NFL Free Agency 2011: Lockout Leaving Undrafted Pittsburgh Panthers in Limbo

While former Pittsburgh stars Jon Baldwin and Jabaal Sheard began their respective celebrations following the 2011 NFL Draft, the same can't be said for all former Panthers looking to begin their path to the NFL.

Former Pitt fullback Henry Hynoski and safety Dom DeCicco never heard their names called in New York during the draft, leaving them in a very difficult situation.

During a normal season both likely would have signed with teams shortly after the draft, but with the current NFL lockout and the state of the league up in the air, undrafted rookies such as Hynoski and DeCicco are left in limbo.

Carving out a successful NFL career doesn't require being drafted. As Jon Gruden said at least a thousand times during last week's draft telecast, "36 players in last season's Pro Bowl went undrafted."

Going undrafted certainly makes for a harder path to making an NFL roster, so the collection of guys in that position need to get a quick start.

Unfortunately, that won't happen this season.

For these Pitt guys in particular, only Hynoski has a real chance to make an NFL football team.

Looking at his situation now though, it's clear Hynoski made a big mistake by declaring early for the draft.

Even as a valuable part of the Pitt offense, Hynoski gained only 33 yards rushing last season. While the total isn't that troubling for a guy who didn't get the ball a whole lot, his under three yards per carry average always stuck out.

I understood Hynoski declaring for the draft since Pitt would be getting a new coach with a new offense that he perhaps didn't want to learn. But he would have played some type of role in Todd Graham's new offense; probably enough of a role to likely hear his name called late in the 2012 NFL Draft.

If running back Ray Graham has the type of season many are predicting for him, being the lead blocker for three straight 1,000-yard rushers would be enough to impress many scouts.

While Hynoski's decision to not return to school looks like an initial mistake, there could still be a legitimate opportunity for him. He's a football player, and those are the type of guys most NFL coaches like.

As for DeCicco and former Panther Elijah Fields, their respective mountains to climb to land on an NFL roster look a lot steeper; Fields especially since he has had his share of character issues in the past.

The longer the NFL lockout continues, the tougher things become for undrafted free agents. If for some reason the lockout continues into training camp, things become next to impossible since they won't get the long look from coaches they might normally get otherwise.

This summer could be a long one for undrafted free agents, and for former Panthers Hynoski, DeCicco and Fields, they hold out hope that this story still has a happy ending.