NFL drafts have everyone’s eyes on them and with a good reason. It is natural to want to take a trip down the memory lane and see which one of these were worthy of mention. There were many players who were drafted later than expected and came to have dazzling performances.

There are also players who were drafted earlier and gave a spectacular run which was not estimated from them.

6 Biggest NFL Draft Steals In The Last Decade

NFL drafts have everyone’s eyes on them and with a good reason. It is natural to want to take a trip down the memory lane and see which one of these were worthy of mention. There were many players who were drafted later than expected and came to have dazzling performances.

There are also players who were drafted earlier and gave a spectacular run which was not estimated from them. In this article, we will be looking at previous draft steals of the past ten years to relive the glory days.

1. C Jason Kelce, Eagles

This story is from 2011 and Kelce was Pick No. 191 in the draft. He proved to be the perfect offensive lineman. The Philadelphia Eagles shocked everyone with the decision to choose Jason Kelce in the final rounds of the draft. An All-Pro offensive lineman, Kelce had great athleticism to his side. One has seen NFL odds turned to his favor soon after he started playing.

There was a slight concern with his weight but his zeal for the game and his skill overcame all the issues. He was tested to be in the 91st percentile which is very impressive. There should have been no issues with his career performance. Kelce has played nearly 140 games since being drafted and even supported the Eagles for the Super Bowl title in 2017. Sports betting thrives on promising players like that which you can see on BetUS.

2. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott was drafted in 2016 in the fourth round. He was pick no, 135 and supported his team pretty well after injuries to significant players like Kellen Moore, and Tony Romo. He began as a starting quarterback and has stayed true to his position ever since. Romo  announced his retirement at the end of Prescott’s first season.

Prescott has won 52 of his 85 starts which stands at a majority and gives him great odds. Even though he is the eighth quarterback taken on, he has given the Dallas Cowboys 143 touchdowns in the last six seasons of the NFL.

He made two Pro Bowls, in 216 itself and then two years later in 2018. He also beat the players drafted before him to become Offensive Rookie of the Year.

3. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson is called the biggest steal of NFL drafts of all time and probably rightly. He was pick no, 75 in 2012’s draft’s third round. He was expected to be behind Mike Flynn but Wilson beat Flynn natg training camp and made the world see his potential.

The following year, Seahawks saw a big win in the Super Bowl which could have been followed the following year too if they had not been defeated by the New England Patriots.

Wildon is called a definite steal because of nine Pro Bowl titles and several franchise records. He has the record for most passing touchdowns and most passing yards to his name. The Denver Broncos, who lost to the Seahawks in the 2013 Super Bowl, eventually bought Wilson in 2024. But he will still go down in history as a definitive steal.

4. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

Let us get a bit more erect with our mentions which would still count as one of the biggest NFL steals of the last decade. Cooper Kupp was the pick no, 69 by the Rams in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. His selection in the 2017 paid well in 20121 when he showed an impressive performance which every fan and player would be in awe of.

He began as a wide receiver in his rookie season but also managed to get 869 yards. This was increased to 1000 yards the following season but things were only getting started.

He raised the bar of expectations soon after when he attained the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2024. He went on  to be named the Super Bowl MVP with nearly 20 touchdowns making him an NFL draft steal worth including in this list.

5. Antonio Brown, Steelers

Brown’s personal history has been turbulent but his play on the field has been nothing short of impressive. He was picked in the 2010 NFL draft as pick no. 195. If we talk of his performance in the last decade, no one comes close. He has been the receiver of the most number of throws and has had receiving yards recorded more than any other player.

He also boasts of having the most touchdown catches during the period of 2011 to 2018. He has the title of All-Pro to his name about four times and by the end of the decade has seven Pro Bowl selections. Although his game is no longer what it was now, we can expect him to make it to the Hall of Fame soon enough.

6. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

A definite NFL draft steal, Hill was drafted in 2016  as pick no, 165. His pro point wa shis speed which should not be ignored. He had a win in the World Junior Championships in 2012 for the US. He was named as the fourth wide receiver in the fifth round and then he showed the world what he was worth.

He ended his rookie season with 593 receiving yards which was very impressive. He soon hit 1000 receiving yards in 2017 but his career best is yet to come. He came to his potential with Partick Mahomes and since then racked up his receiving yards to 4,854 and receiving touchdowns to 43. In 2024, Hill was handed over to the Miami Dolphins which was also the biggest payout deal in NFL history till date.

The Takeaway

One can easily see that these players had significant progress ever since they were drafted across the decade. Their rookie years set precedent for their impressive performance in the years to follow. They were a steal and proved to be assets to their teams.