The number of FCS players selected in the NFL Draft has decreased over time, but that hasn’t stopped some of them from becoming exceptional picks, even big values when taken in lower rounds.
A review of the last 10 NFL drafts (2012-21) reflects 151 FCS selections, and plenty of All-Pro and Pro Bowl players.
Following are The Analyst’s choices for the best FCS selection by round plus three honorable mention choices (except in the first round due to only three overall picks), then a list of all the selections:
First Round
Best FCS Pick
2016: Philadelphia Eagles (No. 2 overall) – Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
Since entering NFL, Wentz ranks 12th in passing yards (20,347), tied for 11th in touchdown passes (140)
All FCS Picks
2016: Philadelphia Eagles (No. 2 overall) – Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
2019: Houston Texans (23) – Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State
2021: San Francisco 49ers (3) – Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
Second Round
Best FCS Pick
2018: Indianapolis Colts (36) – Darius Leonard, OLB, South Carolina State
2018 tackles leader as NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year; All-Pro pick in all four seasons (three times on first team, once on second team)
Honorable Mention
2014: New England Patriots (62) – Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois
Highlight seasons: 7,788 passing yards, 47 TD passes while directing 49ers to appearances in Super Bowl 54 (2019 season) and 2021 NFC Championship Game
2016: Carolina Panthers (62) – James Bradberry, CB, Samford
380 tackles, 15 interceptions in six productive seasons, the last two with New York Giants
2020: Carolina Panthers (64) – Jeremy Chinn, SS, Southern Illinois
Two straight 100-tackle seasons to begin career; first player in NFL history to score defensive TDs on consecutive plays from scrimmage (versus Minnesota Vikings, 2020)
All FCS Picks
2012: St. Louis Rams (33) – Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State
2013: Atlanta Falcons (60) – Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
2014: New England Patriots (62) – Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois
2015: San Francisco 49ers (46) – Jaquiski Tartt, SS, Samford
2016: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (39) – Noah Spence, DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky
2016: Carolina Panthers (62) – James Bradberry, CB, Samford
2017: Kansas City Chiefs (59) – Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova
2018: Indianapolis Colts (36) – Darius Leonard, OLB, South Carolina State
2018: Philadelphia Eagles (49) – Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
2018: Oakland Raiders (57) – P.J. Hall, DT, Sam Houston State
2019: Indianapolis Colts (34) – Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Presbyterian/Temple
2019: Los Angeles Chargers (60) – Nasir Adderley, FS, Delaware
2020: Carolina Panthers (64) – Jeremy Chinn, SS, Southern Illinois
2021: Tennessee Titans (53) – Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
Third Round
Best FCS Pick
2017: St. Louis Rams (69) – Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
Three straight seasons of 90+ receptions, highlighted by 2021 receiving Triple Crown (145 catches, 1,947 yards, 16 TDs), NFL Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl 56 MVP
Honorable Mention
2012: St. Louis Rams (65) – Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana
23 INTs, including four pick-sixes, with four fumble recoveries in eight seasons (2012-19)
2013: New Orleans Saints (75) – Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Three-time Pro Bowler (2018-20) has allowed only four sacks in last four seasons (47 games); signed with Miami Dolphins in March
2016: Pittsburgh Steelers (89) – Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State
269 tackles and 26.5 sacks in career, including highs of 63 and 7.5, respectively, as 2021 Eagles’ Pro Bowler
