Checking In on Every NFL Team's Best Undrafted Free Agent in Camp This Year

One week into NFL training camp, as an undrafted rookie, you need to already be building momentum heading into the preseason. This Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers will kick off the preseason with the Hall of Fame Game, and the following week will feature the rest of league in live action.

While the summer break was long, the lead-up to the regular season comes in the blink of an eye. With that in mind, we went through news articles, practice recaps and tweets from major beat writers of all 32 franchises to collect a list of names who are flashing this early in camp.

For rookie free-agent signings, their peak is likely in a reserve role at the bottom end of the roster, but those same players are also the ones who blossom into Tony Romo, Jason Peters, Antonio Gates and Chris Harris. Last year, Thomas Rawls, a running back with the Seattle Seahawks, was the big name who burst onto the scene.

Now let's make the case for each team's top undrafted player, explaining how he fits in the team's current plans along with why he is receiving practice hype.

Arizona Cardinals: Jake Coker

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It’s unsure whether or not the Cardinals will roster a third quarterback when they sort out their final 53-man squad, but if they do, Matt Barkley may lose his spot as the third QB.

Alabama’s Jake Coker is a better fit for head coach Bruce Arians’ offense. After transferring from Florida State and waiting his turn for the starting job with the Crimson Tide, Coker helped lead Alabama to the 2016 national title. Coker notched 3,110 passing yards and a 21-to-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio on nearly 400 attempts. He proved to be efficient enough to keep the offense chugging along and provided big plays down the field when they were needed.

As a Cardinal, he has already proved to be far more aggressive down the field and numb in the pocket than Barkley, according to Revenge of the Birds' Seth Cox. Barkley prefers to take the easy way out and check down often, but Coker has no reservations about taking his chances downfield. It's what he was known for in college, and it is how he can make a name for himself in the NFL.

Coker still has to clean up his accuracy, though. He may be younger, cheaper and more intriguing than Barkley, but the USC product has the advantage of experience and accuracy. If Coker can add an ounce of consistency to his game, he’ll be passable as a nice backup for Arians’ system.

Atlanta Falcons: Brian Poole

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The NFL is trending toward longer cornerbacks, which is making it increasingly harder for small defensive backs to find roles to fill in the league. What this does allow, though, is for teams willing to bring in smaller corners to do so at a fraction of the cost.

Both of the Atlanta Falcons' top cornerbacks, Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford, were measured under 6'0" at the combine. The next big addition to the cornerback unit just might be Brian Poole, a 5'9" rookie from Florida.

Poole's relationship with Atlanta is interesting. Head coach Dan Quinn was once a defensive coordinator for the Gators, and Poole also played in the same secondary as the team's first-round safety Keanu Neal. According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the two may be seeing the field at the same time in the NFL, too, as Poole got first-team slot reps in practice.

As long as he's able to play in a specified role in which he can hide his flaws of length and run-game contribution, he should be no hindrance to the team. Once considered to be a blue-chip recruit, Poole spent the majority of his career at Florida as a nickelback. In the NFL, everyone is a role player, and Poole's is one of a potential starter.

With that thought lingering, it will be interesting to watch the trajectory of Poole's first preseason in the NFL. With no real return history and only 72 unassisted tackles over four college seasons, Poole doesn't look like a special teams contributor on paper, especially when you consider his size. If he makes it onto the Falcons' 53-man roster, it's going to be off the strength of his coverage ability.

Baltimore Ravens: Victor Ochi

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For a team with a history of quality undrafted free-agent signings, the Ravens have been relatively quiet on that front this year. They brought in a pair of offensive linemen that may be able to stick on the back end of the roster, but the only impact candidate is pass rusher Victor Ochi.

Ochi comes from the small-school ranks. In his final season at Stony Brook, Ochi amassed 13 total sacks, 12 of which were solo takedowns. He plays with a mean streak and an overwhelming punch. He is the type of player who wants to prove that he is the dominant force in any matchup.

Bending around the edge and changing up his play speed to beat offensive linemen are not strengths of his, but he functions well enough in those areas to complement his length-and-strength play style. The Ravens have an ongoing theme of bringing in aggressive, relentless front-seven players, and Ochi fits that bill to perfection.

Coming from a lower level of football, he’s going to have an uphill battle as he adjusts to the NFL. But he plays with a chip on his shoulder, and that is a mentality Baltimore tends to embrace. Despite how much Baltimore has invested in others at outside linebacker, Ochi has all the makings to stick and make an impact.

Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun noted that he won several one-on-one battles, and with Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil starting the year on the physically unable to perform list, it's only making his job easier to flash in the Ravens' pass-rushing unit.

Buffalo Bills: Marshall Morgan

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Sometimes a franchise's most impactful rookie free agent doesn't play offense or defense. In Buffalo Bills camp, the most talked-about undrafted rookie is Marshall Morgan, a kicker from Georgia.

According to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW, Morgan outkicked Dan Carpenter, who has been with the team since 2013, in Thursday's practice. Carpenter, who missed six extra points last season, has been on the hot seat recently, and the kicking job appears to be up for grabs.

