Miami Dolphins

Arian Foster and the 10 best undrafted free agents

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Arian Foster retired from the NFL this week, finishing a career as one of the best undrafted free agents of all time.

A multitalented player, Foster used his uncanny vision and agility to become one of the league’s finer running backs. The owner of nearly all of the Texans rushing records, he began his career as an undrafted free agent back in 2009. To go undrafted in the NFL and make it requires perseverance. Every year, hundreds of undrafted free agents begin at the bottom of NFL depth charts as camp rosters begin with 100.

Over the course of trainings camp, as rosters are cut down to 53, most are lost. Veterans and draft picks that the organization has invested in claim most spots, and only a fraction of undrafted players ever make an NFL roster. For Arian Foster to have the success he did, given where he started his career, makes his accomplishments even that much more impressive.

In honor of number 23, here are the ten best undrafted players in NFL history.

Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

10. Arian Foster, RB, Tennessee

Character questions, a disappointing senior season, and a 4.65 40 yard dash led to the University of Tennessee’s all-time leading rusher going undrafted in the 2009 NFL draft. During his rookie season, Foster was released and re-added by the Texans before getting the chance to play after an injury to starting running back Steve Slaton. After second round pick Ben Tate was injured in camp the following season, Arian Foster got the Texans starting job and never let go. During that 2010 season he totaled 2,220 all-purpose yards, which broke Priest Holmes’ record for an undrafted free agent. He led the NFL in touchdowns that year and earned an unexpected First Team All-Pro nod.

Arian Foster ran for over 1,224 yards in only 13 games the following season and earned a contract extension prior to the 2012 season. Following his payday, Foster turned in another All-Pro effort and again led the NFL in touchdowns. He also became the third fastest player to 5,000 yards from scrimmage during the 2012 season and inspired debate over whether he was the league’s best running back. A back injury cut the 2013 season in half, but Arian Foster returned and recorded 1,569 yards from scrimmage in 13 games in 2014.

It’s likely that years down the line nobody remembers his stint with the Dolphins. Arian Foster ruptured his Achilles tendon last October 25 and never played for the Texans again — assuming his retirement sticks, that was effectively the end of his career. Foster will finish as the Texans’ career rushing leader in most major categories and should be on the short list of greatest Texans ever. He was a back slightly ahead of his time, as many of today’s young exciting runners succeed in a zone scheme and are used as a featured receiver out of the backfield. An enigmatic player we saw too little of, Arian Foster made his mark on the NFL.

JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 30: Priest Holmes

9. Priest Holmes, RB, Texas

Seeing few carries behind Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams, Priest Holmes went undrafted in 1997 before being signed by the Baltimore Ravens. After being inactive during his rookie season, Holmes became the Ravens starter in 1998 and eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards. Despite his 1,000 yard season, the Ravens didn’t want to commit to Holmes and he lost the job during his third season. He was the backup to Jamal Lewis when the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000. Following that season, Holmes signed an inexpensive contract with the Kansas City Chiefs to little fanfare.

Priest Holmes earned the Chiefs starting job before the 2001 season and soon became a fantasy football king. He ran led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,555 and then ran for 1,615 in 14 games in 2002. Holmes really made noise that season by scoring 24 touchdowns, setting a precedent that he broke in 2003 with a then-NFL-record 27 rushing touchdowns. He joined Emmitt Smith as the only two NFL running backs to ever post back to back 20 touchdown seasons. Holmes was on his way to again breaking the NFL records for touchdowns in 2004, with 15 midway through the season, but was injured and lost the rest of his season.

Priest Holmes never turned in a healthy season again after that. He injured his spinal column and lost his starting role to Larry Johnson. He wasn’t able to return from his spinal injury until 2007, and then he only played for about a month before re-injuring his neck and calling it a career. Holmes retired second in rushing in Kansas City Chiefs history and is their all-time touchdown leader. While his peak in the NFL wasn’t terribly long, it was electric, and Priest Holmes deserves to be remembered for it.

Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

8. Tony Romo, QB, Eastern Illinois

Despite All-Racine County honors his Senior season at Burlington High School in Wisconsin, Tony Romo was lightly recruited and ended up at FCS Eastern Illinois University. While a Panther, Romo was a three time All-American and won the Walter Payton Award, the FCS’s Heisman equivalent. Sean Payton, then the Cowboys offensive coordinator, believed in Tony Romo’s abilities and brought him to the Cowboys. During his first two seasons with the Cowboys, Romo did little other than hold kicks.

Tony Romo eventually replaced Drew Bledsoe mid-game against the New York Giants during October of 2006. Despite his first pass being intercepted, he became the Cowboys eighth starting quarterback since 2000 and has not let up the job since. He learned on the job quickly and led the NFC in passing touchdowns and passer rating during his first full season as a starter. The Cowboys made the playoffs during his three of his first four seasons and Romo was selected to three Pro Bowls as well. Then the Cowboys rebuilt around Romo, and though they went through some rebuilding seasons, gave him a six-year, $108 million extension in 2013. His extension helped save the Cowboys money against the cap just before they started reaping the benefits of their draft picks and recent roster moves.

Tony Romo proved a lot of critics wrong during his 2014 season. He eventually was chosen for both Pro Bowl and Second Team All-Pro honors and led the league in passer rating. He also silenced those who said he was going to choke in December by posting the highest December QB rating by any quarterback in the history of the NFL. Romo has the fifth highest QB rating in NFL history for a career as well. The major knock against Romo has been that he is yet to bring a Lombardi Trophy to Dallas, but he may yet be able to answer those questions during his career. The Cowboys all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, it remains entirely possibly that Tony Romo could end up as an NFL Hall of Famer. Not bad for a kid from Wisconsin.

Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

7. Willie Brown, CB, Grambling State

A Mississippi native, Willie Brown went to college at Grambling State and bounced around the AFL before catching on with the Denver Broncos. He became a starter midway through his rookie year in Denver and became an All-AFL player during his second season. He made the AFL All-Star game for the second time in 1966 and was eventually traded to the Raiders in 1967. Brown became friends with Raiders owner Al Davis, and that friendship was fruitful for both of them.

Willie Brown earned nine All-Star/Pro Bowl recognition nods and was All-AFL/NFL seven times. He scored on a 75 yard touchdown return during the Raiders’ Super Bowl XI victory. He made the All-70’s decade team and was a first ballot Hall of Famer in 1984. He is generally considered to be one of the better NFL cornerbacks of all time. A Raider for 12 seasons, he was defensive captain for ten of those seasons. He is one of the first players that comes to mind when thinking of the Raiders early success, and for good reason.

The transition from player to coach after his playing days ended in 1979 seemed natural for Brown. He immediately became the defensive backs coach for the Raiders, and served in this capacity during their next two Super Bowl victories. He left the Raiders in 1989 to pursue other coaching opportunities and became the final Head Coach in Long Beach State college history, where Brown earned his Master’s degree. After one year of coaching at Jordan High School in Los Angeles, Willie Brown became the Raiders Director of Staff Development in 1995 — a post he holds to this day. Willie Brown has been a Raiders lifer to an extent really only eclipsed by Al Davis himself.

6. Antonio Gates, TE, Kent State

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Antonio Gates originally committed to Michigan State University to play basketball for Coach Tom Izzo and football for Coach Nick Saban. Saban forced Gates to choose sports, so he transferred to Eastern Michigan University to pursue his basketball career. After bouncing around junior colleges, Gates materialized at Kent State for his junior and senior seasons. He led the Golden Flashes to their first two MAC titles and was their leading scorer during their Cinderella run to the Elite Eight in 2002. He averaged 20.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists his senior year on his way to Honorable Mention All-America honors. He is one of four players in Kent State basketball history to have his number retired.

At 6-4, Antonio Gates’ NBA career chances seemed dim, so he answered calls from NFL teams. The San Diego Chargers brought him into camp in 2003 and many were surprised when he became their starting tight end during his rookie season. Gates broke out during his first full season as starter and scored 13 touchdowns, which broke the record for an NFL tight end. He received a new contract before the 2005 season and went over 1,000 yards for the first time, finishing with 89 catches for 1,101 yards and ten scores. He continued to play well with new starter Philip Rivers in 2006 and was All-Pro for the third time. He failed to repeat as All-Pro during the 2007 and 2008 seasons due to injury, but was healthy for most of 2009 and 2010 and was an All-Pro player during those seasons. Chronic foot issues began to derail Gates’ career, but he managed to make his eighth and most recent Pro Bowl in 2011.

In more recent years, Antonio Gates hasn’t played every offensive snap for the Chargers. But even at 36, he is still one of the league’s best red zone threats and better receiving tight ends. Limited snaps have prevented him from being a Pro Bowler. He is the Chargers all-time leader in catches and yards and will likely have his number retired from the team. The 69 touchdowns he has caught from Philip Rivers make them the most proficient quarterback-tight end duo ever. He is behind only Tony Gonzalez in most stats for a tight end, and along with Gonzalez helped revolutionize the position into the pseudo slot wide receiver it has become today. Antonio Gates made the unlikely transition from March hero to NFL tight end, and the league is better for it.

06 Jan 2001: Defensive tackle John Randle

5. John Randle, DT, Texas A&M-Kingsville

Despite its NCAA Division II status, Texas A&M-Kingsville has produced three NFL Hall of Fame players, but that didn’t help John Randle garner draft attention when he went there in the late eighties. Randle secured a training camp offer with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1990 because his brother was playing there. He was cut in camp, deemed too small to play defensive tackle at 6’1 and 287 pounds. The Vikings added Randle at the urging of head scout Don Deisch and he broke out during his second season, recording 9.5 sacks for the Vikings in 1991. He became a Pro Bowler following an 11.5 sack season in 1992 and silenced all of those who had doubted him to that point.

John Randle again recorded double digit sacks in 1993, and repeated that effort every year for the Vikings until 2000, when he missed time and recorded eight sacks. His finest effort came in 1997 when he led the NFL in sacks with 15.5. Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who Randle sacked more than any other quarterback, called him “the toughest defensive player I have ever faced” and later called him “unblockable.” His 137.5 sacks ranks fifth all time and second in league history for a defensive tackle, trailing only former Vikings great Alan Page. After ten seasons with the Vikings, Randle closed his career out with the Seattle Seahawks, spending his last three seasons there in hopes of a Super Bowl ring. He retired in 2003.

A colorful personality, John Randle was a popular player in the NFL during his time. He made the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1990’s and was selection into the Hall of Fame during his second year of eligibility in 2010. He was elected into the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor in 2008. Randle also helped change the defensive tackle position, placing more of an emphasis on quickness and block shedding that became common in 4-3 defenses. If not for his influence, players like Aaron Donald may not have the same chances they have today.

(Photo by Michael Zagaris/Getty Images)

4. Dick “Night Train” Lane, CB, Scottsbluff Junior College

Dick Lane was born in 1928, the son of a prostitute and a pimp named Texas Slim. Ella Lane found him in a dumpster and soon adopted him, raising him as her own. At 20 years old, Dick Lane enrolled in the United States Army in 1948 and was a lieutenant colonel during the Korean War. Following deployment, he went to the Los Angeles Rams in 1952 with a scrapbook of press clippings and was offered a tryout. He was noticed for chasing down Rams running back Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch and earned the nickname “Night Train” due to his enthusiasm for the Jimmy Forrest record of the same name. Despite walking into camp at the beginning of the year, Night Train set the NFL record for interceptions with 14, a record that still stands today.