All FCS Picks
2012: St. Louis Rams (65) – Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana
2013: New Orleans Saints (75) – Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
2013: Dallas Cowboys (80) – J.J. Wilcox, SS, Georgia Southern
2014: Miami Dolphins (67) – Billy Turner, OT, North Dakota State
2014: Cleveland Browns (94) – Terrance West, RB, Towson
2014: Minnesota Vikings (96) – Jerick McKinnon, RB, Georgia Southern
2015: Arizona Cardinals (86) – David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa
2016: Pittsburgh Steelers (89) – Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State
2017: St. Louis Rams (69) – Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
2017: New England Patriots (83) – Derek Rivers, DE/OLB, Youngstown State
2017: Arizona Cardinals (98) – Chad Williams, WR, Grambling State
2017: Denver Broncos (101) – Brendan Langley, CB, Lamar
2018: Oakland Raiders (65) – Brandon Parker, OT, North Carolina A&T
2019: Kansas City Chiefs (84) – Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois
2019: Jacksonville Jaguars (98) – Quincy Williams, SS, Murray State
2020: New Orleans Saints (105) – Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton
2021: Buffalo Bills (93) – Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
Fourth Round
Best FCS Pick
2013: Baltimore Ravens (130) – Kyle Juszczyk, FB, Harvard
Five of his six straight Pro Bowl selections with 49ers; five seasons of 30+ receptions with 229 overall
Honorable Mention
2013: Green Bay Packers (122) – J.C. Tretter, OL, Cornell
Current president of NFL Players Association has only one false start, 10 sacks allowed in 111 career games (90 starts)
2017: Chicago Bears (119) – Tarik Cohen, RB, North Carolina A&T
All-around threat (4,289 combined rush/receive/return yards) when healthy; first-team All-Pro in 2018
2018: Buffalo Bills (121) – Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State
Co-holder of NFL playoff record for longest INT return (101); career-high 94 tackles, 5 TFLs in 2020
All FCS Picks
2012: Baltimore Ravens (98) – Gino Gradkowski, OG/C, Delaware
2012: Baltimore Ravens (130) – Christian Thompson, FS, South Carolina State
2012: Green Bay Packers (133) – Jerron McMillian, SS, Maine
2012: Dallas Cowboys (135) – Matt Johnson, SS, Eastern Washington
2013: Dallas Cowboys (114) – B.W. Webb, CB, William & Mary
2013: Arizona Cardinals (116) – Earl Watford, OG, James Madison
2013: Green Bay Packers (122) – J.C. Tretter, OT, Cornell
2013: Baltimore Ravens (130) – Kyle Juszczyk, FB, Harvard
2014: Miami Dolphins (125) – Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty
2014: New York Jets (137) – Dakota Dozier, OG, Furman
2014: Baltimore Ravens (138) – Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB/FB, Coastal Carolina
2015: Arizona Cardinals (116) – Rodney Gunter, DT/DE, Delaware State
2015: Baltimore Ravens (135) – Tray Walker, CB, Texas Southern
2016: Tampa Buccaneers (108) – Ryan Smith, CB, North Carolina Central
2016: Detroit Lions (111) – Miles Killebrew, SS, Southern Utah
2016: Chicago Bears (127) – Deiondre Hall, DB, Northern Iowa
2016: Cleveland Browns (138) – Seth DeValve, TE, Princeton
2017: Chicago Bears (119) – Tarik Cohen, RB, North Carolina A&T
2017: Los Angeles Rams (125) – Samson Ebukam, OLB, Eastern Washington
2017: Houston Texans (130) – Julie’n Davenport, OT, Bucknell
2018: New York Giants (108) – Kyle Lauletta, QB, Richmond
2018: Buffalo Bills (121) – Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State
2018: Arizona Cardinals (134) – Chase Edmonds, RB, Fordham
2018: Los Angeles Rams (135) – John Franklin-Myers, DE, Stephen F. Austin
2018: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (144) – Justin Watson, WR, Penn
2021: Dallas Cowboys (115) – Jabril Cox, OLB, North Dakota State/LSU
2021: New York Giants (116) – Elerson Smith, DE, Northern Iowa
2021: Los Angeles Rams (130) – Robert Rochell, CB, Central Arkansas
