Tag: Undrafted free agents

10 potential UDFAs Broncos could target after the NFL draft

Here’s a quick list of 10 potential undrafted free agents the Broncos could consider after the NFL draft.

The Denver Broncos only have five picks to use in the NFL draft this year, so barring any trades that add more picks, Denver will have room to sign 13 undrafted free agents following the draft next weekend.

The Broncos have a great history of landing UDFA gems, including wide receiver Rod Smith and cornerback Chris Harris. Last year, Denver signed 13 UDFAs, including wide receivers Jalen Virgil and Brandon Johnson.

It’s impossible to know for sure which prospects will go undrafted this year, but we have put together a list of 10 potential UDFAs that the Broncos could consider late in the draft or potentially immediately after the draft.

Here’s a quick list of 10 names to watch for as potential UDFA targets.

Two Saints fan-favorites made the cut for PFF’s All-Undrafted Team since 2006

A pair of Saints fan-favorites were recognized on the All-Undrafted Team since 2006 from Pro Football Focus: Pierre Thomas and Jabari Greer.

So much focus is given to the players picked in the annual NFL draft (we just recapped all 101 of the New Orleans Saints’ picks since 2006) but there’s a lot to be said for the undrafted rookies who make the most of their very limited opportunities. Some of the best players in NFL history started out as undrafted free agents, and that extends to the Saints.

Two of their own were listed on the All-UDFA offense and defense teams by Pro Football Focus. Fan-favorite former Saints running back Pierre Thomas was ranked as the best player at his position out of former undrafted rookies, with a career player grade of 92.1. Thomas started an exclusive club of players with 5,000 career yards as both runners and receivers in his time with the Saints, always seeming to get the most out of his rushing attempts while refining the screen play into an art form. Not bad for someone who wasn’t drafted after a solid run at Illinois.

Greer, with a career grade of 90.2, was listed as a flex defender. That’s kind of a stretch, seeing as he played 4,882 of his 5,425 career snaps from 2006 to 2013 out wide at cornerback rather than in the slot or at safety, but we’ll take it. He was an underrated player in New Orleans and deserves his flowers. He always tackled well, played clean coverage, and competed hard on passes thrown his way. It’s a shame that his career was cut short by an ugly knee injury in 2013, but he made a lot of great memories with the Saints as a key player on their 2009 Super Bowl-winning team. He’s done well for himself after the Buffalo Bills took a chance on him coming out of Tennessee.

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New Orleans Saints rookie review: WR Rashid Shaheed

New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Rashid Shaheed impressed in 2022, though putting his season in review highlights room for growth:

We expected big things out of Chris Olave in 2022, but his New Orleans Saints rookie teammate Rashid Shaheed gave fans a lot of reason for optimism at the wide receiver position moving forwards. The former Weber State Wildcat was impressive on both offense and special teams and really proved himself to be an important player as the year progressed. He was one of a couple of undrafted free agents who helped the Saints last season, along with offensive lineman Lewis Kidd.

With that said, there are some things that could improve for him. We’ll put his season in review to highlight that room for growth:

New Orleans Saints rookie review: OL Lewis Kidd

New Orleans Saints 2022 rookie review: Former Montana State Bobcats guard Lewis Kidd held down his role as a reserve along the offensive line

Raise your hand if you picked Lewis Kidd as the lone undrafted free agent to make the New Orleans Saints’ opening-day roster in 2022. The former Montana State Bobcat played left tackle and right guard in college before flipping to right tackle during the Saints’ preseason games, though he primarily lined up at left guard in a couple of games during the regular season, also seeing a handful of snaps as an extra blocker.

Not bad for someone who only received $10,000 in guaranteed money when he signed with the Saints last summer. Should he factor into New Orleans’ plans for 2023? We’ll spend the days ahead recapping each of the Saints’ rookies, starting with the former undrafted free agents and working up to the top draft picks. Let’s start by reviewing Kidd’s rookie season in black and gold:

Falcons sign DB Javelin Guidry, Nate Landman to practice squad

The Falcons signed DB Javelin Guidry to their 16-man practice squad. Guidry, 24, has appeared in 32 career games with five starts.

