by Being “undrafted” in the NFL means no team picked you during the draft. It’s like being told you’re not good enough to make it. But some players refuse to accept that answer.
Legends like Kurt Warner, Tony Romo, and Wes Welker all went undrafted. They showed the world that being passed over doesn’t define your destiny.
Kurt Warner went from stocking shelves at a grocery store to winning the Super Bowl MVP. Tony Romo became one of the best quarterbacks in Dallas Cowboys history.
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Today’s undrafted stars are following in those footsteps. They’re grinding, proving doubters wrong, and becoming vital pieces for their teams.
Current Top 10 Best Undrafted Players in the NFL
These are the 10 Best Undrafted Players in the NFL right now — the guys who turned rejection into opportunity.
Complete Rankings:
| Rank | Player | Position | Current Team | Undrafted Year | Key Stats / Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Justin Tucker | Kicker | Free Agent (Suspended) | 2012 | NFL Record FG (66 yds), 7× Pro Bowler |
| 9 | Allen Lazard | Wide Receiver | New York Jets | 2018 | 530 yds, 6 TDs (2024) |
| 8 | J.C. Jackson | Cornerback | Free Agent | 2018 | 9 INTs (2021), 2 TDs |
| 7 | Frankie Luvu | Linebacker | Washington Commanders | 2018 | 8 Sacks, All-Pro 2024 |
| 6 | Charvarius Ward | Cornerback | Indianapolis Colts | 2018 | 23 PBUs, 5 INTs (2023) |
| 5 | Adam Thielen | Wide Receiver | Carolina Panthers | 2013 | 1000+ Yds, 103 Rec (2023) |
| 4 | Raheem Mostert | Running Back | Las Vegas Raiders | 2015 | 1,012 Rush Yds, 18 TDs (2023) |
| 3 | Jaylen Warren | Running Back | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2022 | 1,100+ Total Yds (2023) |
| 2 | Jakobi Meyers | Wide Receiver | Las Vegas Raiders | 2019 | 1,027 Yds, 8 TDs (2024) |
| 1 | Austin Ekeler | Running Back | Washington Commanders | 2017 | 73 Career TDs, 9,000+ Total Yds |
Top 10 Best Undrafted Players in the NFL Right Now
10. Justin Tucker – Free Agent (Kicker)
Justin Tucker isn’t just any kicker — he’s widely considered the greatest kicker in NFL history. But in 2012, not a single team drafted him out of Texas.
Tucker proved everyone wrong immediately. He joined Baltimore and became a Super Bowl champion. Over 13 seasons, he made 5 First-Team All-Pro teams and 7 Pro Bowls.
His incredible achievements:
- Longest field goal ever: 66 yards (that’s like kicking from one side of the field almost to the other!)
- Best field goal percentage in history: 89.1%
- Made clutch kicks that won games in the final seconds
As of 2025, Tucker is a free agent and serving a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. That’s the only reason he’s not higher on this list — his talent is undeniable.
💡 Think of it this way: Tucker is so accurate, it’s like he never misses a shot in basketball. That’s how good he is at kicking.
9. Allen Lazard – New York Jets (Wide Receiver)
Allen Lazard was overlooked coming out of Iowa State in 2018. At 6’5″, teams thought he was too slow. But Lazard proved that size and smarts can beat pure speed.
He earned his place in Green Bay by becoming Aaron Rodgers’ trusted target. When Rodgers moved to the Jets, Lazard followed.
His 2024 season with the Jets:
- 37 catches for 530 yards
- Career-high 6 touchdowns
- Perfect weapon for contested catches
After missing all of 2023 with a knee injury, Lazard bounced back strong. His mix of size, smart route-running, and reliable hands makes him valuable. He’s the type of receiver who always seems open when his team needs him most.
💡 Easy example: Lazard is like the tall kid in basketball who uses his height perfectly — he doesn’t need to be the fastest when he can reach higher than everyone else.
8. J.C. Jackson – Free Agent (Cornerback)
Nobody drafted J.C. Jackson in 2018 from Maryland. Teams missed out on one of the best coverage corners in football.
Jackson quickly became a star with New England. His ball skills and instincts made him a shutdown defender.
His best moments:
- Led the entire NFL with 9 interceptions in 2021
- Scored multiple defensive touchdowns
- Could erase the opponent’s best receiver
After some struggles with injuries and consistency, Jackson was released in 2025. But any team looking to boost its secondary should be calling him. When healthy, Jackson is one of the most talented cornerbacks in the league.
💡 Think about it: Jackson is like a basketball player who always steals the ball at the perfect time — he just knows where the ball is going.
7. Frankie Luvu – Washington Commanders (Linebacker)
Frankie Luvu went undrafted out of Washington State in 2018. The linebacker from American Samoa had to prove himself the hard way.
And prove himself he did. Luvu became one of the most productive linebackers in football.
His impressive stats:
- 2023: Led Carolina with 125 tackles and 5.5 sacks
- 2024: 99 tackles and 8 sacks for Washington
- Earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2024
Luvu does everything well. He can chase down running backs, blow up blocking, blitz the quarterback with perfect timing, and drop into coverage. He’s a complete linebacker who gets better every year.
💡 Simple way to understand: Luvu is like a Swiss Army knife — he has a tool for every situation on the football field.
6. Charvarius Ward – Indianapolis Colts (Cornerback)
Charvarius Ward’s path to the NFL was tough. He played at a junior college before going undrafted in 2018. Everyone overlooked him. Everyone was wrong.
Ward fought his way onto the Kansas City Chiefs roster and earned a Super Bowl ring. Then he became a star with the San Francisco 49ers.
His breakout 2023 season:
- 5 interceptions
- Led the entire NFL with 23 pass breakups
- 68 tackles
- Made his first Pro Bowl
In 2025, the Indianapolis Colts signed Ward to a huge three-year, $60 million contract. That’s life-changing money for a guy who wasn’t drafted. Now he’s expected to be the leader of the Colts’ secondary.
💡 Easy comparison: Ward is like the student who wasn’t accepted to any college but kept working hard and eventually became the class valedictorian.
5. Adam Thielen – Carolina Panthers (Wide Receiver)
Adam Thielen’s story is an NFL underdog legend. He played at tiny Minnesota State, a Division II school. In 2013, zero teams drafted him.
But Thielen refused to quit. He became a two-time Pro Bowler, a Second-Team All-Pro, and set an NFL record.
His incredible career highlights:
- NFL record: 8 consecutive 100-yard receiving games
- 2023 season (at age 32): Over 1,000 yards and 103 catches
- Became Bryce Young’s most trusted receiver in Carolina
Thielen was never the fastest guy on the field. But few receivers are better at finding soft spots in coverage, making tough catches, and moving the chains. In 2025, even as he gets older, he’s still a valuable veteran slot weapon for the Panthers.
💡 Think of it this way: Thielen is like a chess player — he’s always thinking two steps ahead and positioning himself perfectly.
4. Raheem Mostert – Las Vegas Raiders (Running Back)
Undrafted out of Purdue in 2015, Raheem Mostert bounced between teams before finding his groove. Now, at age 33 in 2025, he’s still making an impact.
Mostert built his career on pure speed. Once he sees an opening, he’s gone like a track star.
His amazing 2023 season with Miami (at age 31!):
- 1,012 rushing yards
- Led the entire NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns
- 21 total touchdowns
- Made his first Pro Bowl
Over his career, Mostert has rushed for over 4,000 yards and scored 36 rushing touchdowns. He has a Super Bowl 77-yard touchdown run on his resume and earned All-Pro honors as a kick returner in 2024.
Even as a backup in Las Vegas for 2025, his big-play ability and veteran smarts make him one of the most respected undrafted success stories in the league.
💡 Easy example: Mostert is like a sprinter who happens to play football — when he gets space, nobody catches him.
3. Jaylen Warren – Pittsburgh Steelers (Running Back)
Jaylen Warren went undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2022. He came to Pittsburgh as a complete long shot. Nobody expected much from the 5’9″ running back.
Warren had other plans. He quickly became a fan favorite with his tough running style and explosive bursts.
His breakout 2023 season:
- 784 rushing yards
- 370 receiving yards
- 4 touchdowns
- Became beloved by Steelers fans
Warren runs with incredible balance. He can turn short passes into big gains like a slot receiver. His quick feet and sharp vision make him dangerous every time he touches the ball.
Now in 2025, with Najee Harris gone, Warren enters the season as Pittsburgh’s starting running back. Steelers fans believe he’s more than ready to be the main guy.
💡 Think about it: Warren is like the smallest player on the basketball court who still dominates because he’s quicker and tougher than everyone else.