Morgan broke the SEC record for most consecutive field goals made with 20, and set the Georgia program record for the most extra points made in a career with 215. Morgan's consistency, juxtaposed to Carpenter's wild inconsistency, could be the difference in the Bills' 2016 season.

While it's not a sexy selection, Morgan appears to have the best chance of any of Buffalo's post-draft signings to make the roster. If he can ride this momentum through the preseason, he'll prove to be a tough cut for the front office to make.

Carolina Panthers: Jeremy Cash

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Jeremy Cash started his college career at Ohio State but quickly transferred to Duke. There, he was an All-American safety, capping off his college career with 335 tackles and an ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award.

That led many to project Cash as a mid-round pick, like NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, who compared him to two-time Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward. Oddly enough, in an NFL draft which featured many "moneybacker" hybrids going early on as the league searched for the next linebacker-safety hybrid in the mold of Arizona's Deone Bucannon, Cash didn't find a home until after the draft.

He has since converted to linebacker, and Carolina couldn't be a better spot for Cash. The Panthers' 4-3 defense is fronted by what might be one of the best coverage linebacker units in the past decade, as their defense is schemed in a way that allows their speedy linebackers to take bigger zone drops, making the lives of both the team's safeties and cornerbacks easier.

Point blank: Josh Norman doesn't develop into Josh Norman if Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis weren't in the Panthers front seven. Both Davis and Shaq Thompson, presumably the team's starting outside linebackers, played safety when they were in college.

Cash, who has been noted by Carolina's official Twitter account, could become part of the NFL's trend to put an emphasis on coverage linebackers, which the Panthers are in the front of. With his background, it's hard to imagine Cash not at least sticking on special teams, as he'd be able to contribute more on kicks than most off-ball linebackers due to his speed.

Chicago Bears: Ben Braunecker

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Ben Braunecker was one of the bigger names to not get drafted in the 2016 cycle. For example, NFL Draft Scout gave the Harvard tight end a Round 4-5 grade before the draft.

Landing in Chicago, with a franchise that just traded its top tight end Martellus Bennett, was a perfect spot for Braunecker. Bears general manager Ryan Pace has praised the tight end, according to 670 The Score.

While Zach Miller, who started 14 games last season, is likely to be the team's starter in 2016, the second slot in the position's depth chart is absolutely up for grabs. After Miller's name, there isn't an established talent in the unit.

The names at the position which will ring bells with casual fans are Rob Housler and Tony Moeaki, two players who were hyped in Arizona and Kansas City, respectively, early in their careers but were never able to put it all together. If age becomes a factor, expect the rookie to surpass the veterans sooner rather than later.

The Bears clearly need a second tight end, and the first-team All-Ivy League pass-catcher has as good of a chance to stick on the roster as anyone. According to NFL.com, the 6'3", 250-pounder was a top performer at the position in every drill he participated in at the combine.

It's still puzzling as to why he dropped out of the draft altogether, but that mistake by the league as a whole can prove to be a blessing for the Bears if they're smart enough to hold on to Braunecker.

Cincinnati Bengals: Alex Erickson

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With the loss of wide receivers Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones, it was apparent that the Bengals needed to reassess their receiving corps. Cincinnati loaded up with a pair of wide receivers through the NFL draft, but they may have found another as an undrafted free agent.

Alex Erickson of Wisconsin has been gaining steam in training camp practices. Per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, Erickson is catching "everything" and is finding "nooks and crannies of routes and zones befitting an NFL veteran."

While at Wisconsin, Erickson dealt with a circus of quarterbacks. Even when the team finally had a definite starter, Joel Stave, the passing offense as a whole struggled to take flight.

Erickson did just fine for himself, though. His final two seasons produced 1,750 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 132 receptions. He was a consistent producer in a passing offense that was anything but consistent.

For a player who isn’t an excellent athlete or physical presence, it’s encouraging that Erickson is showing off reliable hands. He could be a valuable possession receiver for the Bengals in the near future.

Cleveland Browns: Mike Matthews

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Cleveland vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and company hoarded mid- to late-round picks during the NFL draft, leaving little room for undrafted signees. The Browns drafted a league-high 13 players this past April.

Even with so few spots left to find impactful undrafted players, Cleveland may have found one along the offensive line. Mike Matthews, a center from Texas A&M, is a legacy player.

His father, Bruce, is a Hall of Famer, and his brother, Jake, is the starting left tackle for the Atlanta Falcons. Linebackers Clay Matthews and Casey Matthews are also his cousins. He comes from a deep history of NFL players, but that isn’t why he can make an impact in Cleveland.

Among other things, Matthews moves exceptionally well off the ball and to the second level. He can flow from one block to the next with ease.

Matthews gets to his spots quickly and approaches defenders without hesitation. Any zone-blocking team would welcome a player like him.

Cleveland invested a first-round pick in Cameron Erving two years ago, but he has yet to pan out. Matthews has more than enough positive traits to dethrone Erving from his starting position. Even Tony Grossi of ESPN.com wondered out loud of the center job was Matthews' after rookie camp and organized team activities.

