4 best NFL hidden draft gems in Colorado football history
By Josh Yourish
2018. Philip Lindsay. 45. UDFA. Philip Lindsay. 3. player. Philip Lindsay. .
One of the revolutions in football is the devaluation of the running back position. Instead of drafting a back in the first round, teams started to find starters late in the draft, or in the undrafted free-agent market.
Lindsay was signed by Denver after going undrafted and immediately became a test case for the bargain running back model. As a rookie, Lindsay played 15 games, rushing for 1,037 yards and nine touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl and followed up Year 1 with another 1,000-yard season in 2019.
Despite his early career success, Lindsay was not a flawless player. There was a reason he went undrafted. Lindsay struggled in the passing game, both as a receiver and a blocker, which eventually led the Broncos to move on from him after three seasons and 2,550 yards on the ground.
In 2021, Lindsay split time between Houston and Miami, only racking up 249 rushing yards, and in 2022, he ran the ball just 15 times for Indianapolis. His career was short-lived, but his early career production earned him a spot on this list.