Tag: Undrafted free agents

Broncos’ UDFA success continues on 2024 roster

“The scouts play a huge role in advocating for these players after the draft and fighting for these players,” GM George Paton said.

The Denver Broncos have had unprecedented success with undrafted free agents making their 53-man roster. Two undrafted free agents made the roster this year, offensive lineman Frank Crum and running back Blake Watson. Linebacker Levelle Bailey also made the initial active roster and is now returning on the practice squad.

When it was announced that these two players made the 53-man squad, it marked the 20th time in 21 years that at least one undrafted free agent made the roster.

In a Zoom call last week, Broncos general manager George Paton credited the team’s scouting. “The scouts play a huge role in advocating for these players after the draft and fighting for these players,” said Paton.

Paton had this to say about Crum, who was a University of Wyoming product: “Crum, you don’t get many 6-7 guys or whatever he is that can bend like he does and has the power he does. He’s still raw. You see him in pass-pro. I know he got beat a couple of times, but for a kid who played at Wyoming and a first-year rookie in the NFL to do some of the things he did in practice and versus Green Bay. He played well in Indy obviously. I thought he played well most of the game. He had a few breakdowns, but really talented. I really love the upside of Crum.”

Watson had a memorable impression on coaches at his Top 30 visit. “Watson, we got to know him on the Top-30,” Paton said. “That’s why those Top-30s are really important. You get to know the player and he gets to see what you’re all about. He gets to see Denver and our facilities. It makes it easier when you’re trying to get him as a college free agent.”

Last year, four UDFAs made the Broncos’ 53-man roster, including running back Jaleel McLaughlin. Watson and Crum will aim to continue the success of the team’s past UDFAs this fall.

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Long list of undrafted rookie make 53-man rosters

Every year we see plenty of UDFA’s make an impression on their teams and make their final rosters.

A significant percentage of NFL rosters is made up of players who came into the league without being drafted. These are the players who go into the league with a chip on their shoulder and work their tails off to impress coaches and find a spot on their team.

These are players who fell through the cracks in the draft process or had enough concerns for teams to not use draft capital on them. NFL draft writer Ryan Fowler shared the full list of UDFAs who made their respective team’s final 53-man rosters.

  •  S Tyler Owens & TE Colson Yankoff (WSH)
  •  TE Dallin Holker, CB Rico Payton, WR Mason Tipton & P Matthew Hayball (NO)
  •  RB Blake Watson & OL Frank Crum (DEN)
  •  DB Beanie Bishop Jr (PIT)
  •  LB Joe Andreessen (BUF)
  •  DLs Eric Watts, Leonard Taylor & Braiden McGregor (NYJ)
  •  RB British Brooks (HOU)
  •  OL Javion Cohen (CLE)
  •  WR Xavier Weaver (ARI)
  •  TE Brevyn Spann-Ford (DAL)
  •  DB Dwight McGlothern, ED Gabriel Murphy (IR) & DL Taki Taimani (MIN)
  •  LB Maema Njongmeta (CIN)
  •  S Dell Pettus (NE)
  •  WR Isaiah Williams, DB Loren Strickland & LS Hogan Hatten (DET)
  •  LB Amari Gainer & WR Ramel Keyton (LV)
  •  WR Jalen Coker, iOL Andrew Raym & S Demani Richardson (CAR)
  •  OL Dalton Tucker (IND)
  •  DB Storm Duck & OL Andrew Meyer (MIA)
  •  S Chris Roland-Wallace & RB Carson Steele (KC)
  •  DB Josh Wallace, DB Charles Woods, DB Jaylen McCullough, LB Omar Speights
  •  LB Elias Neal (LAR)
  •  DL Elijah Chatman and OL Jake Kubas (NYG)
  •  OL Jalen Sundell (SEA)
  • TE David Martin-Robinson (TEN)

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Rico Payton, Mason Tipton among undrafted rookies on Saints’ initial roster

The New Orleans Saints decided to keep four of their undrafted rookies on the initial 53-man roster, including Mason Tipton and Rico Payton:

The New Orleans Saints have had a long day of roster moves and cleaning out their position groups until they get down to 53 players for the initial roster. Three players worthy of note who made the cut included undrafted rookies Rico Payton and Mason Tipton, and Dallin Holker, all of whom looked exceptional in training camp. And rookie punter Matthew Hayball won his battle to secure that job, too.

It’s extremely impressive considering Tipton did not play a preseason snap due to injury, but showed out so strongly early at camp that he was retained. As for Payton, he made the roster due to high-level preseason play, despite a slower start to camp, and performed so well that the Saints could not risk putting him on the practice squad. Holker missed some time due to a recennt ankle injury, however, he looked solid enough to be worthy of a roster spot.