Dallas Cowboys: Ed Eagan

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The Dallas Cowboys' offseason has been highlighted by the suspensions of veteran players, but one undrafted rookie looks to provide the team with a bonus spark this season. Brian Martin of Inside the Star noted Ed Eagan as a possible gem after organized team activities, putting his name alongside the likes of Tony Romo, La'el Collins and fellow receiver Cole Beasley.

Eagan played wide receiver for Northwestern State in the FCS before he entered the league. According to NFL.com, the 5'11" pass-catcher ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. After initially flirting with the Buffalo Bills, Eagan signed with the Cowboys, likely due to his presence at the Senior Bowl, where the Dallas staff was coaching the North team.

Eagan is making a move to the slot in the NFL, which has boded well for undrafted, undersized wideoutes like Beasley in Dallas. Also a strong return threat—Eagan took four kicks to the house while in college—he can contribute to special teams. The more you can do as a low-roster player, the better the chances of you sticking on the roster for 16 games are.

Romo has made receivers before, and he's done so with less than a speedster who is a threat with the ball in his hands. Four-receiver looks would be the first time that the idea of Eagan seeing the field on offense would be entertained. But if he can stick on with real coaching development against top-end competition every practice, he has a chance to become more than what 32 franchise believed he would be when they passed over him for seven rounds.

Denver Broncos: Bralon Addison

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Like many players on this list, Bralon Addison was a surprise undrafted player in late April. While the Oregon Ducks' high-flying offense is promoted as one which relies on their spread skill players dominating rather than their linemen, the team hasn't put out NFL talent at receiver, and there's a case that Addison was the best Ducks receiver to play for the school in over a decade.

Addison's career has featured plenty of setbacks. In high school, he was a quarterback, but at 5'9", he had to move to receiver when he transition to the college level.

Despite seeing early success, Addison tore his ACL before his true junior season, the year he was finally eligible to declare for the NFL draft. In 2015, he returned to the team as a redshirt junior, but graduate transfer quarterback Vernon Adams wasn't nearly as talented in Oregon's system as Marcus Mariota once was, and Adams was only visibly healthy for seven games last season.

Behind Adams, Oregon's quarterback situation was so bad that the team ran gadget plays with Addison at quarterback in crunch-time situations. Addison had a choice at the end of the season: Finally draft-eligible, did he want another chance to prove himself and improve his draft stock, or did he want to leave a Ducks roster in which he might have been the team's best quarterback in 2016, despite not being a full-time player at the position since he was playing high school ball in Texas?

He elected to leave, betting on himself during the draft process. Unfortunately, his 5'9" height and 4.66-second 40-yard dash hurt him tremendously.

He was invited onto the Denver Broncos' offseason roster, though, and he has been flashing as a return man in practice, according to Broncos digital media intern Aric DiLalla. DiLalla even stated Addison "has a real chance to make this team."

With three punt return touchdowns in his three years on the field, it should be no surprise that Addison is flashing. If he can do enough on the offensive side of the ball to remind coaches that he scored 19 times in his last two active seasons at Oregon, he could make it easy for himself to make it onto the back end of the Broncos' 53-man roster.

Detroit Lions: Quinshad Davis

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Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press highlighted former North Carolina receiver Quinshad Davis in his early training camp observations. He stated that Davis shined at the end of his second practice in training camp, was clearly the largest receiver in Detroit's camp and that he was a "solid candidate for [Detroit's] practice squad."

When Davis was a first-year receiver at North Carolina, he compiled 61 receptions for 776 yards, a mark he'd never match again in his remaining three seasons in Chapel Hill. The 6'4" wideout looked to be one of the shining stars in the ACC, and he did post 10 touchdowns as a sophomore, but he never reached the ceiling many thought he had the potential to reach.

Once quarterback Bryn Renner left the Tar Heels after the 2013 season, leading to a four-team stint in the NFL, Davis wasn't able to replicate his success with Marquise Williams, a dual-threat passer who was the featured player in head coach Larry Fedora's option system.

North Carolina has had a recent history of volatile skill players, including Ryan Switzer, a receiver and returner who posted a 20.9 yards-per-punt-return average as a freshman in 2013, but then dropped that number all the way down to 4.6 yards per return as a sophomore. In 2015, he rebounded with a 13.7 yards-per-return mark, good enough to land him on All-American lists for a second time.

Davis hasn't had stability around him during his career, and if he sticks around in Detroit, there's a possibility he could get a second chance at developing into a legitimate star. The team needs to replace arguably its best receiver in franchise history with Calvin Johnson retiring this past offseason, and Davis has two inches on the team's top receivers Golden Tate, Marvin Jones and Anquan Boldin.

In a unit full of aging veteran receivers, he should be the Lions' pet project as far as their rookie-contract players go. If anyone is going to develop into a huge bang-for-your-buck player under their current deals, Davis has to be the odds-on favorite.

