Every NFL Team's Most Exciting 2023 Undrafted Free-Agent Addition
Undrafted free agents are the ultimate value in the NFL. Finding a young player outside of the draft who can contribute is difficult, but it has massive cap-saving ramifications if a team can pull it off.
Every year hundreds of hopefuls sign as free agents after the draft, hoping to simply make a 53-man roster by the end of training camp.
Based on potential, possible payoff and, in some cases, what they've already shown in rookie minicamps and OTAs, here's every team's most promising undrafted free agent.
Arizona Cardinals: RB Emari Demercado
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The running back position has become devalued in the league, in part, because it's fairly easy to find good production at the position for cheap.
Teams routinely find productive rushers on Day 3 of the draft or even without spending a draft pick at all. Zonovan Knight was an undrafted free agent for the New York Jets who ended up chipping in 300 rushing yards and starting four games with Breece Hall injured.
Emari Demercado could become the most recent example of finding value in the post-draft market.
Demercado never took over the TCU backfield but he saw action in all five seasons there, taking a back seat to some talented backs including Zach Evans and Kendre Miller. Both were drafted.
When Miller couldn't go against Michigan in the College Football Playoffs, Demercado responded with 150 yards on 17 carries, giving a sneak peak to what he could have done as a full-time starter.
At 5'9", 213 pounds, he's big enough to hold up against NFL dances and ran a 4.44 40-yard dash in the pre-draft process.
After James Conner, the Cardinals don't have any proven options in the backfield. Demercado could compete with Keaontay Ingram and Corey Clement for the secondary running back position.
Atlanta Falcons: WR Justin Marshall
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While a lot of teams will load up on UDFA's and hope a few stick, the Falcons were deliberate in who they were willing to sign. Their initial wave of signings only included nine players and three of them were receivers.
That says something about how Arthur Smith and the coaching staff views their depth at a position where they signed Mack Hollins and Penny Hart in free agency this offseason.
Buffalo wide receiver Justin Marshall was among the signees. He fits the MO of the Falcons offense which seems to be to bring in as many big-bodied receiver types as possible. Atlanta signed Jonnu Smith despite Kyle Pitts being on the roster, indicating that they may run more 12 personnel.
Justin Marshall is not small. At 6'1", 205 pounds he has a sturdy build and is a good blocker. That's not really an exciting skill for a young receiver, but it's one that could give Marshall a role on the roster.
Baltimore Ravens: RB Keaton Mitchell
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The Ravens have had to reach pretty deep down their depth chart for running backs over the last few years. Lamar Jackson has led the team in rushing each of the past four seasons despite missing large portions of the 2021 and 2022 seasons because of injuries at running back.
So the franchise should know better than anyone that it's nice to have a stable of backs who can do different things within the offense.
Keaton Mitchell is not a prototypical NFL running back prospect. He's only 5'7", 179 pounds, which explains why he was undrafted, but he ran a 4.37 40-yard dash and has legitimate explosiveness to plant his foot in the ground and go when he sees a crease.
The fact that he caught 60 balls for 580 yards and three touchdowns in his career at East Carolina also gives him the added possibility of being a third-down back or gadget player.
With Todd Monken taking over the offense in Baltimore, the Ravens could have found an added weapon and wrinkle within the new-look unit.
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Buffalo Bills: DT DJ Dale
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Some undrafted free agents are tremendous athletes who just never put it together in college and had bad production. Others had the goods on the field but simply didn't meet the athletic thresholds set forth by teams.
Alabama's DJ Dale falls into the latter category. The 6'0", 302-pound defensive tackle is the size of a 3-technique but had the athletic testing of a nose tackle. He finished with a 2.28 relative athletic score, which factored in a 5.26 40-yard dash and 25½" vertical.
With that kind of testing, it is unsurprising that he was not selected in the draft. Then you consider that he was a three-year contributor on Alabama's defense and flashed as a pass-rusher with three sacks and 10 hurries, per PFF.
Dale has already shown some of those skills in early work with his fellow rookies.
"Dale found himself one on one with (first-round pick) (O'Cyrus) Torrence on one play during team drills. He pulled a nice inside move and got pressure on the quarterback," Syracuse.com writer Matt Parrino noted at Bills practice.