Fifth Round
Best FCS Pick
2012: Carolina Panthers (143) – Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina
486 tackles and 23 takeaways in 10 seasons with four different franchises
Honorable Mention
2013: Detroit Lions (165) – Sam Martin, P, Appalachian State
46.1-yard average on 605 career punts; ranked third in league (48.5) in 2016
2015: Baltimore Ravens (171) – Nick Boyle, TE, Delaware
One of the NFL’s top blocking TEs has been slowed by knee injury after averaging 27 receptions in 2017-19 seasons
2018: Chicago Bears (145) – Bilal Nichols, DT, Delaware
Strong 2020 and ’21 seasons (81 tackles, 22 QB hits, eight sacks) led to free agent deal with Las Vegas Raiders
All FCS Picks
2012: Carolina Panthers (143) – Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina
2012: New Orleans Saints (162) – Corey White, SS, Samford
2012: Baltimore Ravens (169) – Asa Jackson, CB, Cal Poly
2013: Indianapolis Colts (139) – Montori Hughes, DT, UT Martin
2013: New York Giants (152) – Cooper Taylor, S, Richmond
2013: Detroit Lions (165) – Sam Martin, P, Appalachian State
2014: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (143) – Kadeem Edwards, OG, Tennessee State
2014: Detroit Lions (158) – Caraun Reid, DT, Princeton
2014: Miami Dolphins (171) – Jordan Tripp, OLB, Montana
2015: Minnesota Vikings (143) – MyCole Pruitt, TE, Southern Illinois
2015: New Orleans Saints (148) – Davis Tull, OLB, Chattanooga
2015: San Diego Chargers (153) – Kyle Emanuel, OLB, North Dakota State
2015: Arizona Cardinals (158)- – Shaquille Riddick, DE, Gardner-Webb/West Virginia
2015: Seattle Seahawks (170) – Tye Smith, CB, Towson
2015: Baltimore Ravens (171) – Nick Boyle, TE, Delaware
2015: Kansas City Chiefs (173) – James O’Shaughnessy, TE, Illinois State
2015: Baltimore Ravens (176) – Robert Myers, OG, Tennessee State
2016: Indianapolis Colts (155) – Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State
2016: Tennessee Titans (158) – LeShaun Sims, CB, Southern Utah
2016: Seattle Seahawks (170) – Cole Toner, OT, Harvard
2017: Detroit Lions (165) – Jamal Agnew, CB, San Diego
2017: New York Giants (167) – Avery Moss, DE, Youngstown State
2017: Atlanta Falcons (174) – Eric Saubert, TE, Drake
2018: Chicago Bears (145) – Bilal Nichols, DT, Delaware
2018: Cincinnati Bengals (151) – Davontae Harris, CB, Illinois State
2018: Buffalo Bills (154) – Siran Neal, SS, Jacksonville State
2018: Indianapolis Colts (159) – Daurice Fountain, WR, Northern Iowa
2019: Los Angeles Chargers (166) – Easton Stick, QB, North Dakota State
2020: Houston Texans (171) – Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island
Sixth Round
Best FCS Pick
2018: Atlanta Falcons (200) – Foye Oluokun, OLB, Yale
462 tackles in four seasons with 192 in 2021, the seventh-most in history; new Dolphin has five INTs over last two years
Honorable Mention
2012: Arizona Cardinals (177) – Justin Bethel, DB, Presbyterian
In 10 seasons, has 135 tackles on special teams with three Pro Bowl nods (2013-15)
2012: Washington Commanders (193) – Tom Compton, OL, South Dakota
Has played in 123 games with 44 starts for six franchises; joined seventh team (Denver) in March
2016: New England Patriots (208) – Kamu Grugier-Hall, OLB, Eastern Illinois
Led Texans with 106 tackles, 13 TFL in 2021; member of Eagles’ Super Bowl 53 squad (2018 season)
All FCS Picks
2012: Seattle Seahawks (172) – Jeremy Lane, CB, Northwestern State
2012: Arizona Cardinals (177) – Justin Bethel, DB, Presbyterian
2012: Oakland Raiders (189) – Christo Bilukidi, DE, Georgia State
2012: Washington Commanders (193) – Tom Compton, OT, South Dakota
2013: Green Bay Packers (193) – Nate Palmer, OLB, Illinois State
2013: Houston Texans (195) – Alan Bonner, WR, Jacksonville State
2014: Minnesota Vikings (184) – Kendall James, CB, Maine
2014: Miami Dolphins (190) – Matt Hazel, WR, Coastal Carolina
2014: Arizona Cardinals (196) – Walter Powell, WR, Murray State
2016: Los Angeles Rams (177) – Temarrick Hemingway, TE, South Carolina State
