With the conclusion of the NFL draft, there's still more work to be done when it comes to rounding out the rosters of each of the 32 teams. And that includes adding rookies who were not fortunate enough (for various reasons) to have their name called during this year's three-day sweepstakes.
When the draft was shortened to eight rounds in 1993 and now to its current of state of seven rounds in 1994, it was far more common for rookie free agents to make the team and an impact. You’ll notice that I stay away from kickers because they are rarely drafted these days, hence no mention of the extraordinary Adam Vinatieri. And we'll throw out some honorable mentions to defensive tackle Tony Siragusa, wide receiver Miles Austin and running back Willie Parker, to name a very few.
So here's a look at the best of the unwanted of the Super Bowl Era (in no particular order).
Top 20 NFL Undrafted Free Agents Slideshow
Warren Moon
When Moon was lighting up opposing secondaries at the University of Washington, some believed black quarterbacks couldn't dominate in the NFL. Moon went undrafted in 1978 and wound up in the Canadian Football League, where he led the Edmonton Eskimos to five consecutive Grey Cup championships. He would make the NFL in 1984, and when it was all said and done, Moon would play 17 NFL seasons with the Oilers, Vikings, Seahawks and Chiefs. He currently ranks fifth in league history in passing yards (49,325) and sixth in touchdown passes (291). Throw in his six seasons in Canada and Moon's pro totals grow to 70,000 yards and 435 scores. He was enshrined in Canton in 2006.
John Randle
You know his intensity, his on-the-field chatter and his face paint, but do you know his alma mater? The former Texas A&I standout played 11 seasons with the Vikings and he was a terror, totaling at least 10 sacks in eight consecutive seasons from 1992 until 1999. Randle would tack on 23.5 sacks in three seasons in Seattle. In 2010, the relentless defender was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Emmitt Thomas
It was tough to go undrafted in 1966 (technically November of '65), because it was the final season that both the NFL and AFL would hold their separate procedures and of course, no one would prefer to be passed over by two leagues. Eventually, the Chiefs would sign Thomas out of little-known Bishop College in Dallas (ironically, the original home of the AFL franchise) and it proved to be an extremely wise decision. Over 13 seasons in Kansas City, Thomas was one of the club's most reliable defenders. His 58 career interceptions still ranks 10th in NFL history with 58 career interceptions, and his league-high 12 picks in 1974 (in a 14 game season) remains one of the best single-season performances of all time. A five-time Pro Bowler, Thomas also made a pair of Super Bowl appearances and was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Kurt Warner
The three most productive passing days in the history of the Super Bowl belong to Warner, who originally made his way into the league by signing with the Packers in 1994. His journey would take him to the Arena Football League, NFL Europe and, of course, the supermarket checkout line. With the Rams in 1999, he took over in the preseason for an injured Trent Green, threw for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns (against 13 interceptions) and led a club that was a doormat throughout the 1990s to a Super Bowl championship. Two years later, he led St. Louis back to the big game and after several years of struggles, took the long-struggling Arizona Cardinals to the brink of a title in Super Bowl XLIII.
Jim Langer
Don Shula joined the Miami Dolphins as their head coach in 1970 and so did the undrafted Langer, who the team signed from South Dakota State. Those Dolphins' teams relied on running the football and Langer was the anchor of an exceptional offensive line that also featured Hall of Fame G Larry Little, another undrafted player. The Fins ranked in the NFL's Top 5 in rushing seven times in Langer's 10 seasons in Miami. That included 1971 and the perfect 1972 season.
Antonio Gates
Gates' story is all the more remarkable considering he did not play football in college, excelling in basketball instead. Now he is one of the best players ever at his position. After a so-so rookie year in 2003, the Kent State product has scored at least seven touchdowns in nine consecutive seasons. Only four tight ends in league history (Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, Jason Witten and Ozzie Newsome have totaled more receptions and only Gonzalez (103), who’s still going strong, has caught more touchdown passes as a tight end than the undrafted Gates (83).
