NFL Free Agents 2011: 5 Early Winners in Undrafted Free-Agent Signings

Do not be fooled: The excitement over the rush of undrafted free agents being signed isn't just because the moves are the first transactions following a long NFL lockout.  

No, the hype is well-deserved.

Sure, the vast majority of these players will be cut, but there will also be a handful who will make an impact in their rookie seasons. It happens every year.

Just last season Miami Hurricanes cornerback Sam Shields went undrafted, but after being picked up by the Green Bay Packers, he played huge minutes throughout the year for the eventual Super Bowl champions. In a re-draft, Shields would go in Round 1.

Here are the five early winners of the 2011 undrafted free-agent signings with nepatriotsdraft.com providing the lists of names.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

Key Signings:

Weslye Saunders (TE, South Carolina)

At 6'5", 270 pounds and athletic, Weslye Saunders has more than enough physical ability to make it in the NFL. He fell in the draft after breaking his foot in the offseason. Saunders has character concerns, but the Steelers are a team full of veterans who could help him mature.

There is no risk in signing undrafted free agents, and Saunders’ ceiling is through the roof.

John Clay (RB, Wisconsin)

John Clay is slow as molasses, but speed means absolutely nothing on the five-yard line going in.  Clay rushed for nearly 3,500 yards and added 41 touchdowns in his career at Wisconsin.  He is a very powerful runner, and Steelers fans love power backs, right, Jerome Bettis?

Mario Harvey (LB, Marshall)

Mario Harvey is an absolute freak, so I don’t know how this guy didn’t get drafted. At 6'0" and 257 pounds, Harvey ran a 4.43 at his pro day and repped 225 pounds 27 times on the bench. If James Farrior could teach him anything at all, Harvey could turn into his replacement.

The Rest:

• Anthony Gray (DL, Southern Miss)
• Colin Miller (OC, Central Michigan)
• Terrence McCrae (WR, Ohio)
• Miguel Chavis (DL, Clemson)
• Trevis Turner (OL, Abilene Christian)
• Brett Greenwood (S, Iowa)
• Armand Robinson (WR, Miami (OH))

4. New York Giants

Key Signings:

Mark Herzlich (LB, Boston College)

Mark Herzlich is by far the biggest name that didn’t get drafted. He was once a first-round prospect, but his battle with cancer quickly ended that. Herzlich has the work ethic to get back to that point and become a starting outside linebacker in the NFL.

Jarriel King (OT, South Carolina)

At 6'5" and 317 pounds, Jarriel King definitely has the size to make it in the NFL. The reason he wasn’t drafted was because of lack of experience. King played defensive end much of his college career and is still learning how to play on the other side of the ball.

Henry Hynoski (FB, Pitt)

The Giants like power running, and they got a phenomenal run-blocker in Henry Hynoski. The former Pitt Panther is a beast at 257 pounds coming out of the backfield. He could’ve been a mid-round pick based on talent alone, but fullback is a dying position in this league.

The Rest:

• Martin Parker (DL, Richmond)
• Spencer Paysinger (LB, Oregon)
• David Sims (S, Iowa State)
• Harry Flaherty (TE/LS, Princeton)

3. Carolina Panthers

Key Signings:

Kendric Burney (CB, North Carolina)

The Panthers didn’t sign players in volume like some teams, but they added two of the best players out there.

Kendric Burney was talented enough to go in the third round. He lacks size though (5'9") and only managed to run a 4.71 40. Still, Burney dominated the Senior Bowl and has a legit chance of starting his first year for Carolina—and not just because they were the worst team in football last year.

Ugo Chinasa (DE, Oklahoma State)

Ugo Chinasa could be a dangerous situational pass-rusher from Day 1 for the Panthers. At 6'5" and 263 pounds, he ran a 4.65 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day. Chinasa could’ve gone as high as the fourth round.

The Rest:

• Ryan Pugh (OC, Auburn)
• Adi Kunalic (K, Nebraska)
• Byron Bell (OL, New Mexico State)
• Jamorris Warren (WR, Central Missouri)
• Darvin Adams (WR, Auburn)

2. Philadelphia Eagles

Key Signings:

Graig Cooper (RB, Miami)

The Eagles may not have gotten the quality the Panthers got, but they made up for it and more with quantity.

Graig Cooper could’ve been a mid-round selection if he didn’t tear his ACL in 2009.

Terrance Turner (WR, Indiana)

At 6'1" and 220 pounds, Terrance Turner has good size to pair with solid hands and ball skills, but he’s a bit on the slow side.

Cedric Thornton (DL, Southern Arkansas)

One of the top small school prospects in the entire draft, Cedric Thornton dominated in college and could make an instant impact for the Eagles. Jim Washburn’s next success story?

Chas Henry (P, Florida)

Urban Meyer takes special teams more seriously than anyone. Chas Henry was arguably the best punter in the entire draft, and with Sav Rocca aging, Philadelphia may have just found his replacement.

Derrell Johnson-Koulianos (WR, Iowa)

DJK was arrested for drug possession last December and pleaded guilty to marijuana possession earlier this year. Johnson-Koulianos is a mid-round talent; he just obviously has character concerns.

DeAndre Brown (WR, Southern Miss)

At 6'6" and 233 pounds, DeAndre Brown makes DeSean Jackson look like a kid who’s still in middle school.  Brown has character concerns, and he broke his leg in college, but he’s well worth the risk with his immense physical talent.

The Rest:

• Martell Webb (TE, Michigan)
• Perry Baker (WR, Fairmont State)
• Jerrod Johnson (QB, Texas A&M)
• Brandon Pegues (DE, Hampton)

1. Indianapolis Colts

Key Signings:

Joe Lefeged (S, Rutgers)

Since when do 6'0", 210-pound safeties who run a 4.42 in the 40 and have a 36.5" vertical go undrafted? Joe Lefeged’s name may not be as cool as Melvin Bullitt’s, but he may just be able to replace him.

Jake Kirkpatrick (C, TCU)

Jake Kirkpatrick was at one time a borderline first-round prospect, but he had a poor Senior Bowl.  If he can fulfill his potential, Kirkpatrick’s a realistic replacement for Jeff Saturday.

Adrian Moten (LB, Maryland)

Adrian Moten is a solid outside linebacker who could’ve gone as high as the fifth round. He ran a 4.55 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day.

Darren Evans (RB, Virginia Tech)

Before tearing his ACL and losing his starting job to Ryan Williams, Darren Evans was a potential first-round prospect. The Colts really need help at running back, and Evans could be the next undrafted back who pans out, ala LeGarrette Blount.

The Rest:

• Chad Spann (RB, NIU)
• David Gilreath (WR, Wisconsin)
• Chris Colasanti (LB, Penn State)
• Mike McNeill (TE, Nebraska)

David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him on Twitter.