When the Kansas City Chiefs selected Travis Kelce late in the third round out of Cincinnati, few saw him becoming perhaps the greatest tight end in NFL history. Injuries kept him from realizing his full potential as a rookie. However, when healthy, Kelce was a key figure in Andy Reid’s high-powered offense.
Second-round draft pick from Fresno State, Davante Adams, wasn’t immediately able to bloom in the NFL. But by season three, Adams was one of the most accurate and explosive wide receivers in the league. Alongside quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, Adams became a touchdown factory and one of the league’s most feared route artists.
When the Philadelphia Eagles selected Jalen Hurts in the second round, the majority of fans and analysts were stunned. The team had recently signed quarterback Carson Wentz to a massive contract extension. But what seemed like a confounding insurance policy turned out to be one of the franchise’s smartest decisions in recent times.
Despite winning a national championship at Notre Dame, Joe Montana fell to the third round in the 1979 draft due to concerns over arm strength and longevity. San Francisco’s Bill Walsh took a chance, and it was a move that changed the franchise.
At just 5’9″ and a home-state boy, Steve Smith Sr. was criticized by analysts in the 2001 NFL Draft as being too small and polished. The Carolina Panthers saw differently: fire, toughness, and raw talent. They drafted Smith in the third round, and soon all critics were silenced.
