Las Vegas Raiders: 15 best draft-day steals of all-time

After a 7-9 season in 1992, the Raiders needed some help to get them over the .500 mark, particularly on defense. Luckily for them in the 1993 NFL Draft, the Raiders rolled the dice on a young linebacker out of the University of Colorado. In the seventh round, No. 181 overall, the Silver and Black selected Greg Biekert to help shore up the linebacker corps.

Little did they know they wound up taking a flier on a guy who would become their starting middle linebacker for eight consecutive seasons. Following his rookie season in which Biekert appeared in every game, but did not start, he seized the starting role. He did not relinquish it until he departed the Raiders prior to the 2002 season.

In 144 games, Biekert tallied a massive 123 starts. In those games, the tenacious linebacker amassed 916 tackles and 15 sacks. He also managed to record three interceptions and nine forced fumbles, recovering five along the way as well. As the statistics illuminate, Biekert was a stud and was a focal point of the Raiders defense in the 1990s.

Although the Raiders did not capture a Lombardi Trophy during his stay, Biekert appeared in six playoff games. He was his consistent self in those games, recording 35 tackles in those six appearances. It is impressive for a seventh-round pick to become a starting-caliber player, but to also have the kind of longevity Biekert had, that is really what makes Biekert a draft-day steal.