San Francisco 49ers' top 9 NFL Draft steals of all time

How did these particular late-round 49ers picks became NFL Draft-day heists?
San Francisco 49ers select Brock Purdy with the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft
San Francisco 49ers select Brock Purdy with the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft / Kevin Sabitus/GettyImages
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No. 8: LB Bill Romanowski, Round 3, 80th pick overall (1988)

This 16-year NFL veteran started his career in the Bay Area out west. Bill Romanowski played for three other teams after the Niners, wrapping up his career with a total of 1,116 tackles, 39.5 sacks, 18 interceptions and 16 forced fumbles.

Not only did Romanowski play in 253 consecutive games in his career (a record until 2006), he appeared in five Super Bowls, winning four of them. Two of them were with San Francisco and the last two were with the Denver Broncos.

After appearing in only three games for the Oakland Raiders in 2003, Romanowski called it a career. Despite his on- and off-field controversies, he proved to be an outstanding prospect out of Boston College when the 49ers called his name in the spring of 1988.