Rams could continue tradition of turning unknown UDFAs into household names

Some of the NFL's best players were never drafted. And the Los Angeles Rams have been one of the front-runners in giving less-touted rookies a fair shot at earning the right to play for the team. While some teams seem to take undrafted college rookies aboard just to fill out the roster for training camp, the Rams front office appears to view that category of players differently.

In 2024, the Rams got starts out of multiple undrafted college free agents. That list includes ILB Omar Speights, IOL Justin Dedich, DB Josh Wallace, and DB Jaylen McCollough. That is incredibly impressive for a team that advanced to the Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs. As far as the Rams' undrafted collegiate free agents for 2025, there are many talented players among the group.

One NFL expert projected four undrafted players making the Rams roster. While I am just as bullish about the talent of undrafted rookies, I know that the path to a roster spot in 2025 is quite competitive. As such, I'm projecting three players to make the Rams roster this season.

The question is, how do these current players stack up against the historic Top 10 undrafted free agents signed by the Rams football team? Let's investigate.

LA Rams top 10 UDFAs of all-time

(10) - DB Billy Jenkins Jr.

The first player to make the Top 10 list is former St. Louis Rams defensive back Billy Jenkins Jr. He signed with the Rams after the 1997 NFL Draft, and played for the team for three seasons. His best season occured in 1999, as he started 16 regular season games for the team, and the three postseason games that included a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV.

He was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2020 for a fifth-round draft pick.

Jenkins would have appeared higher on this list had he played for the Rams longer than three seasons. But 212 tackles, four interceptions, 4.0 quarterback sacks, and a Super Bowl ring is an excellent return for signing a guy who never heard his name called out in an NFL draft.

(9) - WR/KR Tony Horne

Wide receiver Tony Horne played just three seasons for the St. Louis Rams from 1998 through 2000. But he is probably most recognized as a kick return specialist, and for his kickoff return for a touchdown. The sweetest part of that score was that it came against the San Francisco 49ers.

Because he did not contribute on offense, his NFL career was short-lived. But he thrilled Rams fans whenever a football touched his hands on special teams. He ultimately put up 38 yards in punt returns, 3,577 yards on kickoff returns, and four kickoff returns for touchdowns.

(8) - S Rodney McLeod

Defensive back Rodney McLeod was signed by the St. Louis Rams after the 2012 NFL Draft, and retired at the end of the 2024 NFL season. He competed for the Rams for four seasons before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and finally the Cleveland Browns. While he began his career with the Rams, he is probably best known as the starting safety for the Eagles when they won Super Bowl LII.

McLeod was a solid, if not elite, safety who left every ounce of energy on the football field. The fact that his NFL career last 13 seasons was no accident. He continued to be a fierce competitor who only was limited to a situational role in his final two seasons in the Browns defense.

(7) - OLB/DT Michael Hoecht

It's difficult to wrap your head around the fact that the Rams signed the undrafted free agent as a defensive lineman after the 2020 NFL Draft. Despite his original position, the team cross-trained him to play at the outside linebacker position. And to the surprise of many Rams fans, he played well as an edge rusher.

The team scored 31 starts out of 68 game appearances from Hoecht, 28 of those starts as an outside linebacker. By the time his four seasons with the team ended, he had amassed 180 tackles, 13.5 quarterback sacks, four deflected passes, and 15 tackles for a loss. He also appeared in all four postseason games that led to victory in Super Bowl LVI.

(6) - LT Alaric Jackson

The Los Angeles Rams signed undrafted collegiate free agent OT Alaric Jackson after the 2021 NFL Draft. Jackson was projected to be selected as early as Day 2 of the draft, but the abundance of talent allowed him to fall, much to the Rams' delight. His arrival allowed the team to find a perfect suitor at left tackle following the retirement of veteran LT Andrew Whitworth.

Many NFL teams spend Round 1 draft picks in hopes of adding a starting left tackle. The fact that the Rams have been able to start Alaric Jackson at the position for the past three seasons is nothing short of miraculous. While he currently fighting through his second bout of blood clots, the team is delighted to have him under contract for the next three seasons.

When Alaric Jackson starts, the Rams have been incredibly successful.

(5) - LB Cory Littleton

Inside linebacker Cory Littleton was the right player at the right time for LA. Signed to the team after the 2017 NFL Draft from Washington University, he gave DC Wade Phillips a perfect pass defender in the heart of the defense. Standing 6-foot-3 while weighing 225 pounds. He was ideally suited to smother receivers in crossing routes.

He made the Pro Bowl in 2018 and played for the Rams for one more season before taking his show on the road to the highest bidder. Littleton learned the harsh lesson that it was easier to play behind DT Aaron Donald than not. He never recaptured his Rams magic and was released by the Houston Texans in November 2023.

(4) - P Johnny Hekker

You might think it strange to see a punter on a list of top players in the NFL. But as soon as you research Johnny Hekker's career, you quickly see why he makes this list. He is still an active player, currently competing for the Tennessee Titans. But Rams fans will always view him in Horns.

The St. Louis Rams signed Johnny Hekker to the roster in 2012. He would continue playing for the Rams for 10 NFL seasons. Along the way, he earned All-Pro honors six times and Pro Bowl honors four times. In 2022, the Rams released Hekker, one of several veterans shown the door as the team tried to get its salary cap struggles under control. He signed with the Carolina Panthers for three seasons, and now has signed with the Tennessee Titans.

(3) - LB London Fletcher

The Rams' inside linebacker gave the team plenty of reasons to cheer. Signing on with the Rams in 1998, he earned the starting LB role in 1999. That was one of the factors that enabled the Rams to win Super Bowl XXXIV. He remained with the Rams through 2001 before signing with the Buffalo Bills in 2002.

Despite winning a Super Bowl, Fletcher is probably most recognized for his seven seasons of Pro Bowl performances with the Washington Commanders. He ultimately competed in the NFL for 16 seasons.

(2) - DB Dick 'Night Train' Lane

Perhaps one of the toughest NFL players to ever grace the sport is defensive back Dick "Night Train" Lane. He got his nickname from his reputation for constantly listening to a popular hit song named Night Train on the phonograph. Eventually, a teammate bestowed that nickname on him, and it stuck.

He was a walk on, an Army veteran who stopped by to ask for a job with the Los Angeles Rams. His NFL career would carry him to the Hall of Fame. He played just two seasons with the Rams before he was traded to the Chicago Cardinals in 1954. He became an NFL legend when he played for the Detroit Lions in 1960. But he got his start with the Rams

(1) - QB Kurt Warner

The clear winner in any conversation about undrafted NFL stars inevitably ends with elite quarterback Kurt Warner. He was an undrafted quarterback who took over the reins as the starting quarterback for the St. Louis Rams in 1999 and never looked back. He only needed six seasons with the team to win 35 of 50 games, throw for 14,447 yards, 102 touchdowns, and 65 interceptions, and lead the team to victory in Super Bowl XXXIV.

He was the leader of an offense that remains known as the 'Greatest Show on Turf.' And the offense was only possible because he was sensational in the pocket. The Rams mistakenly released him in June 2004, but he proved to be an elite quarterback by signing with the Arizona Cardinals. He returned to the Pro Bowl as the Cardinals' starting quarterback in 2008.

How do the Rams' 2025 UDFAs stack up against this list? Only time will tell. As always, thanks for reading.