Others, however, do make it. Overlooked by every NFL team multiple times during their draft year, undrafted free agents have been known to stick, sometimes start, occasionally star.
This year’s Super Bowl between the Patriots and Giants will include more than two dozen players who weren’t drafted. With Wes Welker, Brian Waters, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Victor Cruz, and Mark Herzlich among them, it’s a group that will make an impact on the league’s signature game. One could end up being the difference.
They might not have taken the most glamorous path to the NFL, but they will be on the field in Indianapolis while countless former high draft picks will be watching from home.
“It was definitely something I used - I still use - as a motivating factor,’’ said Waters, the Patriots’ starting right guard. “You can’t help it. Your dreams are just like everybody else’s dreams: It’s to get in the league, establish yourself, become a starter, be accomplished, and win a Super Bowl.
“I’m at that point where I feel good about all those things, where I’ve come from, but there’s a finishing point to that. You want to finish strong, you want, when you have an opportunity like this, to take advantage of it. Not just for myself, but for all those guys who won’t get their name called each April.’’
With all due respect to Welker, Waters might be the most decorated undrafted free agent in uniform a week from Sunday. Originally signed by Dallas in 1999, he joined the Chiefs in 2000 and flourished, going to the Pro Bowl five times in 10 seasons with Kansas City.
He joined the Patriots before this season after the Chiefs released him. He has started every game at right guard and was named to his sixth Pro Bowl. On the day of that game, though, he won’t be in Honolulu; he’ll be flying with his teammates to Indianapolis, getting ready to play in his first Super Bowl.