Green Bay Packers: Geronimo Allison

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The Green Bay Packers are further along than anyone in the league this preseason. They opened their veteran training camp before any other team in the NFL, have already finished their yearly family night scrimmage and are slated to play in the Hall of Fame Game, the first match of the league's preseason.

The undrafted rookie who is flashing in camp, at least according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Michael Cohen, is receiver Geronimo Allison. This is significant because the Packers have been looking for receivers, as Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are the only safe bets to see the field in 2015.

There's a clutter of receivers in 2014 second-round pick Davante Adams, fan-favorite Jeff Janis, in-state product Jared Abbrederis, 2015 third-round pick Ty Montgomery and 2016 fifth-round pick Trevor Davis. But don't count Allison out from making the team as a sixth receiver if push comes to shove. Sans Davis, all of the others have been given an extra year to lock down a roster spot, and none of them have done so.

Green Bay is a draft-and-develop franchise that prides itself on filling a single hole with multiple competitors, electing to go with a better homegrown talent than staying satisfied with high draft picks littering their depth chart. If Allison truly proves himself to shake out in the top five or six receivers, the East-West Shrine Game standout could make the roster.

Where the buck might stop for him is special teams. The junior college transfer didn't return kicks at Illinois, whereas players like Montgomery, Davis and Janis can easily be sent back to snatch the ball between possession.

Houston Texans: Stephen Anderson

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According to Jayson Braddock of KBME in Houston, tight end Stephen Anderson has been flashing in Texans camp. Anderson, who measured in at 6'2" and 230 pounds during the combine, was always more of a pet project than a sure thing, but he was always a pass-catcher with the California Golden Bears.

In his last two years in the Pac-12, he combined for over 1,000 receiving yards after replacing Richard Rodgers' reps. A former walk-on player, Anderson has shown the effort to earn a college scholarship, so competing from the bottom of the roster to earn respect has never been an issue with him before.

If the Texans want to start attacking the seams, Anderson could quickly rise up the depth chart, as the team's top tight end, 2014 third-round pick C.J. Fiedorowicz, made only 17 receptions for 167 yards and a single score in 14 starts last season. Head coach Bill O'Brien comes from the Bill Belichick coaching tree, and a staple of Belichick's offenses has been abusing defenses with tight ends and slot receivers as the No. 2 receivers in an offensive formation.

No one on the Texans roster provides higher upside in that aspect than Anderson. If he can edge out Ryan Griffin and blocking tight end Eric Tomlinson early on in the preseason, it's within reason to think that Anderson could be the No. 1 or 2 tight end in Houston by September.

As a long-term projection, Anderson needs to add to his frame to be an ideal three-down starter, but O'Brien doesn't have time to be too selective. He's entering his third year with the team and is still without a playoff win. If O'Brien doesn't make something happen this year, the seat he's sitting on could quickly begin to burn.

Indianapolis Colts: Josh Ferguson

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Frank Gore was the Indianapolis Colts' top running back last year, and that was downright unacceptable from a talent perspective. While Gore has posted one of the better careers by a running back in the last 15 years, the 33-year-old is clearly past his prime, which explains his 3.7 yards-per-carry average last season.

The team attempted to address this issue by signing Robert Turbin, but his July marijuana possession charge may come back to haunt him. These conditions have created an atmosphere in which a running back could quickly rise up the depth chart.

Enter Josh Ferguson.

According to George Bremer of the Herald Bulletin, Ferguson, a former Illinois back, has been making splash plays in practice. As a hybrid pass-catcher at 5'9" with 4.48-second 40-yard dash speed, third-down situations wouldn't keep him off the field should his talent earn him a prominent role in the Colts offense. 

All Indianapolis fans should keep an eye on Ferguson, as he's the team's best young option at a position it's lowly at. That usually leads to playing time, especially at a position like running back, which rotates often and has so many injuries.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Max Wittek

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Max Wittek, who at one point looked like he was going to be the full-time starter at USC, didn't exactly have the college career many projected him to have. After losing the starting job to Cody Kessler, who was drafted in the third round by the Cleveland Browns this year, he elected to transfer to Hawaii in search of playing time.

There, he was able to develop under Norm Chow, who was USC's offensive coordinator from 2001 to 2004. Now in Jaguars camp, Wittek is likely on his last leg to prove that he has what it takes to stick in the NFL.

Now, no one thinks that he's going to beat Blake Bortles out of a starting job, but according to Mike Kaye of First Coast News, the former Rainbow Warrior has been able to build momentum in training camp practices.

Chad Henne appears to be the team's No. 2 passer through the 2017 season, which will cap off the last year of his two-season deal, but Wittek only has to beat out sixth-round pick Brandon Allen to earn the team's third-string quarterback gig. Depending on how many quarterbacks the team elects to keep, Wittek could make the 53-man roster, with his space on the practice squad almost being promised at this point.

Wittek spent most of his college career either splitting reps or playing against lower levels of competition. If he's able to make the most of his live snaps against professionals, he could become a quality backup, which is incredibly valuable on a rookie contract.

