The Biggest Gems from Each of the Last 5 NFL Draft Classes

A former NFL scout once told me that any talent evaluator who is worth a damn can hit on first-round picks, but the difference between the good and great ones are the people who can find diamonds in the rough.

Every year, we're surprised by players who outperform their draft position. Some Day 3 pick seemingly comes out of nowhere to make waves around the league and become a Pro Bowl- or All-Pro-caliber player.

Now that the good NFL draft scouts have dug through the rough, let's take a look at the biggest gems in each of the last three draft classes.

To qualify, a player must have been selected (sorry, no undrafted free agents count here) in the fourth round or later and have already become a significant contributor on their team.

We'll open up each player’s old scouting report to see why they may have slipped through the cracks and discuss how they overcame the pre-draft concerns or why that ended up not mattering. Also included are a handful of honorable mentions and why the player chosen as the biggest gem got the nod over the other options.

Mike Onwenu

Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini

Drafted: 6th round (182nd overall) by the New England Patriots

Coming out of Michigan, Onwenu was a hulking offensive lineman who stood at 6'3" and nearly 350 pounds with 34⅜" arms. He possessed a few dominant traits but seemed to lack the killer instinct to be a highly touted draft prospect.

"Onwenu has tremendous upside as a player with the desired frame and technical foundation to compete in the trenches immediately," the former Wolverine's scouting report noted. "However, there's a looseness to his game, whether based on effort or ability, that seems to limit his potential. 

"For better or worse, he seems comfortable being an average-at-best competitor despite showing flashes of a potentially dominant interior lineman. Onwenu's traits are largely apparent, and he looks like he's in complete control of how his career plays out in the NFL."

However, the switch quickly flipped for the Detroit native, earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie team and becoming a consistent presence on the Patriots' offensive line over the last five seasons. 

Not only has Onwenu received an above-average grade from Pro Football Focus every year, but he's also posted marks of 70 or higher four times while playing three different positions.

That's a big reason why New England gave him a three-year, $57 million contract extension last offseason and why he got the nod over the players listed below. 

Also, it doesn't hurt that he was selected two rounds later than the fourth-rounders below, meaning the Michigan product has exceeded more than any other 2020 draftee. 

Honorable Mention: Kevin Dotson (4th round, 135th overall, Pittsburgh Steelers), L'Jarius Sneed (4th round, 138th overall, Kansas City Chiefs), Tyler Biadasz (4th round, 146th overall, Dallas Cowboys)

Amon-Ra St. Brown

AP Photo/Rick Osentoski

Drafted: 4th round, 112th overall by the Detroit Lions

Anyone who has paid attention to the NFL over the last couple of years knows there were 16 wide receivers drafted ahead of Amon-Ra St. Brown in 2021, as he went viral for naming all 16 wideouts on Netflix's Receiver a couple of summers ago.

Of course, now the USC product's draft slide seems ridiculous, but it wasn't so far-fetched at the time.

St. Brown measured in at 5’11½” and ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash, which were in the 28th and 16th percentiles, respectively, for wide receivers according to MockDraftable.

On top of that, his scouting report noted he "Doesn't consistently create separation" and "struggles to accelerate quickly after the catch."

The list of small wide receivers who are slow, have a hard time getting open and can't create yards with the ball in their hands is short (no pun intended). 

However, St. Brown's route-running has dramatically improved, as has his YAC ability. That's how he's managed to rack up 4,851 yards (including three straight 1,000-yard campaigns) and 33 touchdowns in four seasons.

So, while the 2021 draft class has several gems to choose from, with multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections included in the list below, none of their resumes compare to the two-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler's. 

Honorable Mention: Drew Dalman (4th round, 114th, Atlanta Falcons), Chuba Hubbard (4th round, 126th overall, Carolina Panthers), Talanoa Hufanga (5th round, 180th overall, San Francisco 49ers), Trey Smith (6th round, 226th overall, Kansas City Chiefs), Jonathan Cooper (7th round, 239th overall, Denver Broncos)

Brock Purdy

AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Drafted: 7th round, 262nd overall by the San Francisco 49ers

Not even the 49ers thought Mr. Irrelevant would be this good. Otherwise…well, Brock Purdy would have been drafted well before he was even close to being Mr. Irrelevant.

A shade above 6'0" and 212 pounds, and with underwhelming arm strength, there weren't many reasons to believe the Iowa State product would become a quality starting quarterback in the NFL. Additionally, he needed to go to the right system to have success in the league.

"Purdy is a burly pocket quarterback who needs a play-action based offense where he can rely on timing over release quickness and arm strength," NFL Media's Lance Zierlein wrote. 

