Elliott, Pennel make team as unrestricted free agents

Jayrone Elliott and Mike Pennel didn't have a draft day celebration.

Passed over in the seven rounds last season, the Green Bay Packers' rookie outside linebacker and nose tackle had to take a backdoor route to the NFL. It didn't matter Saturday afternoon. Both were included on the Packers' 53-man roster, completing the difficult journey from draft obscurity to an NFL field.

"Today was my Draft Day… Blessed is an understatement! #GodIsGood" Elliott tweeted after learning he'd made the team.

It's nothing new for undrafted rookies to be added to the Packers' defense. For the fifth straight season, the Packers will have an undrafted rookie among their linebackers.

Elliott led the NFL with five sacks in just three preseason games. He was one of six outside linebackers the Packers kept, joining Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Mike Neal, Nick Perry and Andy Mulumba.

Pennel was one of five defensive linemen, joining Datone Jones, Letroy Guion, Josh Boyd and Mike Daniels.