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NFL Draft Success: Beyond the First Round
2 Apr
Summary
- Teams winning the draft excel with mid- and late-round picks.
- Packers, Seahawks, Ravens, 49ers, and Rams excel at late-round drafting.
- Brock Purdy, Mr. Irrelevant, became a star and signed a $265 million deal.
NFL franchises that achieve sustained success often master the art of drafting beyond the initial rounds. These teams discover crucial contributors and future starters from the third round onward, ensuring roster depth and competitive longevity.
The Green Bay Packers exemplify this strategy, focusing on developing young talent to replace aging players. Recent drafts have yielded significant contributors such as tight end Tucker Kraft, defensive linemen Colby Wooden, Dontayvion Wicks, and Carrington Valentine, alongside numerous impactful players from the 2022 draft.
Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks have also excelled, not only in early rounds but also by finding late-round value. Players like linebacker Tyrice Knight and tight end AJ Barner from the 2024 draft have provided immediate starting-caliber contributions, building on previous successes with multi-year starters like Anthony Bradford and Day 3 picks Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen.
The Baltimore Ravens, under General Managers Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta, consistently draft well. Key 2022 picks like Travis Jones and Daniel Faalele have become foundational starters, with tight ends Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely also securing extensions. The 2024 draft added potential starting offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten.
The San Francisco 49ers boast arguably the most famous late-round success story in quarterback Brock Purdy, the 2022 Mr. Irrelevant pick who signed a $265 million extension. Their defense is also heavily reliant on in-house draft picks from middle and late rounds, complemented by stars like George Kittle and Dre Greenlaw.
Finally, the Los Angeles Rams found significant success in the 2022 and 2023 drafts, which helped them navigate Aaron Donald's retirement. Fourth-round picks like Cobie Durant and Kyren Williams, and a fifth-round steal in wide receiver Puka Nacua, highlight their ability to unearth talent that massively outperforms draft expectations.