The Bills can't have too many talented defensive linemen as they attempt to beat the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals to win the AFC this season. If Dale can keep showing the ability to work pass-rush moves despite his limited athleticism he's a promising project.
Carolina Panthers: CB Rejzohn Wright
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At the peak of the Legion of Boom era, there's no way that the league would have allowed Rejzohn Wright to go undrafted.
The Oregon State corner has the length, size and press experience that teams were looking for when Richard Sherman and Byron Maxwell were locking down opposing receivers.
Size still factors into evaluations, but teams aren't simply drafting every corner over 6'1" anymore.
That's an oversimplification of what Wright brings to the table as a 6'2", 193-pounder. He only allowed 25 receptions on 53 targets in his final year at Oregon State, per PFF.
He was one of two players who were ranked in the Top 100 of Bleacher Report's final big board who went undrafted.
Wright has already shown the ability to work for an opportunity in his football career. He was featured on Last Chance U before making his way to Oregon State. Now, he'll have the opportunity to prove he belongs at a higher level again.
Chicago Bears: QB Tyson Bagent
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The NFL recently approved a bylaw that teams can carry a third quarterback on the active gameday roster without using a roster spot, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
That makes an undrafted free agent like Tyson Bagent a lot more intriguing for a team like the Chicago Bears.
Bagent played at Shepherd University in West Virginia, earning the Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II's top player. He led a powerful offense and threw for over 5,000 yards and 53 touchdowns, setting the NCAA record for touchdown passes in a career with 159.
Bagent will obviously have to make a major adjustment to competition going from Division II to the NFL, but he earned a 9.01 relative athletic score with his testing and has a gunslinger playing style that could make him a decent stand-in for Justin Fields.
The new rule gives a little incentive for a team like the Bears to carry a player like Bagent. He's not ready to be an NFL backup, but he's well worth the investment as a project who could become that player for them.
Cincinnati Bengals: T/G Jaxson Kirkland
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Once upon a time, Jaxson Kirkland was getting first-round looks in 2022 mock drafts.
In 2020, Kirkland looked great at left tackle in the four games the Washington Huskies played. He gave up just two hurries, no sacks and no hits at left tackle, per PFF. He followed that up with a season in which he gave up three sacks and 11 other pressures at left tackle.
He initially declared for the draft after that season and was hoping to be a selection in the 2022 event. He then walked back the decision when it was revealed that he would need ankle surgery and petitioned for a sixth year of eligibility at Washington.
He returned to the Huskies as a guard, once again giving up no sacks in his final season.
The injury and extended time in college definitely hurt his draft stock. He'll be 25 years old by the time the season starts which is typically seen as a limiting factor for prospects.
However, Kirkland has proven to be a tough player capable of playing multiple spots. That's the makeup of someone who can make a career as a utility lineman.
It's not the most splashy role, but it's one that the Bengals need as they continue to look to maximize the offensive line in front of Joe Burrow.
Cleveland Browns: Edge Lonnie Phelps, Kansas
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The Browns didn't have any picks in the first two rounds of the draft so they likely spent a little more time looking at the end of the draft than a lot of teams.
That may have given them an advantage when it came time to sign some undrafted free agents. So it says quite a bit that they were willing to hand Lonnie Phelps a three-year, $2.7 million contract which included $225,000 guaranteed.
Phelps plays a premium position where the Browns need depth. While trading for Za'Darius Smith and signing Ogbonnia Okoronkwo filled the need for veteran pass-rushers across from Myles Garrett, the Eagles showed us this season that you can never have too many guys who can get after the quarterback.
Phelps showed out at the Senior Bowl and had impressive testing numbers in the pre-draft process. His 4.55 40-yard dash and 9'11" broad jump were both highlights that showcased the kind of explosiveness and pure speed that can translate in the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys: Edge Isaiah Land
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The Cowboys have shown a knack for finding talent outside of the draft. Terence Steele is about to go into the season as the right tackle after signing as an undrafted free agent from Texas Tech in 2020.
This year, they'll hope that Isaiah Land is a future starter from their 2023 UDFA class. The 6'3", 236-pounder is undersized, but notched 19 sacks in one season at Florida A&M. He followed it up with eight more in 2022.
"He's somebody that I'm excited to see, and there is no timeline on that," Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said about Land, per Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com. "Development takes time. You're not going to get there in one or two days. We're going to be in this for the long haul and see what they can do. And not every person that you train at two spots works out that way."
