Not too many Punters get drafted but Shane Lechler was in the 5^th Round out of Texas A&M in 2000 by the Oakland Raiders who would see quickly that it was an excellent choice.  Lechler would play for the Raiders for 13 seasons and in six of those years he was named a First Team All Pro with seven seasons being deemed Pro Bowl worthy.  Oakland was often struggling during Lechler’s tenure in the Bay Area so they saw Lechler punt more than they would have wanted but they knew that he did his job exceptionally well.  Five times in Oakland he would lead the National Football League in Yards per Punt and he was second another five times.  Lechler would sign with the Houston Texans and play there for five seasons before he retired.

Paul Pozluszny split his career between the Buffalo Bills and the Jacksonville Jaguars where he was one of the more popular players on the defensive sides of the ball.  A Second Round Pick from Penn State, the Linebacker would be named the Bills Defensive MVP in 2008 and he was chosen for the Pro Bowl in 2013 as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.  That year he would lead the NFL in Solo Tackles with 122 and five times in his career he was in the top ten in Solo Tackles and Combined Tackles.

NaVorro Bowman would prove to be a tackling machine during his time with the San Francisco 49ers and once he became a starter would help usher in a new wave of strong defense for the team.  Bowman would be a First Team All Pro in 2011 (despite not making the Pro Bowl) and he finished second overall in Solo Tackles.  He would repeat his First Team All Pro performance again in both 2012 and 2013, this time making the Pro Bowl in both years, and in 2012 he helped the Niners reach the Super Bowl, though they would lose to the Baltimore Ravens.  From 2011 to 2013 he had 140 Combined Tackles or more, which was good enough for the top ten each year.  A torn ACL and MCL cost Bowman the 2014 season but his return in 2015 saw him again reach the Pro Bowl, the First Team All Pro and this time he would lead the NFL in Solo and Combined Tackles.

One of the better dual threat Running Backs of his era, Matt Forte was a surprise starter as a rookie in a season that would see him rush for over 1,200 Yards and finish seventh in the league.  The product of Tulane early established himself as a solid receiving back with 63 Receptions and he quickly became a favorite of the Chicago Bears’ fanbase.  Forte would play for Chicago for eight seasons and while he was only named to the Pro Bowl twice (2011 & 2013) cases could have easily been made for him in other seasons.  He would have five seasons where he would go over the 1,000 Yard mark rushing and would also have six 50 Reception seasons, punctuated by a 102 catch campaign in 2014.  As a testament to his offensive versatility, Forte would finish in the top ten in Yards From Scrimmage highlight by a 1,933 Yard year in 2013.