While Goose Gonsoulin was a 17^th Round Pick by the San Francisco 49ers, the Baylor Bear was a 2^nd Rounder by the Denver Broncos of the AFL, the professional team he elected to play for.

It was a good move for both sides, and the original Bronco was a First Team All-Pro and the inaugural AFL leader in Interceptions as a rookie.  Gonsoulin would go on to have five AFL All-Star Game appearances and another First Team All-Pro Selection, and while the Broncos were not particularly strong when he was there, he was undoubtedly a bright spot of the organization.

At the time of his signing with the 49ers in 1967 (he only played one year before retiring), he was the AFL's all-time leader in Interceptions with 40.  He later made the AFL All-Time 2^nd Team and was part of Denver's inaugural Ring of Fame Class.

One can argue that Jim Ray Smith missed his window to be known on a higher level as he arrived in Cleveland one year too late and left two years too early, as the Browns would win NFL Championships before and after his arrival, but this was no reflection on the playing ability of Jim Ray Smith.

Smith was drafted in 1954 as an early draftee (Cleveland won the title that year), but due to military commitments, did not arrive until 1956.  Smith played both sides, but excelled as an Offensive Lineman, earning his first of what would be five straight Pro Bowls in 1958.  In that half-decade time frame, Smith would also be named a First or Second Team All-Pro (three First Team and two Second Team).  He retired right after, though he came out of retirement for two seasons with his home-state team, the Dallas Cowboys.

Del Shofner was a remarkable receiver and a member of the 1960s All-Decade Team. He earned this status through outstanding play from 1958 to 1963, during which he was named a First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in every year except 1960.

During his time with the Los Angeles Rams, Shofner topped the NFL in Receiving Yards in 1958 with 1,097, and finished second in the following year with 936. In 1960, he was relegated more to punting duties, but after joining the New York Giants, he regained his place as an elite receiver. In his first three years with the Giants, Shofner had at least 1,100 Receiving Yards and finished in the top four in that metric. Although he never had a stretch close to that again, his reputation as one of the top offensive skill players and deep ball threats of his era earns him a high spot on this list.