A History of NFL Hall of Famers Who Were Picked in the 5th Round or Later

After last night’s 2013 NFL Draft, many players will despair that their name wasn’t called in the first round. Whether it’s because their combine numbers weren’t good, they have character problems, or they simply didn’t perform all that well in college, some guys see their stock plummet as they continue to slip further and further down the draft board. But these late round picks shouldn't lose confidence. Many go on to great careers, with a select few reaching legendary status.

The late rounds have seen people selected who change the way pass coverage is played like “Bullet” Bob Hayes, anchor championship defenses like Richard Dent, or simply become immortals like Johnny Unitas. And, the way history has gone, we are due for another late round pick to become one of the next great stars of the NFL any year now. With a total of 45 of these overlooked players now enshrined in Canton, let’s take a look back at some of the more notable names in A History of NFL Hall of Famers Who Were Picked in the 5th Round or Later.

School: UCLA
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: Quarterback
Year: 1944
Round: 5 (42 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1965

Waterfield made history right from the start in his NFL career, making his debut in 1945 and becoming the first rookie ever to win the league MVP award. He also led the Rams to an NFL championship, and as a result immediately became the highest paid player in the league at $20,000 per season (ballin'!). And as if that weren't enough, during his first four years he also played defense and kicked, compiling 20 career interceptions, 60 field goals and averaging 42.4 yards per punt. Imagine watching JaMarcus Russell try to do any of that.

School: Kentucky
Team: Chicago Bears
Position: Quarterback
Year: 1949
Round: 12 (119 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1981

Even when he was fresh out of college, Blanda always seemed like an old man. He somehow managed to appear in an astounding four different decades-worth of NFL games, starting his career in 1949 and retiring in 1975. Along the way, he set the NFL record for extra points made, total points scored in a year, and even most interceptions in a season (an astonishing 42 in 1962). His 26 seasons played is a record that will be hard for any player to break, particularly considering how careful the NFL is with injuries. Not bad for a guy who signed his first contract for a robust $600.

School: Southern Methodist University
Team: Baltimore Colts
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: 1954
Round: 20 (232 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1973

Very few players can hold claim to having defended their country and played in the NFL at the same time, but Berry is one of those rare few who did both. While serving in the Maryland National Guard he also played wide receiver for the Baltimore Colts, making six Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams during his 12-year career. He had perhaps the safest hands in league history, catching 631 passes while dropping just two balls his entire career. He also saved his best efforts for the biggest stage, catching a record 12 passes in the 1958 NFL Championship game, referred to widely as "The Greatest Game Ever Played" between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Football Giants.

School: Louisville
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Quarterback
Year: 1955
Round: 5 (102 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1979

A man who needs little introduction, Unitas is one of the all-time biggest legends of football. He was a three-time league MVP (in 1959, 1964 and 1967), as well as a 10-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, and he helped usher in the modern era of passing-heavy, quarterback-centric football we see today. He slipped in the Draft initially after missing much of his senior season at Louisville with an injury, and was cut loose by the Steelers before finding his way to the Baltimore Colts. Our only concern is that this reported movie starring Joe Flacco called Unitas We Stand might taint his otherwise sterling legacy.

School: Alabama
Team: Green Bay Packers
Position: Quarterback
Year: 1956
Round: 15 (181 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1977

Starr's most prolific accomplishment is undoubtedly his back-to-back Super Bowl MVP awards in the game's first two years, but he was a very accomplished passer in the regular season too. Like current Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Starr had to ride the bench and wait his turn as a young player; after being drafted in 1956, he didn't become the full-time starter until 1959. Once he did take the reins, though, he was an immediate success, making four Pro Bowls and being named the 1966 NFL MVP.

School: UTEP
Team: New York Giants
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: 1957
Round: 9 (109 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1987

Best known for his time with the New York Jets, Maynard refused to let adversity affect him. After being cut by the Giants and spending a year in the CFL, he came back to the AFL and immediately put up a 1,000-plus yard season. Despite the incredible spike in passing and receiving numbers over the last 20 years, Maynard is still sixth all-time in football history for number of touchdown receptions; he did much of his damage with Joe Namath, with whom he formed incredible on-field chemistry beginning in Namath's rookie season in 1965.

