Was thinking about how important the draft is and my mind shifted to players that were not drafted but are major contributors to their teams. On the Pats alone I can name Welker, Neal, Guyton, Wright, Bodden and McGowan just off the top of my head. While all of these guys are not on Welkers talent level they all are starters (or at least spot starters). Made me wonder about other teams and was shocked to see some of the name that went undrafted. Here is a partial list of 'good' undrafted players.
QB: Tony Romo (Dal), Kurt Warner (Ari)
RB: Ryan Grant (GB), Fred Jackson (Buf), Pierre Thomas (NO)
WR: Wes Welker (NE), Miles Austin (Dal), Davone Bess (Mia)
TE: Antonio Gates (SD)
OT: Jason Peters (Phi), Tyler Polumbus(Den)
G: Brian Waters (KC), Stephen Neal (NE)
C: Jeff Saturday (Ind), Shaun O'hara (NYG)
DE: Adewale Ogunleye (Chi), Juqua Parker (Phi), Cullen Jenkins (GB)
DT: Pat Williams (Min), Mike Wright (NE), Tony Brown (Ten)
OLB: James Harrison (Pit) Cameron Wake (Mia)
ILB: Bart Scott (NYJ), Gary Guyton (NE), David Hawthorne (Sea)
MLB: London Fletcher (Was), Antonio Pierce (NYG)
CB: Leigh Bodden (NE), Jabari Greer (NO)
S: Brandon McGowan (NE), Ryan Clark (Pit) Atari Bigby, GB
K: Dave Akers (Phi)
P: Ben Graham (Ari)
RS: Josh Cribbs (Cle)
That all undrafted team should win 11-12 games on talent alone. Makes you wonder what the hell scouts are looking for when they draft.
QB: Tony Romo (Dal), Kurt Warner (Ari)
RB: Ryan Grant (GB), Fred Jackson (Buf), Pierre Thomas (NO)
WR: Wes Welker (NE), Miles Austin (Dal), Davone Bess (Mia)
TE: Antonio Gates (SD)
OT: Jason Peters (Phi), Tyler Polumbus(Den)
G: Brian Waters (KC), Stephen Neal (NE)
C: Jeff Saturday (Ind), Shaun O'hara (NYG)
DE: Adewale Ogunleye (Chi), Juqua Parker (Phi), Cullen Jenkins (GB)
DT: Pat Williams (Min), Mike Wright (NE), Tony Brown (Ten)
OLB: James Harrison (Pit) Cameron Wake (Mia)
ILB: Bart Scott (NYJ), Gary Guyton (NE), David Hawthorne (Sea)
MLB: London Fletcher (Was), Antonio Pierce (NYG)
CB: Leigh Bodden (NE), Jabari Greer (NO)
S: Brandon McGowan (NE), Ryan Clark (Pit) Atari Bigby, GB
K: Dave Akers (Phi)
P: Ben Graham (Ari)
RS: Josh Cribbs (Cle)
That all undrafted team should win 11-12 games on talent alone. Makes you wonder what the hell scouts are looking for when they draft.