With the NFL Draft just recently concluding, a large number of young men will realize their dreams and say they are an NFL player. Like many before them, these draftee’s will hope to live up to their draft spot and impress the coaches. But as we have seen in the past, a high draft pick doesn’t make a good player and being undrafted doesn’t mean you are awful. Here are five of the best undrafted NFL players.
1. London Fletcher
(source: zimbio.com)
Fletcher has played for (and been a star for) numerous different teams but was passed on by each and every team when he declared for the draft in 1998. He was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent and played all games for them during that season and won the Rookie of the Year and appeared in two Super Bowls. He then went on to play for the Bills and Redskins and continue to dominate and be one of the most underrated players of all time.
2. Wes Welker
(source: patriots.com)
Welker was initially signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2004 but was ultimately released after a single game. Then, the Dolphins picked him up, but mainly used him on kick and punt return. But then, a moment happened that would transform him into a star and make him one of the best undrafted players out there. When Welker was signed by the Patriots, he went on a string of seasons with a ton of catches and a ton of yards and was one of the best WRs in the world.
3. Antonio Gates
(source: sportingnews.com)
Gates is widely known as one of the all-time best tight ends, but what some people don’t know, is that he was actually undrafted. He was brought in by the Chargers in 2003 after choosing football over basketball, as he was great in both. His rookie season was fairly modest, but from that point on, he started to assert his dominance in the league. He is a five time all pro and has been voted to the pro bowl nine times and owns most of the Chargers receiving records.
4. Warren Moon
(source: football.com)
When Moon went undrafted and thought his dreams of the NFL were gone, Moon decided to go to the CFL. After six seasons in the CFL (which included a string of five straight championships), he then got his shot in the NFL. He joined the Houston Oilers in 1984 and played with a few other teams before retiring in 1999. He was a nine time pro bowler, three time all pro and is fifth all time in passing yards.
5. Kurt Warner
(source: the neutralzone.co.uk)
Largely seen as the best undrafted player in NFL history, Kurt Warner helped lead one of the best offenses in the history of the league. Warner was initially signed as an undrafted free agent to the Green Bay Packers in 1994, but was released and then spent some time in the AFL and European league. He was then signed by the Rams in 1998 and then in 1999, an injury forced him into the starting lineup. He helped the Rams to win a Super Bowl, won the Super Bowl MVP and went on to have a great career with numerous teams and also won two MVP awards.
