During Triple Crown horse racing season, there's lots of talk about long shots trying to get the big payoff. In the NFL, those long shots are the undrafted free agents who were signed by teams in the hours immediately following the draft.
Most fans consider these players an afterthought, just training camp fodder for veterans and draftees. But that’s not how they're viewed by the general managers and coaches who know that on every team, a couple (or more) will make the 53-man roster or practice squad.
We’re talking about players like QB Trevone Boykin in Seattle, QB Jake Coker in Arizona, LB Jeremy Cash in Carolina and Gronk's little brother, FB Glenn Gronkowski in Buffalo.