New York Giants Go Beyond NFL Draft; Team Has History of Success with URFA

There are hundreds of players that never receive a phone call on any of those three days (since 2010 when the draft-round format was altered from 1988’s two-day weekend extravaganza). Only 250-some odd players get their name called in front of the NFL spectator world; the rest of the college athletes with hopes and dreams head back to their somewhat normal lives, clinging to said hopes and dreams.

The Monday and primarily the Tuesday following the draft, teams call players that may have been on their lower draft boards (or not on them at all) and extend them an invitation to sign an offer sheet with the team and come to approaching camps to try out.

There have been players like quarterback Warren Moon and running back Priest Holmes that were undrafted free agents and went on to have quite noteworthy careers. It isn’t every day that it happens, but it does. Fun fact for the day: notorious (to most Giants and Bills fans) kicker Scott Norwood was undrafted too.

Glancing back at recent years, the New York Football Giants have had some pretty solid names on the roster that also fell into that “undrafted” (by blue) category: offensive lineman Rich Seubert as well as several defensive backs that were on the Championship teams: Bruce Johnson, Kevin Dockery and James Butler. Then there’s players that contribute in ways that fans go crazy for – linebacker Chase Blackburn was undrafted and became a favorite for his blue-collar leave-it-all-on-the-field play, while every single current Giants diehard (and even those who barely know the game) understand what Paterson, New Jersey hero-wideout Victor Cruz has brought to the Big Blue offensive table. Cruz has taken over as far as legendary status that once belonged to defensive tackle Jonas Seawright too (joke, folks…kind of).

The Giants currently have more than several rookie-signed undrafted free agents on their roster going into the 2013 NFL season: linebackers Mark Herzlich, Spencer Paysinger, defensive ends Justin Trattou and Adewale Ojomo, safety Will Hill and tight end Larry Donnell.

Special teams assistant coach (and former linebacker/ specials player) Larry Izzo was also undrafted.

Lastly, there are the players that have not necessarily been signed as URFA by the Giants, but were/are in blue and made major impact while here: linebacker Antonio Pierce, running back D.J. Ware, kicker Lawrence Tynes and, of course, the man, the myth and legend – punter, Steve Weatherford.

So, once the draft dust settles, keep your eyes peeled for possibilities that may very well be a catalyst somewhere on the final 53-man for the 2013 New York Giants.