2011 NFL All-Undrafted Team

Article by: Jeff Roemer

The gilded promise and furious excitement of the 2011 NFL Draft came and went two weekends ago at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.  At the conclusion of seven rounds, 254 college football players heard their names called, forever etched in NFL Draft history.  But what of the scores of talented players that were not selected?  For many years the draft lasted 12 rounds; then it was reduced to eight, before the modern setup of seven was established in 1994.  With so few rounds, and the inexact chaos of projecting amateur players to professional success, there always remain a bounty of talented and ultimately successful NFL-ers to secure after the lottery ends.

In that regard 2011 is no different but the present discord of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and the NFL Players’ Association puts this year’s undrafted crop in a precarious holding pattern.  No undrafted player can be contacted or negotiate a contract until an agreement is in place and the work stoppage ceases.  When that will occur is anyone’s best guess.  The unfortunate byproduct therein is the longer this limbo period persists, the less value these undrafted free agents (UFAs) will present for prospective signing clubs.  By definition these players are always a long, or at least longer, shot to make a club in a normal preseason.  These odds are exacerbated by any potential missed development time if the summer months – which usually include minicamps, OTAs, and the typical duration of the preseason schedule – do not see a new CBA ratified.

To underscore the impact this overlooked crop of players can have, ESPN Insider Chris Mortensen reminded the industry during the draft that 23 former undrafted players dotted the 2011 Pro Bowl rosters.  Even after acknowledging that not all the very best players participate in that exhibition, due to various reasons, it is still a very illustrative testament to their importance in the league.  Let us hope that the two sides can get their acts together, so that the NFL has its best access to all of the available talent on time.

With all of this being written, below is my immediate post-draft take on some of the best players whose rights were not secured by one of the 32 teams during Draft weekend.