Top Undrafted NFL Players in NFL History

The NFL is all about dreams coming true. The legends here create their legacies. It is one of the most prestigious leagues that is celebrated all over the world because of its drama and thrilling contests. The league is known by its players, and the NFL draft is where all the magic happens. It is a highly anticipated event that brings players into the limelight.

Although teams pick the best players available in the draft, more often, many great players are left unpicked. Because teams select players based on team combinations and strengths, they sometimes leave gems of players in the draft. Some of these undrafted players go on to become Hall of Famers and one of the greats turning NFL odds in their team’s favor.

The following are the top undrafted NFL players in history.

John Randle

John played defense for the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. After his rookie year in 1990 where he played Division II, Texas A&M Kingsville was undrafted in the upcoming draft. He was considered undersized, so he gained fifty pounds, and the Vikings took a chance with him, after which there was no turning back. As a linebacker, John made it to seven Pro Bowls and racked up 137.5 sacks, which tied him for ninth all-time in NFL history. In 2010, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Warren Moon

Moon had an amazing career in college but failed to get drafted into the NFL. He went to the north to play in the Canadian league and became a legend. He won five consecutive titles and received MVP twice. This got the attention of the Houston Oilers and picked him. He played in the NFL for 17 years, appeared in nine Pro Bowls, and also won the Offensive player of the year in 1990. Moreover, he is the only player to be inducted into the Canadian Football League and NFL Hall of Fame.

Wes Welker

A young lad from Texas with an impressive NCAA record was not drafted in the 2004 NFL draft. After becoming a free agent, San Diego Chargers picked him but released him after a single game. The Miami Dolphins signed him, where he played three seasons and then traded to the New England Patriots. Wes’s career boosted with the Patriots, where he made franchise records after records and appeared in five consecutive Pro Bowls.

Adam Vinatieri

Adam was undrafted in 1996, and it took a year for the New England Patriots to pick him. He was probably the best kicker at that time and helped the Pats to win the Super Bowl twice. Adam then moved on to the Colts, where he won another Super Bowl. He finished his incredible NFL career as the all-time leading scorer and made himself worthy of a Hall of Fame.

Kurt Warner

Kurt is probably the greatest undrafted player in NFL history. Many pundits regarded him as a Cinderella Man because of his NFL journey. The reality was the opposite of what seemed to be overnight stardom. He went undrafted in 1994 but was picked and let go by the Green Bay Packers. He worked in a supermarket at a minimum wage for two seasons in Europe to support his family. In 1998, St. Louis Rams picked him after Trent Green’s knee injury. In his first season, Kurt became a starting QB, led his team to the Super Bowl, and won the MVP. After he moved to Arizona, he became the second fastest QB to cover 20,000 yards in the NFL.