While our lives are put on hold by COVID let’s get a discussion piece going. FCS players are often discounted as a lower division athlete. I thought it might paint a clearer picture of the FCS player contributions by making this list. Hopefully, NFL teams will continue to see the value of FCS players in this year’s draft as well.

There may be multiple notable players that fit this category, but I will strictly highlight the top performers. Honorable mentions will cover comparable second options although each FCS player surely makes an impact on their respective teams.

The criteria used for this will be a combination of NFL stats, college stats, team impact, years in the NFL, and Madden ratings. While Madden ratings are an arbitrary value they do have a mathematical significance of assigning ranked values. These Madden values will primarily be used as a tiebreaker for which is the featured athlete.

The number of FCS players will be annotated in parentheses next to the team name. Stats used from SportsReference.com, NFL.com, WashingtonPost, HERO Sports, Yahoo Sports, and athletic departments. Photos used from various sources will be credited as detailed as possible.

Atlanta Falcons (3)

Jaeden Graham – Tight End – 6’4″ 250 lbs. – Yale
Undrafted 2018 – Signed by Atlanta Falcons
College Stats: 10 games, 26 catches, 380 yards, 4 touchdowns
NFL Stats: 16 games, 9 catches, 149 yards, 1 touchdown

Arizona Cardinals (6)

Robert Alford – Cornerback – 5′ 10″ 186 – Southeastern Louisiana
Drafted 2013 – Round 2 Pick 60 by Atlanta Falcons 2013-2018
Signed by Arizona Cardinals 2019-Present
College Stats: 32 games, 137 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 10 interceptions, 30 pass deflections
NFL Stats: 88 games, 303 tackles, 85 pass deflections, 10 interceptions, 1 forced fumbles, 3 defensive touchdowns

Honorable Mention:
Chase Edmonds – Running Back – 5’9″ 210 lbs. – Fordham

Baltimore Ravens (8)

Nick Boyle – Tight End – 6’4″ 270 lbs. – Delaware
Drafted 2015 by Baltimore in Round 5 Pick 171
College Stats: 40 games, 101 catches, 984 yards, 12 touchdowns
NFL Stats: 64 games, 106 catches, 934 yards, 2 touchdowns

Honorable Mention:
LJ Fort – Linebacker – 6’0″ 230 lbs. – Northern Iowa

Buffalo Bills (5)

Taron Johnson – Cornerback – 5’11” 192 lbs. – Weber State
Drafted 2018 by Buffalo in Round 4 Pick 121
College Stats: 47 games, 169 tackles, 48 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 6 interceptions
NFL Stats: 23 games, 87 tackles, 2 sacks, 7 pass deflections, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles

Honorable Mentions:
Dean Marlowe – Safety – 6’1″ 208 lbs. – James Madison
Siran Neal – Safety – 6’0″ 206 lbs. – Jacksonville State

Carolina Panthers (7)

Seth DeValve – Tight End – 6’3″ 245 lbs. – Princeton
Drafted 2016 by Cleveland in Round 4 Pick 138
Cut by Cleveland, Signed by Jacksonville 2018
Signed by Carolina 2019-Present
College Stats: 36 games, 122 catches, 1336 yards, 7 touchdowns
NFL Stats: 53 games, 63 catches, 736 yards, 4 touchdowns

Honorable Mentions:
Temarrick Hemmingway – Tight End – 6’4″ 245 lbs. – South Carolina State
Zach Kerr – Defensive End – 6’2″ 334 lbs. – Delaware

Chicago Bears (11)

Tarik Cohen – Running Back – 5’6″ 191 lbs. – North Carolina A&T
Drafted 2017 by Chicago in Round 4 Pick 119
First-Team All-Pro 2018
Pro Bowl 2018
College Stats: 46 games, 868 rushes, 5619 yards, 56 touchdowns
98 catches, 945 yards, 3 touchdowns
3/4 passing, 34 yards, 2 touchdowns
NFL Stats: 48 games, 250 rushes, 1027 yards, 5 touchdowns
203 catches, 1534 yards, 9 touchdowns
2/3 passing, 22 yards, 2 touchdowns
125 returns, 1613 yards, 1 touchdown

Honorable Mentions:
Buster Skrine – Cornerback – 5’9″ 187 lbs. – UT-Chatanooga
Bilal Nichols – Defensive Tackle – 6’3″ 313 lbs. – Delaware

Cincinnati Bengals (2)

