Forget fantasy football for a minute. Throw out the popularity contest known as the Pro Bowl. Statistics do not always tell the whole story, and the most popular players are often not the most valued.

PFW pored over the 53-man rosters for all 32 teams, sought feedback from NFL evaluators and sifted through late 2008 and early '09 game tape in search of the NFL's most unheralded stars.

Only one entered the NFL as a first-round pick, and most were not even drafted on what formerly was the first day of the NFL draft, when it spanned the first three rounds.

In fact, several were not drafted at all, and a number had to spend time overseas in NFL Europe before convincing an NFL team they had enough of what it takes to make it.

Perhaps the greatest attribute of the NFL is that it is a land of opportunity. Once training camps open, it does not matter where a player was drafted, what program he came from or how much he was adored in college. Anyone with enough toughness, desire and intelligence can make it and make it big.

The following 10 players not only represent some of the NFL's true success stories, they are among the best at their positions. As a collective group, they have been to three Pro Bowls. Steelers DE Aaron Smith, after much lobbying, was recognized in '04. Titans SS Chris Hope, who finally garnered some recognition as a member of the NFL's winningest team, and Cowboys NT Jay Ratliff, whose 7½ sacks were too many to ignore, made it last season.

Accompanying the "great unknown" theme, PFW also highlights a handful of unheralded assistant coaches and NFL evaluators who have been critical to the success of their organizations. For more on this, see "Underrated executives."

With greatness proving it often arises from the ashes, PFW takes a look at this year's group of college free agents — 36 in all, who proved themselves worthy enough in the preseason to earn roster spots despite not being drafted. Many were passed by because of age, injuries or character issues, but if history repeats itself, several are likely to overcome their limitations and develop into future stars.

Harvey Dahl
ORG / Atlanta Falcons

Ht: 6-5  | Wt: 308 | Sp: 5.47 | Exp: 4th yr.
College: Nevada | Jersey: 73
How acquired: Signed as UFA from San Francisco practice squad in 2007

A college left tackle best-known for working past the whistle and frustrating defenders with his physical, nasty temperament, Dahl is a tough, self-made overachiever who has earned a place in the NFL with his grit and determination. He was passed over by all 32 teams in the 2005 NFL draft before Bill Parcells gave the undrafted free agent a brief look. He barely survived a month in Dallas before being cut, only to be claimed by the 49ers. After spending the next 2½ years on the fringes of the roster, including a stint in NFL Europe playing for the Rhein Fire, Dahl was plucked from the Niners' practice squad by the Falcons midway through his third season. In his fourth year, after the arrival of GM Thomas Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith, he earned the starting ORG job and helped set the tone for the league's second-best rushing offense, paving the way for Michael Turner as a tenacious run blocker. He still loses his balance more than scouts would like, lunging and aggressively overextending, and is not a great foot athlete. But Dahl is smart, tough and hardworking and brings an infectious attitude to the offensive line. He was fined three times by the league in his first year as a starter for playing with too much vinegar and has earned a reputation as one of the NFL's meaner players. What he lacks in athletic ability he overcomes with his long arms, extra effort and outstanding intangibles.

Ryan Diem
ORT / Indianapolis Colts

Ht: 6-6 3/4  | Wt: 327 | Sp: 5.13 | Exp: 9th yr.
College: Northern Illinois | Jersey: 71
How acquired: Drafted in the fourth round in 2001, 118th pick overall

Some evaluators contend that Peyton Manning's quick release, rapid-fire brain and ability to audible into the correct play help make all of his offensive linemen appear more efficient than they are and conceal their shortcomings. It's true Diem might not have to hold blocks as long as many of his counterparts around the league, and Manning's brilliance might have contributed to Diem allowing only 1½ sacks in 2008, tying Saints ORT Jon Stinchcomb for the fewest sacks allowed by a 16-game starter at right tackle. But the ninth-year veteran Diem is no slouch himself. Very well-schooled by legendary OL coach Howard Mudd, the mechanical engineering major plays smart, understands angles and has graded out very consistently since he entered the league. He lasted until the fourth round because his outstanding workout numbers were manufactured, and he did not show the foot quickness and knee bend in college to continue playing the left tackle position, at which he was able to dominate lesser competition in a mid-level conference. He is still somewhat stiff, robotic and lumbering in his movement, but since he moved to the right side, Diem has excelled. He is a strong mauler who is very difficult to shed once he gets his hands on a defender. Not one right tackle was voted to the Pro Bowl last year, but if the right side were given its own status, the distinction would belong to Diem.

