Who are the 10 best undrafted players in NFL history?

A complete of 257 prospects will hear their names referred to as when the 2025 NFL Draft takes place this weekend, fulfilling the hopes and desires of many. For many who do not hear their names get referred to as, although, that does not imply their desires of taking part in within the NFL are over.

In truth, there are numerous success tales of undrafted gamers turning into NFL standouts over time. There have additionally been a handful of gamers who’ve turn into Corridor of Famers after going undrafted.

So, which undrafted gamers are one of the best in NFL historical past? Let’s check out one of the best within the widespread period (1967-present). 

10 finest undrafted gamers in NFL historical past

10. Adam Vinatieri

The overwhelming majority of kickers start their NFL careers after going undrafted, however the way in which Vinatieri’s profession performed out means that was a mistake. He performed within the World League of American Soccer (which later rebranded as NFL Europe) after he went undrafted in 1996, however joined the New England Patriots shortly after. He surprisingly gained the kicker competitors in coaching camp that 12 months because of his kickoff capability.

Effectively, that call wound up altering the course of NFL historical past. Vinatieri made a couple of clutch kicks within the Patriots’ Tremendous Bowl-winning season in 2001. He made a 45-yard subject purpose by the snow to assist ship their Divisional Spherical recreation towards the Raiders to extra time earlier than kicking the game-winning subject purpose. He made a game-winning 48-yard subject purpose on the ultimate play of Tremendous Bowl XXXVI. Two years later, Vinatieri’s 41-yard subject purpose with 4 seconds left helped the Patriots win Tremendous Bowl XXXVIII.

These kicks had been simply 4 of the NFL-record 56 Vinatieri made in his playoff profession. Vinatieri additionally holds the NFL report for many subject targets made (599) and factors scored (2,673) within the common season as he loved a 24-year NFL profession, profitable 4 Tremendous Bowls between his time with the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. 

9. Priest Holmes

The Baltimore Ravens took a flyer on Holmes after he spent most of his time at Texas buried on the Longhorns’ operating again depth chart, despite the fact that he rushed for 13 touchdowns on 59 carries in his ultimate 12 months in Austin. That guess labored. After primarily redshirting his rookie season, Holmes turned a 1,000-yard rusher in Yr 2. He took a backup function within the following seasons, taking part in behind Jamal Lewis of their Tremendous Bowl-winning season in 2000. 

Holmes joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent within the following season, starting a stretch the place Holmes made historical past. He rushed for not less than 1,400 yards in every of his first three years with the Chiefs, together with a league-best 1,555 yards in 2001. Two years later, Holmes rushed for 27 touchdowns, setting the report for many complete touchdowns scored by a participant ever in a season. He additionally joined Emmitt Smith as simply considered one of two gamers to ever rating 20-plus touchdowns in two consecutive seasons that 12 months. Holmes completed his profession as a three-time first-team All-Professional and a one-time recipient of the Offensive Participant of the Yr Award.

8. Drew Pearson

The opposite nice undrafted free agent signed by the Cowboys within the Nineteen Seventies was Pearson. The broad receiver joined Dallas in 1973, serving to to carry Dallas’ offense whereas catching passes from Roger Staubach briefly order. He turned a first-team All-Professional in Yr 2, recording 62 receptions for 1,087 yards in 1974. That 12 months was his first of three All-Professional and Professional Bowl nods, main the league in receiving yards in 1977 (870). That season ended with Pearson serving to the Cowboys win their second title in franchise historical past. He additionally retired as Dallas’ all-time receiving yards chief (7,822) after the 1983 season. He at the moment sits fourth all-time and was inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2021.

7. Tony Romo

One more Cowboys star on the listing. Then-Cowboys quarterbacks coach Sean Payton, who was part of Invoice Parcells’ teaching employees, was in a position to assist Dallas land the guy Jap Illinois alum after he went undrafted in 2003. Not like Harris and Pearson, although, it took Romo a while to get some taking part in time. He served as a backup till the 2006 season, when he changed a struggling Drew Bledsoe. The Cowboys took off from there, reaching the postseason that 12 months and going 14-2 to win the NFC East in 2007. Whereas Romo did not win a Tremendous Bowl, he staked his declare as one of many league’s finest quarterbacks in an period when Tom Brady and Peyton Manning had been breaking information. He was a four-time Professional Bowler and led the NFL in passer ranking in 2014, ending third in MVP voting that 12 months. He additionally retired because the Cowboys’ all-time chief in passing yards and touchdowns.

6. Cliff Harris

If you construct a multi-time Tremendous Bowl winner over a brief span and a perennial title contender, you usually need to hit massive alongside the margin. Effectively, the Dallas Cowboys struck gold twice in undrafted free company throughout the Nineteen Seventies. First, they signed Harris after he went undrafted in 1970. He turned a first-time first-team All-Professional and six-time Professional Bowler who helped Dallas win Tremendous Bowl VI and XII. Later nicknamed “Captain Crash” for his laborious hits, Harris helped revolutionize the free security place by carrying lighter pads in an effort to transfer faster across the subject. Along with the 2 Tremendous Bowl wins, Harris helped the Cowboys attain three extra Tremendous Bowls, turning into one of many few gamers in NFL historical past to ever play in not less than 5 Tremendous Bowls. He was finally voted for induction into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2020. 

5. James Harrison

Among the best defensive gamers of the twenty first century was an undrafted free agent. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed James Harrison as an undrafted free agent in 2002, with issues over his measurement being the rationale why he wasn’t a highly-touted prospect. Pittsburgh really gave up on Harrison at one level early in his profession as properly, releasing him from the observe squad on a number of events earlier than he signed a contract with the Ravens and was allotted to an NFL Europe crew in 2004. 

Finally, Harrison re-emerged with the Steelers throughout coaching camp in 2004 as he contemplated his football-playing future. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, Harrison was keen to offer soccer yet one more attempt. He spent the following few seasons as a task participant for the Steelers as they turned a contender, profitable the Tremendous Bowl in 2005. He turned one of many league’s high move rushers by 2007 and recorded 16 sacks in 2008, profitable Defensive Participant of the Yr that season. Pittsburgh additionally gained the Tremendous Bowl that 12 months. Harrison did not attain that peak play once more, however he retired as a five-time Professional Bowler.

4. Antonio Gates

Earlier than he turned one of many best tight ends in NFL historical past, Gates performed basketball in school. In truth, he tried to play soccer and basketball at Michigan State, however then-Spartans head coach Nick Saban wished him to completely play soccer and transfer him to defensive finish. Gates stated no and finally transferred to Kent State, the place he helped the Golden Flashes attain the Elite Eight within the 2002 NCAA Event. 

Gates did not play soccer at Akron, although, and when he discovered that NBA scouts weren’t too excessive on him, he opted to pursue an NFL profession. The Chargers wound up signing him after a tryout in 2003, a choice that rapidly aged properly. He turned an All-Professional and Professional Bowl tight finish by 2004, recording 13 touchdowns that 12 months as he fashioned a powerful reference to Drew Brees. That was considered one of 4 seasons through which Gates recorded not less than 10 receiving touchdowns, serving to him turn into the NFL’s all-time chief in receiving touchdowns amongst tight ends. He is additionally fourth all-time in receptions and receiving yards by tight ends in NFL historical past, together with his eight Professional Bowl nods serving to him get voted for induction into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2025. 

3. Warren Moon

Not solely did Moon go undrafted in 1978, however he additionally spent the primary six seasons of his skilled profession in Canada, taking part in with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL. He really signed the cope with the Eskimos forward of the NFL Draft as he senescence could be a late-round choice at finest within the 1978 draft. 

After profitable 5 Gray Cup titles, although, Moon turned a commodity when he determined to enter the NFL in 1984. The Houston Oilers wound up profitable the battle for Moon, a transfer that they definitely did not remorse. Nevertheless it took the Oilers a couple of years to seek out success with Moon, reaching the playoffs in 1987. Moon turned one of many league’s finest quarterbacks throughout that timeframe as properly, getting his first of 9 Professional Bowl nods in 1988 and profitable Offensive Participant of the Yr in 1990. On the time of his retirement in 2001, Moon was high 5 in NFL historical past in passing yards and touchdowns regardless of beginning his profession within the CFL.

2. John Randle

Like another all-time nice undrafted free brokers, Randle was regarded as too small when he entered the NFL Draft. The defensive deal with weighed fewer than 250 kilos earlier than he signed with the Minnesota Vikings, secretly carrying a sequence to assist increase his weight in an effort to get a deal.

The Vikings seemingly obtained fortunate that Randle opted to do this, as he wound up turning into one of many NFL’s finest inside defensive linemen of all time. Randle was a seven-time Professional Bowler and six-time first-team All-Professional, main the league in sacks in 1997 with 15.5. A 12 months later, Randle helped the Vikings go 15-1 and almost attain the Tremendous Bowl, dropping within the NFC Championship Recreation. Randle completed his profession with the Seahawks, recording 23.5 sacks over his ultimate three seasons. That helped him end his profession with 137.5 sacks, which had been the fifth-most in NFL historical past on the time of his retirement after the 2003 season. That sack complete continues to be the second-most ever amongst defensive tackles as FOX Sports recently ranked Randle as the best player to ever play the position. 

1. Kurt Warner 

Warner’s path to NFL stardom is likely to be probably the most distinctive. Effectively, the story was not less than adequate to show right into a film. After going undrafted in 1994, Warner tried out for the Green Bay Packers, who lower him throughout coaching camp. He labored as a grocery retailer attendant afterward earlier than taking part in within the Enviornment Soccer League and NFL Europe.

Warner finally latched onto the Rams‘ roster in 1998, serving as their third-string quarterback earlier than turning into the backup in the beginning of the 1999 season. When Trent Inexperienced suffered a season-ending within the preseason that 12 months, the legend of Warner started. He led the Rams to a Tremendous Bowl title that 12 months and immediately turned one of many recreation’s finest passers, profitable MVP that season. He continued to function a key determine for one of many offenses in NFL historical past, quarterbacking the “Biggest Present on Turf” to a different Tremendous Bowl look in 2001. Whereas they misplaced the Tremendous Bowl that 12 months, Warner gained his second MVP.

After his interval of success with the Rams, Warner discovered himself in the same spot to the place he began his profession by the 2004 season. He was launched by the Rams after the 2003 season and signed with the New York Giants in 2004, beginning at quarterback for them for the primary half of the season. He turned a free agent once more the next 12 months, signing with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal in 2005. Warner wound up having a resurgence in Arizona, serving to the Cardinals play the Tremendous Bowl for the primary time in franchise historical past in 2008 as he earned his fourth Professional Bowl nod that 12 months. He retired following the 2009 season and was inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2017. 

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