UDFA rumors: Former BYU punter Ryan Rehkow is expected to sign with the Kansas City #Chiefs.
The positions usually ignored in the NFL draft are kicker, punter and long snapper. The high-quality specialists available following the draft are at a premium as every team looks for diamonds in the rough.
Announced late Saturday night via the BYU Football X account, the Kansas City Chiefs are signing punter Ryan Rehkow. Rehkow is a former Big 12 Punter of the Year known for having a big leg throughout college. He recorded a 42 percent inside-20 rate in his four seasons at BYU. In 2023, he had 68 punts, nine of which went as far as 60 yards.
The Chiefs struck gold by signing undrafted free agent Tommy Townsend a few seasons ago as he eventually became a first-team All-Pro. Townsend signed with the Houston Texans at the start of the league year, opening the door for a possible competition with Kansas City’s recently signed punter Matt Araiza.
Saints rookie Dallin Holker is already looking like an early UDFA steal out of Colorado State. So why wasn’t he drafted?
It’s early, but it’s safe to say former Colorado State tight end Dallin Holker passes the eye test. The New Orleans Saints acted quickly to sign him as a rookie free agent after he wasn’t picked in the 2024 draft. And when you first pull up Holker’s highlight reel, the first thing that comes to mind is a question: Why wasn’t he drafted? His story helps explain why NFL teams were cool on him.
Holker was a quiet part of BYU’s offense to start his college career, having missed the 2019 and 2020 seasons to serve his two-year religious mission inn Chile. After returning to find a bit part waiting for him at BYU, he transferred to Colorado State in 2023. And then he broke out with career-highs in catches (64), yards (767), and touchdown receptions (6).
And there’s your problem — or at least what NFL scouting departments saw as problems. Holker turned 24 in April and only put up notable receiving totals in one season at the college level. There’s a perception that he’s already plateaued as an athlete. There isn’t much growth potential in an older prospect with below-average size (6-foot-3, 241 pounds) and speed (4.78 time in the 40 yard dash). He also doesn’t offer much as a blocker and lined up tight to the formation on about 26% of his snaps.
But, hey: if other teams are turned off by those negatives, then the Saints could benefit by focusing on the positives. What he lacks at top speed Holker makes up for in a shorter space (his 6.83 time in the three-cone drill and 4.21 mark in the short shuttle are proof of great agility). He’s dangerous with the ball in his hands, having averaged 5.9 yards after the catch per reception while forcing 15 missed tackles last season. For context, Alvin Kamara led the Saints with 6.6 YAC/R and 13 missed tackles forced last year.
Watch him work and you’ll see Holker fighting hard on 50/50 balls (he literally won 10 of 20 contested catches last year) and showing great vision in the open field to put defenders in bad pursuit angles. He shows off focus on difficult, off-target passes and some slick footwork to separate from opponents in coverage. If he can do for the Saints what Jimmy Graham did last year as the third tight end, he’ll look like a good pickup. Maybe there’s even more here than meets the eye.
UDFA rumors: Former TCU RB Emani Bailey is signing with the #Chiefs
The roster additions don’t end following the NFL draft, as every general manager around the league seeks more young talent from the undrafted players pool. Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach prides himself on making wise selections in the undrafted free-agent market after years of success.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero states that former TCU running back Emani Bailey will join Kansas City after being undrafted. Bailey is an improving runner who started his college career in Louisiana from 2020 to 2021 before entering the transfer portal to TCU. He served primarily as the third running back in his first year with the Horned Frogs until becoming the starter last season.
In 2023, Bailey played 12 games, accumulating 223 carries for 1,209 yards and eight touchdowns. He was effective per rush, averaging 5.4 yards while catching 25 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown. At 5-foot-7 and 202 pounds, he isn’t afraid to get physical in the trenches and is a solid option in the passing game.
The Chiefs already have Clyde Edwards-Helaire behind starter Isiah Pacheco in the depth chart, with Deneric Prince potentially becoming a factor.
UDFA rumors: Former UCLA running back Carson Steele is signing with the Kansas City #Chiefs
The impact of pre-draft visits goes a long way for players before the stressful weekend. The Kansas City Chiefs held their meetings like many of the other 31 teams around the league, and although some of the players’ names weren’t called at the podium, they still found a home with a team.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Former UCLA running back Carson Steele will sign with Kansas City after going undrafted. Steele was one of the many players who visited Kansas City ahead of the NFL Draft, getting an early indication that there was mutual interest. The Indianapolis native led the MAC in rushing yards in his second season at Ball State before transferring to UCLA.
In 2023, Steele rushed for 847 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Bruins. He is projected to be a hybrid fullback and could be a part of the offense missing from Andy Reid’s system since Michael Burton’s departure.
The Chiefs didn’t draft a running back, so they have Clyde Edwards-Helaire slated as the third-down option and backup to Isiah Pacheco on the depth chart. As a versatile fullback, Steele could earn him a spot on the team, especially if his blocking is up to the task.
Oregon defensive lineman Casey Rogers has signed an undrafted free agent contract with the New York Giants.