Jahri Evans
ORG / New Orleans Saints

Ht: 6-4 3⁄8  | Wt: 318 | Sp: 5.24 | Exp: 4th yr.
College: Bloomsburg (Pa.) | Jersey: 73
How acquired: Drafted in the fourth round in 2006, 108th pick overall

Entering the league out of little-known Bloomsburg, Evans was a dominant left tackle in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference despite never having played football in high school. Having faced only marginal Division II competition, few decision makers were convinced he was more than a big fish in a small pond. Given his raw technique in pass protection, he did not appear NFL-ready enough for  teams to feel comfortable selecting him in the first three rounds, where GMs expect to land first-year starters. The Saints saw his great upside, and thanks to the tutelage of former offensive coordinator and well-respected OL coach Doug Marrone, now the head coach at Syracuse, New Orleans might have produced a more valuable pro in the fourth round in 2006 than it did in the first (Reggie Bush). Evans earned a starting job in training camp his first season and has not missed a game since. Ornery, tough, mean and physical, Evans is a powerful drive blocker who rolls defenders off the line of scrimmage. He has earned his reputation as a finisher and is very well-known in scouting circles. With long, 34-inch arms and good strength at the point of attack, he holds his ground very well and is adept securing the pocket in pass protection. He has been snubbed by the Pro Bowl since he entered the league, yet he is easily one of the top three guards in football.

Chris Hope
SS / Tennessee Titans

Ht: 5-11 5⁄8  | Wt: 210 | Sp: 4.56 | Exp: 8th yr.
College: Florida State | Jersey: 24
How acquired: Signed as UFA from Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006

Nicknamed "Hammer" for his hard-hitting style, Hope has not received nearly the credit he deserves for the fear he strikes in receivers, aggressively supporting the run or elevating the play of those around him. He is an unsung hero on the Titans' defense who has won championships at every level of football he has played, from his time as a four-year varsity starter at Rock Hill (S.C.) High School to Florida State, where he played in three national championship games, to Pittsburgh, which he helped to win a Super Bowl. Evaluators were very surprised he was not re-signed by the Steelers and allowed to depart in free agency in 2006, as he is one of the few players who has been allowed to depart and gone on to have great success outside Pittsburgh. Both Troy Polamalu and Michael Griffin rapidly progressed to earn Pro Bowl honors in their second seasons, not surprisingly playing when they were lined up alongside this savvy secondary leader. Hope has very good instincts, football intelligence and awareness and knows how to line up a defense. His work ethic, dedication to the game and focus have all received high marks. Sculpted like Adonis and possessing big-time striking ability, Hope had his season cut short in '07 when he suffered a serious a neck injury propelling himself into contact. But he has returned to health and remains a tempo-setter for one of the NFL's top secondaries.

Cullen Jenkins
DRE / Green Bay Packers

Ht: 6-2 3⁄8 | Wt: 304 | Sp: 5.02 | Exp: 6th yr.
College: Central Michigan | Jersey: 77
How acquired: Undrafted free agent in 2003, cut, re-signed in '04

