Best late-round picks by all 32 NFL teams
— -- A couple of late-round picks in the 1979 NFL draft helped to launch a dynasty for the San Francisco 49ers. Twenty-one years later, the New England Patriots drafted a game-changing quarterback in the sixth round. NFL Nation reporters detail the best late-round draft moves for every team.
Click the links after each team to view the full posts, or check out the full thread here.
Arizona Cardinals: A 6-foot, 200-pound special-teams player isn't supposed to be the foundation for a team, but the Cardinals found one in this sixth-round pick in 2012. Read more.
Atlanta Falcons: A seventh-round pick out of Utah in 1994, Jamal Anderson eventually made himself into a household name and for more than one reason. Read more.
Baltimore Ravens: This outside linebacker drafted at No. 186 for the Ravens developed into a two-time Pro Bowl player and one of the most versatile defenders of his generation. Read more.
Buffalo Bills: There shouldn't be much question about whether this 2006 fifth-rounder and defensive tackle will be recognized one day on the Bills' wall of fame. Read more.
Carolina Panthers: Fourteen cornerbacks were taken ahead of Josh Norman in the 2012 draft. Three were taken in the first round. Only Norman, the 143rd overall pick, has made the Pro Bowl. Read more.
Chicago Bears: Richard Dent had trouble keeping his weight up at Tennessee State, which allowed him to slide to the Bears in the eighth round in 1983. Read more.
Cincinnati Bengals: Despite being an undersized nose tackle, this 1983 10th-round draft pick holds the Bengals' franchise record with 1,008 career tackles. Read more.
Cleveland Browns: The Browns already had Jim Brown, Ernie Green and Charley Scales in the backfield, but this eighth-round pick in 1964 became a Hall of Famer himself. Read more.
Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys took a gamble on drafting a player who had to fulfill a military commitment, but it paid off when this QB became a league MVP. Read more.
Denver Broncos: The Broncos have had great success with late-round picks, but any team would be hard-pressed to better their 1983 find of Karl Mecklenburg. Read more.
Detroit Lions: This fullback never rushed for more than 154 yards in a season, yet he is still one of the best -- if not the best -- late-round picks in Lions history. Read more.
Green Bay Packers: Alcorn State was the same school that produced quarterback Steve McNair, but it wasn't exactly a feeder program for the NFL. And Donald Driver didn't exactly look like a can't-miss pro prospect in 1999. Read more.
Houston Texans: A fourth-round selection in the 2006 draft, this tight end is the Texans' second-leading receiver all time. Read more.
Indianapolis Colts: Robert Mathis has made those who questioned his size and speed coming out of Alabama A&M look foolish, with 118 career sacks and six Pro Bowls. Read more.
Jacksonville Jaguars: For a guy who drew little attention coming out of Washington State, seventh-round pick Rob Meier is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated players in Jaguars history. Read more.
Kansas City Chiefs: Kevin Ross, the Chiefs' 173rd overall pick in the 1984 draft, surprised everyone by becoming one of the NFL's top cornerbacks. Read more.
Los Angeles Rams: One of the most dominant pass-rushers of all time was drafted in the 14th round in 1961 by the Rams. Read more.
Miami Dolphins: There was something special about this Dolphins middle linebacker who at draft time, according to experts, was too small, too slow and doubtful to even make the 53-man roster as a fifth-round pick. Read more.
Minnesota Vikings: When he was drafted in the sixth round out of Harvard, this center was a solid prospect but no one could have expected the St. Paul, Minnesota, native to have the impact he did. Read more.
New England Patriots: There shouldn't be much -- make that any -- debate when it comes to the Patriots' best late-round draft pick. Read more.
New Orleans Saints: Three picks away from being the final selection in the 2006 draft, this receiver went on to become the Saints' all-time leading player at the position. Read more.
New York Giants: The Giants have had success finding late-round gems, but their pick at No. 321 in 1953 stands out as a cornerstone selection. Read more.
New York Jets: One of the reasons why the 1977 draft is considered the greatest in Jets history is because it produced the franchise's best defensive player who was chosen in the sixth round. Read more.
Oakland Raiders: Bo Jackson was a Raider for only four seasons, and that was after baseball ended, but he left some indelible memories. Read more.
Pittsburgh Steelers: This sixth-round draft pick in 2010 has become arguably the NFL's top active receiver, notching the most catches in the league the past three seasons. Read more.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles have an improbable success story in their No. 161 pick in the 1971 draft. Read more.
San Diego Chargers: Even though he was a first-team All-American at Division I-AA Western Illinois, this strong safety fell to the Chargers in the fifth round of the 1994 draft. Read more.
San Francisco 49ers: The 1979 draft will be forever remembered as the draft that helped to launch a dynasty for the 49ers. Read more.
Seattle Seahawks: Fifth round, 154th overall, 25th cornerback. Those numbers are ones cornerback Richard Sherman says he won't ever forget. Read more.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers took a flyer on David Logan in the 12th round of the 1979 draft and the team received first-round value in return. Read more.
Tennessee Titans: This cornerback went from being a small-school seventh-rounder in 2006 to a first-team All-Pro in only three seasons. Read more.
Washington Redskins: Chris Hanburger's measurables and pedigree didn't scream, "future Hall of Famer." But that's what the Redskins got in the 18th round of the 1965 draft. Read more.