple of months before joining the Alliance of American Football – a league that folded in its first season.
12. Lonnie Ballentine – 2014
Lonnie Ballentine was drafted by the Houston Texans with the No. 256 overall (7th round) pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. He only played in four games with the team between 2015 and 2016, most of which was spent on special teams – he only played in about 36% of the special teams snaps in those four games.
With that said, Ballentine did take 36 career snaps on the defensive side of the ball – recording 3 tackles and 1 pass defensed (all of which came in 2015). While he failed to stand out on the roster, injuries didn’t help his case as he was placed on the injured reserve in both 2016 and 2017 before being released.
11. Justice Cunningham – 2013
Justice Cunningham was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 254 overall (7th round) pick of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played in one game with the Colts before being waived and signed by the St. Louis Rams. He remained with the Rams for two seasons until his release ahead of the 2016 season.
Cunningham only recorded one catch for 4 yards during his rookie season – it ended up being the only catch of his career. He spent most of his three-year career on the practice squad and struggled to impress his coaches in St. Louis and Indianapolis. He hasn’t played professional football since the 2015 season.
10. Chandler Harnish – 2012
Chandler Harnish was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 253 overall (7th round) pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. He never had the opportunity to play in an NFL game, but competed twice for a backup role with the Colts – once behind Matt Hesselbeck in 2013 and again behind Andrew Luck in 2014.
He never earned that backup role and was waived by the team ahead of the 2014 season. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings and was the team’s backup for one game in 2014, but was released shortly after. He spent a few months with the Arizona Cardinals, but was released ahead of the 2015 season.
9. Cheta Ozougwu – 2011
Cheta Ozougwu was drafted by the Houston Texans with the No. 254 overall (7th round) pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. He failed to see any playing time his rookie season and was eventually signed by the Chicago Bears in April 2012 – he led the team in sacks (3.0) during the 2012 preseason and made the final roster.
Between 2012 and 2013, Ozougwu played in nine games and recorded his first (and only) sack during the 2013 season. He finished his career with just 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1.0 sack, and 1 forced fumble. He signed with the New Orleans Saints in May 2014, but was released a year later after failing a physical.
8. Tim Toone – 2010
Tim Toone was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the No. 255 overall (7th round) pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. The wide receiver failed to make the Lions’ 53-man roster two years in a row and spent his rookie year on the practice squad before being released by the team a couple weeks into the 2011 season.
Between 2011 and 2013, Toone spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints. He made the 53-man roster once in his career, doing so with the Falcons in 2012, but was cut prior to Week 1 due to a hamstring injury. He now works as an ICU nurse in Arizona.
7. Ryan Succop – 2009
Ryan Succop was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 256 overall (7th round) pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. Of all the players to hold the Mr. Irrelevant title, Succop might be the greatest to ever do it. He has played in the league for the past 14 years, most recently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022.
Throughout his 14-year career, Succop has made 320 of his 386 (82.9%) field goal attempts and 470 of his 489 (96.1%) extra point attempts. He has hit at least 30 field goals in seven different seasons and led the NFL in field goals made (42) in 2017 with the Tennessee Titans. He also won a Super Bowl in 2020.
6. David Vobora – 2008
David Vobora was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the No. 252 overall (7th round) pick of the 2008 NFL Draft. He became the first Mr. Irrelevant since Marty Moore in 1994 to start a game his rookie season and ended up playing in 8 games that year before earning a full-time starting role during the 2009 season.
He ended up playing in 26 games and starting 15 games between 2009 and 2010 – he recorded 83 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 2 passes defensed, and 1 forced fumble during that time. He also played in six games with the Seattle Seahawks in 2011, but that was the last of his short NFL career.
5. Ramzee Robinson – 2007
Ramzee Robinson was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the No. 255 overall (7th round) pick of the 2007 NFL Draft. He started his career on the practice squad, but injuries to other players allowed him to play in six games as a rookie – he recorded 7 tackles in those games. He played in another 13 games in 2008.
Towards the end of his 2008 campaign, he received a lot of criticism for taunting a wide receiver following an incompletion. He was released from the Lions prior to the 2009 season, but played in seven games that year – split between the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles – before fading out of the NFL.
4. Kevin McMahan – 2006
Kevin McMahan was drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 255 overall (7th round) pick of the 2006 NFL Draft. He was given several opportunities to make a team over the course of the next four years, but struggled to make a name for himself and never played in an NFL regular season game.