Quinn's comment regarding training at two spots would seem to indicate the Cowboys could look to move Land around to find a position that makes the most sense for him.
That's a good sign the team isn't just looking at him like a camp body. He's a player they believe could become a contributor with the ability to get after the quarterback.
Denver Broncos: Edge Thomas Incoom
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Athleticism and production are good starting places to evaluate edge prospects. Thomas Incoom has both coming out of Central Michigan.
The 6'3", 262-pound rusher doesn't have ideal length (33¼" arms), but overcame that with a 4.66-yard dash and 1.56 10-yard split and a 7.1 three-cone time that showcased a player who has some burst of the line and the agility to become a dangerous pass-rusher.
He used that raw athleticism to get to the quarterback at Central Michigan. He led the Chippewas with 11.5 sacks and made plays against the run with 19 tackles for loss.
He's a high-energy player who seemed to play with a high motor and made some plays through sheer effort.
That's the kind of guy that can stick around long enough on a roster to become a viable player.
The Broncos pass-rush is still forming for the 2023 season. Incoom has the raw tools to be brought on as a developmental project.
Detroit Lions: CB Starling Thomas V
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The Detroit Lions have done a lot to overhaul their secondary this offseason. They added C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cam Sutton, Brian Branch and Emmanuel Moseley after giving up the eighth-highest passer rating in the league last season.
Yet, they still added to the group of defensive backs with another sneaky good addition in Starling Thomas V.
The 5'10", 194-pound cornerback primarily played on the outside in college but will probably need to kick inside at the next level. What's going to help is that Thomas is an excellent athlete with speed in spades. He reportedly blazed a 4.28 40 time at UAB's pro day.
That kind of straight line speed should help him be a special teams asset right away, but his coverage skills warrant a look as a nickel if he can make the transition. Thomas didn't have an interception but he held opposing quarterbacks to a 69.4 passer rating when targeted, per PFF.
Physically, Thomas is already standing out to those who have watched Lions minicamp practices.
"What I saw was a player who's physically well-built, looked sticky in coverage and possessed excellent speed," Colton Pouncy of The Athletic noted of Thomas at Lions minicamp.
Green Bay Packers: Edge Brenton Cox Jr.
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Brenton Cox Jr.'s college career did not live up to expectations. The former 5-star recruit originally signed with Georgia, who has kind of made developing NFL draft picks on the defensive line their thing.
Cox was dismissed from Georgia's program due to disciplinary issues in 2019 and landed with the Florida Gators in the transfer portal. He flashed his potential in Gainesville, racking up 14.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in the 2021 campaign.
However, his time with the Gators ended the same way as his time in Athens. Cox was dismissed from Florida due to "an accumulation of issues" and head coach Billy Napier told media, "sometimes you have to make decisions in the best interest of the team."
There are some concerns as to Cox's athleticism. His 4.82 40 time can be seen on film sometimes. But the talent is there for Cox to blossom into something if he can keep his focus on football and working to get better within the team structure.
The Packers could use additional depth on the edge. Rashan Gary, Justin Hollins and Jonathan Garvin are all in the final year of their current contracts.
Houston Texans: OT Kilian Zierer
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There's a lot of reasons to believe that Kilian Zierer could just be scratching the surface of his potential.
For one, the German tackle didn't start playing football until he was 16 years old. The 23-year-old started playing the game with a local club team in Germany, starting as a wide receiver before moving to tight end and winding up at tackle.
When he came over to the United States he went the JUCO route, but tore his ACL in his second season at the College of the Canyons in California.
From there, he transferred to Auburn where he spent three years and started every game at left tackle last fall.
To recap, Zierer has been playing football for seven years. One of them he missed due to injury and another he was playing wide receiver and/or tight end. So he has just five years of playing a position that usually involves a lot of technical training.
At 6'7", 307 pounds with 34¼" arms, he has the length and raw materials to become an NFL tackle. The Texans got an intriguing tackle project who could pay off if developed properly.
Indianapolis Colts: iOL Emil Ekiyor Jr.
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This one is pretty simple. The Colts have to get better on the offensive line and Alabama's Emil Ekiyor Jr. is someone who could help in that department.