Rod Smith
Smith didn't exactly set the world on fire as a rookie in 1995, but he did have his Kodak moment. His lone touchdown came on the final play of the game in a 38-31 September win over the Redskins at Mile High Stadium. Slowly but surely, Smith's role in the Broncos' offense increased and in 1997, he caught 70 passes for 1,180 yards and 12 touchdowns in the midst of Denver’s first championship run. It would be the first of nine consecutive seasons of 70-plus catches, and when the dust cleared his 12-year career (all with Denver) would include three Pro Bowls and 849 receptions -- 19th in NFL history.
Priest Holmes
After seeing limited time in the Texas backfield due to the presence of future Heisman winner Ricky Williams, Holmes began his NFL career with the Ravens, one of Ozzie Newsome's classic free-agent finds. After seeing very little action as a rookie, Holmes ran for just over 1,000 yards in 1998. Unfortunately, he didn’t make the same splash the following two seasons, although many forget that it was he and not rookie RB Jamal Lewis that started in the backfield for the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV. Holmes took the unrestricted free agent route to Kansas City in 2001, where new head coach Dick Vermeil would get the most out of him. In his first three seasons with the Chiefs, Holmes was simply off the charts, rushing for 4,590 yards and 56 touchdowns and adding another 206 catches for five scores. Midway through the '05 season, Holmes was injured in a collision with Chargers LB Shawne Merriman. It cost him the rest of that season although he would return for a spell in 2007, the torch in the backfield had already been passed to former first-rounder Larry Johnson. Holmes' career stats would total 8,172 yards rushing and 86 touchdowns, plus another 2,962 yards and eight scores on 339 receptions.
James Harrison
Kent State strikes again. Harrison was originally signed by the Steelers out of the Ohio school in 2002, but he was on and off the roster and practice squad and was actually signed by the rival Ravens in '03. The following year, Harrison finally found a more permanent home with the Steelers, but it wasn't until three seasons later that he began to make a name for himself. Since 2007, the hard-hitting Harrison has totaled 60 sacks and forced 29 fumbles. His ability turn the corner on left tackles and get under their pads makes him extremely tough to block. In 2008, Harrison had a banner season, totaling 16 sacks and capturing NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. And he capped that year with an incredible 100-yard interception return for a touchdown of a Kurt Warner pass in Super Bowl XLIII. This offseason, he was released by Pittsburgh and is now a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Wes Welker
Few will remember that Welker was originally signed by the Chargers out of Texas Tech in 2004, but he played just one game for San Diego before being released and claimed by the Dolphins. In 2007, he was dealt to the New England Patriots where he spent six seasons posting unprecedented numbers. His tenure with the Pats included 672 receptions, with 100 or more in an NFL record five seasons. But his amazing run in Foxborough came to an end this offseason when he signed with the Denver Broncos. But what a shame; instead of catching passes from Tom Brady, Welker will have to settle for Peyton Manning this season.
Donnie Shell
Those great Pittsburgh Steelers teams of the 1970s, which won four Super Bowls over a six-year span, were put over the top in terms of talent thanks to the 1974 draft which included Hall of Famers Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth and Mike Webster. But Shell was an undrafted rookie that same year and a few years later became a fixture in the starting lineup. Known for his physical play, the former South Carolina State standout also had a nose for the football, picking off 51 passes while being names to five Pro Bowls as a safety in 14 seasons with the Black and Gold.
Larry Little
Originally signed by the San Diego Chargers in 1967, it appeared to be no big deal when Little was dealt to the Miami Dolphins in 1969. But the standout guard became a member of those efficient offensive lines that helped paved the way for the team’s three consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s, including wins in Super Bowls VII and VIII. Little would play a dozen seasons with the ‘Fins, was named to five Pro Bowls and eventually wound up in Canton, Ohio.
