NFL: Best Non-Drafted Players in NFL History

In the history of the NFL there have been some notable players who were not drafted in the first round. Brett Farve, the iron man of the NFL who played 297 consecutive games was not drafted until the second round. Joe Montana was not drafted until the third round and shockingly, Tom Brady, perhaps one of the best to play the game, was not drafted until the sixth round of the draft. As amazing as these oversights by the NFL scouts seem, these players were at least drafted. Other players were not only overlooked in the first round, they were overlooked entirely and not drafted by any NFL team. This is made even more remarkable when you consider there were many more rounds to the NFL draft when many of these players were coming into the league.

Not making the top five, but certainly worth honorable mention, are several players NFL scouts failed to recognize as NFL caliber talent. Larry Little of the Miami Dolphins was a key part of the Super Bowl Champion's offensive game plan. Willie Wood was also a special player and was the first player to make an interception in the Super Bowl. Also making the honorable mention list are John Randall and Adam Vinatieri. Randall had the ability to change the course of a game all by himself. Vinatieri made some of the most famous field goals in history, including a game winner in the Super Bowl, but has not always been as consistent as his reputation indicates.

In fifth place for best players not drafted by the NFL comes a duo of hall of famers. Bill Willis and Marion Motley signed with the Browns after walk-on try outs. They were two of four African-Americans who were signed to contracts to play professional football in 1946. That was the year before Jackie Robinson signed to play with the Dodgers. The other two men showed great courage in breaking new ground and enduring the same abuse and hard play as Motley and Willis, but their careers were cut short by injuries. Both Motley and Willis played both offense and defense for the Browns. Motley was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1968, Willis was voted into the Hall in 1977. These two men were not only great football players, they were pioneers in a time when it was actually illegal for them to compete with white football players in the city of Miami. The two men had to sit out games played in Miami, but endured and in the end made the game and the nation better.

Richard "Night Train" Lane takes the fourth position on the countdown. It is hard to come from more humble beginning than Night Train Lane who was abandoned in a dumpster as a baby. He attended college for only a single year, then joined the military. He was to later become one of the most feared and respected defensive backs ever to play the game. In a twelve game season Night Train Lane had 14 interceptions, which is an NFL record.

The remaining three position are occupied by quarterbacks. At number three is the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, Tony Romo. Some will question his high ranking since he has not only not won a Super Bowl, he has never even reached the big game. In fact, through the 2010 season Romo had only lead his team to a single playoff victory. While his post-season statistics are limited, an undrafted Romo managed to not only make it in the NFL, but has become the starter and cornerstone of one of the greatest football franchises in the history of the NFL.

The number two player went undrafted not because scouts did not know of him, or did not believe he had the arm strength to play in the NFL, they felt he did not have the intelligence to play the position of quarterback. When Warren Moon came out of college it was generally believed African-Americans did not have the intelligence required to play quarterback. Warren Moon went to Canada and won multiple Gray Cups before accepting a contract with an NFL team. While he was never able to win a Super Bowl, Warren Moon was one of the best passers ever to play the game, and a true leader who knew have to control and manage a football team. The man who was not smart enough to lead an NFL team was elected to the Hall of Fame and will forever be remembered as one of the best ever.

Number one on the list has not had a consistent career. He has been at the pinnacle of the game, but has also seen the lowest valley the game has to offer. Kurt Warner was not drafted coming out of college but did not give up on his dream. He played in Arena football as well as the European league but few took notice. He was bagging groceries at a supermarket when the St. Louis Rams gave him a chance and signed him as a back-up quarterback. When injuries sidelined the starting quarterback Warner stepped up and became the ringmaster to the greatest show on turf, eventually leading the Rams to two Super Bowls, winning one. He then had some down years when most believed his dream had ended. Warner re-emerged from the ashes in Arizona and once again was the centerpiece to a team which he lead to the Super Bowl. From bagging groceries to leading two different teams to the Super Bowl and winning two MVP awards Kurt Warner is the best player not to be drafted by an NFL team.