"He can be a confident passer when he finds his rhythm, but throwing is more of a chore than a talent thanks to a labored release. Certain areas of the field will be off limits as he moves up to take on NFL coverage talent. He's a scrappy runner but not dynamic enough to make up for his shortcomings as a passer."

Luckily, the Iowa State product is playing for the perfect head coach to fit his skill set. Kyle Shanahan's offense features a heavy dose of play action and timing throws to allow Purdy to flourish.

On top of that, the quarterback's ability to create plays with his legs and throw while on the run has been much better than expected.

While there was no shortage of options to choose from in the 2022 draft class, it's hard to argue any of the players below are more deserving than the 2023 Pro Bowler.

He plays the most important position on the field at a high level, leading San Francisco to two NFC Championships and a Super Bowl during his three NFL seasons.

That's one way to become relevant in the league and earn a five-year, $265 million contract extension.

Honorable Mention: Jake Ferguson (4th round, 129th overall, Dallas Cowboys), Zach Tom (4th round, 140th overall, Green Bay Packers), Riq Woolen (5th round, 153rd overall, Seattle Seahawks), Kyren Williams (5th round, 164th overall, Los Angles Rams), DaRon Bland (5th round, 167th overall, Dallas Cowboys)

Puka Nacua

AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File

Drafted: 5th round, 177th overall by the Los Angeles Rams

It's become ironic given how his professional career has played out so far, but Puka Nacua didn't exactly post eye-popping numbers in college. 

In four college seasons, two at Washington and two at BYU, he logged just 1,749 yards for 14 touchdowns. His most productive campaign came as a junior with 43 catches for 805 yards and six touchdowns for the Cougars.

To a certain degree, that lack of top-end production was symptomatic of a bigger problem: his route-running.

"He is raw, though. BYU did not ask him to run many routes beyond slants, go balls or under routes—all of which allowed him to use his burst and speed without much tact," the B/R scouting department noted in his scouting report.

"On the occasion Nacua was asked to run more refined routes, his footwork tended to be clunky, and he didn't quite sink and explode out of those routes comfortably. He has the athletic tools to do it; he just didn't look comfortable or prepared to do so."

However, the wideout's report also stated he would be a perfect fit in a Kyle Shanahan-style offense with his ability to create yards after the catch.

So, landing in Los Angeles with Sean McVay, the most significant Shanahan disciple, ended up being the ideal destination for him.

Additionally, Nacua has been diligent about his route running since entering the league two years ago, converting the "athletic tools" referenced above into a functional skill set. That's a big part of how he hit the ground running in the NFL, setting rookie records (at the time) in receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486).

Also, that's what makes the 2023 second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler the unquestioned best gem of the draft class. While the players listed below have had bright moments over the last two years, none of them have had the immediate success Nacua has had.

Honorable Mention: Nick Herbig (4th round, 132nd overall, Pittsburgh Steelers), Chase Brown (5th round, 163rd overall, Cincinnati Bengals), Henry To'oTo'o (5th round, 167th overall, Houston Texans), Demario Douglas (6th round, 210th, New England Patriots)

Bucky Irving

AP Photo/Jason Behnken

Drafted: 4th round, 125th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It was easy to look past Bucky Irving coming out of Oregon, both literally and figuratively. 

In a league where 6'0" and 233-pound Saquon Barkley, 6'3" and 247-pound Derrick Henry, and 5'11" and 215-pound Bijan Robinson were the top three rushers a year ago, Irving doesn't exactly have ideal size for an NFL running back. That's a big reason the Buccaneers were able to get him on Day 3 of last year's draft.

"At 5'9" and 192 pounds, Irving does not have the frame or play strength to be a lead back in the NFL," the B/R scouting department wrote in his scouting report. 

"He consistently goes down on first contact, and his skinny frame might not handle a heavy NFL workload very well. Moreover, Irving knows he doesn't have play strength, so he often stops his feet instead of running through contact for extra yards."

However, the PFWA All-Rookie team selection proved a lot of doubters wrong last fall, ranking ninth among running backs with 57 forced missed tackles and topping the charts with 4.03 yards after contact per attempt, according to Pro Football Focus. 

As a result, he led all rookies and had the 10th-most rushing yards (1,122) in 2024. That's in addition to scoring eight touchdowns on the ground and contributing 392 receiving yards: 1,514 total yards from scrimmage.

Of course, with just one season under their collective belts, the biggest gem of the 2024 draft class can change over the next few years. But right now, there is no argument against the fourth-round pick who finished sixth in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and was the only non-first- or second-round pick to receive a vote. 

Honorable Mention: Malik Mustapha (4th round, 124th overall, San Francisco 49ers), Jaden Hicks (4th round, 133rd overall, Kansas City Chiefs), Tarheeb Still (5th round, 137th overall, Los Angeles Chargers), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (5th round, 166th overall, New York Giants)