Every year in the NFL, someone sneaks through the cracks on draft day and a superstar emerges. So while all the hype leading up to draft day centers around Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and the lot (and rightfully so) it would be unwise to ignore those whose names are not called.
Through the years, names like Kurt Warner, Warren Moon and this year’s Hall-of-Fame entry, John Randle, were all undrafted free agents out of college.
A handful of the names on this list will someday join them.
With the 2012 NFL Draft looming — how strange it is that players can still slip through the cracks of the draft during this era.
I mean, when you look over the history of the NFL, there are a lot of great undrafted players like Kurt Warner, Marion Motley, Dick “Night Train” Lane, Willie Wood, Willie Brown, Lou Groza, Emmitt Thomas and some more recent guys like Jeff Garcia, Rod Smith and Adam Vinatieri.
With modern scouting, it just seems like it would be harder to miss guys, but it happens. So with that in mind, and in honor of Welker’s visit, here is the list of the best undrafted players currently in the NFL.
By no means is this list complete but here are ten of the best playing in the league today.
Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants
College: Massachusetts, 2010
2011 Stats: 82 catches, 1,536 yards, 9 TD
“Victory” Cruz went from preseason standout in 2010 to bona fide star in 2011. Cruz was a major player during the Giants’ Super Bowl run, including 10 receptions for 142 yards in the NFC Championship Game and a touchdown catch in the Super Bowl. In 2012, he’s going to need to prove that last year was no fluke.
Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers
College: Kent State, 2003
2011 Stats: 64 catches, 778 yards, 7 TD
The Chargers tight end has been slowed with injuries over the past two seasons, but he’s still one of the most dangerous receiving tight ends in the NFL. Oh, and you might not know this, but Gates actually played basketball in college. And yes, I’m being sarcastic because you can’t listen to a Chargers game without hearing it. It’s the modern-day version of Ron Brown, who was an Olympic sprinter.
Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
College: Tennessee, 2009
2011 Stats: 278 carries, 1,224 yards, 10 TD
Foster has put up back-to-back impressive performances after emerging from out of nowhere to take control of the Texans’ top spot at running back. (Remember, everybody was raving about Ben Tate a few years back.) In these days of running back-by-committee situations, Foster is one of the rare featured backs, and he helped carry Houston to its first AFC South title.
Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys
College: Eastern Illinois, 2003
2011 Stats: 4,184 yards, 66.3 percent completion, 31 TD
The Cowboys quarterback has had his share of detractors over the years (even from his own team). And despite having the best year of his career in 2011 in terms of passer rating (102.5), there is speculation Romo could be on the hot seat if the Cowboys miss the playoffs this season (don’t shoot the messenger). But if that happens, I’m sure there would be no shortage of teams who would love to have him.
James Harrison, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
College: Kent State, 2002
2011 Stats: 59 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 9 sacks
Harrison spent two years on the practice squad and was released multiple times, but he became one of the most dominant linebackers of his era. Harrison has been selected to five Pro Bowls and has been a two-time Super Bowl champion. In fact, his 100-yard pick six to close the first half of Super Bowl XLIII was the reason why the Steelers won their sixth title.
Wes Welker, WR, New England Patriots
College: Texas Tech, 2004
2011 Stats: 122 catches, 1,569 yards, 9 TD
Not only was Welker undrafted, two teams (the Chargers and Dolphins) gave up on one of the top receivers in the NFL. Welker has led the league in receptions three times since 2007, including a league-leading 122 receptions in 2011. Welker also set career highs with 1,569 receiving yards and scored nine touchdowns last year.
London Fletcher, MLB, Washington Redskins
College: John Carroll, 1998
2011 Stats: 166 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 2 INT, 1.5 sacks
It’s absolutely ridiculous that Fletcher didn’t earn a Pro Bowl spot until three years ago. If it weren’t for Ray Lewis, he might be considered the best mike linebacker of the 2000s. Earning three straight Pro Bowls in the last three seasons has probably helped mute that outrage, however.
Given his diminutive size and background as an undrafted Division III player, his reputation as one of the most consistent tacklers is truly remarkable. There’s an outside shot at a Hall of Fame spot for the 36-year-old who hasn’t missed a single game since joining the NFL in 1998.
Jason Peters, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
College: Arkansas, 2004
Arguably the best left tackle in the NFL. (Sure, with Michael Vick under center he’s not really a “blindside” tackle, but that shouldn’t matter.)
Peters does a fine job in pass protection, but his greatest strength is drive blocking for the running game.
Willis McGahee and Marshawn Lynch both had great seasons running behind Peters, and since moving on to Philly, it’s been largely his presence that’s made LeSean McCoy one of the most versatile and explosive young backs in the game.
Brian Waters, G, New England Patriots
College: North Texas, 1999
Waters was one of the best interior linemen in the game before the Chiefs let him go last summer, and he showed no diminishing skills in his first year as a Patriot, earning a sixth Pro Bowl spot.
What’s most interesting about Waters’ career, however, is the fact that he is a complete player. He anchored one of the NFL’s best (ever?) rushing attacks when he was with the Chiefs during the Dick Vermeil era. But switching over to the pass-heavy Pats offense this year proved to be seamless for Waters.
Vonta Leach, FB, Baltimore Ravens
College: Eastern Carolina, 2004
The best blocking fullback in the NFL, hands down. In 2008, Leach blocked for Steve Slaton; he rushed for nearly 1,300 yards.
Two years later, he blocked for Arian Foster, and he won the NFL’s rushing title. Last year, he blocked for Ray Rice. He rushed for the second-most yards in the NFL.
Sure drafting a blocking-only fullback in the early rounds isn’t commonplace these days. But plenty of teams wish they had at least dropped a sixth or seventh rounder on Leach.
