College Football

10 best undrafted college football players who made it in the NFL

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:39 p.m. ET

Fansided, Jerran Anderson/FanSided via Saturday Blitz

The NFL isn't a league where only players drafted find success, undrafted players have made a name for themselves, too.

The NFL Draft is always a spectacle to behold. In seven rounds, 253 players get an opportunity to have their dreams come true by making an NFL roster. However, a lot of players go undrafted.

Going undrafted isn't always the end of the road for players looking to pursue their dream either. Some players go to the Canadian Football League, some to the Arena Football League, while others wait for their shot by signing undrafted free agent contracts.

There haven't been many undrafted players finding success recently but there's still a solid amount of players who are still in the league who were undrafted free agent signings.

While some top picks flamed out early and didn't make it very far, on the other end of the spectrum, there are those who slipped under the radar to find success despite the noise of their critics.

Some paths in sports are pre-determined and destined to occur, while others, like undrafted players have to find their own way to make a name for themselves. Here's a look at the top 10 undrafted players who made in the NFL.

Jan 1, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) warms up before action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

10. Tony Romo, QB, Eastern Illinois

Quarterback Tony Romo went undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft after his career at Eastern Illinois. His No. 17 jersey was retired and he's since been inducted into EIU's Hall of Fame.

He was signed following the NFL Draft as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. Romo finally got his shot at the starting job in the 2006 season and never looked back, serving as the starter until 2015.

Romo made 127 starts in 156 appearances with the Cowboys. He threw for 34,183 passing yards, 248 passing touchdowns and 117 interceptions. He averaged career-high 306.4 passing yards per game during the 2012 regular season.

Romo holds the Cowboys' franchise record for most touchdown passes and passing yards. He was selected to four Pro Bowls as well.

After a string of back injuries, Romo lost his starting job to quarterback Dak Prescott. Romo retired from the NFL on April 4, 2017.

Nov 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) during the fourth quarter between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Giants won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

9. Victor Cruz, WR, Massachusetts

Wide receiver made his NFL debut in 2010 with the New York Giants. Although he was undrafted out of the University of Massachusetts, Cruz didn't let that deter him from finding NFL success.

Cruz made seven starts in his second season with the Giants, catching 82 passes for 1,536 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He followed that season up with 86 catches for 1,092 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns.

Cruz became the most recent player to catch a 99-yard pass play back in 2011. He caught a 99-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Eli Manning on December 24, 2011 against the New York Jets.

Cruz was a member of the Giants when they won the Super Bowl in 2011. He was most known for his Salsa celebration dance after scoring touchdowns.

The speedy receiver is currently a member of the Chicago Bears. He's fallen on tough times, dealing with a string of injuries beginning with a torn patella tendon in 2013.

Oct 18, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) runs for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

8. Arian Foster, RB, Tennessee

Running back Arian Foster wasn't a household name entering the NFL. The Houston Texans took a risk signing the undrafted free agent in 2009 but it paid off for both parties in the end.

Foster went on to become a four-time Pro Bowler with the Texans. In 2012, he led the NFL in rushing attempts (351). During the 2010 and 2012 season, he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 16 and 15, respectively.

Foster led the NFL in rushing yards in 2010 as well (1,616). He made 68 starts in 76 games with the Texans racking up 6,472 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns. He also caught 2,268 receiving yards for 14 touchdowns.

Foster averaged 85.2 rushing yards per game in his time with the Texans and a career-high 101.0 rushing yards per game during the 2010 season. Currently, he's a member of the Miami Dolphins. However, he appeared in just four games during the 2016 season.

Oct 13, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker (83) scores a touchdown in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

7. Wes Welker, WR, Texas Tech

Despite his 5-foot-9, 190-pound frame, wide receiver Wes Welker didn't let his small stature stop him from having a successful NFL career. Although he was undrafted out of Texas Tech coming out of college, the San Diego Chargers took a chance on Welker.

Welker spent his first two seasons in the league with the Chargers and Miami Dolphins, where he caught 96 receptions for 1,121 receiving yards and a touchdown from 2004-2006.

The New England Patriots took a chance on Welker, signing him for the 2007 season and quarterback Tom Brady found a favorite target.

Welker went on to become a five-time Pro Bowler in 93 games with the Patriots. The small but elusive route-runner caught 672 passes for 7,459 receiving yards and 37 receiving touchdowns in six seasons with the Patriots.

Welker joined the Denver Broncos in 2013 and was a member of the team for two seasons. He caught 122 receptions for 1,242 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. He played his final season in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams in 2015, where he appeared in eight games.

Sep 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jason Peters (71) in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

6. Jason Peters, OT, Arkansas

Offensive tackle Jason Peters had quite the transition to the NFL when he went undrafted in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played tight end for three seasons with the Arkansas Razorbacks where he caught 21 passes for 218 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a junior before entering the NFL Draft in 2004.

Peters turned into offensive lineman in the NFL when he signed with the Buffalo Bills practice squad. He converted to offensive tackle in 2005 with the Bills and has made a name for himself since.

