The All-Time Sixth Round NFL Draft Team
Includes two members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023
Tom Brady photo courtesy of the New England Patriots
Tom Brady was the ultimate late-round gem discovered in an NFL draft.
The New England Patriots claimed Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 draft – very late in the round, in fact, with a compensatory pick. He went on to throw more passes for more yards and more touchdowns than any quarterback in NFL history, also winning the most games. He won seven Super Bowls, was voted to 15 Pro Bowls and was a three-time NFL MVP.
But Brady wasn’t the only gem found in the sixth round of an NFL draft. He wasn’t the only NFL MVP nor was he the only player selected to the league’s 100th anniversary team from this round. In fact, there were six all-decade selections and five Hall of Famers discovered in this round. Halfback Terrell Davis joined Brady as an NFL MVP and safety Jack Christiansen joined Brady on the 100th anniversary team.
The 27 players on the all-time sixth round NFL draft team combined to go to 90 Pro Bowls. Two members of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023 are featured on this team, defensive tackle Joe Klecko and cornerback Ken Riley.
Here is the all-time sixth-round NFL draft team, including the franchise each was drafted by and the year:
QB Tom Brady, New England 2000, Hall of Fame, NFL’s 100th anniversary team
HB Terrell Davis, Denver 1995, Hall of Fame, 3 Pro Bowls, 1998 NFL MVP
FB Larry Kinnebrew, Cincinnati, 1983, 8 seasons, 3,133 rushing yards, 47 TDs
WR Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh 2010, 7 Pro Bowls, 2010s all-decade team
WR Mel Gray, St. Louis Cardinals 1971, 4 Pro Bowls, 351 receptions, 18.9-yard average
TE Jay Novacek, Phoenix Cardinals 1985, 5 Pro Bowls, 422 receptions, 3 Super Bowl rings
T Doug Dieken, Cleveland 1971, Pro Bowl, 14 seasons, 195 starts
T Tunch Ilkin, Pittsburgh 1980, 2 Pro Bowls, 14 seasons, 143 starts
G Ed Newman, Miami 1973, 4 Pro Bowls, 12 seasons, 113 starts
G Marco Rivera, Green Bay 1996, 4 Pro Bowls, 10 seasons, 141 starts
C Matt Birk, Minnesota 1998, 6 Pro Bowls, 14 seasons, 187 starts
DE Michael Sinclair, Seattle 1991, 3 Pro Bowls, 1998 NFL sack leader
DE Doug Betters, Miami 1978, Pro Bowl, 1983 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
DT Joe Klecko, New York Jets 1977, Hall of Fame, 4 Pro Bowls
DT Nolan Harrison, Oakland 1991, 10 seasons, 83 starts, 22 sacks
OLB Bryce Paup, Green Bay 1990, 1995 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
MLB Al Smith, Houston 1987, 10 seasons, 2 Pro Bowls, 5 100-tackle seasons
OLB Greg Lloyd, Pittsburgh 1987, 5 Pro Bowls, 11 seasons, 54 ½ sacks
CB Ken Riley, Cincinnati 1969, Hall of Fame, NFL’s #5 all-time interceptor
CB Al Harris, Tampa Bay 1997, 2 Pro Bowls, 14 seasons, 21 interceptions
S Jack Christiansen, Detroit 1951, Hall of Fame, NFL’s 100th anniversary team
S Dwight Hicks, Detroit 1978, 8 seasons, 32 interceptions, 2 Super Bowl rings
*-K Mason Crosby, Green Bay 2007, NFL’s 12th all-time scorer
P Reggie Roby, Miami 1983, 3 Pro Bowls, 1980s all-decade team
KR Michael Bates, Seattle 1992, 5 Pro Bowls, 1990s all-decade team
ST Fred McAfee, New Orleans 1991, Pro Bowl, 210 career special-teams tackles
LS Patrick Mannelly, Chicago 1998, Played a franchise record 245 games
*-Still active
You can read the All-Time Draft Teams here:
