Every NFL Team's Best Undrafted Free Agent in Camp This Year
As training camps open throughout the NFL, no players will have more on the line than the undrafted rookies who are trying to prove that they are good enough to make an impact despite being passed over 256 times in the 2015 NFL draft.
Many undrafted rookies in each team’s training camp will be competing for roster spots, but some of those first-year free agents are better-equipped than others to be legitimate contributors in the league.
In 2014, there were 64 undrafted rookies—an average of two per team—on opening-week rosters in the NFL, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. All but four teams—the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Oakland Raiders—had undrafted rookies on their rosters at that time.
Given those statistics, there’s reason to believe that a vast majority of the NFL’s teams will keep at least one undrafted free-agent signing on their rosters this year.
In the following slides, we take a look at the one UDFA from each team who should have the best chance.
The main determinants in whether an undrafted player is able to stick on an NFL roster are his overall skill set and whether he can fulfill a role that makes him a useful contributor to his team. Therefore, the following selections take the talents of each team’s undrafted free agents into consideration first and foremost but also factor in each player’s health and likelihood of earning a roster spot, as well as any relevant reports pertaining to undrafted players from training camp so far.
Teams listed in alphabetical order.
Arizona Cardinals NT Xavier Williams
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One of the most overlooked prospects throughout the process of the 2015 NFL draft, Northern Iowa product Xavier Williams could end up emerging as a key player in the Arizona Cardinals’ rotation at nose tackle.
Williams, who measured in at 6’2” and 320 pounds at his predraft pro day, according to NFLDraftScout.com, is a short but stout defensive tackle who uses his low center of gravity as a leverage advantage. Possessing an explosive burst off the snap, he can push offensive linemen backward with power and work his way into the backfield quickly.
Questions about his overall physical upside and level of collegiate competition might have spurred Williams’ fall out of the draft, but he uses his hands well and was highly productive at the Football Championship Subdivision level. He recorded 93 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and eight sacks in his senior season alone.
After failing to re-sign Dan Williams this offseason, the Cardinals are thin at the nose tackle position. While free-agent addition Corey Peters is expected to play at that spot, he is smaller (6'3", 305 lbs) than a traditional nose tackle. Alameda Ta’amu has the talent to be a solid starter but is coming off a disappointing 2014 campaign in which he only played 24 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
That leaves the door open for Xavier Williams, who has the skill set to make an impact as both a run defender and pass-rusher providing push up the middle. He could not only make the roster but earn significant playing time.
Atlanta Falcons CB Kevin White
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Even though the Atlanta Falcons used two draft picks on cornerbacks, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if undrafted rookie Kevin White proves he deserves a spot on the regular-season roster as well.
A 5’9”, 183-pound cornerback who ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, White is small and slow by NFL standards. That is why he went undrafted. On the field, though, he does the little things well to succeed despite his subpar measurables.
Physicality helps White make up for his size limitations. He is clean and quick with his footwork, which typically keeps him out of positions that would expose his lack of recovery speed.
Throughout his collegiate career, White showed that he could match up against bigger wideouts and hold his own. Most famously, he had an excellent showing last season against the other Kevin White—that being the West Virginia wide receiver who was selected by the Chicago Bears with the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft. The cornerback held his opponent to just three receptions for 28 yards.
Considering his low-end physical tools and undrafted status, White will have to prove this preseason that he can be an asset on special teams in order to make the roster. But given that the Falcons do not have any great options to play slot cornerback, White could end up pushing his way into that role if he plays well this summer.
Baltimore Ravens FS Nick Perry
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Playing on an Alabama defense that was consistently loaded with talent throughout his collegiate career, especially at the safety position, Nick Perry’s contributions to the Crimson Tide were largely overlooked. Nonetheless, he could prove to be a hidden gem for the Baltimore Ravens after being one of his team’s most reliable defenders last season.
There is nothing physically spectacular about Perry—a 6’0”, 205-pound safety who ran a 4.67-second 40-yard dash at this pro day, according to NFLDraftScout.com—but he has shown to be steady in both run support and coverage.
While Perry was outshined at Alabama by the playmaking ability and physical tools of strong safety Landon Collins, who was selected with the No. 33 overall pick by the New York Giants, Perry was often the Crimson Tide’s most consistent safety last season in regard to staying in position and fulfilling his role, especially in pass defense.
As is the case for most undrafted rookies, Perry will have to make his mark on special teams initially to make the Ravens roster. With a solid two-deep group of safeties in Kendrick Lewis, Matt Elam, Will Hill and Terrence Brooks leading the depth chart, Perry projects as nothing more than a backup for 2015.
The fact that Brooks is on the physically unable to perform list while still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, however, could open the door to a roster spot for Perry. Assuming that door stays open, he has the skills to prove that the Ravens should keep him around.
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Buffalo Bills DE/OLB Cedric Reed
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Much like former collegiate teammate Jackson Jeffcoat, who was one of the more surprising players to go unselected in the 2014 NFL draft, Texas edge defender Cedric Reed was hyped as a potential early-round pick going into his senior season but ended up going undrafted after failing to live up to expectations last year.
Despite going unselected, Reed—like Jeffcoat—is a good enough player to stick on an NFL roster in the right situation. That situation could be with the Buffalo Bills, who have a great pair of starting edge defenders in Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes but questionable depth at the position.
Reed had a productive career at Texas, where he started the final 32 games of his career and recorded 37 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and five forced fumbles. He has great size for the defensive end position, at 6’5” and 269 pounds, and has demonstrated solid technique as a pass-rusher while providing quality run defense.
There is not one spectacular quality in Reed’s game, and he lacks the explosiveness and quickness to be a great pressure-creator from the outside in the NFL. With that being said, his drop-off in production as a senior had less to do with any critical flaw in his game and more to do with a torn meniscus, as reported by Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports.
While it's unclear how the Bills defense will be aligned under new head coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman, the team is expected to utilize elements of both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes. Reed, with his bulk and length but athletic limitations, is best suited for playing in four-man fronts. Nevertheless, if he can return to his junior-year form and show that he can be versatile in playing multiple roles, he’ll have a good shot of earning a spot on the 53-man roster.
Carolina Panthers WR Damiere Byrd
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Damiere Byrd never broke out to become a great wide receiver during his collegiate career at the University of South Carolina. However, thanks to world-class athleticism, he still has a fighting chance to make it in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers.
Byrd’s numbers on the football field for the Gamecocks were not particularly impressive. Over the course of four playing seasons, he caught only 68 total passes for 1,275 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 22 rushing attempts for 141 yards. Plagued by a lack of size at only 5’9” and 173 pounds, as well as inconsistent hands, he never emerged as a consistent weapon at wide receiver.
Two things that have always been apparent, however, are his speed and explosiveness. That was never more true than at South Carolina’s pro day, where he posted a 4.28-second 40-yard dash, 42-inch vertical jump, 10'11" broad jump, 4.03-second 20-yard shuttle, 6.6-second three-cone drill and 10.9-second 60-yard shuttle—all numbers that would have ranked him among the top three wide receivers at the NFL Scouting Combine—according to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt.
Given that the Panthers added second-round pick Devin Funchess as well as veterans Ted Ginn Jr. and Jarrett Boykin to their wide receiver roster this offseason, Byrd faces stiff competition to make the team and will need to display improved football fundamentals.
So far, he is reportedly off to a good start. ESPN.com’s David Newton wrote that Byrd, not Funchess, made the most impressive catches at the team’s rookie minicamp in May. On Friday, the Panthers’ most recent training-camp practice prior to the publication of this article, Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer wrote that Byrd “stood out with some nice catches,” while he was also one of four Panthers to take repetitions as a kickoff returner.
If Byrd can keep up the good work, his athletic potential could make him a tough man to cut.
Chicago Bears CB Bryce Callahan
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If Bryce Callahan was a couple of inches taller and 15 pounds heavier, he almost certainly would have been selected in the 2015 NFL draft. While he is diminutive for an NFL player at 5’9” and 183 pounds, he is a terrific athlete whose fluidity and ball skills give him real upside as a slot cornerback.
A standout at Rice and at the East-West Shrine Game, Callahan is explosive—as evidenced by his 4.47-second 40-yard dash and 43-inch vertical jump at Rice’s pro day, as reported by NFLDraftScout.com—and shows both quick feet and loose hips on the field.
He is physical despite his lack of size and can make plays on the ball in the air, as evidenced by his 13 interceptions and 33 additional pass deflections over the course of his four-year Rice career.
Chicago signed four unselected rookie defensive backs to contracts following the 2015 NFL draft, an indicator that the Bears are hoping to unearth a hidden gem who can bolster their secondary depth. Callahan faces tough competition among that quartet alone—cornerback Jacoby Glenn was widely projected to be a middle-round draft pick, while safety Anthony Jefferson was also considered to be a potential late-rounder.
But while Glenn and Jefferson both project to be limited by their lack of speed, Callahan’s speed gives him significant potential on both defense and special teams. If he can carve out a role for himself in either capacity, he could be a valuable player for the Bears.
Cincinnati Bengals WR Jake Kumerow
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The Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks won the NCAA Division III National Football Championship in each of Jake Kumerow’s final two seasons with the program, and the wide receiver’s play was a big reason why. Even though he missed four games in his senior season with an ankle injury, he accumulated 143 passes for 2,648 yards and 33 touchdowns between those two years.
While most Division III players lack the tools to successfully make the leap to the NFL, there’s reason to believe that Kumerow could be an exception. Dominant against lower-level competition, the son of former Miami Dolphins linebacker Eric Kumerow has the physical makeup of an NFL wideout.
Noticeably long at 6’4” and 209 pounds, he exhibits an impressive ability to catch the ball away from his body and is also an above-average athlete for his size, having run a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at Wisconsin’s pro day, according to NFLDraftScout.com.
Kumerow is not going to run away from NFL defensive backs or make them miss, but his size, strength and ball skills should enable him to be competitive at the catch point.
Ultimately, he will need to prove that he can separate with his route-running ability and contribute on special teams to make the Cincinnati Bengals as a backup wide receiver. He has a potential roster opening in front of him after the Bengals placed second-year wide receiver James Wright on injured reserve earlier this week.
Josh Kirkendall of CincyJungle.com, who observed the team’s first training-camp practice Friday, believes that “Kumerow, who bleeds effort and physicality, should have a clear path toward the 53-man roster, especially now that his broken finger is healed.”
Cleveland Browns TE E.J. Bibbs
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After losing Jordan Cameron in free agency this offseason, the Cleveland Browns need some new pass-catching playmakers to step up at the tight end position. One player who has the potential to do so, despite being an undrafted free agent, is Iowa State product E.J. Bibbs.
In two seasons for the Cyclones, he caught 84 passes for 844 yards and 10 touchdowns. A sure-handed pass-catcher, Bibbs is skillful in getting open on short and intermediate routes and making plays as a receiver.
There is nothing physically spectacular about Bibbs, who is only 6’2”, lacks field-stretching speed and is not a powerful blocker. Nonetheless, his ability to be a reliable receiver between the numbers could make him a valuable role player for the Cleveland offense this upcoming season.