School: Ohio State
Team: Cleveland Browns
Position: Cornerback
Year: 1958
Round: 5 (58 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 2010

While many know him as the legendary defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, LeBeau was also a fantastic defensive back for the Lions. Drafted and immediately cut by the Browns, LeBeau amassed 62 interceptions over the course of his career, a total good for best in Lions history and seventh in NFL history. His durability also made him a huge asset, as he owned the record for most consecutive games played by a cornerback (171) until Ronde Barber broke it in 2010.

School: South Carolina
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: Defensive Tackle
Year: 1961
Round: 14 (186 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1980

An innovator of the sack and an incredibly intimidating physical presence, Jones is still widely regarded as one of football's greatest defensive players. He broke in as a rookie with the Rams and immediately helped to form the Fearsome Foursome (Rosey Grier, Lamar Lundy, and Merlin Olsen), possibly the greatest defensive line in NFL history, making eight Pro Bowls in his career. Because sack totals weren't officially recorded until 1982, Jones' exact totals are unknown; however, many people have watched the film and agree that he recorded an absurd 26 sacks in 1967 and 24 in 1968, either of which would be still-standing NFL records. And, to top it off, he accomplished all that in a 14-game season.

School: Notre Dame
Team: Boston Patriots
Position: Linebacker
Year: 1962
Round: 13 (102 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 2001

Although he was a captain at prestigious Notre Dame, Buoniconti was deemed by most teams as too small for the NFL. As a result, he slipped in the Draft and was moved to linebacker after finally being selected by the lowly Boston Patriots. He immediately excelled, winning the AFL Rookie of the Year award and leading his team to a Division title the next season. He finally won a ring when he moved to the Dolphins, playing a key role on the defense of their undefeated 1972 squad that won Super Bowl VII as well as the team that won it all again the following season.

School: Northwestern State
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Position: Tight End
Year: 1963
Round: 10 (129 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1994

Jackie Smith is, unfortunately, best remembered for his huge drop of a sure-touchdown pass in Super Bowl XIII, but that came at the tail end of what was otherwise a remarkable career. Smith was renowned for both his ability to block as well as catching passes, and is partially responsible for the evolution of the tight end position as one that could be counted on for offense as well. At the time of his retirement, Smith was the NFL's all-time leader in receiving yards by a tight end with 7,918.

School: Morgan State
Team: Cleveland Browns
Position: Running Back
Year: 1964
Round: 8 (110 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1994

Kelly was a bruising but versatile running back who was one of the most balanced of his day. He was able to run equally well between the tackles or on the outside, leading the NFL in rushing yards in both 1967 and 1968. He was named to six consecutive Pro Bowls between 1966 and 1971 after he supplanted the retired Jim Brown as the Browns' primary running back, amassing 7,274 yards and 74 touchdowns over the course of his NFL career. Despite also returning kicks, Kelly was able to stay incredibly healthy during his career, a rarity for running backs; he missed just four games total, and never more than one in a single season.

School: Navy
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: Quarterback
Year: 1964
Round: 10 (129 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1985

Staubach is a legend not just because he became the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy and a Super Bowl MVP; he also sacrificed four of the possibly best years of his career to serve his country after attending the Naval Academy. When he finally returned to the NFL in 1969 at age 27, he immediately became a household name as he led the Cowboys to five NFC titles and two Super Bowl championships between 1971 and 1979. He also managed to make some sound financial decisions on the side, and in 2008 sold his commercial real estate business he started after retiring for a cool $613 million. The lesson: it's good to be Roger Staubach.

School: Florida A&M
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: 1964
Round: 7 (88 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 2009

In his day, Bullet Bob Hayes was considered the fastest man ever to play in the NFL. And he still may be; at one time, he held records for the 60-yard, 100-yard, 220-yard, and Olympic 100-meter dashes and was the only man to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl. He was a dynamic offensive threat on the football field as well, making three Pro Bowls and forcing a revolution in the way teams defend the pass. Hayes was so fast that teams could no longer simply go one-on-one with him; thus, the concept of bump-and-run and zone coverage was born.

