The primary spherical of the NFL Draft is usually the place groups discover their subsequent cornerstone gamers. In actual fact, 264 of the 555 Professional Bowl appearances by gamers who’ve entered the league since 2015 had been from these drafted within the first spherical.
However that additionally means there have been loads of stars who had been chosen after Day 1. Over the previous 10 years, gamers who had been drafted on Day 2 (within the second and third rounds) have accounted for 166 of these 555 Professional Bowl appearances. There have additionally been loads of Professional Bowlers chosen on Day 3 (Rounds 4-7), with gamers chosen in these rounds accounting for 90 of the 555 Professional Bowl appearances by gamers who’ve entered the league since 2015.
Day 3 usually is not when groups have discovered cornerstone gamers. Nonetheless, the San Francisco 49ers have gotten a few their key gamers within the remaining rounds of the draft, whereas the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs acquired key contributors to their Tremendous Bowl groups in these previous few rounds, too.
Because the 2025 NFL Draft tasks to be a deep draft, let us take a look at the perfect picks from Day 3 in every of the previous 10 drafts.
Honorable mentions: Edge Za’Darius Smith (Baltimore Ravens, No. 122 general), DT Grady Jarrett (Atlanta Falcons, No. 137 general), S Quandre Diggs (Detroit Lions, No. 200 general), TE Darren Waller (Baltimore Ravens, No. 204 general)
All issues thought-about, the 2015 draft was a reasonably nice one for the Vikings. After snagging Danielle Hunter on Day 2, they acquired a fifth-round steal in Diggs on Day 3. They won’t have seen Diggs’ finest years in Minnesota as he grew to become a four-time Professional Bowler with the Buffalo Bills, however the huge receiver nonetheless had a pair of 1,000-yard seasons in receiving throughout his time with the Vikings. These campaigns started a six-season stretch during which Diggs crossed the 1,000-yard threshold.
Coincidentally, one of many honorable mentions on this record was additionally a standout for the Vikings. Smith recorded 10 sacks with Minnesota in 2022. That was one in all three years during which Smith posted double-digit sacks as he additionally had 9 quarterback takedowns in 2024, splitting time with the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions.
Waller grew to become one of many success tales of the 2015 draft, turning into one of many league’s finest tight ends throughout his time with the Raiders following a year-long suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse coverage.
Honorable mentions: Edge Matthew Judon (Baltimore Ravens, No. 146 general), WR Tyreek Hill (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, No. 165 general)
It isn’t typically that you simply’re capable of finding a franchise quarterback after the primary spherical of the draft. It is even rarer that you simply’re in a position to get one on Day 3.
However that is what the Cowboys had been in a position to do in 2016, deciding on Prescott to initially backup Tony Romo. A again harm to Romo shortly thrust Prescott into the beginning lineup at the beginning of his rookie yr, serving to Dallas win the division that yr. He additionally earned his first of three Professional Bowl nods that season, profitable Offensive Rookie of the 12 months as effectively. Prescott additionally grew to become the highest-paid quarterback in NFL historical past final offseason.
If it weren’t for the positional worth of a quarterback, Hill can be extensively considered as the perfect Day 3 decide from the 2016 draft. He is been among the finest receivers within the NFL ever since he entered the league, getting named a Professional Bowler in every of his first eight seasons.
2017: TE George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers, No. 146 general)
Honorable mentions: S Eddie Jackson (Chicago Bears, No. 112 general), Ok Jake Elliott (Cincinnati Bengals, No. 153 general), LB Matt Milano (Buffalo Payments, No. 163 general), RB Aaron Jones (Inexperienced Bay Packers, No. 182 general)
The 49ers had been in a position to get one of many sport’s finest tight ends in current reminiscence within the fifth spherical of the 2017 NFL Draft, drafting Kittle after the Denver Broncos chosen a unique tight finish (Jake Butt) with the choice earlier than. Possibly the best way San Francisco acquired Kittle was a bit fortunate, however his sustained success within the NFL has been removed from luck. Kittle grew to become a core piece of the 49ers not lengthy after he arrived within the Bay Space, incomes first-team All-Professional honors in 2019. The 49ers made it to the Tremendous Bowl that yr and made it once more in 2023, when Kittle was named first-team All-Professional once more.
Milano and Jones additionally grew to become core items for contending groups in recent times, too. Milano was first-team All-Professional in 2022 whereas Jones was a Professional Bowler in 2020 after main the league in speeding touchdowns the yr prior.
2018: G Wyatt Teller (Buffalo Payments, No. 166 general)
Honorable mentions: Edge Josh Sweat (Philadelphia Eagles, No. 130 general), TE Dalton Schultz (Dallas Cowboys, No. 137 general), CB D.J. Reed (San Francisco 49ers, No. 152 general), LB Zaire Franklin (Indianapolis Colts, No. 235 general)
The Payments landed three Professional Bowlers within the 2018 NFL Draft, together with Josh Allen, however they traded one in all them after their rookie yr. Teller, who Buffalo chosen within the fifth spherical of that yr’s draft, was moved to the Cleveland Browns for fifth- and sixth-round picks within the 2020 draft on the eve of the 2019 season. After serving as a backup for a bit, Teller grew to become an everyday starter for Cleveland late within the 2019 season earlier than rising as one of many sport’s finest guards in 2020, serving to the Browns’ run sport take off that yr. He is earned three Professional Bowl nods and two All-Professional honors over his profession.
The Eagles, in the meantime, had been capable of finding a fairly large piece to their Tremendous Bowl LIX-winning squad within the fourth spherical of the 2018 draft. Sweat had a case to win MVP of Tremendous Bowl LIX, recording 2.5 sacks in that sport.
