NFL Draft: Sons of Former NFL Players Get a Chance to Start Their Own Careers

The apple, they say, doesn't fall far from the tree. While that old adage about fruit may be true, it also seems to pertain to NFL athletes. A number of high-profile former NFL players have seen their sons signed by teams this spring, most notably:  

Nate Montana: The son of renowned quarterback Joe Montana was not taken in the 2013 draft, but did receive an invitation to attend the San Francisco 49ers' rookie minicamp on May 10. The odds of Montana making the 49ers—or any NFL team—seems remote, especially given the fact that the young quarterback spent much of his college career as a backup.

It was not until he achieved a starting position at West Virginia Wesleyan that Montana threw for 19 TDs and seven interceptions this past season. He led the conference with 2,480 passing yards.

Duron Carter: Hall of Famer Chris Carter's son was never drafted, but according to a report by Larry Hartstein on CBSSports.com, the Minnesota Vikings recently moved to sign the young receiver to a free-agent contract. The 6'4", 205-pound Duron Carter attended four colleges in four years, but hasn't played since 2010.

Mike Golic, Jr.: When the 2013 NFL draft concluded, six players from Notre Dame had been chosen, but the son of former NFL defensive tackle (and ESPN broadcaster) Mike Golic was not one of them. The junior Golic did not have to wait long to have his spirits lifted, however, when the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him shortly after the final player's name was announced at Radio City Music Hall. 

Luke Tasker: While he is the son of one of the standout special teams players in NFL history, Luke Tasker did not get chosen by a professional team the way his father, Stever Tasker, had been. However, when a player of Tasker's talents (75 receptions for 1,207 yards and eight touchdowns) remains available after the draft, it's not long before he is courted by the pros. The San Diego Chargers quickly moved to secure the Cornell graduate, and signed him to a free-agent contract. 

While the progeny of former professional players may not be reporting to NFL camps with the fanfare of highly-touted rookie draft picks, they do come to camp with something more than just their famous last names. All of them carry the hope of starting careers in their own right and the opportunity to make it happen.