Quick Answer
Roughly 25-30 undrafted free agents make initial 53-man NFL rosters each season, and about 30% of all NFL players entered the league undrafted.
How Many Undrafted Players Make NFL Rosters?
Every year, roughly 25–30 undrafted free agents (UDFAs) make initial 53-man rosters out of training camp, and many more land on practice squads before being promoted during the season. Across the league as a whole, close to 30% of all players on NFL rosters entered the league undrafted.
Why So Many Undrafted Players Stick
- Only 257 or so players are drafted each year, but teams sign 400+ additional UDFAs immediately after the draft.
- Practice squads (16-17 spots per team) give undrafted players a development path that didn't exist decades ago.
- Special teams roles are a common entry point for UDFAs fighting for roster spots.
Famous Undrafted Success Stories
- Kurt Warner – Undrafted in 1994; won two MVPs and a Super Bowl, now in the Hall of Fame.
- Warren Moon – Bypassed in the 1978 draft; threw for nearly 50,000 NFL yards, Hall of Famer.
- Tony Romo – Undrafted in 2003; became the Cowboys' franchise passing leader.
- James Harrison – Undrafted in 2002; won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.
For drafted players' odds by round, first-rounders make rosters at a near-100% rate, while seventh-round picks make opening-day rosters only about half the time — meaning the best UDFAs routinely outlast late-round picks.