We have another unique scenario with this NFL draft top 10: the #1 player is a Hall of Fame Dolphins defender, the #2 spot went to a Dolphins defender from their 1972 undefeated team, & the #3 player played three seasons with Miami and had a 17.5 sack season. On top of that, there was an unusual amount of depth with this pick. If the #1 player from pick #72 (Henry Thomas) had been picked one pick later, he would be ranked eighth. The top 10 players drafted 73rd overall combined had 10 Super Bowl rings & and a pre-1970 NFL Championship (1964).
Active players drafted 73rd overall: former Giants QB Mike Glennon, N.C. State, (drafted by Tampa Bay Buccaneers) 2013; New York Jets RB Tevin Coleman, Indiana, (drafted by Atlanta Falcons) 2015; Baltimore Ravens RB Kenyan Drake, Alabama, (drafted by Miami Dolphins) 2016; San Francisco 49ers DE Jordan Willis, Kansas State, (drafted by Cincinnati Bengals) 2017; Miami Dolphins DE/OLB Jerome Baker, Ohio State, 2018; Chicago Bears RB David Montgomery, Iowa State, 2019; Jacksonville Jaguars DT DaVon Hamilton, Ohio State, 2020; Philadelphia Eagles DT Milton Williams, Louisiana Tech, 2021; Indianapolis Colts TE Jelani Woods, Virginia, 2022
10. Detroit Lions-Rocky Freitas, T, Oregon State, 1967
He played 11 years for the Detroit Lions (1968-1977) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1978). He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1972, and was a Second-team All-Pro that year as well. In 11 seasons he started 117 of 134 games played.
9. Houston Texans-Jacoby Jones, WR/KR/PR, Lane, 2007
He played nine years for the Houston Texans (2007-2011), Baltimore Ravens (2012-2014), San Diego Chargers (2015), and Pittsburgh Steelers (2015). He was selected to the Pro Bowl & a First-team All-Pro in 2012, when he had two kick returns for touchdowns and a punt return for a touchdown. He set records for longest kick return (108 yards) and longest play in a Super Bowl, as well as most all purpose yards in a Super Bowl (288 yards) in the Ravens 34-31 win over the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. He is best known for the “Mile High Miracle”, a 70 yard touch down catch from Joe Flacco in the 2012 AFC Divisional playoff match against the Broncos that tied the game they later won in double overtime. In nine seasons he started 33 of 128 games played, and had 276 punts returned for 2,688 yards and four touchdowns, 183 kickoff returns for 4,940 yards and five touchdowns, and 203 catches for 2,733 yards and four touchdowns.
8. Cleveland Browns-Anthony Pleasant, DE, Tennessee State, 1990
He played 14 seasons with the Cleveland Browns (1990-1995), Baltimore Ravens (1996), Atlanta Falcons (1997), New York Jets (1998-1999), San Francisco 49ers (2000), & New England Patriots (2001-2003). He finished in a four way tie for the league lead with six forced fumbles in 1995. He was with the Patriots for their first two Super Bowl wins, winning Super Bowl XXXVI & XXXVIII. In 14 seasons he started 157 of 202 games played, and had 534 tackles (267 solo), 58 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 13 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries for 46 yards, and two interceptions.
7. Cleveland Browns-Paul Wiggin, DE, Stanford, 1956
He spent his entire 11 year career (1957-1967) with the Cleveland Browns (1957-1967). He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1965 & 1967, and was a member of 1964 NFL Champion Browns team. In 11 seasons he started 127 of 146 games, and had 19 fumble recoveries for three yards and a touchdown, 60.5 sacks from 1960-1967, and three interceptions for 22 yards and a touchdown. After retiring as a player, he went straight into coaching, serving as an assistant with the 49ers (1968-1974), before becoming the Head Coach of the Chiefs (1975-1977), defensive coordinator of the Saints (1978-1979), & Head Coach at Stanford (1980-1983). He joined the Vikings as defensive line coach (1985-1991), and later spent 24 years as a senior consultant for pro personnel (1992-2015). He was named to the Cleveland Browns Legends in 2008.
6. Kansas City Chiefs-Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas, 2008
He played 11 years with the Kansas City Chiefs (2008-2016), Denver Broncos (2017), and Jacksonville Jaguars (2018). He was named to the Pro Bowl four times: in 2010, and 2012-2014. He was a First-Team All-Pro in 2010 & 2013, and a Second-Team All-Pro in 2012. He led the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns in 2013. In 11 seasons he started 69 of 119 games played, and had 1,407 carries for 7,563 yards and 44 touchdowns, along with 310 catches for 2,593 yards and 10 touchdowns, and 51 kickoff returns for 1,246 yards and one touchdown.
