X
Skip to content

Mr. Relevants: Late-Round Picks Who Mattered in the Super Bowl

The NFL Draft process has become extremely thorough with countless hours of scouting and analyzing. Yet, elite players fall into the late rounds in nearly every draft. Some of Super Bowl 57’s best players were late-round selections, like center Jason Kelce, running back Isiah Pacheco, and guard TreySmith.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadephia Eagles are no strangers to getting fantastic value in the later rounds of drafts. Which squad will reign supreme? Super Bowl odds have the Eagles as one-point favorites (-120).

Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/afp

Let’s check the latest Super Bowl picks, stats, injury reports, and Super Bowl odds. We’ve got plenty of Super Bowl lines for you to consider.

Through the years, plenty of late-round picks were key players in the Super Bowl. In fact, some of the greatest players ever were labeled as irrelevant in the draft and became the epitome of relevance. Here are several late-round picks who thrived in the Super Bowl.

1. Quarterback Tom Brady

  • Pick No. 199, Round 6 in the 2000 NFL Draft

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. The New England Patriots made the greatest pick of all time in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Quarterback Tom Brady went on to become the GOAT, winning seven Super Bowls and five Super Bowl MVPs.

2. Tight End Shannon Sharpe

  • Pick No. 192, Round 7 in the 1990 NFL Draft

Shannon Sharpe has made a name for himself as a TV personality. However, he was one heck of a ball player in the 1990s. Sharpe could be the second-best late-round pick, behind Brady. The Hall of Fame tight end was a key piece on three Super Bowl teams – two with the Denver Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens. Sharpe did not put up gaudy numbers in his three Super Bowl appearances, but he was certainly a presence felt on the field.

3. Quarterback Bart Starr

  • Pick No. 200, Round 17 in the 1956 NFL Draft

Before Brett Farve and Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers legend Bart Starr started it all. Starr and coach Vince Lombardi were an iconic pairing that won three NFL championships before the merger and two Super Bowls. Starr was the MVP in Super Bowl 1 and Super Bowl 2.

4. Center Mike Webster

  •  Pick No. 125, Round 5 in the 1974 NFL Draft

Mike Webster, or Iron Mike, was one of the best centers in NFL history. He was an anchor on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line during their four Super Bowl run from 1975 to 1980.

5. Quarterback Roger Staubach

  • Pick No. 129, Round 10 in the 1964 NFL Draft

In the 1964 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected quarterback Roger Staubach with the No. 129 pick. This would change the course of the Cowboys’ franchise, as Staubach would engineer four Super Bowl appearances. Dallas won Super Bowl 6 and Super Bowl 12. Staubach won MVP in Super Bowl 6 with 119 passing yards and two touchdowns. His Captain America persona would also lead the Cowboys to take on the nickname “America’s Team.” One point to consider: Staubach went when he did because he has a military obligation because he went to the Naval Academy.

6. Running Back Terrell Davis

  • Pick No. 196, Round 6 in the 1995 NFL Draft

Terrell Davis is the last running back to win Super Bowl MVP. His 157 rushing yards, which are the fifth-most in a Super Bowl, lifted the Denver Broncos to a Super Bowl 32 win. Davis had a legendary 1998 season with 2008 yards, and he won the regular-season MVP Award. The Broncos repeated as champions in Super Bowl 33, and Davis totaled 102 rushing yards.

7. Defensive End Richard Dent

  • Pick No. 203, Round 8 in the 1983 NFL Draft

The 1985 Chicago Bears defense is regarded as the best in NFL history. Defensive end Richard Dent was a star defensive end on the unit, recording 17 sacks with First-Team All-Pro honors. With two sacks and two forced fumbles in Super Bowl 20, Dent won MVP. The Hall of Fame defensive end also won Super Bowl 29 with the San Francisco 49ers.

8. Wide Receiver Dwight Clark

  • Pick No. 249, Round 10 in the 1979 NFL Draft

Wide receiver Dwight Clark is a San Francisco 49ers legend. His No. 87 is retired, and he delivered an iconic performance in the postseason. In the 1981 NFC Championship Game, Clark snagged “The Catch” that put the 49ers ahead of the Cowboys 28-27 in the final minute of play. His monster 120-yard, two-touchdown performance helped vault San Francisco to the Super Bowl. Clark won Super Bowl 16 and Super Bowl 19 with the 49ers. He recorded more than 40 receiving yards in both games.

9. Center Matt Birk

  • Pick No. 173, Round 6 in the 1998 NFL Draft

Another legendary center was a late-round pick. Matt Birk made four Pro Bowls with the Minnesota Vikings, but his postseason success came with the Ravens. At 36, Birk started all 16 games and anchored Baltimore’s offensive line in its Super Bowl 47 win – also known as the Harbaugh Bowl.”

10. Safety Jake Scott

  • Pick No. 159 Pick, Round 7 in the 1970 NFL Draft

Safety Jake Scott made five consecutive Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams from 1971 to 1975. He was a vital piece of the legendary Don Shula teams that made three consecutive Super Bowls from 1972 to 1974. Scott won MVP in Super Bowl 7 with two interceptions. It capped Miami’s undefeated season at 17-0. The Dolphins repeated as champions in Super Bowl 8.

11. Wide Receiver Antonio Brown

  • Pick No. 195, Round 6 in the 2010 NFL Draft

Antonio Brown has made headlines for the wrong reasons in recent years due to off-the-field antics. During his prime, Brown was a dominant wide receiver with the Steelers, making seven Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams. However, Brown did not win a Super Bowl in Pittsburgh. He joined Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2020 season. Brown was not the same dominant force but received consistent targets from the GOAT during the Super Bowl 55 run.

Which late-round pick can become the next player to win a Super Bowl? Smith and Pacheco with the Chiefs, or will Kelce grab his second ring with the Eagles? Check out a variety of Super Bowl lines at BetUS Sportsbook.



The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.

Did you find this article interesting?

Comments (0)