Patrick Mahomes: The Saint Who Almost Was
It’s hard to imagine Patrick Mahomes in any uniform other than the Kansas City Chiefs red. But in 2017, the New Orleans Saints were poised to make him their heir apparent to Drew Brees. Holding the 11th overall pick, then-coach Sean Payton was reportedly
smitten with the Texas Tech gunslinger. The Saints felt confident they'd get either Mahomes or cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Then, the phone rang. The Chiefs, picking at No. 27, made an aggressive trade up to No. 10, leapfrogging the Saints to grab their guy. Payton has since admitted that if both players were available, the pick was “going to be Patrick.” Instead, Kansas City landed a generational talent who would lead them to multiple Super Bowls, and the Saints selected Lattimore, who became a foundational piece of their defense. It was a franchise-altering move that created one dynasty and forced another team to pivot in a direction that, while successful, left fans wondering what could have been.
Aaron Rodgers: The 49ers' Hometown Heartbreak
The 2005 NFL Draft green room became a symbol of televised agony, with Aaron Rodgers as its unwilling star. A Northern California native and Cal product, Rodgers was widely seen as a perfect fit for the San Francisco 49ers, who held the No. 1 overall pick. Many assumed the 49ers would take the local kid to revive their struggling franchise. Instead, they opted for Utah quarterback Alex Smith. What followed was a stunning freefall. Pick after pick, Rodgers sat and waited as 22 other players were selected. He was finally scooped up by the Green Bay Packers at No. 24, a move that would eventually lead to a Super Bowl title and multiple MVP awards. Rodgers has made no secret of the chip that draft-day slight placed on his shoulder. While Smith had a solid career, the 49ers passing on a future Hall of Famer from their own backyard remains one of the most second-guessed decisions in draft history. Adding insult to injury for Rodgers, the 49ers have defeated him in all four of their playoff matchups against him.
Jerry Rice: The Cowboy Who Got Away
In what might be the most impactful draft-day heist ever, the greatest wide receiver of all time was nearly a Dallas Cowboy. In 1985, legendary 49ers coach Bill Walsh was obsessed with Jerry Rice, a standout from small-school Mississippi Valley State. Walsh was also keenly aware that the Cowboys, picking at No. 17, were targeting Rice as well. Sitting at the end of the first round after winning the Super Bowl, Walsh knew he had to make a move. He orchestrated a bold trade with the New England Patriots, sending multiple picks to jump up to the No. 16 spot, one position ahead of Dallas. The 49ers grabbed Rice, and the rest is history. Rice became the centerpiece of a dynasty alongside Joe Montana and Steve Young, winning three Super Bowls with the team. The move not only defined the 49ers' future but also kept a legendary weapon away from their biggest rival, forever changing the landscape of the NFC in the 1980s and 90s.
Randy Moss: Jerry Jones's Biggest Regret
Randy Moss wanted to be a Dallas Cowboy. Growing up, it was his favorite team. And in the 1998 NFL Draft, the Cowboys, picking at No. 8, desperately needed a game-changing wide receiver. It seemed like a perfect match. But due to off-the-field concerns stemming from his youth, Dallas opted for what they considered the “safer pick” in defensive end Greg Ellis. Moss’s slide continued until the Minnesota Vikings stopped his fall at pick No. 21. He made it his personal mission to make Dallas regret their decision, famously torching them on Thanksgiving Day during his rookie season. He went on to have a Hall of Fame career, setting rookie records and becoming one of the most dominant offensive forces the league has ever seen. Years later, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reportedly found Moss and apologized for passing on him, a rare admission of a franchise-altering mistake.
Dan Marino: Pittsburgh's Missed Opportunity
The 1983 quarterback class was legendary, but one of its brightest stars fell right past his hometown team. Dan Marino, a Pittsburgh native and star quarterback for the Pitt Panthers, was available when the Steelers were on the clock with the 21st pick. With legendary quarterback Terry Bradshaw nearing the end of his career, drafting his successor seemed logical. However, a combination of unfounded rumors about Marino's personal life and the team's belief that Bradshaw had more left in the tank led them to pass. The Steelers selected defensive tackle Gabe Rivera, whose career was tragically cut short by a car accident after just six games. Marino, meanwhile, fell to the Miami Dolphins at pick No. 27. He immediately became a superstar, rewriting the NFL record books and leading the Dolphins to the AFC Championship in 1984 by beating the very team that passed on him: the Steelers.
