Opta ranks FCS's best draft steals, Yale's Oluokun leads the list

1. Foyesade Oluokun, Yale Bulldogs

Oluokun is the clearest proof that an FCS program can deliver elite NFL value far beyond draft-day expectations. The Atlanta Falcons took him in the sixth round, 200th overall, in 2018, and through the 2025 season Pro Football Reference lists him with 1,070 tackles and 11.5 sacks, production that turns a modest pick into the standard for FCS steals.

2. Darius Leonard, South Carolina State

Leonard sits near the top because he changed the conversation around what a small-school defender can become. Opta grouped him with Oluokun among the league’s most important FCS value picks, and his rise from South Carolina State to major NFL impact is exactly why these rankings matter.

3. James Bradberry, Samford

Bradberry belongs this high because his path shows how FCS cornerbacks can become premium professional assets without first-round billing. Opta included him in its strongest examples from the past decade, a reminder that coverage instincts and size from a smaller program can translate into major NFL dividends.

4. Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois

Chinn represents the hybrid defender prototype that has become so valuable in the modern game. Opta’s inclusion of Southern Illinois on its list of notable FCS pipelines underscores a broader truth: NFL teams keep finding versatile, fast-moving defenders in the FCS when they are willing to look past conference branding.

5. Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State

Goedert is one of the best offensive examples on the board because he shows how FCS programs can produce premium tight end talent. Opta’s decade review placed him among the standout value picks, and South Dakota State’s presence in the discussion reinforces how certain FCS schools have become known for turning out NFL-ready playmakers.

6. Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois

Garoppolo’s spot on the list is a reminder that the FCS can produce quarterback value that lasts well beyond draft week. Opta highlighted him as one of the notable selections from the 2012-21 draft stretch, and his career has become a case study in how a smaller-school passer can outgrow the expectations attached to his draft slot.

7. Carson Wentz, North Dakota State

Wentz may not be the cleanest bargain in pure round-versus-production terms, but his inclusion shows how often North Dakota State has stayed in the NFL conversation. Opta’s review used him as one of the headline examples of FCS quarterbacks entering the league with real first-round capital and real proof that the subdivision can produce top-tier talent.

8. Tytus Howard, Alabama State

Howard adds an important layer to the list because it proves the FCS is not only about quarterbacks and linebackers. Opta’s roundup of notable picks placed him alongside the more famous names, showing that offensive line talent from FCS schools can win the league’s trust when the traits are strong enough.

9. Trey Lance, North Dakota State

Lance is one of the most debated FCS names of the modern draft era, and that debate is part of the point. Opta included him among its best examples because the draft capital itself confirmed how seriously NFL teams will chase rare quarterback tools from an FCS program when the upside is big enough.

10. The seventh-round pipeline

The larger trend behind the rankings is what makes this story so compelling: the FCS keeps producing NFL value at a rate that should make scouts and front offices pay attention every year. Opta says the NFL Draft has had seven rounds for 30 years, and since 2010 the FCS has produced 226 draft selections, with 60 in the seventh round, while its 2012-21 review found 151 FCS picks and plenty of All-Pro and Pro Bowl players. Opta’s 2024 FCS draft review added another proof point, with the class finishing at 12 selections, the second-highest total of the 2020s, a sign that the pipeline is still active and still delivering bargains.