Caleb Harris
Oftentimes, immediately after the draft, many outsiders simply expect players to perform in the order they were drafted. For many reasons (scheme adjustments, roster construction, draft pick purpose, etc.), this is not how NFL teams generally operate on draft. Instead, once the draft ends and rookie minicamp begins, anything can happen, from how rookies fit into a potential NFL list.
Every year, between 15 and 20 undrafted free agents make NFL lists every year. This year should be no different, as there are more than a few post-draft picks who have a chance, if not an inside track, to make a 53-man roster and make an impact in their rookie season.
Austin Reed, QB, Bears
Austin Reed was perhaps the most surprising quarterback to go undrafted, for NFL teams, but he fell into the ideal situation to compete for a spot on the squad. He enters a Bears quarterback room that includes Brett Rypien on a completely non-guaranteed minimum contract, and Tyson Bagent, last year’s midseason UDFA turned starter, who despite this run is not guaranteed to be anything in the quarterback room. Finally, it helps that Reed trained with Caleb Williams throughout the draft process and became friends with Williams. The Bears did everything they could to make Williams feel comfortable in his rookie year, and keeping Reed in their quarterback room could be part of that comfort.
Blake Watson, RB, Broncos
Denver has a strong running back room, led by Javonte Williams and including fifth-round pick Audric Estime, veteran Samaje Perine and last year’s successful UDFA running back Jaleel McLaughlin. But Watson offers pass-catching and change-of-pace explosiveness that could make him, at worst, the fourth running back in your rotation. Additionally, as he develops as a pass blocker (along with Javonte Williams’ development in the box) he could push Watson from the fourth/fifth running back in the rotation to compete with Perine as one of the team’s top rotational running backs.
Jacobs was one of the more shocking players to go undrafted, considering he is a top-notch linebacker athlete from a major linebacker-producing school in Penn State, and in the film he shows off his coverage ability, attacking positively and from reach as a box tackler. But in Kansas City, he will only compete with former undrafted players from the 2022 and 2023 draft classes, and he not only has a great chance to be the team’s fourth linebacker, but also a front-runner and a key part of their seven-plan plan. defensive front this year.
The Dolphins added a number of weapons on the offensive side of the ball in the draft, but it was their focus on adding quality DBs late and after the draft that showed where they wanted competition during training camp. Although they picked a safety in Patrick McMorris late in the draft, they could have easily picked Perry and it wouldn’t have been a surprise. The Dolphins, a team looking to challenge for a Super Bowlwon’t mind the final round against free agents if it means creating a lot of competition in camp, and Perry’s athleticism, range and safety versatility could make him, at worst, your fifth safety and, at worst, your best case scenario, the challenge of being your main security reserve.
Joshua Cephus, WR, Jaguares
Jacksonville has three steady receivers: Christian Kirk, newly acquired Gabe Davis and newly drafted Brian Thomas Jr. But after releasing Zay Jones, Jacksonville’s receiver room is filled with talented options but no unequivocal fourth through sixth receivers . Fellow undrafted free agent David White Jr. also has a good chance considering his special teams upside as a scorer and primary player, but it’s Cephus who could quietly become the team’s fifth, if not fourth, receiver in time. . The safe and efficient route-separating Cephus will compete with Parker Washington for slot/Z receiver snaps in camp, with Cephus having every opportunity to win the job.
Twelve months ago, Leonard Taylor fell to the third day of NFL Draft It would have been shocking. Now, after questions about whether he could maximize his immense talent took him out of the draft, the Jets have landed a talent to learn and develop from their veteran defensive line slot. Taylor, based on film grades, has been ranked as the third or fourth defensive tackle in teams’ drafts, and I hope he can reach that tremendous potential in a Jets defensive line room that features Quinnen Williams, veterans with limited upside. long term. like Solomon Thomas and Leki Fotu, and a player with a positive impact, but not infallible, like Javon Kinlaw.
The Lions needed to increase their receiver space this offseason and signed just one player: Williams right after the draft. Williams will have to beat out recent seventh-round draft pick Antoine Green, the team’s special impact player Tom Kennedy and last year’s traded receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. But if it weren’t for a slow 40-yard dash time and NFL teams worried about his transition to NFL speed, Williams could have gone as early as the third or fourth round. Now, he is the favorite to be the team’s backup receiver, and it would be no surprise if he earns WR3 snaps by the end of the 2024 NFL season.
Jalen Coker, WR, Panthers
Carolina clearly needed a turnaround in its receiver room after last year, and trading Diontae Johnson and drafting just one receiver wouldn’t be enough. Despite being early round picks in the past, Terrence Marshall and Jonathan Mingo are not guaranteed anything in the receiver rotation and potentially even on the roster. Coker, an immensely productive FCS receiver with elite jumping ability (42.5-inch vertical leap, best at NFL Scouting Combine) and smooth, naturally separated route will certainly compete to not only make the Panthers’ roster, but potentially challenge to be the long-term option alongside first-round pick Xavier Legette.
Dallin Holker, TE, Santos
New Orleans has done a fantastic job the last four years of maximizing their cap space with a consistent stream of late/undrafted free agent or free agent additions, keeping him a productive part of their offense. But with Jimmy Graham seemingly officially done in New Orleans, Juwan Johnson in the final year of his contract, and Taysom Hill potentially coming to the end of his surprisingly long tenure (and not really being a tight end for them), Colorado State’s Dallin Holker, who was the second most productive tight end in the FBS last year, behind only Brock Bowers, has an excellent chance of not only making the roster, but contributing as H-Back/TE2 to Derek Carr.
Garret Greenfield, OT, Seahawks
The Seahawks struck gold in 2022 by drafting their franchise left and right tackles, but they needed to insert different options for their depth, between waiving George Fant late in his career, keeping Stone Forsythe and drafting for the long term. , is not yet ready to play against Michael Jerrell. Garret Greenfield, a four-year starting left tackle at South Dakota State, tested as one of the best athletes at the position at the NFL Combine and showed left and right tackle versatility for NFL clubs in the draft process at the Combine and Shrine Bowl. If he can show a true positive swing tackle, Greenfield could be the team’s third or fourth tackle and be one injury away from playing a major role in keeping Geno Smith productive.
