Biggest surprises in NFL Draft history

Draft day in the NFL almost always delivers drama and most of the time that comes from prospects either being taken much higher than anticipated or experiencing unexpected slides.

There have also been some epic moments when two teams agree on a trade that shakes up everything.

We've taken a look back on some of the biggest surprises the NFL Draft has delivered through the years.

• Kansas City Chiefs trade up to get Patrick Mahomes in 2017

This trade was not earth-shattering at the time, but the consequences of the deal with the Buffalo Bills has totally changed the landscape of the NFL and the rivalry of the two teams in particular.

Kansas City was originally slated to pick at No. 27 in the first round, but traded three picks to Buffalo to move up to the No. 10 spot.

They selected the Texas Tech product and the rest, as they say, is history. The record books are still being written by Patrick Mahomes, who since becoming the Chiefs starter in 2018, has led the team to five Super Bowl appearances.

The Bills did reasonably well out of the deal too, although they may have some cause to rue the day they picked up the phone to Chiefs GM John Dorsey.

• Brady Quinn's Radio City rejections in 2007

Former Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn had arguably one of the most excruciating experiences on draft day at New York's Radio City Music Hall in 2007.

The face of Quinn, expected to be among the first few names called, was constantly shown on camera as one draft pick after another was announced without it being him.

The Browns finally made for a happy ending by picking Quinn at No. 22, which meant that he could play for the team that he grew up rooting for.

For everyone who had Quinn going in the top 10 that year, the rationale was that he was "NFL-ready" due to having Charlie Weiss as his coach at Notre Dame.

• Johnny Manziel falls to the Cleveland Browns at #22 in 2014

'Johnny Football' was a polarising prospect ahead of the 2014 draft with the reputation of being the best dual-threat triggerman in college football.

His magical ability to escape pressure in the pocket and either make a play with his legs or connect with a throw on the run captivated fans, but many scouts pegged him as an undersized quarterback who was unable to work inside the pocket.

Blake Bortles was the first QB selected that year at number three, while it took the Browns trading up to end Jonny Manziel's green room agony when they put their faith in him a couple of hours later at number 22 - the same number pick they had used to draft Johnny Manziel a few years before.

• Aaron Rodgers slips to #24 in 2005

Aaron Rodgers was widely thought of as a top-10 calibre draft pick in the 2005 draft and he believed he could go first overall to the team he grew up closest to - the San Francisco 49ers.

The Niners, however, drafted quarterback Alex Smith out of Utah instead, and Rodgers slipped as far as the 24th pick when the Green Bay Packers took him to be their eventual successor to Brett Favre.

• Teams pass on Randy Moss in 1998

Randy Moss' unique combination of size, speed and skills were always evident coming out of college, but there were a number of red flags on the Marshall wideout.

Teams had concerns over him not being a team player, and there were some character issues that left a few wondering about using a top pick.

The future Hall of Famer slipped outside the top five and kept on going all the way down to the No. 21 overall pick when he wound up with the Minnesota Vikings.

• Bills benefit from Thurman Thomas’ injury concerns in 1988 draft

Thurman Thomas experienced a dramatic freefall down the boards at the 1988 NFL draft due to a previous college injury.

The running back had torn his ACL at Oklahoma State two years prior to the draft, but in an age when that injury was not as easily repaired as nowadays, teams understandably were cautious about spending a top pick.

Yet, despite the knee injury, Thomas had racked up 21 games of over 100 yards rushing in college, which should have seen him taken somewhere in the first round.

He was still available when the second round began and wound up lasting to the No. 40 overall pick, before the Buffalo Bills swooped in to get their man.

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