2. DE Elvin Bethea (1968: Round 3)
Combine the fact that the relentless defender was a third-round draft choice (77th overall selection) from North Carolina A&T with the most sacks in franchise history (via Pro Football Reference) and you have a sleeper who was named to eight Pro Bowls and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
Elvin Bethea totaled 105.0 sacks and 16 fumble recoveries in 16 seasons in 210 regular-season contests with the Oilers, the latter the second-most in franchise history behind fellow Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews. The reliable pro added seven sacks in eight playoff contests and was enshrined in Canton in 2003.
1. S Ken Houston (1967: Round 9)
He was one of the top players at his position and was chosen by the Houston Oilers with the 214th overall pick in the first year of the Common Draft. Ken Houston would spend his first six seasons with the franchise, and the last eight seasons in Washington. His time with the Oilers was simply remarkable.
In 84 games, he picked off 25 passes and returned nine for scores. There were 11 fumble recoveries (1 TD) and a blocked field goal return for a touchdown. Five of his 12 Pro Bowl invites came while with Houston.
He would go on to play for eight seasons with Washington, where he totaled 25 more interceptions, and was not only named to seven more Pro Bowls but earned All-Pro honors in 1975 and ’78. A legend!