There are a lot of players in the NFL that weren’t drafted and Oregon defensive lineman Casey Rogers just became one of those players.
Rogers signed an undrafted free agent contract with the New York Giants Saturday once the draft was finished.
As a senior at Oregon, Rogers played in all 14 games and made two starts in his final season where he finished with 22 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a career-high 1.5 sacks. He also played 328 total defensive snaps while earning a 72.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
One of the highlights of his career came against Colorado where Rogers ran for 18 yards and a first down on a fake punt from the Ducks’ own 17-yard line in the second quarter in the huge win over the Buffaloes.
In his junior season in 2022, Rogers played in all 13 games while making 12 starts in first season with the Ducks. He recorded a career-high 34 total tackles, 15 solo, with 3.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Rogers came to Oregon after playing two seasons at Nebraska.
Oregon defensive lineman Taki Taimani signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.
Three days and seven rounds of the NFL draft and there was no Taki Taimani.
But one doesn’t need their named to be called in the draft in order to sign with a team and Oregon defensive lineman Taki Taimani did just that.
Taimani signed with the Minnesota Vikings once the draft finished as a free agent.
At Oregon, the 6-foot-3, 330-pounder from Salt Lake City played in all 14 games in his final season while making nine starts. Taimani also finished with 22 total tackles, 1.5 tackle for loss and a fumble recovery and was ranked second among all Pac-12 interior defensive linemen with an 82.3 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus.
Taimani was one of very few players to transfer from Oregon most heated rival Washington, but he was able to win over the fan base quickly with his hustle, effort and huge smile. Now he’ll get to do the same thing with another fan base in the NFL ranks.
Keep up with who the Los Angeles Chargers sign from the undrafted free agency pool.
The 2024 NFL draft has wrapped up, and teams will now begin filling their 90-man offseason rosters. After selecting nine players in the draft, the Chargers will now turn their attention to signing undrafted free agents.
While there’s no guarantee that any of this year’s UDFAs will turn into big contributors, Los Angeles has had an excellent track record of finding hidden gems throughout the years.
We’re going to be tracking all of the team’s college free-agent signings here. So please refresh this page because the list of players will be updated every time we learn of a new signing.
Here is a list of the UDFA’s Los Angeles has signed thus far:
Coastal Carolina DE Michael Mason signing with #Chargers per a league source
The New Orleans Saints have waived fan-favorite DB Smoke Monday, an undrafted free agent for the team last offseason | @ClutchWDN
The New Orleans Saints have made a somewhat surprising roster move, waiving DB Smoke Monday, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Monday was a UDFA signing for the Saints last offseason, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL.
Monday played the sixth-most defensive snaps this preseason on the Saints, so he did receive ample opportunity to have a chance at the roster. However, in this span of time, he only had one pressure, five tackles (on six attempts), and allowed two out of four targets he faced to be received.
With his versatility across the secondary, he could be a candidate to return to New Orleans via the practice squad, however. With 20 of his snaps coming from the box, 53 at free safety, five in the slot, and one at outside corner, he clearly is able to move around the field.
Seahawks fans are likely to see Bobo operating with the starters early in the regular season.
Amongst rookies gaining traction for the Seahawks this preseason, wide receiver Jake Bobo has performed exceptionally well. His 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame makes him a force to be reckoned with in the intermediate passing game. Bobo tallied three receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown against the Vikings and two receptions for 43 yards against the Cowboys while making an impact as a blocker and on special teams.
Bobo, an undrafted free agent out of UCLA, led the Bruins with 57 catches in 2022. Yet, out of all 32 NFL clubs, he managed to fall right into the hands of the Seahawks, who were already loaded at receiver.
Perhaps when director of college scouting Aaron Hineline and senior director of pro personnel Matt Berry consulted, they took note of Bobo’s attributes. Could they have stumbled upon Bobo’s highlights while scouting prospect running back Zach Charbonnet who also played at UCLA? It’s a fair hypothesis.
Nevertheless, Berry, Hineline and a handful of other Seahawks personnel department administrators received promotions this offseason. With a locker room full of dynamic weapons, Bobo only adds another facet to a well balanced offensive attack.
With wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba soon undergoing wrist surgery and Dee Eskridge serving a six-game suspension, Seahawks fans are likely to see Bobo operating with the starters early in the regular season.
Here’s our Saints rookie report card from their preseason win against the Chiefs, highlighting every draft pick and standout UDFA’s | @DillySanders
The New Orleans Saints left the Superdome for the first time this season as champions, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 26-24 during the first week of the NFL preseason. While it was nice to see a lot of the returning players, like Chris Olave and Michael Thomas, it was also the first chance to see some of the rookies that we have spent months speculating about.
There were some great debuts, like Blake Grupe and Anfernee Orji, along with some debuts that did not go as well. While you can’t make a decision on how a player’s career will turn out based off of one preseason game, it’s also the only tangible in game play we have to go off of so far. Here’s the rookie report card for some notable debuts in the first game:
