Arian Foster and the 10 best undrafted free agents
By Connor Learn
Arian Foster retired from the NFL this week, finishing a career as one of the best undrafted free agents of all time.
A multitalented player, Foster used his uncanny vision and agility to become one of the league’s finer running backs. The owner of nearly all of the Texans rushing records, he began his career as an undrafted free agent back in 2009. To go undrafted in the NFL and make it requires perseverance. Every year, hundreds of undrafted free agents begin at the bottom of NFL depth charts as camp rosters begin with 100.
Over the course of trainings camp, as rosters are cut down to 53, most are lost. Veterans and draft picks that the organization has invested in claim most spots, and only a fraction of undrafted players ever make an NFL roster. For Arian Foster to have the success he did, given where he started his career, makes his accomplishments even that much more impressive.
In honor of number 23, here are the ten best undrafted players in NFL history.
10. Arian Foster, RB, Tennessee
Character questions, a disappointing senior season, and a 4.65 40 yard dash led to the University of Tennessee’s all-time leading rusher going undrafted in the 2009 NFL draft. During his rookie season, Foster was released and re-added by the Texans before getting the chance to play after an injury to starting running back Steve Slaton. After second round pick Ben Tate was injured in camp the following season, Arian Foster got the Texans starting job and never let go. During that 2010 season he totaled 2,220 all-purpose yards, which broke Priest Holmes’ record for an undrafted free agent. He led the NFL in touchdowns that year and earned an unexpected First Team All-Pro nod.
Arian Foster ran for over 1,224 yards in only 13 games the following season and earned a contract extension prior to the 2012 season. Following his payday, Foster turned in another All-Pro effort and again led the NFL in touchdowns. He also became the third fastest player to 5,000 yards from scrimmage during the 2012 season and inspired debate over whether he was the league’s best running back. A back injury cut the 2013 season in half, but Arian Foster returned and recorded 1,569 yards from scrimmage in 13 games in 2014.
It’s likely that years down the line nobody remembers his stint with the Dolphins. Arian Foster ruptured his Achilles tendon last October 25 and never played for the Texans again — assuming his retirement sticks, that was effectively the end of his career. Foster will finish as the Texans’ career rushing leader in most major categories and should be on the short list of greatest Texans ever. He was a back slightly ahead of his time, as many of today’s young exciting runners succeed in a zone scheme and are used as a featured receiver out of the backfield. An enigmatic player we saw too little of, Arian Foster made his mark on the NFL.