Ekiyor doesn't have the prototypical length of an offensive lineman. At 6'2", 314 pounds with 33⅞" arms, it's fair to question his size as a guard prospect. But the production is hard to argue with. As the right guard for Alabama, Ekiyor has gotten better every season.
His most eye-catching improvement went from his junior to senior year. According to PFF, he went from surrendering no sacks, 18 hurries and five hits to a nearly clean sheet outside of eight hurries.
The Colts are a little shaky at the right guard spot right now. Will Fries ranked 50th out of the guards graded by PFF last season.
Indy took Blake Freeland in the fourth round and Jake Witt in the seventh, but both project to be tackles.
Ekiyor can make the roster and potentially be a strong utility guy on the interior.
Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Kaleb Hayes
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Some teams have age thresholds and won't consider drafting someone who is already 24 years old. That might have encouraged some teams to pass on BYU cornerback Kaleb Hayes who transferred in from Oregon State.
However, there are several other factors in which Hayes crushed minimum thresholds. For one, his 32" arms give him the length you'd like to see in a press-man corner. Pair that with his 4.33 speed in the 40 and a 40" vertical and you have a corner that has a lot of physical tools you'd like to see.
That being said, Hayes played in 37 college games and didn't record a single interception. But he did get his hand on 18 passes in his two seasons with the Cougars so he got better.
The Jaguars don't have a ton of depth at cornerback after Tyson Campbell, Darious Williams and Tre Herndon. Hayes could wind up making the roster and breaking into the rotation by the end of the year.
Kansas City Chiefs: RB Deneric Prince
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The Kansas City Chiefs were the prime example of "you can find running backs with little to no draft investment" camp last season after seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco ended up leading the Super Bowl champions in rushing.
This year, they might have found another key contributor without even using a draft pick.
The Chiefs gave Deneric Prince a three-year contract with a substantial $236,000 guaranteed. For context, Pacheco's three-year deal only carried $79,108 in guarantees.
Andy Reid has already been impressed with Prince's work in minicamp.
"Yeah, I like him," Reid said, per Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire. "So, he's a good-looking kid, picked things up well, (his) size – I mean that's the thing that jumps out at you. Size, strength and he caught the ball well."
The bit about him catching the ball well is nice, but Prince can help most as a downhill runner. He has 4.41 speed, but can run behind his pads at 5'11", 216 pounds.
That's an element that could help roundout the Chiefs backfield.
Las Vegas Raiders: OT Dalton Wagner
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Dalton Wagner did not test well athletically. His 4.4 relative athletic score probably offers insight into why he went undrafted.
But throw those numbers aside for a second. Wagner is a 6'8", 320-pound tackle who can just wash people down the line of scrimmage in the run game. He has some flaws as a pass protector but he has good recovery skills and shuts down inside moves well.
He has three years of experience at Arkansas and never gave up more than three sacks in a season, per PFF.
The Raiders are improving as an offensive line but they are still relying on several players to continue to develop. Thayer Munford and Dylan Parham must make strides in their sophomore campaigns while Greg Van Roten and Justin Murray were brought in to compete in free agency.
Wagner's size, strength and length make him a worthwhile investment to compete for a roster spot and potentially develop into a contributor.
Los Angeles Chargers: DT Jerrod Clark
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Coastal Carolina defensive tackle Jerrod Clark just missed the top 150 of Bleacher Report's big board at No. 154.
The league might not have agreed with that assessment based on his draft position, but he'll have an opportunity to prove them wrong with the Los Angeles Chargers. The 6'4", 334-pound nose tackle came to Coastal Carolina as a 230-pound tight end and left a behemoth with serious movement skills for his size.
Clark played in the senior bowl and flashed the ability to push the pocket, batting down a few passes in 11-on-11 drills.
There are some things Clark needs to work on. He doesn't anchor in the run the way a man of his stature should. Then again, there aren't a lot of men his size who can get off the ball as quickly as him.
However, it's easier to find a guy who can move like him and work on his technique against the run than find a run-stuffer who has his agility and quickness.
Los Angeles Rams: S Rashad Torrence II
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Rashad Torrence II is a litmus test for how important you think athletic testing is. Torrence ran the second-slowest 40-yard dash (4.72) among all safeties at the combine with teammate Trey Dean III right behind him (4.75).