The Atlanta Falcons announced a handful of moves on Monday, but the most notable was signing quarterback Logan Woodside off of the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad.

Woodside will likely replace Marcus Mariota, who is expected to go on the injured reserve list. The Titans got revenge by signing defensive back John Reid off the Falcons’ practice squad. This left one spot available, which Atlanta used on defensive back Javelin Guidry.

The 24-year-old has appeared in 32 games with five starts over the last three seasons for the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders. Since 2020, Guidry has racked up 70 tackles (40 solo), four forced fumbles and three passes defended.

The Falcons added linebacker Nate Landman to the practice squad on Tuesday after cutting him over the weekend. Check out Atlanta’s updated 16-man practice squad below.

Saints lose backup LT Sage Doxtater to injury, re-sign OL Derek Schweiger

The Saints shuffled their offensive line depth chart, losing backup left tackle Sage Doxtater to injury and signing rookie free agent Derek Schweiger:

The hits keep coming for the New Orleans Saints offensive line, which lost rookie left tackle Sage Doxtater for the season to what ESPN’s Mike Triplett reports is an elbow injury. Doxtater, 23, initially signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent out of New Mexico State and was in line to play a lot of snaps in Friday night’s preseason game with the Green Bay Packers. Instead, it looks like he’ll be taking a medical redshirt.

It’s the latest injury to the depth chart at offensive tackle, with veteran starter James Hurst leaving practice this week due to a foot issue. His rookie backup Trevor Penning was also in and out of practice but appears to be fine. Still, there have been plenty of moving parts along the line — the Saints brought back Derrick Kelly as a waiver wire claim, reuniting with one of their former reserves, who has played both tackle and guard in New Orleans.

Additionally, the Saints re-signed rookie lineman Derek Schweiger as a corresponding move to Doxtater being placed on injured reserve. Schweiger was another undrafted signing (out of Iowa State) earlier this year who was let go during a wave of roster moves at the start of training camp, but now he’s got an opportunity to compete for a roster spot. Schweiger started games at both guard and tackle for the Cyclones, so like Kelly he brings some versatility. They’ll need it to help make a positive impression on the coaching staff.

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3 undrafted free agents with best shot to make Chargers’ 53-man roster

Looking at the Los Angeles Chargers’ undrafted free agents with the best chance to make the 53-man roster.

The Chargers have a storied history of turning undrafted free agents into productive players, including a 20+ year streak of an undrafted rookie making the opening day roster that ended in 2020.

Players like future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, special teams ace Kassim Osgood, and starting running back Austin Ekeler are among those who have made a name for themselves in powder blue after clawing their way to a roster spot as rookies.

With that being said, here are three players with the best chance to join those ranks this season.

RB Kevin Marks Jr.

Marks will have to prove that he’s more deserving of a roster spot than former draft picks Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree III, as well as fellow UDFA Leddie Brown, but he brings a quickness that the RB room lacks outside of Ekeler. As a rusher, he’s a bit too eager to find a big play instead of taking what the defense gives him, which can often turn an easy three or four-yard gain into a prolonged one or two-yard loss. However, his quick feet in space could make him a valuable receiving option if Ekeler is forced to miss time for any reason.

TE Erik Krommenhoek

If Los Angeles elects to carry four tight ends, as they did a season ago, I think the fourth spot will come down to Krommenhoek and Hunter Kampmoyer. Gerald Everett and Donald Parham will be the primary receiving threats from the position, while second-year pro-Tre’ McKitty continues to work towards rounding out his game as the versatile Y-tight end. That could leave room for a pure blocker on the roster, which fits Krommenhoek’s game. However, he’ll have to first surpass Kampmoyer and then convince the staff that the fourth tight end spot shouldn’t be passed over in favor of carrying an extra defensive lineman, where spots are also hard to come by.

EDGE Ty Shelby

Shelby is probably the most talented UDFA the Chargers signed, although he has a long way to go before he’s considered a finished product. All-Pros Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack are locked in, as is veteran Kyle Van Noy, which leaves one or two spots up for grabs between Shelby, 2021 fourth-round pick Chris Rumph, and Canadian Football League signee Jamal Davis II. Tom Telesco’s regime has proven willing to give draft picks a long developmental leash, putting Shelby at a disadvantage in the EDGE4 race behind Rumph. Carrying five pass rushers is a possibility, especially if Van Noy will split time at inside linebacker, but this is a talented roster with very thin margins. Expect whichever combination of the three that don’t make the opening roster to be priority practice squad additions.

