San Francisco 49ers: Ranking 5 best fifth-round NFL Draft picks of all time
By Peter Panacy
Newer fans of the 49ers, and the NFL in general, may have to be reminded the NFL Draft used to extend rounds into the teens, making fifth-round selections relatively early picks.
Still, it’s necessary to pay some homage to the Niners glory years of days gone by, and few should receive this kind of accolade for being a fifth-round pick more than former North Carolina A&T defensive back Mel Phillips, whom San Francisco grabbed back in the 1966 NFL Draft.
For what it’s worth, the Buffalo Bills also selected Phillips in the AFL Draft the same year before both leagues merged.
Yet Phillips joined the Niners and had one of the more impressive campaigns for a late-round pick (by today’s standards) in franchise history. He spent the entirety of his 12-year career in San Francisco, serving as both a cornerback and safety, where he recorded 12 interceptions over 147 total games in which he started 115 of them.
One can only imagine getting a 12-year starter in Round 5 of the NFL Draft today.