Kansas City Chiefs: Mitch Mathews

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith isn't known as a deep-ball thrower, but an undrafted rookie might have him changing his mind. The Chiefs signed Mitch Mathews, a receiver from BYU who is best known as the player who caught a Hail Mary against the Nebraska Cornhuskers last season.

What makes Mathews so special? He's a 6'5", 222-pound wideout who recorded 4.49-second 40-yard dash speed and a 36-inch vertical at BYU's pro day.

Last season, the Green Bay Packers—where Kansas City general manager John Dorsey spent 27 years as either a player or member of the front office—found their own diamond in the rough at receiver in Jeff Janis, who caught two long balls in the team's playoff game after doing little to nothing in two regular seasons.

This year's version of Janis could easily be Mathews. He recently told Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star that he still has confidence in his abilities despite the jump in competition, and that he has a good handle on the playbook:

"

I’m detail-oriented in how I play. I know the playbook really well. Obviously there’s a learning curve there, but I feel like I’m a guy that knows the playbook.

I haven’t gotten any shorter. Everyone’s a little bit quicker, a little bit faster, but that’s still my strength. That’s still, I believe, a big reason why I’m here. Because I can win the jump ball.

"

In a wide receiver corps that only has one true starter in Jeremy Maclin, you shouldn't count out Mathews making the roster, especially considering his 50-50-ball ability and Smith's career history with missing deep shots. If Mathews can simply keep defenses honest, that's a huge positive for the Chiefs offense.

Los Angeles Rams: Nelson Spruce

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Myles Simmons of the Los Angeles Rams' official site tried to temper expectations from fans, as they were taking away what they hoped to be projections based off of skeleton drills. Even then, though, he couldn't hold himself back from praising former Colorado receiver Nelson Spruce.

A two-time second-team All Pac-12 pass-catcher, Spruce finished his college career with 294 receptions, which somehow wasn't enough to merit his name being called during draft weekend. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared him to Danny Amendola, who was with the Rams from 2009 to 2012, so it was only fitting that Spruces' first selection was to land with the franchise.

His 4.69-second 40-yard dash measured at the combine probably went a long way in assisting his draft fall, but now on a team, the only thing that matters is his preseason film. After Tavon Austin, the team's star fly receiver, there are a whole lot of question marks on the Rams' wideout depth chart.

The top remaining names on the list are Kenny Britt, a 2009 first-round pick who has caught six touchdowns in 27 starts over the last two years, Brian Quick, a 2012 second-round pick who made 10 catches in 13 games last season, Pharoh Cooper, a 2016 fourth-round pick, and Mike Thomas, a 2016 sixth-round pick. If the team elects to turn to youth, and Spruce can play in the slot early on in his career, he has a decent chance to make the team.

Spruce could easily become this year's underdog who made it big on the Rams' version of Hard Knocks.

Miami Dolphins: Rashawn Scott

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There is a lot of room for competition in Miami at wide receiver behind DeVante Parker, Jarvis Landry and Leonte Carroo. Outside of the top three, it’s a grab bag of veterans and rookies. One undrafted rookie in particular is making a name for himself as training camp kicks into gear.

Rashawn Scott has a leg up on others in camp because he is a local. Scott is a former Miami Hurricane, and the local media, like South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly, is excited about his potential.

The Hurricanes have not had great success in recent years, but they have produced a number of impressive skill players. Scott is ready to add his name to that list.

Fifth overall pick Jalen Ramsey remembers Scott. In Miami’s matchup versus Florida State, Scott totaled just over 100 yards and made a trip to the end zone. He’s proved that he has the shiftiness, physicality and natural receiving ability to go toe-to-toe with top NFL talents. The Dolphins found themselves a cheap contributor at wide receiver right in their backyard.

Minnesota Vikings: Tre Roberson

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A couple of years ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars found a gem in Nick Marshall, a college quarterback who converted to cornerback in the NFL. Minnesota appears to be following suit, finding themselves a former quarterback for their secondary.

Tre Roberson played quarterback for all five years of his collegiate career. After spending three years at Indiana, Roberson transferred to Illinois State to finish off his college campaign. He tried to make his way to the NFL as a quarterback, but the league took interest in him as a defensive back, and he’s handling the transition well.

Despite never playing the position in college, Roberson moves with ease at cornerback and has proved that he can learn the position quickly. Arif Hasan of Cold Omaha noted Roberson in his defensive notebook, praising him more than any other undrafted free agent in his training camp review.

He is an explosive, agile athlete who was timed at 6.79 seconds in the three-cone drill and broad-jumped just over ten feet. It will take him some time to complete his transition to cornerback and get fully comfortable there, but he is well worth investing in.

New England Patriots: Bryce Williams

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Doug Kyed of NESN called former East Carolina tight end Bryce Williams one of the standout players of New England Patriots camp so far. This shouldn't be much of a surprise, as Williams finished third in the FBS in receptions among tight ends last season, ahead of the likes of Hunter Henry, who the San Diego Chargers selected in the second round.

Williams' 4.94-second 40-yard dash wasn't great, but not all tight ends are on the field to run seams and win routes like Jimmy Graham does. At 6'6" and 260 pounds, Williams is a goal-line threat, which is what Kyed noted.