Even though the Browns used two sixth-round draft picks on tight ends, it does not appear as though either player will keep Bibbs from earning a roster spot. Randall Telfer is on the non-football injury and has only “an outside chance to return late in the season” after February foot surgery, according to ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon, while Malcolm Johnson projects to play more as a fullback/H-back rather than a traditional tight end.
Meanwhile, Bibbs has reportedly made an early impression on Browns coach Mike Pettine.
“The (E.J.) Bibbs kid has had a real good spring for us,” Pettine said during minicamp, according to Kevin Jones of ClevelandBrowns.com. “He’s kind of come out of nowhere.”
Dallas Cowboys LG La’el Collins
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While many of the names on this list might only be familiar to diehard football fans, La’el Collins is a clear exception. A first-round talent on the field who could end up being a starting offensive lineman this season, Collins is not only the best undrafted free agent on the Dallas Cowboys but the best undrafted rookie in the entire league.
A three-year starter at LSU who was a second-team All-American in 2014, Collins was on track to be an early-round pick until he was linked to a murder investigation just days before the 2015 NFL draft. A victim of unfortunate timing, he was ultimately not charged with any crime, but the uncertainty of his situation led teams to avoid him until the following week, when he drew interest throughout the NFL but decided to sign with Dallas.
Even though the Cowboys already had the best offensive line in the NFL, Collins has the talent to potentially be an immediate upgrade. A technically sound blocker, he lacks the desired length and agility for an NFL left tackle—the position he played at LSU in his final two seasons—but has a combination of power and forward explosiveness that projects well to the guard position.
Unlike the rest of the players in this slideshow, there is no doubt that Collins will make the 53-man roster. Instead, the question going into training camp is whether he will beat out Ronald Leary for the starting left guard job.
Collins has started out training camp on the second-team offense, according to Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports, but it will come as a surprise if he does not get opportunities to compete for the job this summer. Leary looks the favorite so far—and rightfully so, as he is a solid starter who performed well in 2014—but Collins could potentially beat him out. If not, he will give the Cowboys a strong depth option with the versatility to come off the bench at both guard and tackle.
Denver Broncos WR Jordan Taylor
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Much like the aforementioned Bryce Callahan, Jordan Taylor went overlooked by the NFL despite a highly productive career at Rice. Nevertheless, he has the skills and physical tools to make an impact in the league—in Taylor’s case, with the Denver Broncos.
Unlike Callahan, height is not a deterrent for Taylor but rather his greatest asset. At 6’5” and 210 pounds, he has terrific length, which gives him a wide catch radius and the ability to create mismatches against smaller cornerbacks. The leading receiver on the team in each of his final three seasons for the Owls, Taylor has routinely demonstrated the body control to make spectacular catches.
He is a more than respectable athlete for his size—he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at Rice’s pro day, according to NFLDraftScout.com—and has exhibited solid route-running ability. He won’t run away from NFL defensive backs or make defenders miss in the open field, but he has the tools to be a dangerous weapon on the outside.
According to Andrew Mason of DenverBroncos.com, "a nagging injury kept Taylor from taking part in all of OTAs and minicamp. But when he did practice, he made a massive impression and could be one of the breakout rookies of this year's class, catching multiple deep passes from Brock Osweiler and Zac (Dysert)."
The Broncos also have a strong top four at the wide receiver position in Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Cody Latimer and Andre Caldwell. Even so, it should come as no surprise if Taylor ends up earning a roster spot behind that quartet, given that Denver will want to have plenty of available pass-catching targets with the potential to make big plays for Peyton Manning.
Detroit Lions RB Zach Zenner
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While second-round pick Ameer Abdullah has already garnered significant positive attention in workouts, he’s not the only rookie running back worth monitoring in Detroit Lions training camp this summer. Another is Zach Zenner, who is trying to make the leap from the Football Championship Subdivision to the NFL after running for a whopping 6,548 yards in his four-year career at South Dakota State.
Zenner made history for the Jackrabbits last season when he became the first player in Division I football history to run for 2,000-plus yards in three consecutive seasons, according to the school’s official athletics website. He also contributed as a receiver out of the backfield and as a kickoff returner in his collegiate career, demonstrating his versatility.
While he is unlikely to run away from NFL defenders in the same fashion that he often did from FCS defenders, he has adequate speed and lateral agility. He is also a well-built back, at 5’11” and 223 pounds, who is able to take on contact and rip through arm tackles.
The biggest obstacle in Zenner’s path to making the roster is the fact that the Lions might not have a need at his position. While Joique Bell is still working his way back from knee and Achilles injuries, the Lions should ultimately have a strong triad at the position between Bell (upon his return), Abdullah and Theo Riddick, who split first-team repetitions in Bell’s absence during spring workouts, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.
To make his way onto the team’s final 53, Zenner is going to have to establish a role for himself on special teams and beat out third-year running back George Winn. If Zenner can do so, he has enough talent to be a productive rusher in the NFL when he is called upon.
Green Bay Packers CB Ladarius Gunter
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No team in the NFL has a stronger reputation for giving undrafted free agents opportunities to shine than the Green Bay Packers. In fact, undrafted rookies have played 77,079 snaps for the Packers since 2005—nearly 23,000 more than any other team—according to ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky.
The Packers make their decisions on roster spots and playing time based on performance, not how much they invested into each player, and that creates a real opening for undrafted players. One such player who has enough talent to potentially take advantage in 2015 is defensive back Ladarius Gunter.
