Just because a player isn't drafted doesn't mean they can't make it, and have a long productive career in the NFL.
Green Bay Packers cornerback, Tramon Williams, is an example of a current player who wasn't thought highly enough to be drafted, but he is starring for one of the league's best defensive units in Green Bay. During the regular season, he recorded six interceptions and in the playoffs he's had a huge impact. His pick-six interception at the end of the first half propelled the Packers to a blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Over the years, many other undrafted players went on to long, productive and sometimes Hall of Fame careers in the NFL.
Lou Groza
Lou "The Toe" may have been one of the best place kickers of all-time, but he also had one of the greatest nicknames. An undrafted player, Groza played for 21 seasons as a tackle and kicker for the Browns. He only played one year at Ohio State before going in the Army. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974 and one of college football's most prestigious awards is named for him.
You may know the story of Kurt Warner working in a grocery store before becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. You may not know that Warner was undrafted coming out of Northern Iowa. He only was a starter his senior year in college, but the Green Bay Packers invited him to their training camp. He was cut, but after going to the Arena League he signed on with the St. Louis Rams in 1998.
He became one of the most productive quarterbacks in the NFL for about ten years winning the Super Bowl and the league MVP award two times.
Warren Moon
Warren Moon should've been an NFL quarterback coming right out of college, but he took a detour to Canada since many were not sold on signing a black quarterback. Moon proved all the skeptics wrong as he led his Eskimos to five Grey Cups.
Moon then played 17 seasons in the NFL with four different teams. He was a 9-time Pro Bowl selection and threw for almost 50,000 yards and 350 touchdowns in his storied career. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Dick "Night Train" Lane
Another great nickname, "Night Train" Lane was undrafted after coming out of junior college in 1952. He went on to star for the Rams and ended up playing for 14 seasons. He was selected to the Pro Bowl on seven occasions and as a rookie in 1952 he had 14 interceptions. He made the NFL's 75th Anniversary team and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974.
Gates spent his college days as a basketball player, but his real calling ended up being football. Six Pro Bowls in seven seasons with the Chargers, this tight end appears to be heading to Canton when his playing days are over. Coming out of Kent State in 2003, Gates was not drafted, but 19 teams invited him to try out. The Chargers came in with the best offer and opportunity and the rest is football history. Gates has over 500 receptions, seven Pro Bowl appearances and is a member of the NFL All Decade team for the 2000's.
The current Cowboy's quarterback was undrafted out of Eastern Illinois even though he won the Walter Payton Award while in college as the top player in 1-AA football.
He attended the NFL Combine but didn't impress enough to get drafted. The Cowboys were always fascinated by Romo and when they started to have quarterback issues they signed Romo. He became the starter in 2006 and has a career passer rating of 95.6. Romo has made the Pro Bowl three times.
Coming out of North Carolina in 1999, many thought Jeff Saturday was undersized to play offensive lineman in the NFL. He proved that wrong and is still protecting Peyton Manning to this day. Saturday still should have some good years left in him anchoring the Colt's line. He has been selected to four Pro Bowls.
Dave Krieg
Dave Krieg proved that just because you come from a tiny college that doesn't even exist anymore doesn't mean you can't play in the NFL. Krieg was undrafted coming out of Milton College in Wisconsin.
And play in the NFL is what Krieg did for 19 seasons. Best known for leading the Seahawks, Krieg threw 261 touchdown passes in his career. Krieg is a 3-time Pro Bowl participant and is a member of the Seahawks Ring on Honor.
Nate Newton
After coming out of college at Florida A&M with nowhere to play, Newton played a couple seasons in the USFL. He caught the attention of several NFL teams and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys where he played for 13 years. His main duties in Dallas were to block for Emmitt Smith and protect Troy Aikman. Newton was a 6-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of three Super Bowl teams.
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