2011 NFL Draft: Tom Brady and the 20 Best Late-Round QB Steals In NFL History

The NFL Draft is rapidly approaching and the spotlight, as it usually is, is squarely on the quarterbacks. This isn't even considered a particularly strong draft for QBs.

While the first round QBs are the ones who get all of the initial headlines, they aren't always the ones that get the headlines down the road. There seems to be a Ryan Leaf for every Peyton Manning. You just never know how that first round QB is going to turn out.

You also never know how the late-round QBs are going to turn out. Check out this list, and you'll see why—when it comes to drafting QBs—sometimes teams save their best for last.

No. 20: The 2nd Round Crew

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 20: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after throwing a 12 yard touchdown recption during the third quarter of the NFC championship game against the New York Giants on January 20, 2008 at Lambeau Field

The second round certainly isn't considered a late round. Teams expect any player drafted in the second round to be a starter and QBs are no different.

Still, teams do not expect second rounders to be MVPs of the league. There have been three QBs taken in the second round who went on to win the MVP award: Brett Favre, Ken Stabler and Boomer Esiason.

Fellow second-round pick Drew Brees has yet to win an MVP award, but he has been runner-up and there is no doubt he was an absolute steal.

No. 19: The Neglected Crew

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 16: Kurt Warner #13 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a pass against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Louisana Superdome on January 16, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty I

From the guys drafted too high to really be considered for this list to the ones that didn't get drafted at all.

The ultimate value are the guys who cost teams nothing but an invitation to come to camp. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

QBs slip past every team in the draft and either go hone their skills away from the NFL or walk-on and turn heads right away.

At the top of this list is, without a doubt, the "Grocery Bagger," Kurt Warner. Warner is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP. He is also a strong possibility for the Hall of Fame.

Other undrafted studs include: Dave Krieg, Tony Romo and Jeff Garcia. 

No. 18: Marc Bulger (6th Round)

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 12: Marc Bulger #10 of the St. Louis Rams passes during the game against the Washington Redskins on October 12, 2008 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Marc Bulger's career quickly spun downward as the offensive line crumbled in front of him and his injuries began to mount.

Still, starting in 2003, Bulger had a four-year run when he was one of the league's top starters. He was twice named to the Pro Bowl team and his career passer rating of 84.4 is actually good enough for 26th all-time.

No. 17: Ken Anderson (3rd Round)

Anderson had a wonderful and under appreciated NFL career. He was the NFL's MVP in 1981 and also a four-time Pro Bowler.

All-time he currently ranks 28th in passing yards, 27th in passes completed and 33rd in touchdowns.

And he would've won a Super Bowl had it not been for that pesky Joe Montana. Not too shabby for a third rounder.

No. 16: Rich Gannon (4th Round)

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OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 8: Rich Gannon #12 of the Oakland Raiders looks down the field as he runs away from Grant Wistrom #98 of the St. Louis Rams at the Network Associates Coliseum on August 8, 2003 in Oakland, California. The Raiders defeated the Rams 7

Even considering that he was a fourth round pick, Rich Gannon is a NFL late bloomer.

Gannon didn't get the chance to be the full-time, unquestioned starter of a team until his 12th season.

It was then that his career really took off. He peaked in 2002 when his amazing season earned him the MVP award and led the Raiders to the Super Bowl.

No. 15: Brian Sipe (13th Round)

Drafted in the 13th round, in 1972, Sipe spent his first two seasons on the Browns practice squad. By 1976 Sipe was the Browns starter.

He struggled with injuries early in his career, but through 1978-81 he enjoyed good health and impressive numbers.

The peak of his career was his 1980 MVP season. That year he led the league with a 91.4 QB rating.

No. 14: Matt Schaub (3rd Round)

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Matt Schaub #8 of the Houston Texans drops back to pass against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Despite starting off his career stuck behind Michael Vick and struggling with injuries, Matt Schaub has put up some big numbers in his still-young NFL career.

In 2009, Schaub led the NFL with 4,770 passing yards. His career QB rating is an impressive 91.5. He has been knocking on the door of the NFL elite for a few seasons. Time will tell if he can break through.

Either way, he is an absolute steal in the third round.

No. 13: Mark Brunell (5th Round)

As a rookie, Mark Brunell made it apparent in the Packers preseason that he had the goods to start in the NFL. Since he was behind a guy named Brett Favre, the Packers traded him after his rookie season.

Brunell has struggled with knee injuries throughout his career, but it has seldom effected his effectiveness.

He has been named to the Pro Bowl three times while compiling stats that currently place him 30th in yards, 41st in touchdowns and 29th in passer rating on the all-time lists.

No. 12: Matt Hasselbeck (6th Round)

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SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks passes against the Carolina Panthers at Qwest Field on December 5, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Panthers 31-14. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Ima

We go from one Brett Favre backup to another. Former Packer GM Ron Wolf really had an eye for QB talent and value.

Hasselbeck was traded to the Seahawks in 2001, before the start of his third season. He got off to a rocky start before really hitting his stride in 2003.

