NFL Draft Gems: Patience Pays Off

0:00On April 22nd, NFL drafts are tough to call right away. Careers zigzag, but nothing beats when a general manager's risky first-round pick shuts up the doubters. Since 2010, we've seen gyms like Dallas grabbing center Travis Frederick at 31 overall in 2013, despite poor combine. Numbers, or Seattle taking Ed rusher Bruce Irvin early when off-field drama had him pegged for round three. Cowboys doubled down with offensive mime and Tyler Smith at 24 in 2022, labeled a project by experts. Raider snagged left tackle Colton Miller first overall in the John Gruden era, kicking off a shaky class that he alone stabilized. These guys started fast and bill franchises around them. Fans and pundits roasted picks like Buffalo jumping to seven for quarterback Josh Allen in 2018, expecting UCLA's Josh Rosen instead. Bears traded up for linebacker Leonard Floyd at nine in 2016, worried about his frame.

1:01Early struggles fueled the fire, but impacts hit hard. All pro nods, superbowl runs, steady sacks. Nor hits keep proving the point. Denver's bow-knicks drew a C-grade in 2024, yet he's led them to playoffs twice already. Carolina's Tedaroa McGmillan overcame speed concerns to drop a thousand yard rookie year, powering Bryce Young and an NFC South title, times the ultimate judge in this league. These vindicated bets remind us patience pays when athletic upside meet smart coaching. GM stay scheming while the hot takes fade. Stay locked in with NFL news today, AI powered updates. I'm Cory with the story.