Payton was outstanding in all three preseason games, however, in game two he was most noticeable, earning our Player of the Game for that week from the Saints team. He will join the group of Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor, and Kool-Aid McKinstry in the cornerback room among anyone else who is not taken off the roster.

In the wide receiver room, NOF’s Nick Underhill has confirmed it will be Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Cedrick Wilson, A.T. Perry, Tipton, and Bub Means to start off the season. All things considered, that was probably the best mix of talent and upside of the wide receivers on the team, so it was formed well given the players they had.

As for the tight ends, we will see Juwan Johnson, Holker, and Foster Moreau with Kevin Rader landing on IR. Ultimately Holker will be a fun addition to the team, who could get some playing time with Taysom Hill seeming more like a fullback in the new offensive scheme for the Saints. We’ll see if all four rookies hang around but for now they have to be feeling optimistic.

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Nothing has come easy for Commanders’ linebacker Frankie Luvu

Frankie Luvu’s path to Washington wasn’t an easy one.

Most undrafted players signing up for an NFL training camp don’t make it.

Joe Jacoby was undrafted in the class of 1981. Jacoby might still be voted into the Hall of Fame someday.

How about this current Commanders team? Did you know linebacker Frankie Luvu played at Washington State but went undrafted?

Yes, sometimes those undrafted players are driven. Their discipline carries them to places the experts felt they would never reach.

Luvu was signed by the Jets, undrafted in 2018. If that’s not enough, He was waived, then re-signed to the Jets practice squad and the active roster. Following the 2018 season, the Jets re-signed Luvu to another one-year deal, then once again waived him. But he played well enough in 2019 to get another one-year deal.

In 2020, the Jets offered a third consecutive one-year contract. Yet, when the season ended, the Jets did not offer Luvu a deal for a fourth season.

The Panthers signed him to a (you guessed it) one-year deal for 2021. Finally, the next season, Luvu was offered a two-year deal, playing again for the Panthers in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Enter Adam Peters and the Commanders. Peters offered Luvu a three-year deal to the 27-year-old veteran linebacker. Luvu is glad to be in Washington.

Luvu spoke Thursday with the media about the veterans really holding each other to a standard on the practice field. He feels like he and fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner are already communicating very well together.

Luvu likes what he sees from linebacker Jordan Magee a fifth-round choice (Temple). “He is picking it up real quick. He’s coming on a long way real quick, for a rookie. (He is) taking everything in early in camp. He’s just been a sponge, trying to pick our minds, me and Bobby. Looking forward to work with him the rest of the camp.”

Luvu has had to work for each contract. Nothing has come easy. He could be just what Jordan Magee needs to learn as a linebacker and a rookie trying to make it long-term in the NFL.

 

Saints waive undrafted rookie Nathan Latu to make room for new signings

The New Orleans Saints waived Nathan Latu to make room for new signings. The undrafted rookie from Oklahoma State will be looking for his next opportunity:

Letting go of young players so early in their careers is an unpleasant side of the business, but that’s life in the NFL. The New Orleans Saints waived defensive end Nathan Latu on Thursday to open a roster spot for veteran cornerback Mac McCain. Offseason rosters are capped at 90 players, and the Saints were at capacity after waiving cornerback Faion Hicks last week while signing tight end Jesper Horsted.

Latu had signed with them in late April as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State, but he didn’t participate at rookie minicamp, OTAs, or last week’s mandatory minicamp. He may have been dealing with an undisclosed injury. The Saints only guaranteed $3,000 of his contract so there won’t be much of an impact on their salary cap by releasing him.

Still, it’s a disappointing end to his time in New Orleans. But that’s the case for many young pros as teams churn the bottoms of their depth charts over the summer. They’ll be recruited hard by NFL teams in the hours after the draft in April and cast aside by roster cuts in August if they can’t make a quick (and positive) impression. Good luck to Latu in wherever he lands next.

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Bengals UDFA’s scouting report could hint at big things

This writeup on a new Bengals UDFA LB will turn some heads.

Of the 14 members of the Cincinnati Bengals undrafted free agents class this year, a punter seems to reel in the most hype right now.

But that might not hold true for long.

The Bengals paid out extra in signing bonuses for two linebackers while formulating that undrafted free agents class.

One of them — Aaron Casey out of Indiana — sounds like a perfect fit who probably shouldn’t have slipped out of the draft.

Just look at the scouting report provided by Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com after the team made the UDFA class official:

SCOUT’S TAKE: “Pretty cool he ‘ll be able to keep that No. 44 here. Heartbeat of that defense. Multi-year special teams starter. Left a big legacy over in Bloomington. Culture guy. Very instinctive. Good against the run. Good QB spy on third down.”