He had been projected to be a middle-round selection in this year’s NFL draft until the NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran a painfully slow 40-yard dash time of 4.69 seconds. But while that time suggests that he might not be fast enough to play cornerback in the NFL, the Miami product has great size for the position (6’1”, 202 lbs), is strong in press coverage and has the versatility to play safety as well.
Making the roster as a cornerback won’t be easy for Gunter, considering that the Packers used their first- and second-round draft picks to select Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins, who can play cornerback and safety as well. Like every undrafted defensive back, special teams play is likely to determine whether Gunter sticks around for the regular season.
That said, he has been reportedly impressive in his on-field action with the team so far. According to Jason Wilde of ESPN.com, Gunter "had an impressive offseason and came into camp positioned to make a strong big for a roster spot" and then strengthened his case by picking off reigning league MVP Aaron Rodgers in the Packers’ opening training-camp practice Thursday.
Houston Texans OLB Lynden Trail
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As Jadeveon Clowney remains on the physically unable to perform list while working his way back from microfracture knee surgery, the Houston Texans have some reason to be concerned about their depth at outside linebacker. An undrafted rookie who could take advantage and emerge to make an impact at the position is Lynden Trail.
From a physical standpoint, Trail offers the Texans much to work with. He has an excellent frame for an edge defender, at 6’7” and 269 pounds with 34 ⅞" arms, and although his measurables at the NFL Scouting Combine were disappointing, he has shown himself to be fast and agile on the field.
Trail projects to playing as a 3-4 outside linebacker in Houston—the same position he played at Norfolk State—but the game of football has not come naturally to Trail yet. While he was highly productive against lesser athletes at the Football Championship Subdivision level, he was not consistently dominant and needs to develop significantly from a technical standpoint.
A textbook project, Trail will need to progress quickly and consistently over the course of training camp to make it through to the Texans’ regular-season roster. If he can do so, and prove that he is capable of at least playing a role on special teams, his potential and ability to provide depth at a thin position could make him worth keeping in the fold.
He will face competition from another undrafted outside linebacker, Tony Washington, who was a quality player for the defending FBS runner-up Oregon. That said, Trail has a much more impressive physical makeup than Washington, which makes him a stronger candidate to stick around unless Washington stands out above him on special teams.
Indianapolis Colts CB Donald Celiscar
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If Donald Celiscar continues to show the ball skills in training camp that he showed for Western Michigan throughout his senior season, the undrafted rookie cornerback just might earn a spot on the Indianapolis Colts’ 53-man roster.
With four interceptions and 17 additional passes broken up in 2014, Celiscar’s 21 total passes defensed tied his teammate Ronald Zamort for the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision. For his four-year collegiate career, Celiscar recorded 55 total passes defensed, including 10 interceptions, leaving his no doubt about his ability to compete for and make plays on the ball.
His competitive nature gives him the potential to be a difference-maker in an NFL secondary, even though he went undrafted due to a lack of size (5’11”, 194 lbs) and speed (4.62-second 40-yard dash time). He is physical even against bigger receivers and has shown to be solid in run support.
All of that said, Celiscar will have to prove that he can be a regular contributor on special teams to earn a spot on the Colts roster for 2015, as he would likely be the No. 5 cornerback on the depth chart this season.
Jacksonville Jaguars RB Corey Grant
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Much like the aforementioned Damiere Byrd, elite speed gives Corey Grant a chance to make an NFL regular-season roster despite the fact that he was not a highly productive player in college.
A backup running back at Auburn, he finished his collegiate career with only 135 total carries. That said, he often made the most of his limited work, as he turned those carries into 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns.
Grant’s 7.7 yards per carry in college is an impressive statistic by any measure. The number that really stands out, however, is his 40-yard dash time. At Auburn’s pro day this spring, the 5’9”, 201-pound tailback completed the drill in a blazing time of 4.28 seconds, according to NFLDraftScout.com.
A small back who lacks power and natural running instincts, Grant is unlikely to ever do much running between the tackles in the NFL. If the Jacksonville Jaguars set their running back depth chart on ability to run from that position alone, Grant probably won’t make it, as the team has a deep group there that includes second-round draft pick T.J. Yeldon and returning players Denard Robinson, Toby Gerhart and Storm Johnson.
None of those players, however, possesses the pure sprinting speed that Grant does. That could make him valuable to keep around as a role player, both for offense and special teams, as he is competing to be the lead kickoff returner.
According to Gene Frenette of Jacksonville.com, Grant created an “unmistakable buzz in the locker room” during offseason workouts thanks to his speed.
“The initial returns are really good. You don’t want to put anybody into the Pro Bowl this time of year, but it’s better than [Grant] not looking good,” Jaguars general manager David Caldwell said in early June, per Frenette. “Corey is a guy who clocks fast and, right now, is playing fast.”
Kansas City Chiefs WR Kenny Cook
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You probably heard the news this week about Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry, who remarkably was able to return to the field just eight months after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. What you might not know is that Berry is not the only cancer survivor on the team.
Undrafted rookie wide receiver Kenny Cook knows what it is like to battle back from the disease, having gone through it himself while he was a high school football player in 2007, as documented in a Bleacher Report story earlier this year. And while Cook does not project to have the same level of impact as a healthy Berry is capable of, he is talented enough to work his way onto the Chiefs roster, which has limited talent at wide receiver.
A big wideout at 6’3” and 208 pounds, Cook had a productive collegiate career at the Football Championship Subdivision level, catching 188 passes for 2,432 yards and 21 touchdowns over the course of three seasons at Gardner-Webb.
Cook, who ran a 4.60-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, has a lack of top-end speed, which will limit his ability to gain separation against higher-level competition. His size, however, could make him a tough matchup for smaller cornerbacks and enable him to make receptions even when he is covered.
