For all the work teams do each year to prepare for the NFL draft, there’s inevitably undrafted free agents who enter the league every year and prove teams wrong for passing on them, impressing coaching staffs enough to make final rosters and even sometimes win starting jobs.
Typically, somewhere between two and three dozen UDFAs earn spots on 53-man rosters at the end of the preseason. This year, however, there were a whopping 57 who made the cut. The Rams had six all by themselves, but the Saints and Jets kept four each. Only the Falcons, Bears, Jaguars, Chargers and 49ers did not keep any UDFAs this week.
Below is a team-by-team breakdown of these UDFAs. I’ve highlighted where they played college football, if they were claimed on waivers from another team, and what their role projects to be. Though most are simply depth pieces, a few won starting jobs and plenty of others are in line for a significant role.
Arizona Cardinals
Weaver was a big-play guy last year at Colorado, and it was a bit surprising to see him go undrafted. He’ll have a chance to compete for minutes on the revamped offense of a young Cardinals team.
Baltimore Ravens
Brade played his college ball at Maryland and adds to the Baltimore legacy of finding under-the-radar gems to play in their secondary. He’s competing with seventh-rounder Sanoussi Kane from Purdue for the fourth safety spot, though Kane has the edge for now.
Buffalo Bills
CB Brandon Codrington
Andreessen is a local product out of the University at Buffalo. He impressed during training camp and is mostly expected to contribute on special teams. Codrington, out of North Carolina Central, was a trade acquisition from the division-rival Jets and will back up CB Taron Johnson in the slot. Codrington likely won’t see the field much on defense, as Johnson is considered one of the top nickel corners in the league. However, he could become the Bills’ top return man.
Carolina Panthers
C Andrew Raym
CB Shemar Bartholomew
Raym was a veteran of college football at Oklahoma and won the backup center job in camp. Bartholomew, out of Georgia Southern, and Sheriff, out of South Alabama, were two of Carolina’s waiver claims coming off roster cutdowns. Bartholomew was claimed from the Jets and Sheriff from the Seahawks. Both fill big positions of need on defense for the Panthers and have a real opportunity to earn playing time.
Cincinnati Bengals
Njongmeta was a camp darling out of Wisconsin who snuck onto Cincinnati’s initial 53-man roster. He’s a long shot to see the field this year, although he could contribute on special teams. Rehkow was picked up on waivers from the 49ers and is slated to be the starting punter.
Cleveland Browns
OG Javion Cohen
A UDFA out of Miami, Cohen stamped his name on Browns camp right away. Cleveland has two stars on the interior in Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio, as well as a third-round rookie in Zak Zinter, but Cohen will provide valuable depth in the event of an injury.
Dallas Cowboys
Spann-Ford was one of college football’s best run-blocking tight ends for years during his time at Minnesota. His path to playing time is unclear given the names ahead of him on the depth chart, but he has a chance to carve out a role in short-yardage situations. Dallas saw enough out of him to trade TE Peyton Hendershot.
Denver Broncos
RB Blake Watson
OT Frank Crum
Watson, a former Memphis back, was one of the Broncos’ most impressive rookies through the preseason. He beat out veteran Samaje Perine for a roster spot. Bailey is from Fresno State and should be one of the top backups in the Denver defense. Crum played college football at Wyoming and will be a deep reserve.
Detroit Lions
S Loren Strickland
LS Hogan Hatten
Williams was an electric threat every time he stepped on the field at Illinois. He’s small for the NFL at just 5-9 but flashed again in Lions camp and will at least back up Amon-Ra St. Brown in the slot, though he has a chance to earn a regular role in this offense. Strickland is out of Ball State and buried on the depth chart, and Hatten is the starting long snapper out of Idaho.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers had a thoroughly underwhelming kicking competition in camp between 2023 sixth-rounder Anders Carlson and veteran Greg Joseph, so they decided to go out and claim Narveson from the Titans to be their guy. Narveson played college football for the N.C. State Wolfpack and will get his chance to prove himself in this league. He went six for seven on field goal attempts in the preseason, including a game-winner and a 59-yard make.
Houston Texans
A small tank out of North Carolina, Brooks managed to stick on the roster for his blocking chops, in both run and pass phases. Not many NFL teams keep a fullback on the main roster these days, but Brooks proved he was too valuable to lose.
Indianapolis Colts
OG Dalton Tucker
The Colts drafted two offensive linemen this year, third-rounder Matt Goncalves and fourth-rounder Tannor Bortolini. Tucker, from Marshall, has been the best rookie lineman in Colts camp, however. He dominated throughout most of the preseason and is expected to be the primary backup on the interior of a loaded Colts offensive line.
Kansas City Chiefs
OT Ethan Driskell
S Chris Roland-Wallace
Another successful UDFA from the Marshall offensive line, Driskell is listed as the backup right tackle and could see playing time this season. Former USC Trojan Roland-Wallace won the backup nickelback role in camp, and Steele (from UCLA) will compete with the recently signed Samaje Perine for the third running back spot and perhaps a role at fullback.
