Undrafted free agent (football)

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The term undrafted free agent is the common name for a football player who is eligible for the NFL Draft, but is not selected. The player is not drafted for a number of reasons. Two recurring reasons are that NFL scouts consider the player too small and/or too slow. In other cases, the player just does not have enough talent to make the team. Still other players may have been stars in college at one position, but scouts do not think that they will be able to play that same position in the NFL. Other reasons exist, but these are among the most common.

[edit] The Process

Some players that are not drafted choose not to sign with the NFL. Instead, they choose to play in other leagues such as the Canadian Football League, the NFL Europe League or arena football leagues. After they refine their skills in those leagues, they then choose to sign with NFL teams as free agents in later years.

As for the players who still hope to go straight into the NFL, they go through the free agent process. After the draft, these players sign free agent contracts, and are invited to training camps by NFL teams. They usually face extremely long odds to make the NFL roster at the end of training camp. Most of these players are only considered "camp bodies," who get most of the playing time during the preseason so that the regular players can avoid injury.

Occasionally, these undrafted free agents make the NFL regular season roster or the practice squad. Many have short careers as backups. Others don't make the rosters in their first season, play in other leagues, and come back in later years to make the team. However, others not only overcome the odds, but also become NFL stars.

[edit] From Unsigned Free Agent to Superstar

There are many undrafted free agents who became NFL success stories. One of the most well-known undrafted free agents is quarterback Kurt Warner. He went from undrafted free agent out of Northern Iowa to NFL and Super Bowl MVP. Priest Holmes, the NFL's leading rusher in 2002, originally signed as a undrafted free agent from Texas with the Baltimore Ravens in 1997. Rod Smith, the leading wide receiver in Denver Broncos history, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri Southern in 1994. Jake Delhomme was an undrafted free agent from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After beginning his career with the New Orleans Saints, he led the Carolina Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII following the 2003 NFL season, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2006. Also, RB Willie Parker, who set a Super Bowl record in Super Bowl XL for the longest TD run (75 yards), was picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers as a favor from the Rooney family.

[edit] Related Links

List of 2006 signed NFL undrafted free agents