School: North Carolina
Team: Washington Redskins
Position: Linebacker
Year: 1965
Round: 18 (245 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 2011

The stout Hanburger was a key cog up the middle in college, starting at center on offense and middle linebacker on defense for the Tar Heels. Somehow lasting until the 18th round, Hanburger made a huge impact on the Redskins from the very beginning; his first Pro Bowl selection was in 1966, his second season in the NFL. "The Hammer" is one of the most decorated Redskins in the team's storied history, having made more Pro Bowls (nine) than anyone in the franchise's history. He was durable, too, starting 135 straight games from 1968 until 1977.

School: Ft. Valley State
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: Offensive Tackle
Year: 1967
Round: 7 (182 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 2006

Before there could be Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers, there was Rayfield Wright. A standout basketball player in college, Wright doubled up and played football on the side as a versatile combination of free safety, punter, defensive end and tight end. The Cowboys drafted the 6'7", 225 pound Wright and used him on the ends of the line on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football for his first three years in the NFL. After an injury to the team's starting right tackle during his fourth season, Wright stepped in and did not relinquish his position for 13 years. He made six Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams, and likely would have made more if he hadn't been wasting away his first three seasons in the league.

School: Prairie View A&M
Team: Houston Oilers
Position: Free Safety
Year: 1967
Round: 9 (214 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1986

Houston played a number of positions in his career, beginning in college as a center and linebacker before becoming a 12-time Pro Bowl selection as a free safety in the NFL. He was the definition of a ball hawk throughout his time with the Oilers and Redskins, amassing 49 career interceptions, 21 recovered fumbles, and scoring 12 touchdowns. He also held the NFL single-season record for returned touchdowns with five (four on interceptions and one fumble) until Devin Hester returned six for scores during his 2006 campaign.

School: Wisconsin
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Center
Year: 1974
Round: 5 (125 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 1997

Still regarded as one of the all-time great centers in league history, Webster won four Super Bowls with the Steelers as he started a remarkable 150 games in a row between 1976 and 1986. He was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams nine times, and was one of the most physically imposing of his day. Unfortunately, he is better known now for his post-career problems that were likely brought about by repeatedly ignored head trauma suffered during his playing career.

School: Tennessee State
Team: Chicago Bears
Position: Defensive End
Year: 1983
Round: 8 (203 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 2011

Dent was a centerpiece of the Bears' dominant defenses of the mid-'80s after lasting until the late rounds of the 1983 Draft. Dent slipped that late thanks to being a svelte 6'5", 265 pounds but used his (relatively) small stature to become a speed rusher well ahead of his time. He did the bulk of his damage in the '80s, as he compiled 34.5 sacks over the course of the 1984 and 1985 seasons and won the Super Bowl XX MVP award with the Bears in 1985-86. When he retired following the 1997 season, Dent had compiled 137.5 career sacks to go along with four Pro Bowl and five All-Pro selections.

School: Savannah State
Team: Denver Broncos
Position: Tight End
Year: 1990
Round: 7 (192 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: 2011

Sharpe was one of the great physical specimens ever to play the tight end position, but slipped in the Draft simply due to the fact the he played in Division II. Teams seemed to conveniently ignore the fact that he wasn't just a star on the gridiron; in college, he also excelled in basketball and the triple jump. Once he got to the league, none of the scouts' poor decision-making mattered anymore, though. Sharpe set all-time records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns by a tight end (all have since been broken by Tony Gonzalez) over the course of his 14 seasons. And he has gone on to provide some of the most legendarily incoherent studio commentary the NFL has ever seen.

School: Michigan
Team: New England Patriots
Position: Quarterback
Year: 2000
Round: 6 (199 overall)
Inducted Into HOF: TBD

While this one isn't official yet, Brady would be a first-ballot Hall of Famer even if he never played another down. The Patriots quarterback was slighted throughout his early career, first being benched in favor of Drew Henson in college and then slipping all the way to pick No. 199 in the pros. Needless to say, nobody is poking holes in Brady's game these days. His 44,806 career passing yards, eight Pro Bowls, three Super Bowl titles, two NFL MVP trophies and many other accomplishments have ensured that once his time in Foxboro is over, his next stop will be Canton.