That's obviously a concern for someone who played the majority of their snaps as a deep safety. According to PFF, he logged 370 deep snaps with another 103 in the slot and 184 in the box.
Despite the lack of speed, Torrance was all over the place with 87 tackles for the Gators last season.
It's worth noting that he's young too. He turned 21 in March and left Florida early.
He might need to add weight to his 6'0", 193 pound frame, but he has some of the makings of a box safety/linebacker hybrid in the league.
Miami Dolphins: LB Aubrey Miller Jr.
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Aubrey Miller's size likely kept him from getting drafted. His height (5'11") and weight (229 pounds) make him an outlier at off-ball linebacker in that way. We saw Nakobe Dean drop considerably in the draft last year with nearly identical dimensions, although he was also flagged for injury concerns.
But Miller has quite a few NFL connections that have him prepared for life in the league. It helps that Jackson State teammate James Houston had so much success with the Lions as the 217th pick in last year's draft. He had eight sacks in seven games.
Miller noted that Houston "opened the door" for a lot of players from HBCUs to be drafted. He also credited former Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders for preparing him for life in the league.
"Sanders taught me how to be a pro on the field and off," Miller said, per J.T. Keith of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. "He taught us to have intangibles such as having character, being tough, fast smart and being disciplined. To give maximum effort every time I am on the field, the little things like running to the ball. And off the field, the way I carry myself and communicate with others."
His motor and tackling ability should give him a shot to make the roster as a special teamer and grwo from there.
Minnesota Vikings: Edge Andre Carter II
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We aren't that far removed from getting first-round hype for Andre Carter II. The Army pass-rusher was in 12 percent of first-round mock drafts, per NFL Mock Draft Database and carried an average big board ranking of No. 104.
The B/R Scouting Department was even higher on the defender. He ranked 60th overall on the final big board, sandwiched between two Round 2 selections in Luke Musgrave and Sam LaPorta.
Carter's junior campaign which saw him post 14.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss gave him first-round hype early in the draft process. However, his follow-up season was a bit of a dud with just 3.5 sacks and 7.5 TFL in 10 games.
At 6'6½", 256 pounds Carter has the length that coaches covet in an edge rusher. He likely needs to add a little bit of bulk, but he has a shot at not just cracking the final roster but playing an important role.
"He was under consideration for us to be drafted a couple times in the draft….we felt like we gained an extra draft pick with him," head coach Kevin O'Connell said, per Matthew Coller of Sports Illustrated. "The length, the athleticism, his production. When you watch him on tape you see a guy that is arrow-up and going to ascend."
New England Patriots: QB Malik Cunningham
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Malik Cunningham is a fascinating UDFA signing for the New England Patriots just because of the stark contrast between what the Pats have on their roster at quarterback and Cunningham.
Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe are both consistent, accurate passers with limitations when making downfield throws. However, both are relative non-threats when it comes to breaking contain and making something happen with their feet.
Cunningham shatters that mold.
The 24-year-old took over for Lamar Jackson at Louisville and had a lot of success as a dual-threat target for the Cardinals. The comparison between the two is obvious even if Cunningham falls short of being Jackson.
"There's no doubt in my mind that there's only one Lamar Jackson. He's incredible, obviously," Louisville quarterback coach Pete Thomas said. "With that said, there's also no doubt in my mind that Malik Cunningham is the closest thing you can get to Lamar without being Lamar. I mean, some of the stuff he did is incredible."
Because Cunningham is so athletic, it's easy to envision a scenario in which he makes the Patriots roster to play a creative role within the offense. With Bill O'Brien returning to New England to take the reigns of the offense, Cunningham's potential to add another element is intriguing.
New Orleans Saints: LB Anfernee Orji
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The middle of the field thumper at linebacker has somewhat fallen out of fashion in the league. The linebacker who can cover and be an effective zone defender is generally the preferred archetype at off-ball linebacker.
However, there's still some value in a player like Anfernee Orji. The 6'1", 230-pounder is a bit undersized and his lack of length makes it less likely he can get a hand on the ball in zone coverage or disrupt bigger tight ends at the catch point.
What he can do is fly around the field, get downhill and be an eraser in the run game. He posted a relative athletic score of 9.23 anchored by a 4.53 40-yard dash, 38½" vertical and 10'2" broad jump.
