Undrafted Free Agents Ready to Stake Claim

Every year players who thought they'd be drafted aren't. It's the nature of the business. Some are able to put the disappointment aside and make a career in the NFL. With 150 players undrafted on NFL rosters last season, it's not a pipe dream for these athletes.

Some of these guys will go on to be starters and some may develop and have a hall-of-fame type career. Just ask Rod Smith if you don't believe me.

The NFL knows this too and every year after the draft, a feeding frenzy begins with franchises signing undrafted players left and right.

Some guys have caught the eye of the Corner and I'd like to share with you the players that may be able to stick with an NFL roster come September.

AFC

Baltimore - Drew Olson, QB, UCLA.

Buffalo - Martin Nance, WR, Miami (OH).

Cleveland - Darrell Hackney, QB, UAB.

Houston - Quadtrine Hill, FB, Miami.

Jacksonville - Paul Pinegar, QB, Fresno State.

Miami - Gerald Riggs, Jr., Tennessee.

Olson was a four-year starter with the Bruins and may make the cut with the Ravens. He could learn behind soon-to-be-signed Steve McNair. Nance had a productive MAC career and with Eric Moulds gone, he may be able to latch on. Hackney has tons of athleticism and with Trent Dilfer gone, Crennel needs a backup for Charlie Frye.

Hill is a solid blocker and runner, while Pinegar learned the pro-style offense under Pat Hill and could be the backup to Leftwich. Riggs was inconsistent and had injury problems with the Vols, but with a solid NFL bloodline and Ricky Williams gone for a year, he could end up the number two man behind Ronnie Brown.

NFC

Arizona - Greg Lee, WR, Pitt.

Carolina - Brett Basanez, QB, Northwestern.

Chicago - Tim Day, TE, Oregon; Josh Huston, K, Ohio State; Dwayne Slay, S, Texas Tech.

Dallas - Kai Parham, LB, Virginia.

Detroit - Matt Bernstein, FB, Wisconsin.

New Orleans - Anwar Philips, CB, Penn State.

St. Louis - Mike Degory, C, Florida State.

Tampa Bay - Andre Hill, RB, South Florida.

Washington - Spencer Havner, LB, UCLA.

Lee will have touble making the roster, but he was a teammate of Larry Fitzgerald and will be taken under his wing. Basanez was a three-year starter for the Wildcats and could emerge as Jake Delhomme's backup. The Bears may have signed three roster players. Day was a fourth or fifth round pick by some experts, Huston was solid for the Buckeyes and Slay is a big-hitting safety. Parham was rated by some as a third or fourth rounder, but his injury history and lack of size left him undrafted. He is a player.

Bernstein is a leader who works hard and is tough as nails. He could be starting for the Lions very quickly. Philips was an underrated corner who should have been drafted. Many had him rated ahead of teammate Alan Zemaitis, who was slected in the fourth round by Tampa. Degory was a three-year starter for the Seminoles and the Rams have definite needs along the interior line. Hill is a good, all-purpose back who could be Cadillac Williams' backup. Havner was a tackling machine for the Bruins.