It might as well say: Chess piece for coordinator Lou Anarumo.

Casey might get hit with “undersized” chatter at 6’1″ and 231 pounds, but he already checks a lot of the Zac Taylor era boxes such as coming from a big program, production and fitting the culture.

And his skillset that allows him to excel on special teams and as a quarterback spy in key situations could see him crack the final 53-man roster, then eventually contribute.

There’s a long road ahead before that can happen, but of the undrafted free agents, Casey is one of the guys who stuck out the most right away and the scout’s take sure doesn’t hurt that idea.

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Raiders Rookie minicamp roster

Raiders Rookie minicamp roster

There are 32 roster players in attendance at the Raiders Rookie minicamp this weekend. Here are all 32 players.

14 QB Carter Bradley UDFA
23 RB Dylan Laube D-6
80 WR Jeff Foreman UDFA
82 WR Ramel Keyton UDFA
81 WR Lideatrick Griffin UDFA
32 WR Tyreik McAllister 1st Yr
89 TE Brock Bowers D-1
86 TE John Samuel Shenker 1st Yr
71 T DJ Glaze D-3
73 T Andrew Coker UDFA
54 T Jalen McKenzie 1st Yr
70 G Jackson Powers-Johnson D-2
64 G Clark Barrington UDFA
63 G Jake Johanning UDFA
67 C Will Putnam UDFA
60 DT Tomari Fox UDFA
62 DT Noah Shannon UDFA
55 DE David Agoha IPP
57 DE TJ Franklin UDFA
76 DE Ron Stone Jr UDFA
49 DE Charles Snowden 1st Yr
45 LB Tommy Eichenberg D-5
53 LB Amari Gainer UDFA
48 LB Fred Thompkins UDFA
25 CB Decamerion Richardson D-4
26 CB MJ Devonshire D-7
44 CB Demarcus Governor UDFA
36 CB Rayshad Williams UDFA
46 CB JaQuann Sheppard UDFA
40 S Jaydon Grant 1st Yr
37 S Trey Taylor D-7
42 S Phalen Sanford UDFA

That’s eight drafted rookies, 18 undrafted rookies, and six first year players.

Bucs announce 2024 undrafted free agent signings

The Buccaneers announce the signing of its 2024 undrafted free agent class.

The Buccaneers are taking care of all its rookie business at its rookie minicamp this weekend. With its undrafted free agents in town, the Bucs have officially announced signing them to the roster (via Buccaneers.com’s Brianna Dix):

The notable players include Florida St.’s standout LB Kalen DeLoach and son of former Buccaneer Brad Culpepper, Toledo DT Judge Culpepper. With more veterans returning and free agents signed than last offseason, this class of undrafted free agents may have a little harder time making the final roster. Nonetheless, the undrafted pathway worked for the likes of Christian Izien and Markees Watts. There is a real chance one of these players will suit up for Tampa Bay on Week 1.

Rams agree to terms with 16 undrafted free agents following 2024 NFL draft

After adding 10 players in the draft, the Rams are signing 16 more undrafted rookies to their roster

The Los Angeles Rams added 10 rookies in the 2024 NFL draft, but they’re bringing in even more undrafted free agents to help round out their roster. On Thursday, the Rams announced that they’ve agreed to terms with 16 undrafted rookies, many of which were reported shortly after the draft.

It’s overwhelmingly defense-heavy, with only six of the 16 undrafted signings being on the offensive side of the ball. There are five defensive backs who will be looking to carve out a role in the secondary, while three wide receivers will try to make a name for themselves in a crowded room.

Below is the complete list of undrafted free agents the Rams have agreed to terms with, including Bob Stoops’ son, Drake Stoops.

  1. Sam Wiglusz, WR, Ohio
  2. Tuli Letuligasenoa, DL, Washington
  3. David Olajiga, DL, Central Missouri
  4. Jaylen McCollough, DB, Tennessee
  5. JJ Laap, WR, Cortland
  6. Cam Lampkin, DB, Washington State
  7. Neal Johnson, TE, Louisiana
  8. Blake Larson, OL, Augustana
  9. Drake Stoops, WR, Oklahoma
  10. Josh Wallace, DB, Michigan
  11. Omar Speights, LB, LSU
  12. Justin Dedich, OL, USC
  13. Anthony Goodlow, DE, Oklahoma State
  14. Kenny Logan Jr., DB, Kansas
  15. Elias Neal, LB, Marshall
  16. Charles Woods, DB, SMU