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They’re Not No. 1

Not happy with your NFL team’s first-round selection(s)? Relax. Many of the greatest players in NFL history weren’t Round 1 draft picks. There’s Tom Brady, of course, who was a sixth-round selection by the New England Patriots. The late, great Lyle Alzado was taken by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round. And four-time Pro Bowl running back wasn’t even drafted. So pay close attention to today’s second and third rounds (and rounds four through seven tomorrow). There is guaranteed to be some terrific sleeper picks that will help your team in the seasons to come.

Here is a (very subjective) list of each NFL team’s best non-first round pick. Most of these players are now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

ARIZONA: Dan Dierdorf, OL. 2nd Round. 1971.

ATLANTA: Jeff Van Note, OL. 11th Round. 1969.

BALTIMORE: Marshal Yanda, OL. 3rd Round. 2007.

BUFFALO: Thurman Thomas, RB. 2nd Round. 1988.

CAROLINA: Steve Smith, WR. 3rd Round. 2001.

CHICAGO: Mike Singletary, LB. 2nd Round. 1981.

CINCINNATI: Boomer Esiason, QB. 2nd Round. 1984.

CLEVELAND: Leroy Kelly, RB. 8th Round. 1964.

DALLAS: Jason Witten, TE. 3rd Round. 2003.

DENVER: Lyle Alzado, DE. 4th Round. 1971.

DETROIT: Lem Blarney, DB. 2nd Round. 1967.

GREEN BAY: Brett Favre, QB. 2nd Round. 1991.

HOUSTON: Arian Foster, RB. Undrafted. 2009.

INDIANAPOLIS: T.Y. Hilton, WR. 3rd Round. 2012.

JACKSONVILLE: Maurice Jones-Drew, RB. 2nd Round. 2006.

KANSAS CITY: Bobby Bell, LB/DE. 7th Round. 1963.

LAS VEGAS: Howie Long, DE. 2nd Round. 1981.

L.A. CHARGERS: Dan Fouts, QB. 3rd Round. 1973.

L.A. RAMS: Jackie Slater, OL. 3rd Round. 1976.

MIAMI: Dwight Stephenson, OL. 2nd Round. 1980.

MINNESOTA: Fran Tarkenton, QB. 3rd Round. 1961.

NEW ENGLAND: Tom Brady, QB. 6th Round. 2000.

NEW ORLEANS: Rickey Jackson, LB. 2nd Round. 1981.

N.Y. GIANTS: Harry Carson, LB. 4th Round. 1976.

N.Y. JETS: Mark Gastineau, DE. 2nd Round. 1979.

PHILADELPHIA: Harold Carmichael, WR. 7th Round. 1971.

PITTSBURGH: Jack Lambert, LB. 2nd Round. 1974.

SAN FRANCISCO: Joe Montana, QB. 3rd Round. 1979.

SEATTLE: Russell Wilson, QB. 3rd Rd. 2012.

TAMPA BAY: Ronde Barber, DB. 3rd Round. 1993.

TENNESSEE: Elvin Bethea, DE. 3rd Round. 1968.

WASHINGTON: Russ Grimm, OL. 3rd Round. 1981.

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