Orji was fourth in the SEC in total tackles and showed the ability to track down plays from sideline to sideline with Vanderbilt.
There's a role for Orji at the next level.
New York Giants: WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton
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The New York Giants had a bit of a breakout season as an offense last year in spite of an uninspiring wide receiver room.
The Giants didn't make any huge moves to address the need but brought in some fresh faces that should encourage competition. They drafted Jalin Hyatt in the third round and signed Parris Cambell and Jamison Crowder in free agency.
Signing undrafted free agent Bryce Ford-Wheaton could wind up being a move that impacts the group as well due to his blend of height, weight and speed.
The West Virginia alum came in at 6'3", 221 pounds in the pre-draft process and ran a 4.38 40-yard dash. He didn't have bad production at West Virginia either, racking up 675 yards and seven touchdowns in his final season with J.T. Daniels as his quarterback.
The Giants have one of the more nebulous wide receiver rooms in the league. There's no clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver and the opportunity is there for an undrafted free agent to make a path for himself.
Ford-Wheaton's physical tools will give him an advantage over some of the competition.
New York Jets: TE E.J. Jenkins
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E.J. Jenkins' college stat line is nothing special. He took a winding road to the league including a stint with FCS St. Francis before transferring to South Carolina for a brief time and winding up at Georgia Tech.
The 6'6", 243 pound Jenkins was a little miscast with the Yellow Jackets. He was a true wide receiver with almost all of his snaps on the outside. While he has 4.5 speed, he doesn't have the route-running to shake cornerbacks.
What he does have is a massive catch radius and a blend of size and speed that makes him a perfect candidate to move inside and catch on as a tight end.
Tight end is a position that has seen several late bloomers. From Darren Waller to Antonio Gates there are examples of players who were undrafted or had slow starts before becoming stars at the position.
Jenkins may never reach those heights, but he's essentially a no-risk investment who has the speed and size profile to develop into something.
Philadelphia Eagles: CB Eli Ricks
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Like a few others on this list, Eli Ricks was an elite high school recruit whose college career harmed his draft stock more than it helped it.
The 6'2", 188 pound corner with 32 ⅜" arms was a 5-star prospect when he committed to LSU in 2020. He looked the part in his first season with the Tigers too. He had four interceptions and took two of them for touchdowns while playing in 10 games.
Unfortunately, his 2021 season didn't quite measure up to his freshman year and he only played in six games with a shoulder injury. He ended up transferring to Alabama for his final collegiate season.
He bounced back with the Tide, giving up no touchdowns and just six receptions on 19 targets, per PFF. Unfortunately, he also missed time with back and neck injuries, adding to the list of injuries he's had.
All of those injuries were upper body injuries. They should impact the athleticism that let him shine early in his collegiate career. The Eagles have strong veteran corners on the roster. They are an ideal place for Ricks to receive mentoring and coaching before working his way into an actual role in the NFL if he can stay healthy.
Pittsburgh Steelers: FB Monte Pottebaum
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Going to go with some fullback love here. The Steelers only signed nine undrafted free agents and fullback Monte Pottebaum is the only one who could be stepping into a role in Week 1 if he showcases his talent throughout the summer.
Derek Watt was the team's fullback last season, logging 77 offensive snaps and 290 special teams plays. However, the Steelers have yet to resign the 30-year-old. Connor Hayward took some of those fullback snaps but also played some tight end.
If the Steelers are looking to use a roster spot on a true tight end then the Iowa alum could be the answer. He's a 6'2", 241-pound bulldozer who plays with the kind of physicality you'd like to see from a true fullback and takes pride in clearing lanes for his running back.
"I just have an opportunity to be a glue guy," Pottebaum said, per Chris Adamski of Trib Live. "If the team needs somebody to give that physical edge or add another spot on special teams, I'm really willing to do whatever.
Fullback has become a devalued position, but this is a Steelers team that was 26th in the league in yards per carry. Maybe adding a lead blocker isn't a bad idea.
San Francisco 49ers: OL Joey Fisher
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Tyson Bagent isn't the only Shepherd University alum who will be getting a shot in the NFL. Four Rams signed with teams after the draft and Joey Fisher might be the most promising of the lot.
The 6'4", 296 pound lineman played right tackle at the Division II school where his head coach pulled double duty and coached the offensive line. He believes that Fisher receiving NFL-caliber position coaching could unlock another layer of potential.
