The Athletic has dwell protection of NFL Week 15.
On Sunday, undrafted quarterback Brady Cook dinner will begin for the New York Jets’ Week 15 matchup towards the Jacksonville Jaguars. Usually, expectations for undrafted quarterbacks aren’t excessive. However there may be hope within the unknown, and sometimes, gamers who didn’t bounce off draft boards out of faculty are one alternative away from Corridor of Fame careers.
No, we’re not saying Cook dinner goes to be the subsequent Kurt Warner. However in 1999, when Rams beginning quarterback Trent Inexperienced went down within the preseason, did anybody suppose the previous grocery bagger coming off St. Louis’ bench would grow to be a Corridor of Famer? Seemingly not.
In any case, the pathway from gamers being ignored on draft day to carving out profitable NFL careers has been paved earlier than. A number of of these gamers went on to have a few of the finest careers in NFL historical past, and a few (taking a look at you once more, Warner) grew to become MVPs and Corridor of Famers.
Listed below are the highest 5 undrafted quarterbacks in NFL historical past when it comes to profession passing yards.
Warren Moon – 49,325 yards
Though Moon led Washington to a Rose Bowl win over Michigan in his senior 12 months in 1978 as Participant of the Recreation, he went ignored within the draft. Scouts recommended Moon swap to receiver within the NFL as a consequence of racial notions on the time concerning the potential of Black males to play quarterback.
Moon refused and began his skilled profession with the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos. He performed six seasons in Edmonton, throwing for 21,228 yards and 144 touchdowns whereas main the Eskimos to 5 consecutive Gray Cup championships, a document nonetheless held. Moon joined the NFL in 1984 and performed 17 seasons, primarily with the Houston Oilers. Moon holds the franchise data for passing yards (33,685) and touchdowns (196), whereas main the Oilers to seven consecutive playoff appearances from 1987 to 1993.
In 2006, he grew to become the primary Black quarterback inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
Dave Krieg – 38,147 yards
Krieg starred at now-defunct NAIA Milton Faculty, the place he put up prolific numbers regardless of taking part in far exterior the nationwide highlight. That lack of publicity, mixed with issues concerning the degree of Milton Faculty’s competitors, left him undrafted in 1980.
Nonetheless, Krieg signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1980 and made his first begin in 1981. As soon as he took over, he didn’t relinquish his spot, beginning 119 video games over 12 seasons in Seattle. Krieg led Seattle to 4 playoff appearances, together with the franchise’s first AFC Championship Recreation. He retired because the franchise’s all-time main passer in yards and touchdowns and was inducted into Seattle’s ring of honor in 2004.
Tony Romo’s 248 profession touchdowns are nonetheless essentially the most for any Cowboys quarterback. (Invoice Streicher / Imagn Photos)
Tony Romo – 34,183 yards
Romo starred at Japanese Illinois, the place he gained the Walter Payton Award as the highest participant in FCS soccer. Issues about his degree of competitors and arm energy left him undrafted in 2003, when he signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Romo must wait three years earlier than making his first NFL begin in 2006, after starter Drew Bledsoe obtained injured.
Bledsoe by no means obtained his job again, and Romo grew to become the Cowboys’ franchise quarterback for a decade. When he retired in 2017, he was the Cowboys’ all-time main passer in yards (34,183) and touchdowns (248) whereas guiding a number of playoff groups and incomes 4 Professional Bowl alternatives.
Present Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott just lately surpassed Romo on the franchise profession passing yards checklist, however Romo’s profession touchdowns are nonetheless essentially the most for anybody to helm America’s Group.
Kurt Warner – 32,344 yards
Warner starred at Northern Iowa, main the Panthers to an FCS playoff berth, however drew little NFL curiosity as a consequence of issues about arm energy and the extent of competitors. That left him undrafted in 1994. The Inexperienced Bay Packers reduce him after 5 weeks at camp that summer time, and he stocked cabinets for an Iowa grocery retailer earlier than getting his likelihood with the Area Soccer League’s Iowa Barnstormers.
After stints within the Area League and NFL Europe, Warner signed with the St. Louis Rams in 1997 and made his first NFL begin in 1999 following Trent Inexperienced’s harm. Warner led the “Best Present on Turf,” gained two NFL MVP awards and captured the 1999 Tremendous Bowl. He made two extra Tremendous Bowl appearances (one with the Rams in 2001 and one with the Arizona Cardinals in 2008) and was inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2017.
Jon Kitna – 29,745 passing yards
Kitna additionally performed at a small college, Central Washington. He lit it up, rewriting the varsity’s passing data, throwing for 12,353 yards and 99 touchdowns, and successful an NAIA nationwide championship in 1995. However his small-school background left him undrafted in 1996, and the Seahawks signed him that 12 months.
Like Warner, Kitna’s improvement included a cease in NFL Europe, the place he led the league in passing yards and touchdowns and gained the 1997 World Bowl MVP, main the Barcelona Dragons to a championship. Later in 1997, he made his NFL debut with the Seahawks and logged one begin as a rookie. Kitna went on to get pleasure from a 15-year NFL profession, additionally beginning for the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions and Cowboys, and incomes Comeback Participant of the 12 months in 2003 with Cincinnati.
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