You don't expect an eighth-round pick to become one of the best at his position in his first four seasons, but Larry Brown, the afterthought from Kansas State, did exactly that.  The new Washington Redskins Head Coach, Vince Lombardi pegged Brown, to become the starting Running Back, and he blossomed after Lombardi noticed that he was hearing impaired in one year, and he was permitted to get an audio device in his helmet to listen to his Quarterback's signals.  It proved to work as Brown would go to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, and the next three seasons, which included two First Team All-Pros.  He had an excellent 1970, winning the Rushing Title, but in 1972, he was the league leader in Yards From Scrimmage and Approximate Value and would win the MVP, Bert Bell Award, and Offensive Player of the Year.  More importantly, that year for the Redskins, he would take them to the Super Bowl in a loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Bill Bergey came to the Cincinnati Bengals from Arkansas State, where, as a rookie, the Linebacker would go to the Pro Bowl.  Bergey didn't make a Pro Bowl again as a Bengal, but he was undoubtedly a strong player who was coveted by Cincinnati until they became upset with him.

Coming to the NFL as the 6^th Overall Pick in 1939, Bill Osmanski was a star at Holy Cross when that school was at its peak.  The Fullback had one of the best starts of anyone at his position as the Chicago Bear would lead the NFL in Rushing Yards with 699, and in the 1940 NFL Championship, he rushed for 100 Yards in their 73-0 rout over the Washington Redskins.  Osmanski would not have a year like that again, but he was still an integral part of the Bears and was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first three seasons.

Nicknamed the "Mad Bomber," Daryle Lamonica signed with the Buffalo Bills of the AFL, where he saw limited playing time at Quarterback playing behind Jack Kemp.  He did get to play, however, and was a part of the Bills' 1964 and 1965 AFL Championship.  Lamonica was traded to the Oakland Raiders, and he was finally the starting QB and had the chance to show what he could do, which, as it turned out, would be a lot!