Best NFL players born in Arkansas
Football has long been woven into the cultural fabric of America, and every state has produced its share of gridiron legends. From Hall of Fame quarterbacks to record-setting receivers and defensive stalwarts, some of the NFL's greatest talents trace their roots back to Arkansas.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Arkansas. Players were ranked by weighted career approximate value (AV), a metric developed by Pro Football Reference that measures overall career impact. Data is as of the start of the 2025 NFL season.
This list highlights players who made their mark on the league—some remembered for their longevity, others for their peak dominance. Read on to see which football stars born in Arkansas have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#49. Elijah Pitts (HB) (tie)
- City: Mayflower
- Years played: 1961-1971 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 134
- Weighted career value: 28
#49. Fred Williams (DT) (tie)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 1952-1965 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 28
#46. Charles Clay (TE) (tie)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 2011-2019 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 127
- Weighted career value: 29
#46. Jermey Parnell (T) (tie)
- City: Blytheville
- Years played: 2011-2018 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 111
- Weighted career value: 29
#46. Leon Donohue (G) (tie)
- City: Star City
- Years played: 1962-1967 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 84
- Weighted career value: 29
#44. Cleo Miller (RB) (tie)
- City: Gould
- Years played: 1974-1982 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 115
- Weighted career value: 30
#44. Steve Foley (LB) (tie)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 1998-2005 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 96
- Weighted career value: 30
#41. Hunter Henry (TE) (tie)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 2016-2024 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 119
- Weighted career value: 32
#41. Ike Harris (WR) (tie)
- City: West Memphis
- Years played: 1975-1981 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 88
- Weighted career value: 32
#41. Willie Frazier (TE) (tie)
- City: El Dorado
- Years played: 1964-1975 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 121
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 32
#39. Corey Williams (DT) (tie)
- City: Camden
- Years played: 2004-2012 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 126
- Weighted career value: 33
#39. Jackie Harris (TE) (tie)
- City: Pine Bluff
- Years played: 1990-2001 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 167
- Weighted career value: 33
#38. Shawn Andrews (G)
- City: Camden
- Years played: 2004-2010 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 63
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 35
#36. Dave Hanner (DT) (tie)
- City: Parkin
- Years played: 1952-1964 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 160
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 36
#36. James White (DT) (tie)
- City: Hot Springs
- Years played: 1976-1983 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 117
- Weighted career value: 36
#33. Dat Nguyen (LB) (tie)
- City: Fort Chaffee
- Years played: 1999-2005 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 90
- Weighted career value: 37
#33. Luke Owens (DE) (tie)
- City: Stuttgart
- Years played: 1957-1965 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 115
- Weighted career value: 37
#33. Mike McCoy (DB) (tie)
- City: West Memphis
- Years played: 1976-1983 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 110
- Weighted career value: 37
#32. Chris Harris (DB)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 2005-2012 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 101
- Weighted career value: 38
#30. Darren McFadden (RB) (tie)
- City: North Little Rock
- Years played: 2008-2017 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 103
- Weighted career value: 39
#30. Greg Wesley (DB) (tie)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 2000-2007 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 118
- Weighted career value: 39
#28. Earnest Rhone (RILB) (tie)
- City: Ogden
- Years played: 1975-1984 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 116
- Weighted career value: 40
#28. Willie Davis (WR) (tie)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 1991-1998 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 108
- Weighted career value: 40
#24. Booker Edgerson (DB) (tie)
- City: Baxter
- Years played: 1962-1970 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 106
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 41
#24. Freddie Scott (WR) (tie)
- City: Grady
- Years played: 1974-1983 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 132
- Weighted career value: 41
#24. Glen Ray Hines (T) (tie)
- City: El Dorado
- Years played: 1966-1973 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 112
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 41
#24. Monte Coleman (RLB) (tie)
- City: Pine Bluff
- Years played: 1979-1994 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 215
- Weighted career value: 41
#22. Keith Jackson (TE) (tie)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 1988-1996 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 129
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 43
#22. Ronnie Lee (T) (tie)
- City: Pine Bluff
- Years played: 1979-1992 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 186
- Weighted career value: 43
#20. Aaron Thomas (TE) (tie)
- City: Dierks
- Years played: 1961-1970 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 133
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 46
#20. Billy Ray Smith (LB) (tie)
- City: Fayetteville
- Years played: 1983-1992 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 126
- Weighted career value: 46
#19. Reggie Wilkes (LB)
- City: Pine Bluff
- Years played: 1978-1987 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 137
- Weighted career value: 49
#18. W.K. Hicks (DB)
- City: Texarkana
- Years played: 1964-1972 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 125
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 50
#17. Eric Hill (LB)
- City: Blytheville
- Years played: 1989-1999 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 160
- Weighted career value: 52
#16. Rufus Mayes (T)
- City: Clarksdale
- Years played: 1969-1979 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 139
- Weighted career value: 53
#15. Keith Traylor (DT)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 1991-2007 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 229
- Weighted career value: 60
#14. DeAngelo Williams (RB)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 2006-2016 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 142
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 61
#13. Billy Ray Smith (DT)
- City: Augusta
- Years played: 1957-1970 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Weighted career value: 67
#12. Wayne Martin (DE)
- City: Forrest City
- Years played: 1989-1999 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 171
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 68
#11. Roy Green (WR)
- City: Magnolia
- Years played: 1979-1992 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 190
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 70
#10. Ray Brown (G)
- City: Marion
- Years played: 1986-2005 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 262
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 78
#9. Cliff Harris (DB)
- City: Fayetteville
- Years played: 1970-1979 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 141
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 80
#8. Priest Holmes (RB)
- City: Fort Smith
- Years played: 1997-2007 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 113
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 82
#7. Ralph Neely (T)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 1965-1977 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 172
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 86
#6. Bobby Mitchell (FL)
- City: Hot Springs
- Years played: 1958-1968 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 148
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 88
#5. Leslie O'Neal (DE)
- City: Little Rock
- Years played: 1986-1999 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 196
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- Weighted career value: 89
#4. Cortez Kennedy (DT)
- City: Osceola
- Years played: 1990-2000 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 167
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 97
#3. Kevin Williams (DT)
- City: Arkadelphia
- Years played: 2003-2015 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 203
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 102
#2. Rod Smith (WR)
- City: Texarkana
- Years played: 1995-2006 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 183
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 104
#1. Willie Roaf (T)
- City: Pine Bluff
- Years played: 1993-2005 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 189
- Pro Bowl selections: 11
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 4
- Weighted career value: 111