The Chiefs made two noteworthy additions to their receiving corps this offseason by signing veteran free agent Jeremy Maclin and drafting Chris Conley in the third round, but the door remains open for another young wideout to make a push to climb the depth chart. Cook will likely have to beat out seventh-round pick Da’Ron Brown to earn a roster spot, but according to Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star, Cook was impressive in spring workouts.
“Another star of OTAs, the 6'4" Cook used his long limbs and ball skills to make contested catches,” Paylor wrote. “If he does it in pads, this undrafted free agent could give himself a chance to stick.”
Miami Dolphins LB Zach Vigil
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No team is set to have a more intriguing battle between undrafted free agents than the Miami Dolphins will have at the linebacker position in training camp this month. As I detailed in a May article for Bleacher Report, the Dolphins have four undrafted rookie linebackers—Zach Vigil, Jeff Luc, Mike Hull and Neville Hewitt—who all have a legitimate shot of making the roster.
Ultimately, there might only be one spot available on the regular-season roster for whoever is the best performer among the quartet. All four should have chances to stake their claim on that spot over the course of the preseason. Early on, however, Vigil might have taken the lead in that competition.
In making their choices for undrafted linebackers to sign, the Dolphins clearly put a premium on collegiate production, as all four players had at least 123 total tackles in their senior seasons. The standout in terms of production, however, was Vigil, who tied for second in total tackles in the Football Bowl Subdivision with a whopping 154, including 19.5 tackles for loss, for Utah State in 2014.
While there is nothing physically spectacular about Vigil, he is a high-effort player who changes directions effectively and is a strong, consistent tackler. An intelligent player, he has the potential to provide depth at all three linebacker spots while also contributing on special teams.
According to Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel, the latter is what has pushed Vigil ahead of the competition early on, even though he has also been working with the second-team defense in training camp.
“Zach Vigil is already working at a core special teams spot,” Kelly tweeted Friday. “It's official. He's the rookie linebacker to beat.”
Minnesota Vikings SS Anthony Harris
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Among players who went undrafted this year for less conspicuous reasons than La’el Collins, Anthony Harris might be the best player among them. It should not come as a surprise if he ends up not only making the roster of the Minnesota Vikings but playing a significant role in the near future.
The only player in the Football Bowl Subdivision to record eight interceptions in 2013, Harris entered his senior season at Virginia on track to be an early-round draft selection. Although he failed to take his game to another level in 2014, he continued to provide solid play on the back end of the Cavaliers defense all year and appeared to at least be in line for a middle-round draft choice.
Unfortunately for Harris, his draft stock was ruined by shoulder surgery following the 2014 season, which prevented him from participating in any all-star games or predraft workouts, as he told Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon.
Now that he is back in action for the Vikings in training camp, he should have a good shot to prove that the rest of the NFL made a mistake by passing on him for seven rounds.
While Harris is not the biggest or fastest safety, he has a well-rounded game. As aforementioned, he has a demonstrated ability to make plays on the ball. He could have some limitations in coverage at the next level and is not going to be a thumper in the box, but his skill set makes him a great fit for a backup safety role, as he should be able to step in at either free or strong safety if needed.
Whether or not Harris makes the team will be influenced by how effective he is in special teams duty, but so long as he proves to be sufficient in that capacity, his chances of making the team should be good. While he is not going to challenge Robert Blanton for the starting safety job alongside Harrison Smith this summer, Harris might be the team’s best option for backing up both of them.
New England Patriots WR Chris Harper
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As the New England Patriots prepare for Jimmy Garoppolo to open their season at quarterback, they will want to build a strong group of pass-catching targets around him. An undrafted rookie with enough potential to break into that group and be an effective contributor is wide receiver Chris Harper.
Solidly productive throughout his three seasons at California, Harper caught 163 passes for 2,030 yards and 13 touchdowns in his collegiate career. Deciding to enter the draft early after his junior season did not work out in his favor—at least in terms of a draft selection—but he has enough talent to potentially stick on the Patriots roster.
A 5’11”, 175-pound wide receiver who ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at California’s pro day, Harper has unspectacular size and speed. He makes up for it, though, by demonstrating quick feet and fluid hips to get open as a route-runner.
Surviving final cuts with the Patriots will not be easy, as the team has plenty of options ahead of him on the depth chart, but it’s not out of the question that Harper could rise as high as the No. 4 wide receiver spot by the end of the preseason.
Making an impact on special teams will be crucial for his chances, as Patriots coach Bill Belichick puts significant stock into players’ abilities to contribute in that area. If he can make it, though, Harper projects as a good fit for the offense, given its heavy usage of intermediate passing and slot receivers.
New Orleans Saints OT Sean Hickey
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A three-year starter at offensive tackle at Syracuse, Sean Hickey is a technically efficient blocker who should have a good shot at holding down a spot on the New Orleans Saints’ roster as a depth option on the offensive line.
The Saints already had a solid pair of starters at the offensive tackle position, in Terron Armstead and Zach Strief, even before they used a first-round pick on Andrus Peat in this year’s draft. But even with the addition of Peat, there’s reason to believe the Saints plan to keep Hickey in the fold as well.
Hickey’s contract with the Saints includes $22,500 in total guaranteed money—a significant portion for an undrafted free-agent signing and the highest of the Saints' undrafted rookie class—according to Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate.
A 6’5”, 309-pound blocker with 32 ¾" arms, Hickey has poor length and athleticism for an NFL offensive tackle, which could relegate him to a career backup role unless he can make a successful transition to guard.
With that being said, he is an experienced technician who possesses good functional strength. So long as he can pick up the Saints’ blocking scheme quickly, he can be a reliable backup who should be able to step in at any one of four positions on the offensive line without being a serious liability.