"I can criticize our O-line coach here because it's me. I really think when he gets a chance to get coached by an NFL-level offensive coach, he's going to learn. Because I think he has a great ability to learn. He has a great desire to learn. And I think the 49ers are going to get a great football player," Shepherd coach Ernie McCook told David Lombardi of The Athletic.
Fisher performed well in the NFLPA Bowl and actually earned an invite to the Senior Bowl but a broken hand kept him from participating.
He heads to a Niners team that could use depth at right tackle and on the interior. With Mike McGlinchey leaving in free agency, Colton McKivitz will be the starter and the whole depth chart will move up one spot.
There aren't any proven options at guard behind Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford. Fisher could be a hidden gem with a path toward a role.
Seattle Seahawks: WR Matt Landers
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Tall, speedy receivers generally don't have a hard time finding opportunities in the league and Matt Landers certainly fits that mold.
The 6'4", 200-pound receiver checked all the boxes with his pre-draft workouts. He ran a 4.37 40-yard dash to go with a 37" vertical and 6.86 three-cone time.
Landers flew somewhat under the radar for a receiver of his size and speed. That's probably because he was well-traveled as a college player. He started his career buried on the depth chart in Georgia before spending a season at Toledo and another at Arkansas.
He finished with 47 catches for 901 yards and eight touchdowns for the Razorbacks. He was third in the SEC in yards per catch among qualifying receivers with 19.2.
The focus is obviously on first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but this is a receiving corps that doesn't have a lot of experience on the depth chart once you get past D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
Landers could come alongside Smith-Njigba to give the Seahawks another promising rookie to add to the position room.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Sean Tucker
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If you take health concerns out of the equation, Sean Tucker is possibly a Day 2 pick.
The 5'9", 207-pounder has a lot of tools that make him an ideal candidate to be featured as part of a backfield rotation in the NFL. He has one-cut burst that makes him an ideal candidate to thrive as a back in a zone-heavy system.
His skills as a receiver stand out as well. He caught 64 passes for 622 yards and four touchdowns in three seasons as a contributor with Syracuse. He's a natural pass-catcher with enough speed in the open field to make something happen.
Unfortunately, health does play a role in a prospect's evaluation. Tucker did not compete at the combine due to a medical exemption. Bob McGinn of Go Long TD reported that Tucker has an "ongoing heart issue".
Tucker was medically cleared after the combine and ended up holding his own pro day, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Hopefully, that's a sign that the medical side of the evaluation will be a blip on the radar of a successful career in the league.
It doesn't hurt that Tampa Bay's backfield is fairly wide-open. Chase Edmonds and Rachaad White are the top backs and there's uncertainty after them on the depth chart.
Tennessee Titans: Edge Caleb Murphy
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As far as production goes it doesn't get more eye-popping than Caleb Murphy. He dominated the competition at Ferris State, notching 25.5 sacks and 39 tackles for the Division II power in his final season.
The 6'3", 254-pound pass rusher is a little undersized, but showcased some quickness in his pass rush moves at the Shrine Bowl which likely helped him land an undrafted free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans.
Murphy doesn't have a full complement of moves in his arsenal. He'll need to develop those if he wants to survive with his size limitations.
What's undeniable is a motor that runs hot and his ability to find a way to get to the quarterback. There's a lot of coaching and development that needs to happen, but landing with Mike Vrabel and his staff is a great landing spot for him.
Washington Commanders: WR Mitchell Tinsley
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Taking a slot receiver out of Penn State worked well for the Commanders when they took Jahan Dotson last season. Why not give it another shot?
Dotson showcased some promise catching seven touchdowns as a rookie. Meanwhile, Western Kentucky transfer Mitchell Tinsley was taking over the role of slot receiver in Penn State's offense.
Tinsley didn't put up the same gaudy numbers. But he led the Nittany Lions with 51 receptions for 577 yards and five touchdowns.
It's also worth noting he was prolific when playing with Bailey Zappe at Western Kentucky. He posted 87 receptions for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Tinsley is a little on the small side at 6'0", 199 pounds, but he is sudden in his breaks and showcased his agility with a 6.7 three-cone time. His ability to shake defenders with his route running should pave the way for him to make an impression in practices and battle for a roster spot.
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