Jackson Free Press

Players’ dreams of taking the field in the NFL live on even if they don’t hear their names called in the NFL Draft. Those athletes still have a chance to make the roster of a professional team, but the road is harder.

Each year after the draft, teams scramble to sign the best available players who were not drafted. One major difference is that these players can choose their teams.

If two or more teams are after the services of a player, then he can decide which team to sign with as an undrafted free agent. An athlete who has teams bidding over his services also has the option of playing for whichever team is the better fit for his talents, gives him a better chance to make the team or offers him more money.

Undrafted free agents sometimes come into camp with a bit of a chip on their shoulders, looking to prove that teams should have drafted them. Players who mope about not being drafted are going to get shown the door rather quickly.

There have been several players who once were undrafted free agents and went on to have productive—and in 15 cases Hall of Fame-worthy—careers. The list includes Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, former New Orleans Saints linebacker and Hall of Famer Sam Mills and possible future Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner.

An undrafted free agent can even make the biggest game-changing play in the Super Bowl. In 2015, Vicksburg native and University of West Alabama star Malcolm Butler sealed the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl victory over the Seattle Seahawks with an interception at the goal line.

Six former Mississippi State University have signed as undrafted free agents. The Cincinnati Bengals signed defensive lineman Ryan Brown, the New England Patriots signed wide receiver De’Runnya Wilson, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed guard Justin Malone, the Indianapolis Colts signed punt and kickoff returner Devon Bell, the Chicago Bears signed cornerback Taveze Calhoun, and the Green Bay Packers signed linebacker Beniquez Brown.

The University of Mississippi had five former players sign undrafted-free-agent contracts. The Patriots signed a pair of former UM players in defensive tackle Woodrow Hamilton and linebacker CJ Johnson, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed cornerback Mike Hilton, the New Orleans Saints signed cornerback Trae Elston, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed defensive lineman Channing Ward.

On a side note, the New England Patriots love players from Mississippi. Not only do they sign undrafted free agents from our state, but they have also drafted players from our universities, players with ties to Mississippi high-school football and athletes who played junior-college football in this state.

Two former University of Southern Mississippi players earned contracts as undrafted free agents so far this year. Jacksonville signed offensive tackle Rashod Hill, and the Oakland Raiders signed running back Jalen Richard.

A few undrafted free agents also come from Mississippi’s smaller universities. Former Alcorn State University star cornerback Brandon Gatewood signed with the Green Bay Packers, former Jackson State University star wide receiver Devin Fosselman signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and former Mississippi Valley State University offensive lineman Golden Ukon signed with the Tennessee Titans. Meanwhile, former Vicksburg High School, East Mississippi Community College and University of Kentucky star safety A.J. Stamps signed with the Cleveland Browns.

If we have missed any Mississippi players who signed with a team, send us a tweet @JFPSports or leave a comment so we can add them to our list.