Given that, ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett and John Hendrix of Who Dat Dish both projected Hickey to make the Saints roster in their pre-training camp 53-man roster projections.
New York Giants RB Akeem Hunt
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Akeem Hunt’s chances of making the New York Giants will be contingent on whether or not the team wants to carry four running backs, as Shane Vereen, Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams are all locks to make the 2015 roster. If the Giants are willing to keep a fourth back around, Hunt should have a good shot at beating out Orleans Darkwa and fellow undrafted rookie Kenneth Harper for that job.
Hunt never put up great numbers as a runner at Purdue, but he was a valuable all-purpose contributor to the Boilermakers who made his impact as a receiver out of the backfield and as a kickoff returner.
His versatility to contribute in multiple facets will help his chances of convincing the Giants to keep him on the roster, and so too will his athletic upside. The 5’10”, 189-pound player put his speed and agility on display at Purdue’s pro day by running a 4.40-second 40-yard dash, 4.07-second 20-yard shuttle and 6.71-second three-cone drill, among other numbers, according to NFLDraftScout.com.
As is the case with any fourth-string running back, Hunt will have to provide value on special teams to earn a spot on the regular-season roster. With three running backs of quality in front of him on the depth chart, it is unlikely Hunt would see any carries of significance in his rookie season.
What he could provide is quality insurance for Vereen as a passing-game back, along with an option for the Giants to potentially utilize on kickoff returns. So while it’s unclear whether the team has any real need for Hunt, New York should give serious consideration to keeping him around.
New York Jets TE Wes Saxton
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One of the only tight ends in the 2015 NFL draft class with the speed to stretch the field, Wes Saxton has the tools to emerge as a dangerous weapon for the New York Jets passing offense if he shows development in his all-around game throughout training camp.
A 6’3”, 248-pound player who ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, Saxton might be more accurately described as an oversized wide receiver than as a tight end. A true “move” player at the position, he lacks in-line blocking ability but has high upside as a pass-catching playmaker.
That upside was not as readily apparent as it was expected to be in Saxton’s senior season at South Alabama. Hampered by injuries and a change in offensive scheme, he had a huge drop-off in production—catching just 20 passes for 155 yards last year—after hauling in 50 passes for 635 yards in 2013.
Considering that drop-off, it came as little surprise that Saxton went undrafted. Still, he could prove to be a diamond in the rough because of his ability to beat linebackers with his athleticism and get open downfield to make plays.
According to John Viscardi of JetsNation.com, Saxton was the rookie who stood out most during the Jets’ most recent training-camp practice Friday. “Saxton had multiple big plays, the most memorable one being a one handed catch while keeping both feet in bounds,” Viscardi wrote.
Because of his potential to grow into a game-changer, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if Saxton ends up beating out Kellen Davis or even Jeff Cumberland for a roster spot this season.
Oakland Raiders WR Josh Harper
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Even with the high-profile additions of No. 4 overall pick Amari Cooper and veteran free-agent signing Michael Crabtree this offseason, the Oakland Raiders could still have an opening for one of their three undrafted rookie wide receivers to make their roster. Specifically, they could have an opening for Josh Harper, who will almost certainly have a powerful player on the team in his corner.
While Cooper and Crabtree are big upgrades for the Raiders’ starting lineup, the competition behind them at wide receiver will be steep this offseason. But while making the roster likely means beating out one or two out of Rod Streater, Andre Holmes, Kenbrell Thompkins and/or Brice Butler, Harper has the talent to do so.
Harper came to the Raiders off a productive career at Fresno State, which he concluded with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. His quarterback for his first three seasons with the Bulldogs was Derek Carr, who is now going into his second season as the starting quarterback for the Raiders.
A 6’1”, 191-pound wideout who took 4.64 seconds to complete the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, Harper has a poor combination of size and speed for an NFL wide receiver, which led to him falling undrafted. However, he has the skill to be productive, as he is a sure-handed pass-catcher who attacks the ball through coverage and has the lateral agility to deke his way around defensive backs.
According to ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson, Harper is already making his presence felt in training camp.
“Rookie receiver Josh Harper with some nifty moves,” Williamson tweeted Friday. “Keep an eye on him.”
On another team, there might be no reason to believe Harper would be anything more than a fringe player. In Oakland, however, Harper’s relationship with Carr could be the trump card he needs to survive final cuts and establish a role for himself within the passing offense.
Philadelphia Eagles G Malcolm Bunche
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Thanks to the team’s release of Evan Mathis earlier this month, the Eagles’ depth chart at the guard position remains unsettled. That leaves the door open for undrafted rookie Malcolm Bunche to earn a roster spot at a position where depth will be imperative.
Bunche had an up-and-down collegiate career, which peaked with him being the starting left tackle at Miami for the 2012 season but concluded with him sliding from the starting left tackle gig to the bench by the end of the 2014 season for UCLA.
That leaves reason to question whether he is really cut out for the NFL, but among an undrafted free-agent crop that is mostly full of long shots, he appears to have the best chance at making the Eagles’ roster because of the position he plays.
A good athlete for 6’6” and 320 pounds, the weight he measured in at during UCLA’s pro day, according to NFLDraftScout.com, Bunche has the physical upside to make his mark on the Eagles’ guard competition, but he needs to learn better technique and step up his effort.
Projected new starters Allen Barbre and Matt Tobin are likely locks to make the roster at guard, but the competition behind them should be wide open. If Bunche can start to realize his potential and play up to his ability, he could end up in a good position to seize a roster spot.
