Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe was the 192nd pick in the 1990 draft. Icon Sportswire

Bo, Sharpe, Fitzpatrick & more: The best seventh-round picks in NFL history

Finding an NFL player in the seventh round can be like finding a needle in a haystack for NFL general managers. These 25 seventh-rounders went above and beyond, turning into great NFL contributors.

1 of 25

2009: Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

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Edelman went from quarterback at Kent State to one of Tom Brady's favorite receivers in New England. While Edelman has yet to make the Pro Bowl, he has three 1,000 yard receiving seasons and was the MVP of Super Bowl LIII.

2 of 25

2006: Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints

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Colston was an immediate hit after the Saints drafted him out of Hofstra, with 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie season. He proved to be one of Drew Brees' top targets for most of his career, with six 1,000 yard seasons and 9,759 receiving yards for his 10-year career.

3 of 25

2005: Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, St. Louis Rams

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Fitzpatrick has been the ultimate journeyman quarterback, playing for eight different teams during his NFL career. He started his career under Mike Martz in St. Louis after playing at Harvard. "FitzMagic" has only one winning season as a starter, but he has had some strong performances in his long career over 139 starts.

4 of 25

2005: Jay Ratliff, DL, Dallas Cowboys

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Ratliff plugged up the middle capably for the Cowboys and Bears during his 11-year career. He made four Pro Bowls in Dallas and posted 35 sacks for his career. Ratliff was a seventh-rounder out of Auburn.

5 of 25

1999: Donald Driver, WR, Green Bay Packers

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Driver spent an extended stretch as Green Bay's No. 1 wideout, with seven 1,000 yard seasons during his career. He spent his entire NFL career with the Packers, making three Pro Bowls as one of the most notable football alums of Alcorn State.

6 of 25

1995: Adam Timmerman, OG, Green Bay Packers

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Timmerman won a Super Bowl with both the Packers and Rams and was one of the big signings that spurred the 1999 Rams to a Cinderella season. During his 12-year career, the South Dakota State alum started 172 games and made the Pro Bowl in 2001.

7 of 25

1994: Jamal Anderson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

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Anderson had a short prime with the Falcons, emerging as the team's starting running back in 1996 two years after he was drafted from Utah. He had four 1,000 yard seasons in five years, including his All-Pro season in 1998 when he had a record 410 carries and rushed for 1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns.

8 of 25

1994: Tom Nalen, OC, Denver Broncos

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Nalen won two Super Bowls as Denver's starting center and also made five Pro Bowls during his 14-year career. He started 188 games for the Broncos after playing his college ball at Boston College.

9 of 25

1990: Shannon Sharpe, TE, Denver Broncos

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Sharpe had an accomplished Hall of Fame career after playing college football at Savannah State. He made seven consecutive Pro Bowls with the Broncos, accumulating three 1,000 yard seasons. He signed with the Ravens in 2000, making another Pro Bowl and winning a Super Bowl, before finishing his career with Denver. Over 14 seasons, Sharpe had 10,060 yards receiving and 62 touchdowns.

10 of 25

1987: Bo Jackson, RB, Los Angeles Raiders

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Jackson was taken by the Bucs first overall in 1986 but refused to sign due to a falling out with the team. Instead, he signed to play baseball in the Kansas City Royals organization, but that didn't stop the Raiders from selecting the athletic legend in the seventh round the following year. The gamble paid off, with Jackson agreeing to sign if given the opportunity to play two sports. Jackson played only four seasons, with his football career halted due to a hip injury, but he averaged 5.4 yards for his career and made the Pro Bowl in 1990.

11 of 25

1982: Gary Anderson, K, Buffalo Bills

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Buffalo drafted Anderson from nearby Syracuse in 1982, but he failed to make the team. He was able to tag on with the Steelers and played 13 seasons, followed by stops in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Minnesota and Tennessee. In total, Anderson played 23 NFL seasons, made four Pro Bowls and ranks third on the NFL all-time points rankings.

