One of the best parts about the NFL Draft is looking and finding hidden gems. Usually, these are players that are overlooked for one reason or another, such as their school, size or athleticism. Finding these unknown studs is what makes the NFL Draft so much fun.
In a recent piece by Doug Farrar at the Touchdown Wire, he named each team’s greatest draft steal. For Oakland, that was linebacker Rod Martin, who they selected in the 12th round of the 1977 NFL Draft. Take a look at Farrar’s explanation of the pick:
It was said of Al Davis in his prime that he could walk into a gymnasium full of athletes and tell you which one would be a great football player in a matter of seconds. That acumen allowed Davis to make several great value picks through his time as the Raiders’ main man, but it’s hard to top Martin, who the team took in the 12th round of the 1977 draft out of USC. Originally too small to be an NFL linebacker and too slow to be an NFL safety, Martin put on some weight and went about becoming a prototype ‘backer in the Raiders’ 3-4 base defenses. He had three interceptions in Oakland’s Super Bowl XV win over the Eagles and totaled 14 regular-season picks in his career.
Martin went on to start 147 games for the Raiders, making two Pro Bowls and helping lead the team to two Super Bowl wins. During his career, Martin tallied 14 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and scored four touchdowns. He was a linebacker who would have fit well in today’s NFL because of his versatility and coverage ability.
Who do you think is the Raiders’ greatest draft steal of all-time? Feel free to leave your comment below.
