The Miami football team has had 127 players drafted since 2000. Six Miami draftees since 2000 stand out as hidden gems. Anything beyond a second-round pick should be considered a hidden gem. The players on this list produced beyond their draft expectations.
Running Frank Gore is a future Hall of Famer and tight end Jimmy Graham will be a candidate for enshrinement in Canton. The other four Miami NFL Draft hidden gems since 2000 have been consistent contributors throughout their NFL careers.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins has been a consistent starter for the last five seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Running backs Duke Johnson and Lamar Miller each had several seasons of producing over 1.000 yards from scrimmage. Wide receiver K.J. Osborn has far exceeded his expectations.
Gore, Graham and Johnson were third-round picks, Jenkins and Miller were drafted in the fourth round and Osborn was a fifth-round pick. When ESPN came out with their 2023 Position U rankings, Miami was fourth among running backs. Eleven Miami RBs have been selected in the NFL Draft since 2000.
Miami has produced seven safeties, 14 TEs and 14 WRs draftees since 2000. Thirty-one Miami players have been first-round picks since 2000. Only six Miami players have been drafted in the first round since 2000. Miami has not produced the same top-end talent they did during the 2000s.