Peters had started in every game he's appeared in since 2006 although he missed the entire 2012 season with an injury. He has eight Pro Bowl selections as a member of the Bills and Philadelphia Eagles (104 starts). He started 65 games for the Bills and has started in all 104 games he's appeared in with the Eagles.

Peters is entering his 14th season in the NFL with the Eagles in 2017.

Dec 4, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) catches a pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker Kwon Alexander (58) defends during the first quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

5. Antonio Gates, TE, Kent State

Tight end Antonio Gates went undrafted out of Kent State University in 2003. He didn't play football in college, but instead he was a basketball star that turned into a tight end once his career was over.

Gates averaged 18.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals in two seasons on the Kent State basketball squad, a team that made the Elite Eight in 2002. He originally attended Eastern Michigan and Michigan State before attending Kent State in 2001.

Following in the footsteps of Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, Gates made the conversion from basketball player to NFL tight end. Following a workout, he was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2013 NFL Draft.

Since then, Gates has been selected to eight Pro Bowls with the Chargers. He has caught 897 receptions for 11,192 receiving yards and 111 receiving touchdowns. Gates is currently the active leader in career touchdowns and the Chargers all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Nov 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake (91) reacts after a defensive play during the third quarter as San Diego Chargers tackle King Dunlap (77) looks on at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

4. Cameron Wake, DE, Penn State

Defensive end Cameron Wake went undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft. Wake was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants before being let go a month into the season.

After a two-year hiatus, Wake signed with the BC Lions in the CFL. He won the CFL Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards in his first season. Wake followed up that performance in his second season with 23 sacks, which begin to get him noticed by NFL teams.

Wake signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2009, appearing in 14 games and starting one game. Since then, he's become a five-time Pro Bowl selection, racking up 81.5 sacks, 231 tackles, 21 forced fumbles and 15 pass breakups through 116 games. He notched a career-high 15 sacks in 2012 and this past season, recorded his first interception as a pro.

Despite taking an unusual path to the NFL, Wake seems to be in a good place now at 34 years of age.

Sep 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams autographed jersey of Kurt Warner (13) at Los Angeles Rams kickoff for charity luncheon at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

3. Kurt Warner, QB, Northern Iowa

Quarterback Kurt Warner was a relative no-name out of Northern Iowa when he graduated in 1994. He was signed as an undrafted free agent to the Green Bay Packers in 1994 but became an Arena Football League star first.

In the AFL, Warner led the Iowa Barnstormers to two Arena Bowl appearances in 1996 and 1997 before the St. Louis Rams signed him to a contract in 1998.

Warner entered the NFL at 27 years old in 1998 but didn't get his first start until his second season. He took over as starter after then starting quarterback Trent Green was lost in the 1999 preseason.

Warner went on to throw 4,353 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns (led the NFL) and 13 interceptions in his first full season as starter. He earned the NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in 1999. Along with running back Marshall Faulk and wide receivers Ricky Proehl, Isaac Bruce and Tory Holt, Warner led an offensive showcase dubbed the name "The Greatest Show on Turf."

Warner led the league in passing yards per game in 2000 (311.7) and 2001 (301.9). He was selected to four Pro Bowls and also led the Arizona Cardinals to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

Kurt Warner was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame this past August.

Oct 2, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris (25) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

2. Chris Harris, CB, Kansas

Cornerback Chris Harris didn't go to a big football school in college. As a member of the Kansas Jayhawks, Harris had a collegiate record of 28-22. Despite the odds, Harris still left as one of the top cornerbacks in Jayhawks' history.

His on-field success didn't translate to a selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. Harris went undrafted without an invite to the NFL Combine after Kansas.

He did, however, earn an invite to the Denver Broncos training camp and since then has become one of the top cornerbacks on the Broncos defense. Harris earned 2011 All-Rookie team honors as well as the Broncos' Breakout Player of the Year award.

Harris went on to win a Super Bowl in 2015 with Denver. The three-time Pro Bowler and ball-hawk has 78 starts in 95 appearances since being signed in 2011. He has racked up 331 tackles, 66 pass breakups, 14 interceptions, four fumble recoveries and three interception returns for touchdowns in his six seasons with Denver as well.

Sep 12, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison (92) stands on the field prior to the Steelers' game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

1. LB James Harrison, Kent State

Other than retired Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, linebacker James Harrison is probably one of the fiercest linebackers in the NFL today. Unlike other top defensive players like Lewis, however, Harrison was undrafted out of college.

After graduating from Kent State University, Harrison went undrafted in the 2002 NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed him as an undrafted free agent and he's been a staple on their defense ever since.

So far, Harrison has played 14 seasons in the NFL, 13 with the Steelers and one with the Cincinatti Bengals. He is a two-time Super Bowl Champion, winning with Pittsburgh in 2005 and 2008. He had an 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 2008 Super Bowl that remains on his career-highlight reel to this day.

Harrison has recorded 551 tackles, 79.5 sacks, 33 forced fumbles, 25 pass break ups, seven interceptions and eight fumble recoveries in his career with Pittsburgh. He originally announced his intentions to retire after the 2014 season but has since returned to the Steelers.