Browns announce signing of 12 undrafted free agents

The Browns are bringing in 12 undrafted free agents leaving a little room for other free agent signings (veteran or rookie tryout players):

The Cleveland Browns open their rookie minicamp on Friday. Yesterday, not only did we get the 2022 season schedule (and preseason schedule) reveal but the team also signed seven of their nine draft picks.

With nine additional rookies added to the roster, the Browns still have room to add other veteran free agents and undrafted free agents as well.

Shortly after the draft, we shared all the reports of players likely to sign in Cleveland to compete as a part of their 90-man roster. The team, per usual, was quiet about the signings except for the addition of tight end Marcus Santos-Silva, the former NCAA basketball player who hasn’t played football since his freshman year of high school.

Friday, the team announced the signing of 12 undrafted free agents including WR Isaiah Weston who could compete with drafted WR Michael Woods II:

  • WR Isaiah Weston, Northern Iowa
  • D D’Anthony Bell, West Florida
  • CB Junior Faulk, Delta State
  • WR Mike Harley Jr., Miami
  • WR Travell Harris, Washington State
  • C Brock Hoffman, Virginia Tech
  • CB Shaun Jolly, Appalachian State
  • LB Silas Kelly, Coastal Carolina
  • DT Glen Logan, Louisiana State
  • TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, Florida Atlantic
  • DT Roderick Perry II, Illinois
  • T Ben Petrula, Boston College

The team could also bring in a number of players for tryouts during minicamps before deciding to sign them or not.

As of now, Cleveland’s roster sits at 87 with three spots open to sign other players.

Bengals announce 2022 undrafted free agent class

The UDFA signings for the Bengals are now official.

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The Cincinnati Bengals have made their 2022 undrafted free-agent class official, announcing 16 players and noting that several more unsigned will work with the team during minicamps.

The full list, which includes a couple of previously unknown names:

  • –LS Cal Adomitis
  • –G/C Ben Brown
  • –OT Devin Cochran
  • –CB Allan George
  • –WR Jaivon Heiligh
  • –LB Clarence Hicks
  • –CB Delonte Hood
  • –HB Shermari Jones
  • –WR Kwamie Lassiter II
  • –G Desmond Noel; 6-4, 301
  • –WR Kendric Pryor
  • –S/CB Bookie Radley-Hiles
  • –TE Justin Rigg
  • –WR Jack Sorenson
  • –DT/DE Tariqious Tisdale
  • –LB Carson Wells

That first name — a long-snapper, of all things! — was the signing to receive the most hype nationally.

Spots the Bengals ignored in the draft, such as wide receiver and tight end, potentially have the best chance to make the final 53 roster over the summer.

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Bengals praised for one of best UDFA signings — and it’s not who you think

Good luck guessing this one.

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Running down the list of Cincinnati Bengals unofficial undrafted free-agent signings so far, a few names stick out as contenders for the “best signing” award.

There’s wideout Jaivon Heiligh from Coastal Carolina. There’s Ole Miss guard Ben Brown and even Colordao linebacker Carson Wells.

But don’t forget long-snapper Cal Adomitis out of Pittsburgh.

Good Morning Football certainly hasn’t, tabbing him as one of the best undrafted free agency signings of any team while citing things beyond his football resume:

“He played at Pittsburgh. He’s one of the leaders of the entire program…last year he cut off his hair, raised $117,000 for pediatric cancer research. He is one of those guys who profiles as a future Walter Payton Man of the Year candidate. 

That screams “culture signing” all over it as the Bengals gun for high-character guys to keep the locker room strong.

It doesn’t hurt that Adomitis will compete with veteran Clark Harris this summer, either. Harris, going on 38 years old, enters what is potentially his final season after starting the gig in Cincinnati in 2009.

Even if Adomitis doesn’t win the job right away, there’s a chance he sticks around for the long-term and takes it, which would indeed make him an undrafted success story.

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