The younger brother of Jets DT Kris Jenkins, Cullen went undrafted out of Central Michigan in 2003, when he possessed an underdeveloped, skinny-legged, fleshy-bodied 267-pound frame and was regarded as too much of a 'tweener. He entered the Chippewas' program as a linebacker but was not athletic enough to play on his feet nor fast enough to rush the passer from the outside. When he got to the pros, despite showing big-time flashes in limited opportunities, the questions persisted — evaluators did not think he was strong enough to play inside. However, the light came on after he bulked up and grew into his body, and his star has continued to shine brighter each season. His ability to play outside and leverage the run or kick inside to rush the passer on third downs made him the Packers' most valued defensive lineman in their "40" front a year ago — and when he was lost early in the season, the Packers' defense went by the wayside. Some questions arose about how well he would fit in a "30" front upon Dom Capers' arrival, but Jenkins proved in Week One that he could dominate in any scheme, as he lived in the Bears' backfield. Despite possessing relatively short arms, he possesses violent hands to lock out and rip off blocks and could be poised for his first trip to the Pro Bowl if he can stay healthy after two injury-riddled seasons.

Jarret Johnson
OLB / Baltimore Ravens

Ht: 6-2 5⁄8  | Wt: 265  | Sp: 4.76 | Exp: 7th yr.
College: Alabama | Jersey: 95
How acquired: Drafted in the fourth round in 2003, 109th pick overall

When Adalius Thomas was coming off a career-best 11-sack season in 2006, there was a reason Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome never flinched as the supremely athletic pass rusher was about to hit free agency — his name was Jarret Johnson. The instinctive veteran has never been a great athlete, and his draft stock slid after he bulked up and moved inside his final two years at Alabama. Since shedding weight, however, he has proven to be more than athletic enough to drop into coverage, and his improved movement skills have added an element of quickness that has allowed him to develop as a pass rusher. What makes him so difficult to defend is his boundless effort and energy — he plays with a bulldog mentality, only knows one gear and personifies toughness. Some evaluators will contend that the extraordinary amount of top-tier talent on the Ravens' defense, featuring Pro Bowlers on every level, frees up the lesser-known talents such as Johnson to make plays. Playing opposite Terrell Suggs, whom some evaluators regarded as the best defensive player in football in 2008, also does not hurt Johnson's cause. But it is Johnson's nonstop motor that helps set the tempo for the defense alongside Ray Lewis and elevates the unit's intensity. In the '09 season opener against the Chiefs, Johnson produced a career-high two sacks and continues to improve in the heart of his career.

Quintin Mikell
SS / Philadelphia Eagles

Ht: 5-9 3⁄4  | Wt: 206 | Sp: 4.62 | Exp: 7th yr.
College: Boise State | Jersey: 27   
How acquired: Undrafted free agent in 2003

Brian Dawkins had been the heartbeat of the Eagles' defense for a long time, and his infectious energy and physical style of play resonated very much with a hardworking, blue-collar city. Eagles fans were devastated when Dawkins departed. The front office was disappointed in losing the team's most vocal leader, but it took some satisfaction knowing it would still have a little-known, rising star whom evaluators graded more highly on tape last season than the Eagles' much more notable star. Coming out of Boise State, Mikell was very accomplished. He had been a four-year starter who interchanged between the free and strong safety positions, and he led the team in tackles every year but his first, when he just missed the lead.  College scouts picked Mikell apart when he was entering the draft and found every reason not to like him — he was too small, he lacked range, his ball skills were not good enough. What they overlooked were his passion for the game, toughness and competitiveness. His instincts, secure tackling and ease of movement quickly translated to special teams upon his arrival with the Eagles, where he was named the units' MVP in 2005 and '06. In his first season as a full-time, 16-game starter in '08, Mikell capitalized on his opportunity, leading the team in tackles with 169 and showing a flair for the big play, establishing himself as the new stalwart in the secondary.