Jake Dolegala – Quarterback – 6’7″ 242 lbs. – Central Connecticut State
Undrafted 2019 – Signed by Cincinnati
College Stats: 57.6 percent completions, 8129 yards, 48 touchdowns, 29 interceptions
NFL Stats: 69.8 percent completions, 347 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions

Honorable Mention:
Kerry Wynn (free agent) – Defensive End – 6’5″ 261 lbs. – Richmond

Cleveland Browns (9)

JC Tretter – Center – 6’4″ 307 lbs. – Cornell University
Drafted 2013 by Green Bay, Placed on IR twice before not resigned
Signed by Cleveland 2017-Present
College Stats: 40 games (20 as a tight end, 20 as a right tackle), 5 catches, 80 yards, 1 touchdown
NFL Stats: 79 games played, 58 career starts

Honorable Mentions:
Jamie Gillan – Punter – 6’1″ 207 lbs. – Arkansas Pine-Bluff
KhaDarel Hodge – Wide Reciever – 6’2″ 205 lbs. – Prairie View A&M
Drew Forbes – Guard – 6’5″ 308 lbs. – SE Missouri State

Dallas Cowboys (3)

Joe Thomas Jr. – Middle Linebacker – 6’1″ 232 lbs. – South Carolina State
Undrafted 2014
Signed and cut from Green Bay multiple times from 2014-2017
Signed by Dallas 2018-Present
College Stats: 30 games, 255 tackles, 29 tackles for a loss, 11 sacks, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles
NFL Stats: 67 games, 157 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles

Honorable Mention:
Donovan Olumba – Cornerback – 6’2″ 205 lbs. – Portland State

Denver Broncos (9)

Shelby Harris – Nose Tackle – 6’2″ 290 lbs. – Illinois State
Drafted 2014 by Oakland, Cut in Spring 2016
Signed and cut by New York Jets Summer 2016
Signed and cut by Dallas Winter 2016
College Stats: 33 games, 123 tackles, 32.5 tackles for aloss, 14 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 4 blocked kicks, 1 safety
NFL Stats: 56 games, 136 tackles, 24 tackles for a loss, 14 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble

Honorable Mentions:
Todd Davis – Middle Linebacker – 6’1″ 230 lbs. Sacramento State
Colby Wadman – Punter – 6’1″ 213 lbs. – UC Davis
Kelvin McKnight – Wide Receiver – 5’8″ 186 lbs. – Samford

Detroit Lions (5)

Jamal Agnew – Cornerback – 5’10” 190 lbs. – San Diego
Drafted 2017 by Detroit in Round 5 Pick 165
First Team All-Pro 2017
College Stats: 32 games, 117 tackles, 46 pass deflection, 9 interceptions, 9 tackles for a loss,
NFL Stats: 32 games, 96 returns, 1596 return yards, 4 touchdowns, 26 tackles

Honorable Mentions:
Mike Ford – Cornerback – 6’0″ 198 lbs. – SE Missouri State
Nick Williams – Defensive Tackle – 6’4″ 310 lbs. – Samford

Green Bay Packers (5)

Robert Tonyan – Tight End – 6’5″ 237 lbs. – Indiana State
Undrafted 2017, Signed by Detroit
Cut by Detroit, Signed by Green Bay 2017 (Practice Squad)
2018-Present on Green Bay active roster
College Stats: 46 games, 56 catches, 699 yards, 10 touchdowns
35/102 (34.5%) pass completions, 348 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 5 interceptions
NFL Stats: 27 games, 14 catches, 177 yards, 2 touchdowns

Honorable Mentions:
Darrius Shepherd – Wide Receiver – 5’11” 186 lbs. North Dakota State
Tim Boyle – Quarterback – 6’4″ 232 lbs. – Eastern Kentucky

Houston Texans (6)

David Johnson – Running Back – 6’1″ 224 lbs. – Northern Iowa
Drafted 2015 by Arizona in Round 3 Pick 86
Traded to Houston in 2020
First-Team All-Pro 2016
Pro Bowl 2016
College Stats: 50 games, 866 rushes, 4682 rushing yards, 49 touchdowns
141 catches, 1734 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns
12 kick returns, 438 return yards, 1 touchdown
2/2 pass completions, 43 pass yards, 1 touchdown
NFL Stats: 62 games, 781 rushes, 3128 rush yards, 33 touchdowns
208 catches, 2219 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns
23 kick returns, 622 return yards, 1 touchdown

