The players who were chosen in the draw are not guaranteed their success, some legends entered the League through another door
Every year hundreds of young people prepare with illusion to live one of the most anticipated moments of their lives: the draft of the NFL. For three days, the reflectors point to the names that appear on the screen, family hugs, tears, calls of coaches and general managers, is the culmination of a dream … for some.
For many others, the draft It ends without any ceremony or celebration, because your phone never sounded.
However, that silence represents the beginning of another story, a more difficult, lonely and full of uncertainty. But it is also the opportunity to become a more powerful story.
The last great example of a Non -recruited player in the draft what found success in the NFL It was from Kurt Warnerwho ended up being a more valuable player of the NFL and played three Super Bowls in his career, winning one of them, on his way to the Hall of Fame.
In 1994 no team chose Kurt Warnernobody thought that this quarterback of the Northern Iowa Panthers had what was necessary to be in the League. Kurt Warner He worked in a supermarket, played at Football Arena and was rejected several times, however, he never surrendered.
In 1999, five years after being ignored, Kurt Warner He arrived at the then St. Louis Rams to win the Super Bowl, in addition to being chosen MVP of the NFL and the Super Bowl, writing one of the most incredible returns in the history of sport. Two years later he returned to the big game and lost to Tom Brady at the beginning of the New England Patriots dynasty. Then he took the Arizona Cardinals to the first Super Bowl in his history, in which they dramatically fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Now we go with the little giant, Wes Welkerwho did not have the ideal stature for the receiver position with 5 feet and 9 inches (1.75 cm), so it went unnoticed in the draft. The then San Diego Chargers gave him a chance, but let him go after a single game. He arrived at the Miami Dolphins and then the Patriots saw something that other teams ignored: heart, intelligence and determination.
He finished his career with 9,924 yards and 900 receptions, was chosen five times to Pro Bowl and became one of the best slot receptors in the history of the NFL.
These are some examples of other players who were not recruited in the draft and ended up being stars: Drew Pearson, Nate Newton y Cliff Harris with the Dallas Cowboys; Priest Holmes con los Kansas City Chiefs y Baltimore Ravens; Donnie Shell y James Harrison con los Steelers; Joe Jacoby con Washington; Antonio Gates con los Chargers; John Randle con los Minnesota Vikings; Willie Brown con los Raiders; Warren Moon con los Houston Oilers; y Dick ‘Night Train’ Lane With the Rams.
In fact, some of them are in the Hall of Fame.
2025 and the opportunity to join that group
New stories are about to be written, because this year many players were not chosen in the draft And nobody talked about them.
The defensive Tackle of the Arizona Cardinals, Elijah Simmonshe played at the university level with Tennessee, where he showed his strength and explosiveness, two features that could allow him to become a defensive anchor, even to have immediate impact with the team.
The Atlanta Falcons gave the corner a chance Cobee Bryantwho has a good instinct to find the ball and is very physical in his game, also stood out in personal coverage with the Kansas Jayhawks, where he was chosen to the first All-Big 12 team.
Let's continue with the North Carolina supporter, Power Echolsborn, fast, physical leader with unstoppable energy that will surely fit the defensive of the Chicago Bears.
In the case of the open receiver Elijhah batherwho shone in Arizona State, can help him the presence of Patrick Mahomes to take advantage of his potential with the Kansas City Chiefs. Badger has the capacity to make explosive plays, safe hands and is most likely eager to demonstrate its value after not being recruited in the Draft.
Sebastian Castroa deep Mexican blood, committed and strategic, can win a place with the Pittsburgh Steelers after promoting Iowa's defensive-one of the best in the nation-last season.
Continuing with Latinos, we arrive with the Colombian open receiver Xavier Restrepowho was the historical leader of the Miami Hurricanes at receptions (200), yards received (2,844), receptions of TouchDown (21) and parties of 100 yards. Restrepo received the opportunity to join the Tennessee Titans, where he can take advantage of his chemistry with the Cam Ward quartback, who was recruited with the first global selection of the Draft.
This leads us to the next premise, being ignored hurts, but it can also be the fuel that feeds the motivation for these players, they know that they have nothing to lose and that makes them dangerous, they will work more, they will run more, they will run more, they will learn more to earn a place, because they know what it costs to be in the NFL.
No one opted for them, so they decided to bet on themselves.