He does have an uphill battle, though. First, you have to accept that he's not going to win a specialized tight end role in New England, not when the team already has Rob Gronkowski and recent addition Martellus Bennett on deck. Second, his other traits, like blocking ability and special teams potential, aren't great, especially considering his physical limitations.

Unless Williams can prove himself when bullets are flying in the preseason exhibitions, you're going to be hard-pressed to come up with a situation in which he makes this particular roster. However, once he's cut by the Patriots, he should get some phone calls from teams that don't have a tall threat in condensed space. His special teams ability may be a make-or-break aspect when it comes to him landing with another franchise.

New Orleans Saints: Ken Crawley

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According to Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, undrafted rookie defensive back Ken Crawley got first-team reps in practice during the early portions of training camp, and the receiver even made a highlight interception when Drew Brees was trying to connect with the speedy former first-round pick Brandin Cooks.

On paper, Crawley shouldn't have been an undrafted prospect. He was a four-year starter at Colorado, a Power Five school. At the combine, he measured in at 6'0" with a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, and the league is constantly trying to get longer and faster at the position that is getting spread more thin as nickel and dime corners are now considered starters.

Because it's such a difficult position to evaluate, since the measuring stick is the receiver opposite of the defender, cornerbacks have some of the most scattered draft success in the league. For example, a cornerback out of a quarters-heavy Pac-12 can be easily overlooked, as Richard Sherman, an All-Pro fifth-round pick, has proved.

Other corners, like Pro Bowler Sam Shields, weren't even drafted. At a position in which the best thing that can happen is nothing at all, it's hard to know what you have until you get your hands on a player.

Though Saints fans should temper their expectations, it's within reason to see why Crawley might be one of the bigger diamonds in the rough of this year's undrafted free-agent class.

New York Giants: Greg Milhouse

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Even some of the biggest pundits in the draft community never said the name of Greg Milhouse during the entire 2016 draft cycle.

Why? The defensive tackle played at Campbell, an FCS school which opened its football program back up in 2008 and has had one lone winning season, a 6-5 effort in 2011, to hang its hat on.

Milhouse was a transfer from Appalachian State, though, a former FCS powerhouse which moved up to the FBS level. The New York Giants must have seen something in the lineman to bring him into camp, and according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN's NFL Nation, they were even giving him first-team reps.

Across the league, we're seeing surprise additions to injury lists as players go through physicals. Two of New York's defensive tackles, Damon Harrison, who was just signed from the New York Jets, and Jay Bromley were among those names.

With only Jonathan Hankins as a quality, tested veteran on the squad, desperate times have called for desperate measures with the Giants. Don't expect to see Milhouse run the table for three-down playing time anytime soon, but keep his name in mind.

A few preseasons ago, you would have noticed a young undrafted receiver by the name of Victor Cruz making plays for the Giants. This front office seems to know a thing or two about the low-roster players they bring into their organization.

New York Jets: Jalin Marshall

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According to Connor Hughes of New Jersey Advanced Media, former Ohio State receiver Jalin Marshall got first-team reps early in training camp. While the rest of the country focused on the return of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, Marshall has generated consensus hype from those who cover the New York Jets.

In January, you couldn't find a draftnik who thought that Marshall wouldn't be drafted in April. He was one of seven redshirt freshman to declare early for the draft, along with former Buckeyes Darron Lee and Eli Apple, who were drafted in the first round.

12 of Marshall's teammates were drafted in 2016, with 10 of them coming off the board in the top-100. With eight early declarations entering the draft from the Ohio State program, it's possible that Marshall simply left school early to avoid a potential down season after the massive Buckeye exodus.

In all likelihood, his combine performance hurt him more than anything else during the draft cycle. In Indianapolis, he ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, and according to NFL.com, his pro day time of 4.68 seconds, on a notably fast track, didn't help him, either.

His 20-yard shuttle, though, was among the best at the combine, coming in fourth for receivers. The wideouts who ranked ahead of him were D.J. Foster, who played running back at times for Arizona State and is now a running back once more with the New England Patriots, Braxton Miller, one of Marshall's former teammates who was drafted in the top-100, and Josh Doctson, a first-round receiver who is now on the Washington Redskins.

The Jets may have found themselves a hidden gem on a rookie contract by simply overlooking a player's 40-yard dash. Marshall was always a player who was quicker than fast, and it shouldn't surprise anyone if he sticks on the team as either a slot receivers or return specialist.

Oakland Raiders: Jalen Richard

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Jalen Richard isn't the biggest running back at just 5'8" and 207 pounds, but Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio has never given much value to height at that position. For reference, Del Rio used a fifth-round pick on the 5'8" DeAndre Washington of Texas Tech, and while he was at Jacksonville, the coach's top back was the 5'7" Maurice Jones-Drew.

According to Eddie Paskal of the Raiders' official website, the back "showed a little spark" in practice. The former Southern Mississippi running back had eight total touchdowns in his first three seasons as an active college player, but it wasn't until his senior season, when he scored 16 alone, that he broke out as a potential NFL talent.

