May 14, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Abram Smith (33) during rookie camp at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
There are always talented players who aren’t selected in the NFL Draft, this season these are the 3 biggest undrafted free agent steals
Some big-name superstars made their mark on the NFL as undrafted free agents, which should always give players hope even if their name wasn’t called during the draft. Kurt Warner, Warren Moon, Jeff Saturday, and Rod Smith all went undrafted and had a huge impact in the league.
While the incoming class in 2022 might not have anyone who reaches such a caliber, they will have several who carve out successful NFL careers.
Here, we look at three players who could do that, which would make them the biggest steals in 2022 undrafted free agency.
Oregon Ducks safety Verone McKinley III (23) celebrates making an interception during the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. The Ducks won 35-28
Verone McKinley III ended up being a victim of the draft process. Had it not been for measurements that were undesirable and some average workouts, he likely would have been selected during one of the seven rounds.
However, teams picked apart everything about him rather than trusting the tape. Had they done this, they would have seen a guy who knew how to find the ball. In his four seasons with Oregon, McKinley had 11 interceptions and two forced fumbles.
His final campaign was his best as he had 77 tackles and six picks, showing a knack for making the big play. That wasn’t enough to get called during the high-profile weekend, but McKinley did get called by the Miami Dolphins once the process was over.
In Miami, he might have a hard time seeing the field early since they do have a talented secondary. But in time, he should be able to carve out a role in their defense and prove he belongs.
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