Every NFL team spends countless man hours trying to find the right players to help build their franchises into champions. There are always a few players who go unnoticed in the draft, only to pay big dividends later on when given the chance.
These are ten of the best NFL players who went undrafted before starting their NFL career.
10. Tony Romo
The Dallas Cowboys had high hopes when they picked up the former Eastern Illinois quarterback after the NFL draft. Though the team has had moderate success, Romo has blossomed into a quality quarterback, with a career 64.1% completion rate for 16,650 yards to go with 118 touchdowns and 62 interceptions.
After Vinatieri left South Dakota State, no expected him to become one of the best clutch kickers in the history of the NFL. The New England Patriots have him a chance and it resulted in 2 Pro Bowl selections and kicking two game-winning field goals.
8. Wes Welker
The former Texas Tech standout when undrafted when he left college and had a slow start when he was picked up by the Miami Dolphins. Things did not start to turn around until he landed with the New England Patriots where he racked up 432 receptions for 4,536 yards and 22 touchdowns in four years.
7. Priest Holmes
The Baltimore Ravens decided to give Holmes a chance when he went undrafted after he finished his college career at Texas. It was not until he reached Kansas City where he turned in a three year stretch where he ran for 3,140 yards and scored 5 touchdowns.
No one was quite sure what to expect when the San Diego Chargers decided to take a flyer on the undrafted Gates who had been known for his basketball skills. In just 8 seasons he has racked up 529 receptions for 7,005 yards with 69 touchdowns.
The Pittsburgh Steelers always had a way of finding the right linebacker to blossom in their scheme. They continued the trend when they picked up an undrafted Harrison. Since 2004 he has become a dominant force, earning the Defensive Player of the Year aware along with making history in the Super Bowl with his exhausting 101 yard interception return for a touchdown.
4. John Randle
Randle was best known for the brand of intensity he brought to the football field. NFL fans do not realize how close they came not to witnessing it when he went undrafted out of Texas A & M. He terrorized quarterbacks during his 14 year career where he recorded 137.5 sacks.
3. Kurt Warner
The one thing we know about Warner is that he never gives up. After not being drafted when his college career was done at Northern Iowa, it took a few years before he finally earned a chance thanks to a Trent Green injury. Everything fell into place for Warner who helped give us the Greatest Show on Turf while carrying his team to three Super Bowl appearances.
2. Warren Moon
None of the NFL teams wanted to take a chance on Moon when he finished his college career at Washington. Things changed after he spent five years in the CFL and was the dominant force at his position. Moon was given a chance to play in the NFL and never looked back as he passed for 49,325 yards in his career with 291 touchdowns and 233 interceptions.
1. Dick 'Night Train 'Lane
Lane's NFL career began after he dropped out of college and spent several years serving his country. The Rams decided to give him a chance and he made the most of it when he recorded 14 interceptions during his rookie season. Lane will go down in the history of the NFL as one of the greatest defensive backs ever to step on the field.
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