With a newly rebuilt offensive line, featuring former Baltimore Ravens guard Kelechi Osemele, Oakland is a running back away from having a Dallas Cowboys-like impact on the ground game. Right now, it's a tight competition, with Latavius Murray leading the way, but after Roy Helu was cut, Richard's path to making a 53-man roster just became easier at the start of training camp.

If he can continue to make plays, he should make the roster. There aren't enough "locks" at the position to rule him out. Quietly, Oakland is becoming a safe haven for "undersized" tailbacks, and the team might have more mouths to feed than it has food in the cupboard this season.

Philadelphia Eagles: Byron Marshall

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Chip Kelly may be gone from the Eagles, but that hasn't stopped players from the University of Oregon from landing in Philadelphia. The latest, Byron Marshall, has one of the more interesting stories of this year's class of undrafted free agents.

Marshall first started his career at Oregon as a running back, but once Royce Freeman, who might be a future first-round pick, established himself, Marshall then elected to move to receiver, where he was able to get more playing time. As a back, he rushed for 1,000 yards. As a wideout, he was able to post 1,000 receiving yards.

Turning 22 years old during the draft cycle, Marshall is young for a non-underclassman declaration, and if the Eagles are able to use him correctly, he might be the long-term replacement for Darren Sproles, 33.

Conor Myles of USA Today stated that Marshall has been flying under the radar based on his practice efforts. As of now, Marshall has an upfield battle against Sproles, Ryan Mathews, another former Ducks back in Kenjon Barner and a 2016 sixth-round pick in Wendell Smallwood to make the 53-man roster.

His versatility to play receiver and return on special teams should assist him when he's matched up head-to-head with players 45 through 53 at the end of August.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Canaan Severin

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For the past half decade or so, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been a wide receiver factory. The rate at which they identify and develop wide receiver talent is alarming.

Though the team drafted a wide receiver this year, it is an undrafted pass-catcher who is making waves in training camp. Just a short ways down the East Coast, Pittsburgh found Virginia’s Canaan Severin.

Severin accounted for 1,323 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final two seasons as a Cavalier. In spite of Virginia’s quarterback struggles, Severin was able to make himself the most important member of the offense and a threat to opposing defenses.

Severin looks to be carrying his success over to the NFL. He’s caught the attention of many, including Gordon McGuiness of Pro Football Focus, with his 6’2”, 205-pound frame and natural ability to find the ball. His soft hands allow him to reel in tough catches.

Severin is not the speedster that most of the Pittsburgh receivers are, but he could be useful as a reliable chain-mover. With the suspension of Martavis Bryant opening up a slot on the Steelers' depth chart, Severin has a chance to hang around on the bottom of the team's roster in September.

San Diego Chargers: Spencer Pulley

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If there's been any takeaway from the San Diego Chargers over the last few seasons, it has been that they need their their backup linemen to be game-ready more than anyone else in the league. It seems like by midseason, at least a couple of starters are injured like clockwork.

One offensive lineman who is quickly rising up the ranks in San Diego is Spencer Pulley, a former center at Vanderbilt. According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, veteran offensive lineman Matt Slauson, whom San Diego signed from the Chicago Bears this offseason, had positive notes on Pulley:

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A longshot made a little splash. He's Spencer Pulley, an undrafted rookie from Vanderbilt. "Heck of a player," Slauson said. In "mental rep" drills, Pulley worked at guard between starters Slauson and King Dunlap. A center as well, Pulley snapped to Kellen Clemens, the No. 2 quarterback since 2014, in 11-on-11s.

"

Pulley would have to put up an all-time effort to surpass Slauson, rookie third-round pick Max Tuerk and Chris Watt, who has started eight games over the last two seasons, to earn a backup job in San Diego, but if Slauson's praises ring true, Pulley could easily make a 53-man roster on a team that is looking for a swing interior lineman.

Pulley began his career with the Commodores as a part-time starter as a redshirt freshman at center, just to start two years as a right guard before moving back to center his senior season. That type of versatility is important in the NFL, where many teams will only roster eight offensive linemen, with five starters coming from the bunch.

Usually, of those three reserve linemen, there's a swing tackle, an interior offensive lineman and an "other" in the bunch. If you have a center-only player, a developmental tackle doesn't fit in your eight-man crew.

Pulley's ability to play center and guard works twofold for his job security: He can either be a center-only player for a franchise with a swing tackle and swing guard, or he can be a swing interior lineman for a franchise which wants to use two of its reserve spots on bookends. NFL fans and front offices should be paying attention to the rest of Pulley's preseason. 

San Francisco 49ers: Devon Cajuste

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There is no clarity at wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers. Aside from Torrey Smith and Bruce Ellington, any player currently in camp has a chance for a spot on the final 53 man roster. Stanford’s Devon Cajuste is looking to set himself apart from the pack.

Cajuste has never had a true position. It's one reason why Joe Fann, who writes for the 49ers' team site, bent the ear of Stanford head coach David Shaw. His response? Nothing of clarity.