2. Jakobi Meyers – Las Vegas Raiders (Wide Receiver)
Jakobi Meyers went undrafted out of NC State in 2019. He worked his way from an unknown rookie with the Patriots to the top receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Meyers is a technician. His routes are razor-sharp. His hands are sticky. He’s always in the right spot at the right time.
His impressive stats:
- 2023: 71 catches, 807 yards, 8 touchdowns
- 2024: Career highs with 87 receptions and 1,027 yards
- 2024: Zero drops all season
Meyers finished 2024 with zero drops. That means every time the ball hit his hands, he caught it. That’s incredible reliability. He’s not flashy, but he’s precise, consistent, and always open when it matters most.
💡 Simple comparison: Meyers is like a surgeon — everything he does is precise, careful, and perfect.
1. Austin Ekeler – Washington Commanders (Running Back)
From undrafted out of tiny Division II Western Colorado to NFL touchdown machine — Austin Ekeler’s journey is straight-up incredible.
In 2017, every team passed on Ekeler. They thought he was too small from too small a school. He proved them all wrong in the biggest way possible.
His mind-blowing career achievements:
- Led the entire NFL in total touchdowns in 2021 (20) and 2022 (17)
- 4,722 rushing yards in his career
- 4,250 receiving yards in his career
- 73 career touchdowns
In 2024, Ekeler joined Washington and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors as a kick returner. Now in 2025, despite being 30 years old, he enters the season as the Commanders’ starting running back and a team captain.
Ekeler became a fantasy football legend and a real-life nightmare for defenses. He can run, catch, block, and return kicks. He does everything at an elite level.
Not only is Ekeler one of the best undrafted players in the NFL of all time, but he’s also one of the most productive running backs of the last decade. His nearly 9,000 total yards and 73 touchdowns prove that draft position means nothing when you have heart.
💡 Perfect example: Ekeler is like the smallest player in a video game who becomes the highest scorer because of pure skill and determination.
What Makes These Players Special?
All 10 of these players share important qualities that helped them succeed:
Never-Quit Attitude
- They heard “no” on draft day, but refused to give up
- Each one worked harder than players who were drafted
Chip on Their Shoulder
- Being undrafted gave them motivation
- They played every game like they had something to prove
Multiple Skills
- These players can do many things well
- Teams value versatility and reliability
Team-First Mentality
- None of these players complain about their role
- They focus on helping their team win
Consistency
- They show up and perform every single week
- Coaches know they can count on them
Comparison: Top Undrafted Players by Position
Best Undrafted Running Backs:
- Austin Ekeler – 73 career TDs, nearly 9,000 total yards
- Raheem Mostert – Led the NFL with 18 rushing TDs in 2023
- Jaylen Warren – Pittsburgh’s new starting RB in 2025
Best Undrafted Wide Receivers:
- Jakobi Meyers – 1,027 yards, zero drops in 2024
- Adam Thielen – NFL record 8 straight 100-yard games
- Allen Lazard – Perfect size-skill combo at 6’5″
Best Undrafted Defensive Players:
- Charvarius Ward – $60 million contract, Pro Bowler
- J.C. Jackson – Led the NFL with 9 interceptions in 2021
- Frankie Luvu – Second-Team All-Pro in 2024
Why This Matters for Young Players?
If you’re a young player who dreams of playing in the NFL, these stories teach important lessons:
Keep Working Hard
- Every player on this list outworked others to earn their spot
- Practice and preparation matter more than recognition
Believe in Yourself
- When scouts said “no,” these players believed “yes”
- Self-confidence is as important as physical skills
Take Every Opportunity
- Undrafted players often get one chance to prove themselves
- Make every practice, every play, and every game count
Stay Humble
- Success comes to those who keep learning and improving
- Being humble keeps you motivated to get better
Conclusion:
These players proved that draft status doesn’t define greatness.
Whether you’re picked first overall or not picked at all, what matters is what you do once you get your chance.
Every season, new undrafted players rise and inspire fans.
They show us that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. They remind us that being told “no” is just the beginning of the story, not the end.
From Austin Ekeler’s touchdown dominance to Justin Tucker’s record-breaking kicks, from Adam Thielen’s small-school success to Jaylen Warren’s Pittsburgh takeover — these are the best undrafted players in the NFL who continue to shine on and off the field.
In football, stars are made by hard work, not by draft position. These 10 players are living proof that dreams don’t die when you hear “no” — they begin.
The NFL draft gets all the attention every April. But the real heroes are the undrafted guys who nobody expected to make it.
They’re the ones who prove that in football — and in life — you write your own story.
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