2019: Edge Maxx Crosby (Raiders, No. 106 general)
Honorable mentions: S Julian Love (New York Giants, No. 108 general), RB Tony Pollard (Dallas Cowboys, No. 128 general), LB Drue Tranquill (Los Angeles Chargers, No. 130 general), LB Dre Greenlaw (San Francisco 49ers, No. 148 general), WR Hunter Renfrow (Raiders, No. 149 general), LB Andrew Van Ginkel (Miami Dolphins, No. 151 general)
The Raiders had three first-round picks within the 2019 NFL Draft, however the perfect participant they acquired that yr was chosen at the beginning of Day 3. Crosby was drafted within the fourth spherical that yr, outshining top-five decide and fellow defensive finish Clelin Ferrell of their rookie season along with the Raiders. He recorded 10 sacks that yr and has arguably turn into one of many league’s finest defensive gamers over the past 4, as he is been a uncommon highly-productive every-down participant alongside the sting. He earned his fourth straight Professional Bowl this previous season after recording 7.5 sacks in simply 12 video games.
Crosby wasn’t the one notable participant the Raiders acquired on Day 3 of the 2019 draft. Renfrow was among the finest slot huge receivers within the NFL for a bit after he acquired drafted by the Raiders. Elsewhere, Greenlaw grew to become one other Day 3 hit for John Lynch.
2020: CB L’Jarius Snead (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, No. 138 general)
Honorable mentions: WR Gabe Davis (Buffalo Payments, No. 128 general), C Tyler Biadasz (Dallas Cowboys, No. 146 general), WR Darnell Mooney (Chicago Bears, No. 173 general), G Mike Onwenu (New England Patriots, No. 182 general)
There weren’t many diamonds within the tough within the 2020 draft. Following the 2024 season, Biadasz is the one participant from that draft class to have been named a Professional Bowler.
However Snead will get the sting in our record right here because of his contributions to 2 Tremendous Bowl titles for the Chiefs. He and Trent McDuffie shaped one of many league’s finest cornerback duos for a few seasons in Kansas Metropolis as Snead recorded 10 interceptions over his 4 years in Kansas Metropolis.
2021: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions, No. 112 general)
Honorable mentions: C Drew Dalman (Atlanta Falcons, No. 114 general), S Camryn Bynum (Minnesota Vikings, No. 125 general), CB Deommodore Lenoir (San Francisco 49ers, No. 172 general), S Talona Hufanga (San Francisco 49ers, No. 180 general), G Trey Smith (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, No. 226 general), G Will Fries (Indianapolis Colts, No. 248 general)
The Lions’ sudden turnaround may be credited to their drafting in recent times. The choice of St. Brown is without doubt one of the finest instances of that, which landed them one of many sport’s finest huge receivers within the fourth spherical. Even because the Lions regarded listless in 2021, St. Brown had 912 receiving yards as a rookie. He is solely gotten higher since then, incomes three Professional Bowl nods.
Day 3 of the 2021 draft was definitely a superb one to search out an inside offensive lineman as effectively. Dalman, Smith and Fries every lately grew to become among the many highest-paid gamers at their positions. In the meantime, the 49ers had been capable of finding a pair of defensive backs in Lenoir and Hufanga who helped them compete in recent times, including extra credence to the concept that nailing your late-round picks is essential.
2022: QB Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers, No. 262 general)
Honorable mentions: TE Jake Ferguson (Dallas Cowboys, No. 129 general), OT Zach Tom (Green Bay Packers, No. 140 general), CB Tariq Woolen (Seattle Seahawks, No. 153 general), RB Kyren Williams (Los Angeles Chargers, No. 164 general), CB DaRon Bland (Dallas Cowboys, No. 167 general), RB Isiah Pacheco (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, No. 251 general)
Lynch continued his success of discovering expertise on Day 3 of the draft in 2022. The 49ers chosen Purdy with the ultimate choice of that yr’s draft, and he shortly grew to become probably the most related “Mr. Irrelevant” in NFL historical past. Following accidents to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, Purdy took over because the 49ers’ beginning quarterback late within the 2022 season and helped them get to the NFC Championship Recreation. He set a report for the perfect passer ranking for a quarterback in his first 5 profession begins.
Is Brock Purdy a high 10 QB?
Purdy proved that the 2022 season wasn’t a fluke along with his play in 2023. He led the league in passer ranking that yr, serving to the 49ers get again to the Tremendous Bowl. Now, he is reportedly in line to obtain a contract price over $50 million, a considerable increase from the $724,000 he made as a rookie.
Honorable mentions: OT Dawand Jones (Cleveland Browns, No. 111 general)
It is solely been two years, but it surely’s fairly clear Nacua is the perfect participant to return from Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Rams’ fifth-round decide usurped Cooper Kupp as Matthew Stafford’s go-to huge receiver in Los Angeles nearly instantly, setting the report for many receiving yards ever by a rookie (1,486). Nacua missed a superb portion of the 2024 season, however he was nonetheless extremely productive in 12 months 2. He had 79 receptions for 990 yards and three touchdowns in 11 video games final season, ending third in receiving yards per sport.
Honorable mentions: RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (New York Giants, No. 166 general), CB Tarheeb Still (Los Angeles Chargers, No. 137 general)
The 2024 draft was a superb one to discover a operating again on Day 3. Tampa Bay was ready so as to add one other productive playmaker to its offense within the fourth spherical, as Irving rushed for 1,122 yards on 5.4 yards per carry as a rookie.
The departure of Saquon Barkley and his prompt success with the Eagles clearly stung for Giants followers, however Tracy a minimum of soothed that ache a bit bit as a rookie this previous season. He rushed for 839 yards on 4.4 yards per carry, exhibiting some promise because the yr went alongside.
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