McMahan was cut from the Raiders before the 2006 season and had a breakout performance with the New York Giants during the 2007 preseason, but it only landed him on the practice squad. He once again fell short of a roster spot with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008, despite another impressive preseason.
3. Andy Stokes – 2005
Andy Stokes was drafted by the New England Patriots with the No. 255 overall (7th round) pick of the 2005 NFL Draft. He had three opportunities to make an NFL roster, but failed to make it past the practice squad or offseason with the Patriots in 2005, Arizona Cardinals in 2005, and Seattle Seahawks in 2006.
Stokes never played a game at the NFL level, but had an impressive college career at William Penn University. Between his sophomore year and senior year, he recorded 104 catches for 1,528 yards and 10 touchdowns at the tight end position. He earned first-team All-MSFA honors for his efforts as a senior.
2. Andre Sommersell – 2004
Andre Sommersell was drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 255 overall (7th round) pick of the 2004 NFL Draft. He struggled to make an NFL 53-man roster, but had two opportunities to do so – including the Raiders upon being drafted in 2004 and the Indianapolis Colts between 2004 and 2005.
Sommersell went on to spend time with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2006 and the Berlin Thunder of the NFL Europe League in 2007. He has also been the head coach of the Dubai Stallions in the Emirate American Football League – he also served as a player with the team.
1. Ryan Hoag – 2003
Ryan Hoag was drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 262 overall (7th round) pick of the 2003 NFL Draft. He was only on an active roster for three weeks between 2003 and 2008 – though he didn’t actually play in those three games and struggled to make it off a practice squad throughout his five-year career.
In addition to spending time with the Raiders, Hoag worked with the Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, and Jacksonville Jaguars. He also spent time with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL in 2007 and New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. He hasn’t played football since.
What Did Desjuan Johnson Say About the NFL Draft?
Desjuan Johnson is excited to be among those honored as Mr. Irrelevant at the NFL Draft and is looking forward to showing the Los Angeles Rams that they made the right choice in selecting him with the 259th overall pick. He knows he’ll have to earn his spot on the team, but he’s willing to give it everything he has.
“Just be getting picked, final pick, first pick, middle pick, everything [is] unique. I’m very blessed. I was blessed that God picked [me] and I’m blessed that I can continue to play the game that I love and I’m going to give it my all up there on the field and at practice,” Desjuan Johnson said, according to ESPN.
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He also mentioned his father, Dion Johnson – who passed away when Desjuan was just four years old – and is excited to learn from one of his favorite players, Aaron Donald. “Just to learn from him, from watching film and now get to sit next to him and just take notes, I’m going to just be like a newborn.”
Ranking the Greatest 7th Round Draft Picks in NFL Draft History
Prior to the 1936 season, the NFL Draft didn’t exist and draft picks weren’t a thing. As a result, college seniors were free to sign with any team they wanted – meaning a majority of the best rookies were joining the best teams in the league. This created a scenario where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
It wasn’t until Bert Bell – the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles – suggested a ‘Players Selection Meeting’ (now known as the NFL Draft) in 1935. It allowed the worst teams in the league to have first ‘dibs’ on the best college players – evening out the playing field and allowing bad teams to get more competitive over time.
Sure enough, the Philadelphia Eagles were gifted the first overall pick in the 1936 NFL Draft – the first of its existence. From that point forward, the NFL Draft continued to evolve into what it is today – one of the most exciting and most-watched events of the NFL offseason. And we have Bert Bell to thank for that!
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Who Are the Greatest 7th-Round Draft Picks in NFL History?
While a lot of the attention and buzz around the NFL Draft is reserved for the first round – and rightfully so, considering that’s where most of the best players are taken – it’s actually the later rounds where teams can truly build a roster that can compete for years to come. That’s where teams get a lot of value.
Since 1997, the NFL Draft has consisted of seven rounds and, while a majority of the players taken in this round don’t last long in the NFL, there have been instances where 7th-round draft picks stick around. Even before 1997, players selected in the 7th round weren’t necessarily guaranteed a long career.
That begs the question – who are the greatest 7th-round draft picks in NFL Draft history? Considering there are only nine Hall of Famers to be drafted in the 7th round (all of whom were drafted prior to 1997, when the draft was anywhere from 8-30 rounds), there aren’t a lot of players worthy of being on this list.
With that said, we’re going to run you through some of the most notable names to be drafted in the 7th round – regardless of the year they were drafted or how many rounds took place that year.
15. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
Ryan Fitzpatrick was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the No. 250 overall (7th round) pick in the 2005 NFL Draft – the quarterback played college football at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He went on to spend 17 seasons in the league with nine different teams between 2005 and 2021.
Fitzpatrick was a journeyman backup who always seemed to be thrust into a starting role and handled his own – he wasn’t a superstar, but is one of the most beloved players of all-time. He retired with a 59-87-1 record as starter, throwing for 34,990 yards, 223 touchdowns, and 169 interceptions in 166 games played.
14. DB Lemar Parrish
Lemar Parrish was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 163 overall (7th round) pick in the 1970 NFL Draft – he played college football at Lincoln University. He went on to spend 13 seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Commanders, and Buffalo Bills between 1970 and 1982.
Parrish recorded 47 interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, 13 fumble recoveries, and 7 defensive touchdowns in 166 games played (151 starts) – he also had four punt return TDs and one kickoff return TDs in his career. He was an 8-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro First Team, and one-time All-Pro Second Team.
13. RB Jamal Anderson
Jamal Anderson was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the No. 201 overall (7th round) pick in the 1994 NFL Draft – he played college football at Utah University. He went on to spend eight seasons in the NFL – all with Atlanta – between 1994 and 2001. He retired after suffering a torn ACL during the 2001 season.
Anderson recorded 5,336 rushing yards, 34 rushing touchdowns, 156 receptions, 1,645 receiving yards, and 7 receiving touchdowns in 88 games played (64 starts). He was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro First Team with 1,846 rushing yards, 319 rushing yards, and 16 total touchdowns in the 1998 season. .
12. DE Jay Ratliff
Jeremiah ‘Jay’ Ratliff was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 224 overall (7th round) pick in the 2005 NFL Draft – he played college football at Auburn University. He went on to spend 11 seasons in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys (8 seasons) and Chicago Bears (3 seasons) between 2005 and 2015.
Ratliff recorded 285 tackles, 58 tackles for loss, 35.0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 15 passes defensed in 122 games played (102 starts) – he had a career-high 7.5 sacks during the 2008 season with Dallas. He was named to the Pro Bowl in four consecutive years (2008-2011) and was All-Pro First Team in 2009.
11. LB Joe Schmidt
Joe Schmidt was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the No. 86 overall (7th round) pick in the 1953 NFL Draft – he played college football at the University of Pittsburgh. He went on to spend 13 seasons in the league – all with the Lions – between 1953 and 1965. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973.
Schmidt recorded 15.0 sacks, 24 interceptions, 17 fumble recoveries, and 3 defensive touchdowns in 155 career games played (151 starts). He was named to 10 Pro Bowls (in 10 straight years), eight All-Pro First Teams, and one All-Pro Second Team. He was also in the top-five of MVP voting in 1957 and 1962.
10. OG Gene Hickerson
Gene Hickerson was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 78 overall (7th round) pick in the 1957 NFL Draft – the offensive guard played college football at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). He went on to spend 15 seasons in the league – all with the Browns – between 1958 and 1973.
Hickerson struggled with injuries for the first five years of his career, but didn’t miss a game between 1963 and 1973 (11 seasons). He was named to six consecutive Pro Bowls between 1965 and 1970, as well as three All-Pro First Teams and one All-Pro Second Team. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.
9. WR Bob Hayes
Bob Hayes was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 88 overall (7th round) pick in the 1964 NFL Draft – the wide receiver played college football at Florida A&M University. He went on to spend 11 years in the league with the Cowboys (10 years) and San Francisco 49ers (one year) between 1965 and 1975.
Hayes recorded 371 receptions, 7,414 receiving yards, and 71 receiving touchdowns in 132 games played (107 starts) – he averaged 20.0 yards per reception in his career. He was a three-time Pro Bowler, one-time Super Bowl champion, three-time All-Pro, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.
8. FL/RB Bobby Mitchell
Bobby Mitchell was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 84 overall (7th round) pick in the 1958 NFL Draft – the flanker played college football at the University of Illinois. He went on to spend 11 years in the league with the Washington Commanders (7 years) and Browns (4 years) between 1958 and 1968.
Mitchell recorded 521 receptions, 7,954 receiving yards, 2,735 rushing yards, and 83 total touchdowns in 148 games played (128 starts). He led the NFL in receptions once, receiving yards twice, and receiving TDs once. He was named to four Pro Bowls in his career and was inducted into the Hall of Fame 1983.