2016: Jacksonville Jaguars (181) – Tyrone Holmes, OLB, Montana
2016: Chicago Bears (185) – DeAndre Houston-Carson, FS, William & Mary
2016: Arizona Cardinals (205) – Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
2016: New England Patriots (208) – Kamu Grugier-Hall, OLB, Eastern Illinois
2017: Denver Broncos (203) – De’Angelo Henderson, RB, Coastal Carolina
2017: Tennessee Titans (217) – Corey Levin, OG, Chattanooga
2018: Los Angeles Rams (192) – Jamil Demby, OG, Maine
2018: Kansas City Chiefs (196) – Tremon Smith, CB, Central Arkansas
2018: Atlanta Falcons (200) – Foye Oluokun, OLB, Yale
2018: Baltimore Ravens (212) – Greg Senat, OT, Wagner
2019: Cleveland Browns (189) – Drew Forbes, OG, Southeast Missouri
2019: Minnesota Vikings (193) – Oli Udoh, OT, Elon
Seventh Round
Best FCS Pick
2014: Oakland Raiders (235) – Shelby Harris, DT, Illinois State
All but one of his 22.5 career sacks and 34 TFL have occurred in last five seasons; new Seahawk part of Russell Wilson trade
Honorable Mention
2013: Pittsburgh Steelers (223) – Nick Williams, DT, Samford
Two-year Lions’ starter had his best season with Bears in 2019 (42 tackles and six sacks)
2016: New York Jets (235) – Lachlan Edwards, P, Sam Houston State
45.7-yard average on 376 career punts, including high of 47.9 with Carolina in 2021
2018: New England Patriots (243) – Keion Crossen, CB, Western Carolina
Best season was with Texans in 2020, collecting 34 tackles, including 12 on special teams
All FCS Picks
2012: Dallas Cowboys (222) – Caleb McSurdy, LB, Montana
2012: Green Bay Packers (243) – B.J. Coleman, QB, Chattanooga
2013: Kansas City Chiefs (207) – Mike Catapano, DE, Princeton
2013: Jacksonville Jaguars (210) – Demetrius McCray, CB, Appalachian State
2013: San Diego Chargers (221) – Brad Sorensen, QB, Southern Utah
2013: Pittsburgh Steelers (223) – Nick Williams, DT, Samford
2013: Baltimore Ravens (238) – Aaron Mellette, WR, Elon
2013: Seattle Seahawks (241) – Jared Smith, DT, New Hampshire
2013: Detroit Lions (245) – Brandon Hepburn, ILB, Florida A&M
2014: St. Louis Rams (226) – Mitchell Van Dyk, OT, Portland State
2014: Miami Dolphins (234) – Terrence Fede, DE, Marist
2014: Oakland Raiders (235) – Shelby Harris, DL, Illinois State
2014: St. Louis Rams (250) – Demetrius Rhaney, C, Tennessee State
2014: Cincinnati Bengals (252) – Lavelle Westbrooks, CB, Georgia Southern
2014: Atlanta Falcons (255) – Tyler Starr, OLB, South Dakota
2015: Oakland Raiders (218) – Anthony Morris, OG, Tennessee State
2015: Jacksonville Jaguars (220) – Neal Sterling, WR, Monmouth
2015: New York Jets (223) – Deon Simon, NT, Northwestern State
2015: Atlanta Falcons (225) – Jake Rodgers, OT, Eastern Washington
2015: Buffalo Bills (234) – Dezmin Lewis, WR, Central Arkansas
2015: Tennessee Titans (245) – Tre McBride, WR, William & Mary
2016: Jacksonville Jaguars (226) – Jonathan Woodard, DE, Central Arkansas
2016: New York Jets (235) – Lachlan Edwards, P, Sam Houston State
2016: Indianapolis Colts (239) – Trevor Bates, LB, Maine
2016: Carolina Panthers (252) – Beau Sandland, TE, Montana State
2017: Oakland Raiders (231) – Jylan Ware, OT, Alabama State
2017: Tennessee Titans (236) – Brad Seaton, OT, Villanova
2018: New England Patriots (243) – Keion Crossen, CB, Western Carolina
2018: Green Bay Packers (248) – Kendall Donnerson, OLB, Southeast Missouri
2019: Cincinnati Bengals (223) – Jordan Brown, CB, South Dakota State
2019: Buffalo Bills (225) – Darryl Johnson Jr., DE, North Carolina A&T
2019: Washington Commanders (227) – Jimmy Moreland, CB, James Madison
2019: Oakland Raiders (230) – Quinton Bell, OLB, Prairie View A&M
2019: New Orleans Saints (244) – Kaden Elliss, OLB, Idaho
2019: Arizona Cardinals (248) – Joshua Miles, OG, Morgan State
2020: Chicago Bears (227) – Lachavious Simmons, OG, Tennessee State
2020: Dallas Cowboys (231) – Ben DiNucci, QB, James Madison
2020: Denver Broncos (254) – Derrek Tuszka, DE, North Dakota State