Here are the top 10 undrafted free agents in NFL history! Of course, we can’t leave off Adam Vinatieri, despite the fact he was a kicker. He’s one of the most accomplished NFL players of all time and spent over 20 years in the NFL!
10: Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri is one of the greatest kickers if not the greatest kicker ever, and he was a four-time Super Bowl Champion and three-time Pro Bowler. He has some key kicks in some huge playoff moments, headlined by the game-winning kick against the Rams in the Super Bowl. He had ice in his veins in big spots, and he was a huge part of some great Patriot and Colt teams, kicking from age 24 to 47.
9: Jason Peters
Jason Peters was one of the most reliable linemen of the 2000s, with a career that spanned three different decades. He was a two-time first-team All-Pro lineman with nine Pro Bowls and a selection to the Hall of Fame’s all-2010s team. With a Super Bowl Champion in Philadelphia, Peters is one of the most dominant tackles of his time, playing the premium position of left tackle for some great teams in his career.
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8: Rod Smith
Hauling in 849 catches for 11,389 yards, Rod Smith had six-straight seasons with the Broncos where he racked up at least 1,000 yards from 1997-2002, being a second-team All-Pro WR twice with three Pro Bowls and two Super Bowl Championships. A WR1 on some elite Denver teams while never taking an NFL snap for another franchise, Smith is a legend in Colorado and was one of the greatest UDFAs in recent memory.
7: Tony Romo
Is Tony Romo one of the more controversial careers to rank all-time? Yes, but that doesn’t take away from the overall value he provided as a UDFA. He didn’t do much in the postseason, and the Dallas Cowboys never got to the NFC Championship Game with him (or since his retirement), but he still tossed for over 34,000 yards and 248 touchdowns in his career. Injuries and postseason inconsistency will always follow him, but the four-time Pro Bowler is still an all-time great steal.
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6: James Harrison
While James Harrison may not get the call to Canton, he is still one of the most fearsome defenders in the 21st Century, racking up 54 sacks from 2007-2011, where he racked up five straight Pro Bowl appearances. The two-time Super Bowl champion totaled 84.5 sacks and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, terrorizing opposing signal-callers and being a leader of some great Pittsburgh Steelers defenses.
5: Priest Holmes
Priest Holmes was a dynamic running back who racked up an insane 27 touchdowns in 2003, picking up three All-Pro selections and an Offensive Player of the Year in 2002. He was one of the rare running backs who got better in their late 20s, and his three-year peak from 2001-2003 is one of the most legendary we will ever see from the position.
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4: John Randle
A cornerstone on the Minnesota Vikings for years, the six-time All-Pro defensive tackle was dominant, leading the league in sacks in 1997 and finishing with a whopping 137.5 over his 219 games played. John Randle was a monster on the defensive line and one of the best defensive tackles in NFL history. As with Antonio Gates, you could argue that he is the greatest UDFA in NFL history when not adjusting for the positional value of a quarterback.
3: Warren Moon
The dynamic Warren Moon led the league in passing yards twice, throwing for 291 touchdowns with over 49,000 yards. He was a gunslinger, throwing plenty of interceptions and having a less-than-pretty completion rate, but the former Offensive Player of the Year and now Hall of Famer has one of the most electric careers in NFL history. An icon on some great Houston Oiler teams, there are few players who brought more excitement to the gridiron.
2: Antonio Gates
A model of consistency and excellent across his storied career with the Chargers, the tight end hauled in over 950 catches for 11,841 yards and 116 touchdowns. Selected to eight Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams, he is arguably the greatest UDFA ever when you remove positional value, as he had one of the most consistent careers you’ll see for any player in the league, much less a player who wasn’t drafted.
1: Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner went from bagging groceries to winning MVPs, as the four-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion threw for over 32,000 yards with 208 touchdowns. His three-year peak with the Rams included two MVPs, a Super Bowl, and three-straight years leading the league in completion rate. His late-career resurgence in Arizona capped off what was an incredible story and career, earning the honor of the greatest UDFA in NFL history.