Not getting drafted isn’t the end of the NFL dream that it can feel like it is. For many football players, maybe it’s the kick that they need. Some of the very best football players to ever play in the league got their start after they didn’t hear their name called on draft day. Talk of Fame Network’s Rick Gosselin has covered the NFL for 49 years. He’s been a Hall of Fame voter for 25 years. He put together this All-Time team of players that didn’t get drafted. He picked 27 players. 13 of them are honored in Canton.
Offense
Quarterback
Kurt Warner
Running Backs
Marion Motley
Joe Perry
Receivers
Drew Pearson
Wes Welker
Tight End
Antonio Gates
Offensive Tackles
Lou Groza
Joe Jacoby
Guards
Larry Little
Nate Newton
Center
Jim Langer
Defense
Defensive Ends
Coy Bacon
Michael Bennett
Defensive Tackles
John Randle
Bill Willis
Linebackers
James Harrison
London Fletcher
Bart Scott
Cornerbacks
Dick “Night Train” Lane
Willie Brown
Safeties
Emlen Tunnell
Cliff Harris
Special Teams
Kicker
Adam Vinatieri
Punter
Jeff Feagles
Kicker Returner
Josh Cribbs
Long Snapper
Don Muhlbach
Special Teams
Bill Bates
***
Hall of Famers
Kurt Warner
Marion Motley
Joe Perry
Drew Pearson
Lou Groza
Larry Little
Jim Langer
John Randle
Bill Willis
Dick “Night Train” Lane
Willie Brown
Emlen Tunnell
Cliff Harris
Antonio Gates and Adam Vinatieri should make it 15 Hall of Famers.
Coy Bacon has a strong Hall of Fame case.
The undrafted secondary pool is especially deep. All four of Gosselin’s picks are Hall of Famers.
Dick “Night Train” Lane
Willie Brown
Emlen Tunnell
Cliff Harris
Donnie Shell, Emmitt Thomas, and Jack Butler didn’t let going undrafted keep them out of the Hall of Fame. Everson Walls and Chris Harris could join them.
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