#ICYMI: Diamonds In The Rough
With the 2017 NFL Draft going live in a few hours, now is a better time than ever to look at the tremendous athletes that have gotten picked late in the draft. Athletes that have mounted success in the league despite having a low draft stock.
Just briefly, a few athletes that have proven themselves to be the diamond in the rough these teams are looking for with their fifth or lower round picks. Bo Jackson was the number one overall draft pick by the Buccaneers in 1986, yet never signed with the team. After his time in the MLB, he reentered the draft in 1987, the Los Angeles Raiders got him with their 183rd pick in the seventh round. With just a total of 38 career games he averaged 5.4 yards per carry and was always a threat to score from any hash mark on the field. Even better, he was their second string running back. Wide receiver Dwight Clark was the 249th pick of the tenth round in the 1979 draft. Playing for the 49ers, he was the big playmaker when the team needed somebody to step up. During his career he won two super bowls and played in three. He had 506 receptions for 6,750 yards in his eight year career. To end a more recent diamond in the rough we all know of, Tom Brady. Tom was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2000 as the 199th pick in the sixth round. He has five Super Bowl rings and has led his team to seven of them. He holds almost all quarterback records, most notably most Super Bowl rings. Yet, the man is only 39 years old and still has a good amount of seasons left in him.
These types of players are what can come out of the 2017 draft. Yes, the top players could possibly have amazing careers, yet that's why they are chosen so high in the draft. These athletes that go late have to prove themselves to be worthy of that starting spot and then have to show the world how good they are. NFL teams are always wanting to be the ones to find that “needle in a haystack” per say. We will just have to wait to see what diamonds come out of this draft. Don’t expect to know they are the diamonds once the first game comes around though. Sure enough in a season or two those players will stand out and you’ll know who they are.