Honorable Mentions:
Keion Crossen – Cornerback – 5’10” 185 lbs. – Western Carolina
Tytus Howard – Offensive Tackle – 6’5″ 322 lbs. – Alabama State
DeAndre Carter – Wide Receiver – 5’8″ 190 lbs. – Sacramento State

Indianapolis Colts (7)

Darius Leonard – Linebacker – 6’2″ 230 lbs. – South Carolina State
Drafted 2018 by Indianapolis in Round 2 Pick 36
Pro Bowl (2019)
First-team All-Pro (2018)
Second-team All-Pro (2019)
NFL Tackles leader (2018)
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2018)
College Stats: 42 games, 381 tackles, 13 pass deflections, 20 sacks, 6 interceptions
NFL Stats: 28 games, 284 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 12 sacks, 15 pass deflections, 7 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles, 1 touchdown

Honorable Mentions:
Chad Williams – Wide Receiver – 6’2″ 204 lbs. – Grambling State
George Odum – Safety – 6’1″ 202 lbs. – Central Arkansas

Jacksonville Jaguars (2)

James O’Shaughnessy – Tight End – 6’4″ 245 lbs. – Illinois State
Drafted 2015 by Kansas City in Round 5 Pick 173
Traded to New England Spring 2017, Released Fall 2017
Signed by Jacksonville Fall 2017-Present
College Stats: 33 games, 67 catches, 1170 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns
NFL Stats: 58 games, 60 catches, 602 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns

Kansas City Cheifs (4)

Anthony Lanier – Defensive End – 6’6″ 285 lbs. – Alabama A&M
Undrafted 2016, Signed by Washington in Spring 2016
Signed and cut several times through Fall 2018
Signed by Los Angeles Chargers Fall 2018
Signed by Kansas City January 2020.
College Stats: 41 games, 150 tackles, 32.5 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 blocked kicks
NFL Stats: 15 games, 14 tackles, 6 pass deflections, 5 tackles for a loss, 1 forced fumble

Honorable Mentions:
Khalen Saunders – Defensive Tackle – 6’0″ 324 lbs. – Western Illinois
Antonio Hamilton – Cornerback – 6’0″ 195 lbs. – South Carolina State

Las Vegas Raiders (6)

PJ Hall – Defensive Tackle – 6’0″ 305 – Sam Houston State
Drafted 2018 by Oakland in Round 2 Pick 57
College Stats: 56 games, 280 tackles, 33 pass deflections, 36.5 sacks, 4 interceptions
NFL Stats: 30 games, 1.5 sacks, 48 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss

Honorable Mentions:
Keelan Doss – Wide Receiver – 6’3″ 215 lbs. – UC Davis
Brandon Parker – Offensive Tackle – 6’8″ 320 – North Carolina A&T

Los Angeles Chargers (5)

Nasir Adderley – Cornerback – 6’0″ 195 lbs. – Delaware
Drafted 2019 by Los Angeles Chargers in Round 2 Pick 60
Placed on IR List October 2019
College Stats: 41 games, 226 tackles, 31 pass deflections, 10 interceptions
NFL Stats: 4 games, 2 tackles

Honorable Mentions:
Easton Stick – Quarterback – 6’1″ 217 lbs. – North Dakota State
Andrew Vollert – Tight End – 6’5′ 245 lbs. – Weber State

Los Angeles Rams (5)

Cooper Kupp – Wide Receiver – 6’2″ 208 lbs. – Eastern Washington
Drafted 2017 by Los Angeles Rams in Round 3 Pick 69
College Stats: 52 games, 428 catches, 6464 receiving yards, 73 touchdowns
7/10 passing, 180 passing yards, 4 touchdowns
17 rushes, 58 rushing yards, 1 touchdown
NFL Stats: 39 games, 196 catches, 2596 receiving yards, 21 touchdowns

Honorable Mentions:
Samson Ebukam – Linebacker – 6’3″ 245 lbs. – Eastern Washington
Troy Reeder – Linebacker – 6’3″ 245 lbs. – Delaware

Miami Dolphins (7)