That season he made the first of his three Pro Bowls. He has put up impressive numbers since then, and as he showed in this year's Wild Card round, he is not done yet.

No. 11: Joe Theisman (4th Round)

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1983: Quarterback Joe Theismann of the Washington Redskins passes the ball during a game. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport

Due to one of the most viscous injuries a quarterback has suffered, Joe Theisman's career numbers are not what they could have been. He certainly isn't the only QB whose career was affected by Lawrence Taylor.

Still, Theisman had an impressive NFL career. He appeared in two Super Bowls and won one of them. He was named MVP for the 1983 season. He was also selected to two Pro Bowls.

No. 10: Brad Johnson (9th Round)

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 30: Quarterback Brad Johnson #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drops back to pass during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 30, 2003 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars defeated the Buccane

Brad Johnson is in elite company. Not that many players have seen as many names called before theirs on draft day as Johnson. When the NFL had more than nine rounds, there were a lot fewer teams and now there are only seven rounds.

Johnson had a long and successful career. He was more consistent than he was spectacular. However, he did make the Pro Bowl twice and he played amazing in his only Super Bowl appearance.

That Super Bowl appearance and victory capped what was probably Johnson's finest year as a starter. He finished third in the league with a passer rating of 92.9.

No. 9: Daryle Lamonica (24th Round)

Speaking of more rounds with fewer teams—Daryl Lamonica was taken in the 24th round of the AFL Draft.

Lamonica was one of the pioneers of the down-field passing attacks. His slinging style helped earn him one of sports all-time great nicknames: The Mad Bomber.

He was twice named the AFL's player of the year and he was selected to five Pro Bowls.

No. 8: Dan Fouts (3rd Round)

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SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 29: Quarterback Dan Fouts #14 of the San Diego Chargers throws a pass during a game against the Denver Broncos at Jack Murphy Stadium on November 29, 1987 in San Diego, California. Fouts completed 23 out of 48 passes for 322 yards a

Dan Fouts was at the forefront of the evolution of the passing game that took place at the start of the 80s. This was the time when the NFL saw the West Coast and Air Coryell offenses go into full effect.

Fouts was of the Coryell persuasion. Starting in 1979 he led the NFL in passing yards for four straight seasons.

He was six-time Pro Bowl selection and he was named MVP in 1982. He is ninth all-time in passing yards and 13th in touchdowns.

No. 7: Norm Van Brocklin (4th Round)

It is impossible to compare the passing numbers of Norm Van Brocklin's era with QBs of later generations and come away with any real sense of how effective they were.

You have to compare them to players of their own time.

Van Brocklin played for 11 seasons and he made the Pro Bowl in nine of those seasons. He also retired on top. 

His greatest season was his last, 1960. Van Brocklin was named the NFL MVP.

No. 6: Fran Tarkenton (3rd Round)

Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton put together an amazingly prolific career. At the time of his retirement he held numerous passing records. 

While he has since been surpassed, his numbers are still impressive. Among others, he is sixth all-time in passing yards and fourth in TDs.

He was named to the Pro Bowl nine times and won the MVP in 1975.

No. 5: Joe Montana (3rd Round)

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Joe Montana #16 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Candlestick Park on November 25, 1990 in San Francisco, California. The Rams won 28-17 keeping their 18 game

Joe Montana belongs in any argument for the greatest QB of all-time. Not bad for someone who lasted until the third round.

Surprisingly, Montana was only named NFL MVP one time. It is Montana's amazing high-level consistency and his performances in the playoffs and Super Bowl that have turned him into one of the game's biggest legends.

Of all his impressive stats, maybe the one that sums him up best is his 92.3 career passer rating. That ranks him ninth in NFL history.

No. 4: Bart Starr (17th Round)

Over the course of his Hall of Fame career, Bart Starr made the Pro Bowl four times.

He is another of the old school QBs whose greatness cannot be judged in numbers, but he is one of the game's biggest legends for a reason. He won the MVP award in 1966—a season he led the NFL with an impressive passer rating of 105. 

No. 3: Roger Staubach (10th Round)

Roger Staubach's career numbers are limited by the fact he only played for 11 seasons. His 11th season may have been his best.

He set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns and then decided to hang up his cleats for good.

He made the Pro Bowl six times in his 11 years. He never won the NFL MVP, but he did capture a Super Bowl MVP.

Staubach led the NFL in passer rating four times on his way to earning a spot in Canton.

No. 2: Tom Brady (6th Round)

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a pass during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty

When teams draft QBs in the late rounds, everyone says they are looking for the next Tom Brady...and for good reason.

Brady's numbers are off the charts. Combine this with his Super Bowl success and you have someone, with a few more dominant seasons, who could legitimately hold the throne for the greatest QB of all-time.

No. 1: Johnny Unitas (9th Round)

Johnny Unitas set the standard for which all modern QBs are held to.

When he retired, he held virtually every passing record there was to hold.

In his 17 NFL seasons, he made the Pro Bowl 10 times, he was All-Pro five times and he was named MVP four times.

The guy is an absolute legend. His name will always belong in the discussion for greatest QB ever. And he accomplished all of that despite being drafted in the ninth round.