The final pick of the 2015 NFL Draft belongs to the Arizona Cardinals.  Players with unique backgrounds and eventual intriguing futures will hear their names called even if the future success resides somewhere else besides the NFL. Below is a look at five of the more interesting draft picks in NFL history that turned out to be successful either on or off the field of football.

1967 NFL Draft

11^th Round

Selection by Dallas Cowboys: Pat Riley

Most people are familiar with Miami Heat team president Pat Riley as he was one of the most successful coaches in NBA history before stepping into upper management. Riley has been part of eight NBA championships. Five total with the Los Angles Lakers (in 1972 as a player) and another four as the team’s head coach (1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988). Riley has won three more championships with the Heat as head coach (2006) and as the team president (2012-13). Riley played his collegiate career at Kentucky and starred as a dual-threat athlete. He was selected by the San Diego Rockets in the 1st round of the 1967 NBA Draft, and was also drafted by Cowboys to play receiver that same year. Riley never took a snap in Dallas but became one of the most successful NBA figures of the course of his basketball career.

1973 NFL Draft

17^th Round

Selection by Minnesota Vikings: Dave Winfield

The last pick spent by the Minnesota Vikings in 1973 NFL Draft was used on eventual Hall of Fame inductee to Cooperstown, not Canton, Dave Winfield. His professional career spanned over two decades (1973-95) amongst six different teams that included the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians, but none on an NFL roster. Winfield was a force both on the basketball court and baseball diamond in college playing at Minnesota. He was also drafted by the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA and the Utah Stars of the ABA. How good was Winfield as an athlete? He never played college football, but still had his name written on a draft card to be selected.

1983 NFL Draft

2^nd Round

Selection by Cleveland Browns: Ron Brown

The first pick the Cleveland Browns used in 1983 turned out to be gold. The Arizona State receiver they drafted, Ron Brown, never played a down for Cleveland but went on to win a gold medal in the 4 x 100 meters relay at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Following his Olympic gold, Brown spent eight years in the NFL playing for the Los Angeles Rams and Raiders. He was a one-time All-Pro and first-team All-Pro as a kick returner for the Los Angeles Rams in 1985 leading the league with a 32.8 yard return average (28 returns for 918 yards and three touchdowns). It is also worth mentioning Dallas Cowboys Bob Hayes, drafted in the seventh round in 1964, won one Super Bowl ring and two gold medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo.

1998 NFL Draft

1^st Round

Selection by the New Orleans Saints: Kyle Turley

Turley was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and was named All-Pro once in his career (2000).  Turley became infamous for the helmet throwing incident (2001) after his quarterback Aaron Brooks had his neck twisted in a vicious facemask penalty by New York Jets Damien Robinson. After an ensuing brawl that was incited by the offensive guard, he proceeded to fling his helmet to the Heaven’s and eventually was ejected out of the game. Turley retired after eight seasons and decided to chase his other life passion of writing and playing music. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee and started Gridiron Records. His debut album, “Anger Management”, was released by Gridiron Records in 2010. He sings about Cowboys owner-general manager Jerry Jones. During the cut “Fly’N Helmets.” Turley sings “I love Jerry Jones. I wanted to be a Cowboy, but he’d rather have crooks from video games and fire the great Tom Landry.” Other choice lyrics from the song include, “”F*** Mike Martz, I never liked him anyway. I shoulda stayed my A** in New Orleans.” Well worth a listen if you have the time.

1956 NFL Draft

21^st Round

Selection by Washington Redskins: Howard Schnellenberger

Schnellenberger was an All-American (AP, 1955) tight end at Kentucky. He was also the instrumental piece and lighting rod to one of the most prolific and successful college football programs in the history of the sport. Prior to his arrival at the University of Miami the Hurricanes were a down-and-out program that was close to being dropped by the school. The aftermath included a nickname “The U” that is on equal footing when identifying the Miami Hurricanes football program, thanks in part to the 251^st pick of the 1956 NFL Draft.