Pittsburgh Steelers C/G B.J. Finney
25 of 32If there’s one thing Pittsburgh Steelers fans can be assured of with B.J. Finney, it’s that the undrafted interior offensive lineman is going to put his heart and soul into his effort to make the 53-man roster. The video above from the Wichita Eagle, which captures Finney’s emotion after signing his contract with the Steelers, says it all.
Finney knows what it takes to overcome the odds. Despite starting his career at Kansas State as a walk-on, he went on to start 52 straight games, showing durability while developing to emerge as one of the most reliable offensive linemen in college football.
There is nothing special about Finney from a physical standpoint, but he maximizes the tools he does have by playing with great effort and technique. He is not a player who will make many impact blocks at the second level of the defense, but he exhibits good functional strength to keep pass-rushers at bay and redirect run defenders.
While Finney played all but one game of his Kansas State career at center and is best suited to play that position in the NFL, he should offer the versatility to provide depth at all three interior offensive line positions.
The Steelers added five undrafted offensive linemen to their training-camp roster, which is a strong indicator that they are looking for at least one of them to earn a spot on the team. Finney’s toughest competition could come from former Auburn center Reese Dismukes, who beat Finney to win the Rimington Trophy as college football’s best center in 2014.
There are many similarities between Finney and Dismukes—both were four-year collegiate starters and are limited physical specimens who win with technique and effort over athleticism. Where Finney should have an advantage, however, is in regard to size and strength.
According to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, Finney had “a solid day” in the team’s most recent training-camp practice Friday. “Won several one-on-ones,” Fowler tweeted.
San Diego Chargers WR Titus Davis
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Only one wide receiver in Football Bowl Subdivision history has caught eight or more touchdown passes in four consecutive seasons of college football. That player is Titus Davis, who went unselected in the 2015 NFL draft but could earn a roster spot with the San Diego Chargers if he can bring that same consistency to the field in training camp this summer.
Like many of the players on this list, Davis went undrafted because of a lack of outstanding physical traits. A 6’1”, 196-pound wide receiver who ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, Davis is a short-armed receiver who is no better than average across the board athletically.
Even so, he should have a good shot at NFL success because he is not reliant on size or speed to win plays. A refined route-runner, Davis wastes little motion and is able to achieve separation from cornerbacks with similar or superior athleticism as a result. He is a sure-handed pass-catcher who exhibits the ball skills to adjust his body to make plays in the air.
The Chargers have a strong top four at wide receiver in Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Stevie Johnson and Jacoby Jones, so Davis will need to prove that he can make an impact on special teams—a capacity in which he was not often used at Central Michigan—to make the roster as San Diego’s fifth or sixth receiver.
So long as he can provide some value in that regard, the Chargers would be smart to find a spot for Davis on their roster. His history of consistent production speaks for itself, and he is a player whom Philip Rivers and the San Diego offense should be able to count on as a steady possession receiver who will find ways to make plays if called upon.
San Francisco 49ers OLB Marcus Rush
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Perhaps the most overlooked player throughout the 2015 NFL draft process, Marcus Rush has a history of production, the physical tools and the ability to win with technique that suggest he can achieve success, at least in a rotational capacity, as an NFL edge defender.
While Rush never emerged as a superstar on the Michigan State defense, he started a school-record 53 games in his four-year career for the Spartans. In that span, he accumulated 163 total tackles, including 37.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles.
A high-motor player who uses his hands well, Rush proved at Michigan State’s pro day—where he ran a 4.68-second 40-yard dash and a 6.73-second three-cone drill at 6’2” and 247 pounds, according to NFLDraftScout.com—that he is also a great athlete.
The move to outside linebacker in the San Francisco 49ers’ 3-4 defense should suit Rush well, as he has the athleticism to make that transition but is undersized for a 4-3 defensive end.
The problem is that the 49ers are loaded with talent in front of him at his position. With Aldon Smith, Aaron Lynch, Ahmad Brooks, Corey Lemonier and third-round pick Eli Harold all on the roster at outside linebacker, Rush is only likely to make the team if injuries strike in front of him.
With that being said, the preseason should be a good opportunity for Rush to prove his talents can translate to the NFL. If he can do that, he could have a shot at landing on another team’s roster should San Francisco release him.
Seattle Seahawks RB Thomas Rawls
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Thomas Rawls had a tumultuous senior season after transferring to Central Michigan, lowlighted by an arrest for larceny and an academic suspension from the Chippewas’ bowl game. So it came as no surprise that he went unselected in the 2015 NFL draft. When he was on the field, however, he exhibited potential as a power back that has reportedly carried over into his early work with the Seattle Seahawks.
Character might not have been the only reason Rawls went undrafted. As a 5’9”, 215-pound back who ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, he offers nothing special in terms of size or speed. That said, he is a bowling ball of a back who has exhibited the ability to run through contact as well as to bounce and cut away from defenders.
The Seattle Seahawks already had a terrific trio of running backs leading their depth chart in Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin and Christine Michael. Rawls has been impressive enough, though, that ESPN.com’s Terry Blount believes the undrafted rookie could end up pushing Michael off the roster.
“The Seattle coaches are high on Rawls,” Blount wrote in June. “Pete Carroll loves Rawls’ toughness, seeing him as a bruising runner similar to Lynch.”
Rawls will have to continue to stand out on the field to make the Seahawks forget about his past off it. And while Rawls' physical tools are nothing to write home about, Michael has a truly exceptional combination of size and explosiveness. Even so, Rawls still might beat Michael out because when it comes to running between the tackles, the rookie shows a much better feel and ability to do so than the athletically superior Michael.