Las Vegas Raiders
WR Ramel Keyton
LB Amari Gainer
Keyton played his college ball at Tennessee and should see playing time as the fourth or fifth receiver in the rotation. He’s an impressive height/weight/speed specimen. Gainer, out of North Carolina, is expected to be primarily a special teamer, and Harper was a waiver claim from the Chargers who has some experience at corner as well.
Los Angeles Rams
LB Elias Neal
CB Josh Wallace
CB Charles Woods
S Jaylen McCullough
The Rams always like to hold onto a bunch of UDFAs, and this year is no different. Speights, out of LSU, was one of the top rookies in any training camp this year, and the Rams were so impressed with him that they traded three-year starter Ernest Jones to give Speights a clearer path to the field. Neal, out of Marshall, will also figure into the mix at linebacker. Wallace, out of Michigan, and Woods, out of SMU, are competing for depth roles in the secondary. McCullough, the former Tennessee safety, has a tough path for playing time this season. Schrader played college football at Missouri and was a waiver claim from the 49ers, which is notable considering the Rams already had three backs they liked.
Miami Dolphins
C Andrew Meyer
CB Storm Duck
Meyer won the backup center job in camp after playing his college ball at UTEP. He’s a bit tall and undersized for the position but plays with strong fundamentals. Duck surprised many by going undrafted, as he was considered a quality late-round pick out of Louisville. He’s expected to provide key depth in Miami’s secondary.
Minnesota Vikings
DT Taki Taimani
Despite having the most guard name of all time, McGlothern is a cornerback out of Arkansas who impressed coaches during training camp. The Vikings need all the help they can get in the secondary, so McGlothern will get his chance. Taimani was overshadowed by some of his teammates at Oregon, but he made enough of an impact to beat out several more established players for a rotation spot on this Vikings defensive front.
New England Patriots
S Dell Pettus
Jacobs was a waiver claim from the Chiefs after going undrafted out of Penn State. He has an uphill battle to climb the depth chart at the middle linebacker position behind Ja’Whaun Bentley and Raekwon McMillan but is the type of athlete who could thrive in New England’s system. Pettus, a college safety at Troy, flashed in camp and should back up Kyle Dugger at the strong safety spot.
New Orleans Saints
WR Mason Tipton
CB Rico Payton
P Matthew Hayball
Tipton is an Ivy League grad out of Yale, and though he’s undersized, has a chance to contribute in Year 1 as a slot receiver. Holker played college football at Colorado State and is likely a special teamer. Payton, out of Pittsburgh State, is one of only five cornerbacks on the roster. Hayball is the former Vanderbilt punter and will now be punting for the Saints.
New York Giants
OG Jake Kubas
Chatman has been a revelation for the Giants out of SMU. He’s been one of their best rookies and is slated for a role as a big end in New York’s 3-4 system. Kubas has impressed as well out of North Dakota State and is now one of the primary backups on the interior of the Giants’ offensive line.
New York Jets
ED Eric Watts
DT Leonard Taylor III
Despite being a veteran, contending team, the Jets found room for four UDFAs on their roster heading into the season. McGregor (out of Michigan) and Watts (out of UConn) both figure to be deep bench players in a loaded Jets edge rusher room. As long as trade acquisition Haason Reddick is holding out, however, one of them is likely to play a limited on-field role. Taylor was a top draft prospect heading into his senior year at Miami before a disappointing final college season. He’s impressed in training camp enough to earn a regular rotational role on this defensive line. Bates, from Kentucky, was a waiver claim from Chicago.
Pittsburgh Steelers
A strong candidate for the all-names team, Bishop played his college ball at West Virginia and was a star all through training camp. The Steelers’ cornerback depth chart is a bit muddled currently, but it looks like Bishop won the starting slot cornerback spot.
Seattle Seahawks
C Jalen Sundell
CB Dee Williams
Sundell made a splash in camp after going undrafted out of North Dakota State. The Seahawks clearly felt comfortable enough with him as a backup to trade away one of their veteran centers. Williams, out of Tennessee, is line to be primarily a special teamer. That said, Seattle only kept five cornerbacks on their active roster, so injuries could push him up the depth chart quickly.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Kameron Johnson
CB Tyrek Funderburk
Johnson is a 5-10, 170-pound receiver from the obscure Barton College, though he made waves in camp and is one of just five receivers on the Buccaneers roster. He’s likely to contribute as a return specialist early on. Funderburk is from Appalachian State and is primarily a special teamer, though he caught eyes earlier in camp for his play on defense before a foot injury curtailed his momentum.
Tennessee Titans
TE David Martin-Robinson
Martin-Robinson is a UDFA from Temple who made such an impact in camp that the Titans elected to keep four tight ends on their roster so they wouldn’t lose him. He’s unlikely to make a major impact this season, though Tennessee is excited about his future. Wood, out of East Carolina, spent training camp in Dallas and provides depth in the Titans’ secondary.
Washington Commanders
Yankoff played his college ball at UCLA and managed to sneak into the back of the Commanders roster, likely for his ability to play special teams. Owens was a surprising name to see go undrafted, as he had an impressive college career at Texas Tech. He’ll have a chance to work his way up the safety depth chart in Washington.
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