Arian Foster
Is it too soon to put the Houston Texans’ workhorse running back on this list? Consider that Foster led the league in rushing in 2010 and in 51 regular-season NFL games with the club he’s totaled 4,521 yards rushing and scored a total of 50 touchdowns (44 rushing, 6 receiving). The former University of Tennessee product has also been money in the team’s four playoff games the last two seasons, running for 515 yards and five scores and adding 23 receptions, including one for a touchdown. Foster has been named to three straight Pro Bowls…and counting?
London Fletcher
Six seasons with the Washington Redskins and the team leader in tackles every year, it’s been business as usual for Fletcher, who made a habit out of doing that with the St. Louis Rams and Buffalo Bills as well. But these days, the linebacker has become a fixture at the Pro Bowl, named to the past four games. The 15-year veteran comes off a 2012 campaign in which he picked off a career-high five passes, giving him 23 interceptions for his career, along with 37.0 sacks. Fletcher has played in 240 consecutive games and started the last 199 of those contests. Not bad for an undrafted commodity from John Carroll.
Tony Romo
The popular by much-maligned Romo was originally signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2003. But he didn’t wind up starting a game until 2006, taking over for veteran Drew Bledsoe. The overall career numbers are fairly impressive, throwing nearly twice as many touchdown passes (177) as interceptions (91) while forging a 55-38 record as a starter. Of course, it’s those interceptions that often become the focal point for Romo as was the case in 2012, when he was picked off 19 times, tied for the most in the NFL. But also keep in mind that the Dallas’ signal-caller has the team’s only playoff win (2009) in the last 16 seasons.
Wayne Chrebet
Talk about staying close to home? Chrebet was a product of Hofstra University, which is where the New York Jets' practice facility was at the time. And 11 years and 580 receptions later (41 for touchdowns), the sure-handed receiver had emerged as one of the franchise’s most productive players. Chrebet was never named to a Pro Bowl with the team but you can’t diminish the overwhelming production and consistency, totaling 50 or more catches seven times.
Bart Scott
Ravens honcho Ozzie Newsome has not only had a golden touch during the NFL draft but has always done a good job beyond that. Undrafted running back Priest Holmes immediately comes to mind and so does Scott. The 11-year veteran spent his first seven seasons in Baltimore and while he didn’t become a starter until his fourth year, the linebacker became a steady force on one of the league's most consistent defense. Scott signed with the Jets in 2009 and spent four seasons playing for now head coach Rex Ryan, whom he played for with Baltimore.
Randy Grossman
Just like safety Donnie Shell, Grossman was also an undrafted member of the Pittsburgh Steelers rookie class of 1974. And he also became a key part of the team’s four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s. The former Temple product was not your atypical tight end in terms of size but rarely if ever did you see Grossman drop a pass and conversely, he fumbled just once in eight NFL seasons. While Grossman totaled only 119 catches with the Steelers, the sure-handed pass-catcher scored the team's first touchdown in Super Bowl X vs. the Dallas Cowboys.
Dominic Rhodes
Talk about a little pressure? Indianapolis Colts running back Edgerrin James led the NFL in rushing in his first two seasons but suffered a knee injury midway through 2001 and was lost for the rest of the year. So all Rhodes did was become the first undrafted player in league history to rush for 1,000 or more yards in his rookie season filling in for James. In eight seasons (seven with Indianapolis), Rhodes ran for 3,286 yards and 26 touchdowns and was also a big factor on kickoff returns. And he played a very pivotal role in the Colts’ Super Bowl XLI victory, rushing for 113 yards and a score in the win over the Chicago Bears.
Victor Cruz
Let's take a flyer on this flyer despite his short resume to date. After injuries limited his rookie season to three games, Cruz came into his own in 2011 when he set a New York Giants' franchise record for receiving yards (1,536) in a season. The former University of Massachusetts product also totaled 21 catches for 269 yards and a touchdown, the latter coming in Super Bowl XLVI. In 2012, Cruz totaled 86 receptions for 1,092 yards and 10 scores and was named to his first Pro Bowl.