St. Louis Rams DT Louis Trinca-Pasat
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Between last season’s emergence of Aaron Donald and this offseason’s addition of Nick Fairley, the St. Louis Rams already have two established talents at defensive tackle who are outstanding at shooting gaps and penetrating the line of scrimmage. If they have room for another on the roster, they just might end up with another disruptor up front in undrafted rookie Louis Trinca-Pasat.
While Trinca-Pasat is not nearly as strong or powerful as Donald and Fairley—who were both the No. 13 overall picks in their respective drafts—he has a similar degree of quickness and agility. His NFL Scouting Combine times of 4.96 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 7.40 seconds in the three-cone drill and 4.30 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle were all among the top times for interior defensive linemen.
At 6’1” and 290 pounds, he is an undersized defensive tackle who projects only as a situational interior pass-rusher for an NFL defensive line. To be a regular against the run, he would need to bulk up.
Trinca-Pasat might not offer much value to the Rams as a situational pass-rusher, given that they already have Donald and Fairley, plus defensive ends in Eugene Sims and William Hayes who can kick inside. That said, the Rams do rotate heavily on their defensive front, which could make Trinca-Pasat worth keeping around simply for depth. He could give the team another player who can get into the backfield if Donald or Fairley gets injured.
Outside of Donald, Fairley and Michael Brockers, the only other players listed as defensive tackles on the Rams roster are Ethan Westbrooks, who can play inside situationally but is best suited to play defensive end, and Doug Worthington, who has not appeared in an NFL game since 2012.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers SS Chris Hackett
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Like many of the other players on this list, Chris Hackett’s stock for the 2015 NFL draft looked much better until the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine happened. That was where he ran a 4.81-second 40-yard dash—the worst time of any defensive back at this year’s event—which promptly took him out of the top-100 pick discussion and eventually led to his going undrafted.
There might not have been any player who lost more money at Lucas Oil Stadium than Hackett did on combine weekend. Viewed prior to the event as a versatile player who could line up at both free and strong safety, his stock was shattered by the revelation that he was slow for the position and also relatively wiry, at 6’0” and 195 pounds, at least for a strong safety.
With that being said, Hackett has a skill set that is going to look much better in a football game than it will in a track meet. So while he was being overrated by many draft analysts early in the process, there’s still reason to believe he can make an NFL roster, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might need him for their safety depth chart.
Hackett had a breakthrough junior year by recording 75 total tackles and seven interceptions and decided to declare for the draft after the season as a result. He showed a clear nose for the football last season, which gives him playmaking potential to bring to the next level.
Given that he lacks the speed to be trusted in a regular coverage role, special teams is where Hackett will need to thrive in the NFL. That said, he could have some value on defense as a situational player. He would be a solid depth option for the Buccaneers at a position where their crop led by Bradley McDougald, Major Wright, Chris Conte and D.J. Swearinger leaves a lot to be desired.
Tennessee Titans DE/DT Derrick Lott
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If Derrick Lott was not 25 years old after a six-year, injury-riddled college football career, he presumably would have been selected in the 2015 NFL draft. While it’s understandable that teams avoided Lott because of his age and injury history, he has the physical tools to potentially make the Tennessee Titans look smart for picking him up as an undrafted rookie.
At 6’4” and 314 pounds, Lott is a terrific athlete for his size—he ran a sub-five-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine—and has great length. He effectively converts burst into power and is able to win with his hand skills.
Lott’s frame and agility make him a good fit to transition to 3-4 defensive end, the position he will be playing for the Titans. He might not be strong enough to anchor the middle of the line as a nose tackle, but he has enough size and run-defending ability to play there as well if needed.
The Titans have a solid core of talent on their defensive line and added a fourth-round draft pick in Angelo Blackson, so Lott will have his work cut out for him to make the roster. Given his older age for a prospect, the Titans might be less inclined to keep Lott around than another first-player if he fails to prove he can be productive on the field this season.
If Lott is able to earn his way into the defensive line rotation, he should be productive. While his physical tools enabled him to dominate against Football Championship Subdivision competition, those tools remain top-notch even by NFL standards and can lead him to succeed so long as he continues to build upon his technical skill set.
Washington Redskins ILB Terrance Plummer
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Falling in line with many of the prospects preceding him in this slideshows, Terrance Plummer never got the national respect he deserved as a highly productive leader of the Central Florida defense. Knowing the level of impact he made for the Knights, though, makes it easy to believe he could fight his way onto the Washington Redskins’ roster this summer and make an impact.
A 5’11”, 231-pound linebacker who ran a 4.90-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, according to NFLDraftScout.com, Plummer has subpar measurables by NFL standards, which ultimately led to his going undrafted. His lack of size could limit his ability to take on blocks around the line of scrimmage, while his lack of speed will limit his range.
Even so, Plummer’s production and demonstrated skill as a collegiate player should not be ignored. Over the course of four seasons at UCF, he recorded 332 total tackles, including 30.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, plus four interceptions and four forced fumbles.
While his physical tools will be more limiting at the next level, Plummer combines great instincts with a hot motor and sound tackling ability, which makes him a good bet to make the most of his skill set. He will have to make his mark on special teams but could end up establishing himself as a true standout player in that capacity.
CSNWashington.com’s Tarik El-Bashir considers Plummer to be his “completely off the radar Training Camp Phenom candidate,” meaning that he too thinks Plummer could prove to be a pleasant surprise despite his undrafted status.
“Plummer isn't particularly big or fast, but he was a very productive player in college and will be competing at a position where there’s some room for upward mobility,” El-Bashir wrote.
NFL Scouting Combine results and other measurables courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted.
Dan Hope is an NFL/NFL Draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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