Night Train got traded to the Chicago Cardinals in 1954 and then to the Detroit Lions in 1960. His play never slipped no matter where he went, being named a Pro Bowler and First Team All-NFL seven times each. Dick Lane retired as a Lion in 1965 at 37-years-old after thirteen years in the league. His 68 career interceptions ranks fourth all time, and it’s likely he would own this record if he got to play during his early twenties. Known primary as a Lion, Lane returned to Detroit in later years to work with the Lions and the city of Detroit.

Despite being known for his speed and coverage skills at cornerback, Dick Lane inspired rule changes that changed the course of the NFL. The face mask pull became a penalty largely because of him and the clothesline tackle, once known as “the Night Train Necktie”, became outlawed too. Lane was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1974 and has numerous honors for being considered one of the greatest cornerbacks of all time, including a starting role on the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Pro team. He died of a heart attack in 2002.

SEATTLE – OCTOBER 18: Quarterback Kurt Warner

3. Kurt Warner, QB, Northern Iowa

Kurt Warner was born and raised in Iowa, and received little Division I recruiting interest, eventually choosing to stay close to home and attend Northern Iowa. Playing in the FCS in the early nineties didn’t get Warner much NFL attention, and he only drew a local camp invite from the Green Bay Packers. The Packers had Brett Favre, future 3x Pro Bowler Mark Brunell, and former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer at the position already and cut Warner in camp. Kurt Warner went back to Iowa and worked in a grocery store, eventually succeeding in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe before the St. Louis Rams offered to bring him in as a backup QB.

A third string quarterback during his first year with the Rams, Kurt Warner earned the primary backup role to Trent Green in 1999. Green tore his knee during the final preseason game and afterwards Rams’ coach Dick Vermeil stated “We will rally around Kurt Warner, and we’ll play good football.” Warner became the first quarterback to ever throw three touchdowns in his first three NFL starts on his way to 4,353 yards along with 41 touchdowns and the NFL MVP. He threw for a Super Bowl record 411 yards and he was Super Bowl MVP in the Rams win.

The Rams became known as “The Greatest Show on Turf” and Warner was their engine. He led a record-breaking offense, started 6-0 the next two seasons, and was named MVP again in 2001. However, Warner failed to win another Super Bowl for the Rams, losing to the New England Patriots and young Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXVI. By the 2003 season, Kurt Warner was either injured or ineffective and was released after losing his starting job to Marc Bulger. He signed a contract with the New York Giants in 2004 and eventually lost his starting job again, this time to rookie quarterback Eli Manning. The Arizona Cardinals brought Warner in to contend with Josh McCown for their starting job and he eventually won the job for good during the 2005 season.

Kurt Warner gave young wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin the most steady quarterback play of their careers. Despite winning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors and becoming the second quickest QB to 20,000 passing yards early in the 2006 season, the Cardinals replaced Warner with rookie Matt Leinart. The two traded the job on and off until the third week of the 2007 season, when Warner claimed the job for the rest of the year. Despite nearly setting the Cardinals record for passing touchdowns, Warner was told he would have to earn his job in 2008.

Kurt Warner showed that he was a better quarterback than Matt Leinart again during the Cardinals 2008 training camp. Finally given a full season to play, he threw for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns and led the NFC in passer rating and completion percentage for the third time. The Cardinals earned their first playoff berth in ten years, eventually losing to the Steelers in the Super Bowl. Warner returned to the Cardinals for the 2009 season and eventually made a final Pro Bowl before retiring. Warner holds numerous NFL and Super Bowl records and is an early favorite for 2017 Hall of Fame induction.

(Photo by Mark Kauffman /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)(Set Number: X1989 TK1 R10 F2 )

2. Joe Perry, RB, Compton Junior College

Joe Perry was born in depression era Arkansas and was raised in Los Angeles after his family moved there to pursue better opportunities. A high school star, he dreamt of playing football locally at UCLA, but eventually played one season at Compton Junior College in 1944 instead. He scored 22 touchdowns in his lone season there and declined an offer from UCLA, instead enlisting in the Navy for the duration of World War II. Towards the end of his enlistment, Joe Perry clocked in at 9.5 seconds in the 100 yard dash, then only two-tenths of a second off the world record. Word of Perry’s athleticism spread and the San Francisco 49ers signed Perry for the 1948 season.

