Every year, there are more undrafted free agents than first round picks on NFL rosters.
Of course, that’s just a matter of sample sizes. There are only 32 Day 1 picks each year — 31 in 2023, thanks to the Miami Dolphins’ shenanigans. There are more than 1,000 undrafted free agents who’ll get calls from teams, contract offers and training camp invitations
Still, several players have gone all seven rounds without hearing their names called just to thrive in the pros. Tony Romo slid under the radar at Eastern Illinois to become a Pro Bowler with the Dallas Cowboys. Kurt Warner went unselected, ground his way through the Arena Football League, then became a two-time MVP and Hall of Famer. Six-time Pro Bowl center and 1-7 NFL head coach Jeff Saturday counts himself among the undrafted free agent success stories.
2023 will produce its share of starters and future stars. We’re not sure who that’ll be just yet, but if we had to place a bet these are the 10 players we’d back.