12 of 25

1982: Steve Jordan, TE, Minnesota Vikings

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Jordan was drafted out of Brown in 1982 and played 13 seasons for the Vikings. He made five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1986-1991 and started 149 games for his career. Jordan's son, Cameron Jordan, has since become a star pass rusher with the Saints.

13 of 25

1979: Max Montoya, OG, Cincinnati Bengals

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Montoya played 16 seasons in the NFL out of UCLA, appearing in two Super Bowls and making four Pro Bowls. He finished his career playing five seasons with the Raiders after 11 years in Cincinnati.

14 of 25

1971: Harold Carmichael, WR, Philadelphi Eagles

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Carmichael began his NFL career as a tight end before shifting to wideout in his second year. The 6-foot-8 receiver also played basketball and track and field at Southern and put together a terrific pro football career with four Pro Bowls and 79 career touchdowns.

15 of 25

1970: Lemar Parrish, DB, Cincinnati Bengals

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Selected out of Lincoln University in Missouri, Parrish made an immediate impact for the Bengals and made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season as a cornerback and kick returner. He served in multiple roles during much of his career, making eight Pro Bowls in 13 seasons.

16 of 25

1970: Jake Scott, DB, Miami Dolphins

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Scott was a key player on Miami's undefeated 1972 squad, making his second consecutive Pro Bowl. The Georgia alum made five consecutive Pro Bowls as a safety and return man and played nine NFL seasons between the Dolphins and Washington.

17 of 25

1967: Bobby Bryant, CB, Minnesota Vikings

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Bryant had 51 career interceptions with the Vikings. Among the South Carolina alum's other career accomplishments were an NFL championship and two Pro Bowls.

18 of 25

1967: Rayfield Wright, OT, Dallas Cowboys

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Drafted as a tight end out of Fort Valley State, Wright converted to right tackle full time and had a Hall of Fame career with the Cowboys. He made six Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls with the team.

19 of 25

1964: Bob Hayes, WR, Dallas Cowboys

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Hayes was a two-time gold medal-winning Olympic sprinter who found NFL success beginning in 1965, with 1,003 yards and a league-high 12 receiving touchdowns. He led the league in touchdown receptions again the following year en route to three consecutive Pro Bowls. During his 11-year career, the Florida A&M alum averaged 20.0 yards per reception and had 71 receiving touchdowns. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2009.

20 of 25

1960: Larry Wilson, DB, St. Louis Cardinals

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Wilson had a Hall of Fame career with the Cardinals over 13 seasons. He made eight consecutive Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro five times after his college career at Utah.

21 of 25

1959: Eddie Meador, DB, Los Angeles Rams

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An Arkansas Tech alum, Meador made six Pro Bowls during his NFL career. He played his entire 12-year career with the Rams, finishing with 46 interceptions.

22 of 25

1958: Bobby Mitchell, WR/RB, Cleveland Browns

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After four seasons teaming up with Jim Brown in Cleveland, Mitchell was traded to Washington in 1962. He led the league in receiving yards in 1962 and 1963, starting a string of five straight years with at least 800 yards receiving. The Illinois alum was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

23 of 25

1957: Gene Hickerson, OG, Cleveland Browns

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Hickerson had a Hall of Fame career with the Browns, starting 183 career games and making six Pro Bowls from 1958-1973. The Ole Miss alum got his call to the Hall of Fame in 2007.

24 of 25

1953: Joe Schmidt, LB, Detroit Lions

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Schmidt had an illustrious 13-year Hall of Fame career with the Lions, with a streak of 10 straight Pro Bowls from 1954-1963. He won two NFL championships in Detroit after being named an All-American at Pitt.

25 of 25

1953: Jim Ringo, OC, Green Bay Packers

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Ringo played 15 seasons in the NFL between Green Bay and Philadelphia after he was drafted in 1953 out of Syracuse. He made 10 Pro Bowls at center and made the Hall of Fame in 1981.

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