Jay Ratliff
NT / Dallas Cowboys

Ht: 6-3 3⁄8  | Wt: 302 | Sp: 4.92 | Exp: 5th yr.
College: Auburn | Jersey: 90
How acquired: Drafted by the Cowboys in the seventh round (224th overall) in 2005

At Auburn, coaches were not sure what to do with Ratliff, as he entered the program with superior athletic ability and began his career as a tight end, where he started a game as a true freshman, before shifting to defensive end and playing there the following two years. Ratliff was best when the game was kept simple, and as he bulked up as a senior, he was kicked inside but was still too light, tight-hipped and too much of a project for the NFL to invest an early pick on him. With responsibilities being more simplified inside and his quickness creating matchup problems inside, the light began to come on for Bill Parcells' project. Before the end of his rookie season, Ratliff had worked his way heavily into the rotation. He notched four sacks from the inside in his second season before being slowed by injury. When he returned for his third season, he replaced the aged Jason Ferguson in the starting lineup. As Ratliff has matured physically and grown more comfortable with the position, he has become a force as a movement nose tackle in the Cowboys' "30" front, possessing the long arms and quickness highly desired to create pressure from the inside. He never will fit the prototype nose tackle, being more quick than strong, but in an aggressive, slanting 3-4 front featuring more movement and one-gap looks, he can be dominant, as illustrated by his 7½ sacks last season — exceptional for an inside lineman.

Aaron Smith
DLE / Pittsburgh Steelers

Ht: 6-5 1⁄8  | Wt: 298 | Sp: 5.08 | Exp: 11th yr.
College: Northern Colorado | Jersey: 91
How acquired: Drafted in the fourth round in 1999, 109th pick overall

James Harrison, Troy Polamalu, James Farrior — the list of Pro Bowlers in Blitzburgh runs deep. But the vaunted defense has shown it can recover from injuries and the loss of stars like Greg Lloyd, Chad Brown and Joey Porter. When it was without the services of its non-glamorous, standout DE Aaron Smith at the end of the 2007 season, following a torn biceps injury, Pittsburgh finished the season 1-3, and head coach Mike Tomlin very candidly admitted Smith was irreplaceable. Once again, the Steelers face a similar situation after Smith suffered a serious injury to his right shoulder in Week Five, which has again landed him on injured reserve. A longtime staple of the Steelers' D-line, Smith has flown under the radar on a two-time Super Bowl-champion defense. Regarded as the prototype for what evaluators seek in a "five-technique" — long having set the standard for the position — Smith possesses great length, intelligence, hand use and quickness. With 42 career sacks in his first 10 years, his production might not always show up on the stat sheet, but for any "30" end to notch eight sacks during a season, as Smith has done twice in his career, is an outstanding feat. He is a very well-rounded talent who plays the run as well as he does the pass. He is asked to stunt, loop and disrupt the backfield more than a traditional 3-4 end in Dick LeBeau's defense and continually finds a way to make plays that too often go unnoticed. Regardless of how few recognize it, he remains one of the league's best at a very underrated position.

Ty Warren
DLE / New England Patriots

Ht: 6-4 5⁄8  | Wt: 301 | Sp: 5.01 | Exp: 7th yr.
College: Texas A&M | Jersey: 94
How acquired: Drafted in the first round in 2003, 13th pick overall

Despite being a highly accomplished, highly productive first-round pick on one of the NFL's top defenses and having performed his job as a left defensive end in a "30" front better than anyone in football today, Warren has yet to earn Pro Bowl honors in his first six seasons and remains largely unknown on the national radar among NFL observers. It is not unexpected, however, as his primary job is to clog the run, occupy blocks and allow linebackers to roam freely. He never will have huge sack totals, but he is widely recognized as a dominant performer in NFL scouting circles because of how well he handles the double-team, shuts down the run and allows linebackers to clean up behind him. The monster-sized end is extremely stout and can set the edge with authority. As a team captain who is praised for his work ethic, leadership and attitude, Warren's value to the organization extends beyond just his performance. For as much acclaim as his more widely known former teammate Richard Seymour has received, it was Warren whom Patriots brass decided to extend with a contract extension through 2013, not Seymour. With the Patriots moving to more "40"-front looks, Warren could warrant more opportunities to rush the passer from the inside and might notch enough sacks to gain attention. Regardless of any publicity, he remains the most valued member of the Pats' D-line.

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.