LAS VEGAS.- If you are the last player chosen in the Draft of the NFL, at least you get the nickname —Mr. Irrelevant—and a certain hubbub. But perhaps not the role of protagonist heading towards a Super Bowl.
When you get picked a little early, you’re just a seventh-round pick.
“I didn’t know where I would go. If they had told me that I went out of the draft, I would have said ‘It makes sense, of course. I get it,'” said Kansas City guard Nick Allegretti, who was a seventh-round pick in 2019. “We didn’t win many games in college, but he trusted me.”
Brock Purdy’s path to being “Mr. Irrelevant” to start in the Super Bowl is one of the most relevant stories of this year’s game, but there are another series of late picks – and undrafted players – who have contributed for the Chiefs and 49ers. They all remind us that you can have a memorable NFL career no matter how long it takes to draft you.
Allegretti was the 216th pick and is now in his fifth season with the Chiefs, with two Super Bowl rings. He played a big role in this postseason and replaced injured All-Pro Joe Thuney in the AFC championship game.
Kansas City took running back Isiah Pacheco in 2022 with the 251st overall pick — 11 ahead of Purdy. In two seasons, Pacheco has 1,765 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
There’s a notion that once you reach the later rounds of the draft, you’re better off not getting selected. Then you become a free agent and can decide what your best option is.
But joining Kansas City and playing alongside Patrick Mahomes has worked out for Pacheco.
“Being chosen in the seventh round shaped me as a player, I knew they wanted me,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, take the opportunity and do the best with it.”
A world of possibilities in the NFL:
Even for a player who came out of the draft there is hope. Kurt Warner, for example, was MVP of Super Bowl 34.
Jake Brendel arrived undrafted from UCLA and now in his eighth season in the NFL is San Francisco’s starting center.
49ers safety Tashaun Gipson had to wait even longer. After starting 174 games with five different teams in 12 seasons, he will finally play in the Super Bowl. Coming into the league outside of the draft has worked out for him.
Gipson is even one of the reasons San Francisco is in the Super Bowl. He forced a fumble in the NFL championship game that was crucial to the 49ers’ comeback against the Lions.
But it really has been good enough to be in this place for a while. He just needed the right equipment.
This is true for many players, especially those selected late or out of the draft. It’s about finding the best situation.
“I knew all I wanted was a chance to be somewhere,” Allegretti said. “The fact that I got an opportunity in Kansas City is incredible — the organization, the coach (Andy Reid), (offensive line coach Andy) Heck. “Amazing people to play for.”
Source: AP