7. OT Rayfield Wright
Rayfield Wright was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 182 overall (7th round) pick in the 1967 NFL Draft – the tight-end-turned-tackle played college ball at Fort Valley State University. He went on to spend 13 years with Dallas between 1967 and 1979 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Wright spent the first three years of his career playing three different positions – tight end, offensive tackle, and defensive lineman. He became a full-time starter at right tackle during the 1970 season and was a six-time Pro Bowl and five-time All-Pro at the position. He won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys.
6. WR Marques Colston
Marques Colston was drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 252 overall (7th round) pick in the 2006 NFL Draft – the wide receiver played college football at Hofstra University in Long Island, NY. He went on to spend 10 seasons in the league – all of which with the Saints – between 2006 and 2015.
Colston recorded 711 receptions, 9,759 receiving yards, and 72 touchdowns in 142 games played (106 starts) with the team – including six seasons with at least 70 receptions and 1,000 yards. He was never named to a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, but he won a Super Bowl with the Saints during the 2009 season.
5. C Jim Ringo
Jim Ringo was drafted by the Green Bay Packers with the No. 80 overall (7th round) pick in the 1953 NFL Draft – he played college football at Syracuse University. He went on to spend 15 seasons in the NFL with the Packers (11 seasons) and Philadelphia Eagles (4 seasons) between 1953 and 1967.
Ringo was as reliable as it gets at the center position. Despite being considered small and undersized for a center, he made 126 consecutive starts for the Packers and 56 consecutive starts for the Bears. He’s a 10-time Pro Bowler, 9-time All-Pro, two-time champion, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1981.
4. RB Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson was originally drafted No. 1 overall (1st round) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1986, but decided to play professional baseball instead. He was then drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders with the No. 183 overall (7th round) pick in the 1987 NFL Draft – the Raiders allowed him to play both sports.
He only spent four seasons in the league before suffering a career-ending hip injury, but he showed flashes of what could’ve been in those years. He had 2,782 rushing yards, 352 receiving yards, and 18 total touchdowns in 38 games played (23 starts) and was named to the Pro Bowl in the 1990 season.
3. DB Larry Wilson
Larry Wilson was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals with the No. 74 overall (7th round) pick in the 1960 NFL Draft – the defensive back played college football at Utah University. He spent 13 seasons in the league – all with the Cardinals – between 1960 and 1972. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.
Wilson recorded 21.0 sacks, 1 safety, 52 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries, and 7 defensive TDs in 169 career games played (163 starts). He made the Pro Bowl eight times in a nine-year span, was named to five consecutive All-Pro First Teams, and was the runner-up in AP Most Valuable Player voting in 1966.
2. WR Julian Edelman
Julian Edelman was drafted by the New England Patriots with the No. 232 overall (7th round) pick in the 2009 NFL Draft – the wide receiver played college football at College of San Mateo and Kent State University. He spent 11 seasons in the league – all of which with the Patriots – between 2009 and 2020.
Edelman recorded 620 receptions, 6,822 receiving yards, 413 rushing yards, and 36 touchdowns in 137 career games played (85 starts). He amassed 100 receptions twice and 1,000 yards three times. He was a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots and won Super Bowl Most Valuable Player in 2019.
1. TE Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the No. 192 overall (7th round) pick in the 1990 NFL Draft – the tight end played college football at Savannah State University. He went on to spend 14 years in the NFL with the Broncos (12 years) and Baltimore Ravens (2 years) between 1990 and 2003.
Sharpe is hands-down the greatest 7th-round draft pick of all-time. He recorded 815 receptions, 10,060 receiving yards, and 62 receiving touchdowns in 204 games played (169 starts). He was also an 8-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro, three-time Super Bowl champion (two with Broncos, one with Ravens), and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
Famous Players Who Went Undrafted in the NFL Draft
The modern-day NFL Draft sees more than 250 players selected by a team, but not all of those players end up making it to a 53-man roster. Likewise, there are also several players every year that go undrafted and are signed as free agents – some of whom end up exceeding expectations and gaining a roster spot.
Some of the greatest undrafted free agents in NFL history include Arian Foster, Tony Romo, James Harrison, Victor Cruz, Antonio Gates, Wes Welker, Jeff Saturday, Justin Tucker, Adam Thielen, Kurt Warner, Dick Lane, Emlen Tunnell, Warren Moon, John Randle, Joe Perry, and Priest Holmes.
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The 2023 NFL Draft will take place between April 27 and 29 outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. Will any 7th-round draft picks impress us this upcoming season? How about any undrafted free agents? The answer is yes, but we’ll have to wait and see which players step up to the plate!
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