Joe Perry became the first African-American player for the 49ers and endured a lot of racial hardship during his career. He trusted the 49ers brass and even though they were only an AAFC team at the time. He led the AAFC in rushing touchdowns during each of his first two seasons and the 49ers were allowed to join the NFL for the 1950 season. Joe Perry finished third in the NFL in rushing yards during each of his first two seasons. He took a step forward during the 1953 and 1954 seasons and became the first NFL player to record back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons. Following the 1954 season, Joe Perry became the NFL’s first African American MVP. Perry finished out the 1950’s with the 49ers before replacing fullback Alan Ameche on the Colts for two seasons

Joe Perry earned three first team All-Pro selections and was named to the All-1950’s decade team. He earned the nickname “Jet” because of his speed, which was summed up by friend and Hall of Fame quarterback Y.A. Tittle: “He was the fastest player off the ball in the history of the world.”

An undersized fullback at 6’0 and 200 pounds, Joe Perry was ahead of his time. Most ball carriers at the time, especially fullbacks, were strong blockers and ran almost exclusively with power. Perry ran with power when he had to, but was one of the first inside runners to rely on speed and elusiveness to make people miss and generate long runs. He provided a template upon which runners like Jim Brown modeled, and retired the NFL’s leading rusher until Brown beat him years later. Joe Perry also ranks fifth all-time in yards per carry according to Footballperspective’s era adjusted data. A fullback with world class speed who liked to make defenders miss, Joe Perry was an influential player who was ahead of his time.

Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport

1. Warren Moon, QB, Washington

Warren Moon was born and raised in Los Angeles and was eventually recruited to play football at Washington University. He played most snaps over his three years with the Huskies, and his college career culminated in a 1978 Rose Bowl victory where he was named game MVP. Moon never put up big numbers during his college career and there were limited options for black quarterbacks at the time, so he ended up continuing his professional career in Canada after the NFL didn’t call. Warren Moon signed with the Edmonton Eskimos and took the league by storm, winning the Grey Cup championship in each of his first five years for the team.

The Eskimos opened up their offense with Moon, and in 1982 he became the first professional quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards in a season. During his six seasons in Canadian Football, he passed for 21,228 yards and 144 touchdowns. At 28, the NFL finally gave Warren Moon a chance and he joined the Houston Oilers.

Warren Moon didn’t have the same amount of success in the NFL as he did in Canada, but still broke the Oilers passing yards record in his first season. He was only mildly successful during the first three years of his NFL career, but became a Pro-Bowl quarterback once Coach Jerry Glanville opened up the offense for Moon in 1988. Moon continued to ascend, throwing for 4,689 yards and 33 touchdowns on his way to NFL MVP. Moon became only the third quarterback with back to back 4,000 yard passing seasons in 1991, a feat he was able to accomplish two more times.

The Oilers never made it past the Divisional round of the playoffs. He never had good enough defenses to help get him over the hump, and it remains the largest knock on his career. He left Houston for the Minnesota Vikings in 1994, and left for the Seahawks in 1997. He spent his last two seasons in Kansas City as a backup and retired from the NFL in 2000 at 44 years old. He made nine Pro Bowls, with his ninth and final Pro Bowl coming in 1997 at age 41.

Warren Moon is the Oilers/Titans all-time passing leader in most categories. He retired from the NFL top five all time in most as well. He owns most major passing records for quarterbacks in professional leagues (CFL+NFL stats). Moon is also notable for the role he played in establishing the shotgun offense in the NFL and for African American quarterbacks. He was a first ballot Hall of Famer in 2006, becoming the first African American and undrafted quarterback to make the Hall of Fame. Warren Moon was a trailblazer.