Ryan Fitzpatrick – Quarterback – 6’2″ 228 lbs. – Harvard
Drafted 2005 by St. Louis in Round 7 Pick 250
St. Louis Rams 2005-2006
Cincinnati Bengals 2007-2008
Buffalo Bills 2009-2012
Tennessee Titans 2013
Houston Texans 2014
New York Jets 2015-2016
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2017-2018
Miami Dolphins 2019-Present
Career History Abbreviated, For Full History, visit Wikipedia
College Stats: 30 games, 384/641 (59.9 percent), 5234 passing yards, 39 touchdowns, 21 interceptions
365 rushes, 1487 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns
NFL Stats: 2886/4787 (60.3 percent), 32886 passing yards, 210 touchdowns, 161 interceptions
544 rushes, 2470 yards, 19 touchdowns

Honorable Mentions:
Kamu Grugier-Hill – Linebacker – 6’2″ 230 lbs. Eastern Illinois
Jesse Davis – Offensive Lineman – 6’6″ 325 lbs. – Idaho
Avery Moss – Defensive End – 6’3″ 266 lbs. – Youngstown State

Minnesota Vikings (5)

Michael Pierce – Defensive Tackle – 6’0″ 345 lbs. – Samford
Undrafted 2016, Signed by Baltimore from 2016-2019
Signed by Minnesota in March 2020
College Stats: 34 games, 130 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 2 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles
8 rushes, 10 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns
NFL Stats: 60 games, 151 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks

Honorable Mentions:
Dakota Dozier – Offensive Lineman – 6’4″ 312 lbs. – Furman
Davion Davis – Wide Receiver – 5’11” 195 lbs. – Sam Houston State

New England Patriots (4)

James Develin – Fullback – 6’3″ 255 lbs. – Brown
Played for Florida UFL Team in 2010 as a Fullback, Coached by Jay Gruden
Undrafted 2010, Signed by Cincinnati in 2010, Cut Summer 2012
Signed by New England Fall 2012 – Present
Pro Bowl 2017
College Stats (Played defensive end for Brown): 38 games, 149 tackles, 15 sacks, 39 tackles for a loss, 1 interception* (records incomplete)
NFL Stats (as a fullback/tight end): 83 games, 31 catches, 222 receiving yards
15 rushes, 26 rushing yards, 5 touchdowns

Honorable Mentions:
Derek Rivers – Defensive End – 6’5″ 250 lbs. Youngstown State
Justin Behtel – Cornerback – 6’0″ 200 lbs. – Presbyterian

New Orleans Saints (9)

Terron Armstead – Offensive Tackle – 6’5″ 304 lbs. – Arkansas-Pine Bluff University
Drafted 2013 by New Orleans in Round 3 Pick 75
Pro Bowl 2018 & 2019
College Stats: 48 games played* (records incomplete)
NFL Stats: 75 games played, 71 started

Honorable Mentions:
Josh Hill – Tight End – 6’5″ 250 lbs. – Idaho State
Noah Spence – Defensive End – 6’2″ 251 lbs. – Eastern Kentucky

New York Giants (5)

James Bradberry Jr. – Cornerback – 6’1″ 212 lbs. – Samford
Drafted 2016 by Carolina Panthers in Round 2 Pick 62
Signed by New York Giants in Spring 2020
College Stats: 35 games, 96 tackles, 31 pass deflections, 7 tackles for a loss, 6 interceptions
NFL Stats: 60 games, 279 tackles, 47 pass deflections, 7 tackles for a loss, 8 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles

Honorable Mention:
Elijaah Penny – Running Back – 6’2″ 234 lbs. – Idaho

New York Jets (9)

Patrick Onwuasor – Linebacker – 6’0″ 227 lbs. – Portland State
Undrafted 2016, Signed by Baltimore Ravens 2016 – Present
College Stats: 22 games, 138 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 10 interceptions, 13 pass deflections, 1 sack, 1 touchdown
NFL Stats: 57 games, 234 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, 6 pass deflections, 5 forced fumbles, 1 interception

Honorable Mentions:
Daniel Brown – Tight End – 6’5″ 247 lbs. – James Madison
Lac Edwards – Punter – 6’4″ 209 lbs. – Sam Houston State

Philadelphia Eagles (8)

Carson Wentz – Quarterback – 6’5″ 237 lbs. – North Dakota State
Drafted 2016 by Philadelphia Eagles in Round 1 Pick 2
Pro Bowl 2017
College Stats: 42 games, 392/612 (64.1 percent), 5115 passing yards, 45 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
216 rushes, 1028 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns
1 catch, 16 yards, 1 touchdown
NFL Stats: 56 games, 1311/2055 (63.8 percent), 14191 yards, 97 touchdowns, 35 interceptions
206 rushes, 785 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns

Honorable Mentions:
Javon Hargrave – Defensive Tackle – 6’2″ 305 lbs. – South Carolina State
Dallas Goedert – Tight End – 6’5″ 256 lbs. – South Dakota State
Josh McCown – Quarterback – 6’4″ 218 lbs -Sam Houston State

Pittsburgh Steelers (7)

Devlin Hodges – Quarterback – 6’1″ 210 lbs. – Samford
Undrafted 2019, Signed by Pittsburgh Steelers
College Stats: 45 games, 1310/1896 (69.1 percent), 14584 passing yards, 111 touchdowns, 41 interceptions
370 rushes, 1017 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns
23 punts, 829 punt yards, 36.0 yard average
NFL Stats: 8 games, 100/160 (62.5 percent), 1063 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, 8 interceptions
21 rushes, 68 rushing yards

Honorable Mentions:
Jordan Dangerfield – Safety – 5’11” 199 lbs. – Towson
Jordan Berry – Punter – 6’5″ 195 lbs. – Eastern Kentucky

San Francisco 49ers (7)

Kyle Juszczyk – Fullback – 6’1″ 240 lbs. – Harvard
Drafted 2013 by Baltimore Ravens in Round 4 Pick 130
Signed by San Francisco in 2017-Present
College Stats: 40 games, 125 catches, 1576 receiving yards, 22 touchdowns
NFL Stats: 106 games, 180 catches, 1647 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns
25 rushes, 93 rushes, 1 touchdown

Honorable Mentions:
Jimmy Garoppolo – Quarterback – 6’2″ 225 – Eastern Illinois
Kendrick Bourne – Receiver – 6’1″ 203 lbs. – Eastern Washington
Jaquiski Tartt – Safety – 6’1″ 215 lbs. – Samford

Seattle Seahawks (4)

*Mike Iupati – Offensive Guard – 6’5″ 331 lbs. – Idaho
Drafted 2010 by San Francisco in Round 1 Pick 17
Signed by Arizona Cardinals in 2015
Signed by Seattle Seahawks in 2019-Present
College Stats: 34 games, 32 started
NFL Stats: 130 games, 129 started
*Technically an FBS member at the time, but the other choices are a kicker who has never started, a receiver with one catch in three games, or a long snapper, so an exception to the criteria was made due to Iupati’s resume.

Honorable Mentions:
Jason Myers – Kicker – 5’10” 190 – Marist
John Ursua – Receiver – 5’9″ 182 – Idaho

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10)

Cameron Brate – Tight End – 6’5″ 245 lbs. – Harvard
Undrafted 2014, Signed by Tampa Bay
Practice squad signing with New Orleans 2015
Later signed with Tampa Bay 2015-Present
College Stats: 28 games, 91 catches, 1381 receiving yards, 18 touchdowns
NFL Stats: 82 games, 195 catches, 2156 receiving yards, 27 touchdowns

Honorable Mentions:
Justin Watson – Receiver – 6’3″ 215 – Pennsylvania
Joe Haeg – Offensive Tackle – 6’3″ 298 lbs. – North Dakota State

Tennesee Titans (9)

Anthony Firkser – Tight End – 6’2″ 246 lbs. – Harvard
Undrafted 2017, Practice squad signing with New York Jets 2017
Kansas City practice squad 2017-2018, cut in 2018 offseason
Signed by Tennessee Titans to active roster 2018-Present
College Stats: 29 games, 99 catches, 1559 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns
NFL Stats: 27 games, 33 catches, 474 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns

Honorable Mentions:
Kalif Raymond – Receiver – 5’8″ 182 – Holy Cross
Tye Smith – Cornerback – 6’0″ 195 lbs. – Towson

Washington Redskins (4)

Jimmy Moreland – Cornerback – 5’11” 182 lbs. – James Madison
Drafted 2019 by Washington Redskins in Round 7 Pick 227
College Stats: 56 games, 208 tackles, 63 pass deflections, 18 interceptions, 12 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 6 blocked kicks, 6 defensive touchdowns
NFL Stats: 14 games, 4 pass deflections, 42 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss

Honorable Mentions:
Danny Johnson – Cornerback – 5’9″ 190 lbs. – Southern University
Darvin Kidsy – Receiver – 6’0″ 180 lbs. – Texas Southern