He was labeled as a wide receiver and tight end at Stanford, but the confusion hasn’t stopped him from making an impact at every turn. He is a big-bodied, physical pass-catcher who can find the ball in the air. Though he is lacking in athleticism, the way he can climb the ladder and grab the ball at a higher point than defenders can is impressive.

Many of the wide receivers currently in camp with the 49ers do not have defining traits. Cajuste, however, does with his ability to high-point the ball and make tough catches. Even if he is not as well-rounded as would be desired, Cajuste has a standout trait that will continue to make him more intriguing than his competitors.

Seattle Seahawks: Trevone Boykin

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As they always are, the Seattle Seahawks have once again found themselves ahead of the curve in terms of player acquisition. The best, most efficient way to find a serviceable backup quarterback is to find a bargain value after the draft. The undrafted pool of quarterbacks often has a handful of quality backup-level signal-callers who make for exceptional value.

The Seahawks were lucky enough to nab TCU’s Trevone Boykin in the undrafted-free-agent market. Boykin is an electric athlete with an arm that pops off the tape. He won’t be ready for the NFL landscape immediately, but the poise and playmaking mentality that he brings to the table are a plus, especially to a coach such as Pete Carroll.

Unless the Seahawks make a late push for a free-agent quarterback, Boykin is set to back up Russell Wilson. According to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, Boykin has established himself ahead of Jake Heaps so far in training camp.

Boykin plays with style reminiscent of Wilson and even has comparable physical traits. Of course, Wilson is far and away the more talented quarterback, but Boykin’s similarities make him a smart choice for the backup spot.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cassanova McKinzy

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"Sam" linebackers are the fastest-dying position on the defensive side of the ball. We think of slot receivers and cornerbacks who cover those receivers as starters now, but the player on the defensive side of the ball who has to be pulled out of the box to add the slotback on the field is often the strong-side outside linebacker in 4-3 defenses.

This is especially true for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have been taking an even more aggressive approach to nickel football by kicking defensive end Robert Ayers to defensive tackle and moving rookie pass-rusher Noah Spence to Ayers' early-down slot. On the bright side, this allows Tampa Bay's Sam linebacker position to be specified, making the role almost solely run-focused.

According to Jenna Laine of ESPN's NFL Nation, former Auburn linebacker Cassanova McKinzy, who moved inside and outside for the Tigers in his three years as a starter, is now seeing first-team reps with the Buccaneers. The big knock on McKinzy—a 248-pounder who has a 4.83-second 40-yard dash, per NFL Draft Scout's pro-day numbers—was his three-down versatility.

This just seems like a case of a good fit and good scouting. In Tampa, McKinzy's negatives are masked and his positives are stressed by scheme, so the linebacker who recorded 263 tackles in his college career is allowed to mostly play the run, especially considering how much zone defense the team has run with its current personnel in recent years.

Tennessee Titans: Antwaun Woods

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The idea of a USC defensive lineman should excite Tennessee Titans fans, as the squad's best player in the unit since Albert Haynesworth left on a megadeal for the Washington Redskins has been Jurrell Casey, a 2011 third-round pick who played for the Trojans in college.

If Antwaun Woods is a third of the player that Casey is, the Titans got a steal. A three-year starter as a nose tackle in Los Angeles, Woods had the credentials to get drafted, including first-team All-Pac 12 honors.

He isn't Casey, though. He's not a penetrator by anyone's definition of the word, as the bread and butter to his game is eating blocks and stopping the run.

When Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site noted that Woods was looking good in run drills and being spoken well of by Keith Willis, the team's line coach, it should have come as no surprise. With everyone focused on nickel defenders, these run-first defenders are now being looked over, and Tennessee might have found itself a steal.

Al Woods and Austin Johnson, a 2016 second-round pick, are going to be hard to beat on the depth chart, but if Woods can prove to play 5-technique defensive end, another run-first position, on top of nose tackle, he could find himself on the team's final roster with ease.

Washington Redskins: Shiro Davis

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The Washington Redskins' pass-rushing position is in an odd spot right now. The team has its starters in Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith, a second-year player who is entering his first year of playing full time, but its depth has taken a hit this offseason.

First, the Redskins moved Trent Murphy, a former starting 3-4 outside linebacker, to defensive end. Second, they lost Junior Galette for a second straight season to an Achilles tear.

Two guys now have to step up as the third and fourth players in the unit—rotational players who should be active on game day. The third slot is likely to be filled by Houston Bates, who flashed some as an undrafted rookie last year in the preseason.

The name that is emerging to fill that fourth role is Shiro Davis, a former Texas Longhorn. With few bodies left at the position, eyes of many in the media, such as Jason Pugh of NBC 4 in Washington, have fixated on the pass-rusher in camp.

As just an off-and-on starter for the Longhorns, Davis doesn't appear to be anything close to an impact player at the NFL level, but a warm, willing body might be enough to make the Redskins roster. As of now, there isn't an undrafted player with an easier path to a 53-man roster than Davis.