5. New England Patriots-Steve McMichael, DT, Texas, 1980
He played 15 years for the New England Patriots (1980), Chicago Bears (1981-1993), and Green Bay Packers (1994). He was a member of the 85′ Bears team that went 15-1 and won Super Bowl XX. He was a First-team All-Pro in 1985 & 1987, and a Second-team All-Pro in 1986 & 1991. He was selected to the Pro Bowl two years in a row, in 1986 & 1987. In 15 seasons he started 171 of 213 games played, and had 847 tackles, 95 sacks, 17 fumble recoveries for 67 yards, 13 forced fumbles, three safeties, and two interceptions for five yards. He was named to The Top 100 Greatest Bears of all Time.
4. San Francisco 49ers-Guy McIntyre, G, Georgia, 1984
He played 13 years with the San Francisco 49ers (1984-1993), Green Bay Packers (1994), and Philadelphia Eagles (1995-1996). He was named to five straight Pro Bowls (1989-1993), and was a Second-team All-Pro in 1992. He was a member of three Super Bowl winning 49ers teams: Super Bowl XIX, XXIII, & XXIV. In 13 seasons he started 125 of 186 games played.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers-Joey Porter, OLB, Colorado State, 1999
He played 13 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1999-2006), Miami Dolphins (2007-2009), and Arizona Cardinals (2010-2011). He was a First-team All-Pro in 2002 & 2008, and a Second-team All-Pro in 2004, 2005, & 2008. He was named to the Pro Bowl four times: in 2002, 2004, 2005, & 2008. He had 10.5 sacks in 2005, when the Steelers went on to win Super Bowl XL. In 13 seasons he started 171 of 188 games played, and had 689 tackles (516 solo), 124 tackles for loss, 98 sacks, 72 QB hits, 49 passes defensed, 25 forced fumbles, 12 interceptions for 233 yards and a touchdown, 10 fumble recoveries for 92 yards and two touchdowns, and one safety. He was named to the NFL 2000’s All-Decade Team, and the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team. After retiring as a player, he served as an assistant coach from 2014-2018.
2. Miami Dolphins-Dick Anderson, S, Colorado, 1968 He spent his entire 10 year career (1968-1977) with the Miami Dolphins. He was named AFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1968, when he had eight interceptions for 230 yards and a touchdown. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three years in a row (1972-1974), was a First-team All-Pro in 1972 & 1973, and a Second-team All-Pro in 1974. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1973, when he led the NFL with eight interceptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He is one of only 12 players in NFL history to record four interceptions in a single game, a feat that occurred seven times in the sixties, but it’s now so rare that it’s only happened twice in the 2000’s. He was a member of the undefeated 1972 Dolphins team that won Super Bowl VII, and they became back-to-back champs when they won Super Bowl VIII. In 10 years he started 100 of 121 games played, and had 34 interceptions for 792 yards and three touchdowns, 16 fumble recoveries for 100 yards and a touchdown, and two sacks. He was named to the NFL 1970’s All-Decade Team. He was inducted into the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll in 2006.
1. Miami Dolphins-Jason Taylor, OLB/DE, Akron, 1996
He played a total of 15 seasons with the Miami Dolphins (1997-2007, 2009, 2011), Washington Redskins (2008), and New York Jets (2010). He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 1997, when he had 42 tackles, five sacks, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times, in 2000, 2002, and 2004-2007. He was a First-team All-Pro in 2000, 2002, and 2006, and a Second-team All-Pro in 2001. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, when he had 62 tackles, 14 QB hits,13.5 sacks, 11 passes defensed, a league leading nine forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries for 33 yards, two interceptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns. He was the AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 & 2002, and led the league with 18.5 sacks in 2002. He was the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2007. In 15 seasons he started 199 of 233 games played, and had 788 tackles (536 solo), 151 tackles for loss from 1999-2011, 139.5 sacks, 87 passes defensed, 67 QB hits from 2006-2011, 46 forced fumbles, 29 fumble recoveries for 246 yards and a n NFL record six touchdowns, eight interceptions for 110 yards and three touchdowns, and three safeties. As of this writing, he is currently ranked seventh on the all-time sack list, he’s only been passed by Julius Peppers since his retirement. He was named to the NFL 2000’s All-Decade Team. He was inducted into the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll in 2012, only a year after his retirement. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
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