Undrafted Free Agents Making Strong Early Cases for Final Roster Spots

One of the hardest things for a college football player entering the NFL draft is to sit around for three days and never hear his name called. As mentally difficult as that is, it’s even harder to enter camp as an undrafted rookie free agent and make the 53-man roster or practice squad.

Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No.

Two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner might be the greatest undrafted player of all time. Current Cincinnati Bengal linebacker James Harrison and Denver Bronco receiver Wes Welker were also undrafted.

Those are big-time success stories. Here are nine players from the 2013 undrafted class who have great shots at making the final roster of their NFL teams.

Marlon Brown, Baltimore Ravens

Wide receiver Marlon Brown was a blue-chip recruit coming out of high school in Tennessee, ultimately choosing the University of Georgia. Billed as another A.J. Green type at 6’5”, 222 pounds, Brown took a while to come into his own with the Bulldogs.

His best season was as a senior, when he hauled in 27 receptions for 469 yards and three touchdowns. Finally coming into his own, Brown tore his ACL on Nov. 3 in a game against Ole Miss. That likely caused him to fall off any potential draft boards.

After a brief moment with Houston, the Ravens scooped him up during the offseason. Cleared from his ACL tear, Brown has made some noise in Ravens camp, according to Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times. Brown even saw the most snaps of any receiver in Thursday’s preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (he finished with two catches for 31 yards).

“You can tell that he’s got a skill set,” Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell said, via Zenitz. “He’s long. He’s got speed. This game is a little different ball game, but he’s a young man that is willing, is very capable, and we’re anxious to see what he can do.”

Zach Sudfeld, New England Patriots

Tight end Zach Sudfeld might not only make the Patriots’ 53-man roster, but he also might actually have a chance to contribute this upcoming season.

With Rob Gronkowski injured, Sudfeld has worked with the first team quite a bit during training camp. In addition, it’s not like tight ends Daniel Fells and Michael Hoomanawanui are world-beaters who have strangleholds on the positions in front of Sudfeld.

Sudfeld displayed some talent his senior season at Nevada when he caught 45 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns. This came after finishing his first three seasons with just two catches for 11 yards.

During a joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 6, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe noted that Sudfeld "had another great day."

With the Patriots facing a major need at tight end, Sudfeld could play one of the bigger roles on an NFL team among undrafted free agents this season.

Da'Rick Rogers, Buffalo Bills

Former Tennessee and Tennessee Tech receiver Da'Rick Rogers was a blue-chip, 5-star recruit out of high school. As a sophomore with the Volunteers, Rogers led the Southeastern Conference with 67 receptions for 1,040 receiving yards. A bright collegiate future featuring some accolades seemed imminent.

Then off-field issues derailed his plans in Tennessee, forcing him to transfer to FCS school Tennessee Tech. The character concerns lingered and caused the first-day talent to fall completely off teams’ draft boards.

It appears that Buffalo is reaping the benefits of Rogers’ mishaps. Rogers, looking for any team to stick with, has impressed early this preseason and appears to have the best shot to make the 53-man roster out of any Buffalo undrafted rookie.

“I think he has stepped it up from when we were in OTAs and minicamp,” said Bills head coach Doug Marrone, via Chris Hooker of the Livingston County News. “I believe he’s in better shape than he was before. That’s a credit to him and our conditioning people and what he did in the off-season. He’s done some nice things. He’s had some separation. He’s a big receiver with strong hands. He’s going to be competing for a roster spot.”

Willie Jefferson, Houston Texans

One of the surprises out of Houston Texans training camp has been outside linebacker Willie Jefferson, a little-known prospect out of FCS school Stephen F. Austin.

"This guy has a chance to really help us, and I mean immediately," head coach Gary Kubiak said, via John McClain at the Houston Chronicle.

What’s bizarre about Jefferson’s rise through training camp is the route he took to get there. He was originally a 6’6” receiver at Baylor, where he had some off-field issues, including one with marijuana, before transferring to Stephen F. Austin.

The Texans coaches have been able to get a good look at Jefferson with starters Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus nursing injuries recently.

Another factor that’s helped Jefferson gain ground is that he’s gained enough weight to play the position. When he was signed as an undrafted rookie during the offseason, Jefferson weighed in the 230s. Now he’s at 250 and able to properly play outside linebacker without losing any needed speed.

"Willie’s been good. Hasn’t missed a rep," Kubiak said, via Dave Zangaro of CSNHouston.com. "He’s kept up with what we’re doing. He’s kept up with (special teams coordinator) Joe (Marciano), so Willie’s got a tremendous opportunity to help this football team quickly."

Rashaan Melvin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Talk about a rags-to-riches story.

Tampa Bay’s Rashaan Melvin was once a walk-on at Northern Illinois, a mid-major program in the Mid-American Conference. By the end of his fourth year, Melvin was the Huskies’ best cornerback, recording a single-season-record 17 pass breakups in 2012. His defensive presence helped earn Northern Illinois its first BCS trip to the Orange Bowl.

Melvin went undrafted this past April, which wasn’t too much of a surprise for the young corner who not many schools wanted out of high school. 

Just like he did at Northern Illinois, Melvin’s been trying to prove himself to his Buccaneers coaches.

“I think he's got a chance to be a good player,” Bucs head coach Greg Schiano said, via Stephen F. Holder of the Tampa Bay Times. “Now that's a lot of pressure on an undrafted player. But every day he goes out there and practices and does a good job, if you keep stacking those on top of each other, he's got a chance."

The Bucs got a good look at Melvin on Thursday against Baltimore, as the undrafted rookie played 30 snaps during the game.

Andy Mulumba, Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers seem to have love affairs with undrafted rookies, having placed 11 on the 53-man roster in the past four years. 

This year might not be any different, and according to Pete Dougherty at the Green Bay Press-Gazette, there’s one in particular who stands out. 

That would be undrafted rookie defensive end Andy Mulumba, who signed with the Packers this offseason out of Eastern Michigan. Mulumba was a rush defensive end in college with the Eagles but will transition into an outside linebacker in Green Bay’s 3-4, assuming he makes the team.

Dougherty seems to think there’s a good chance that happens, saying, "The best undrafted rookie so far this year is Andy Mulumba, who’s giving himself a fighting chance to make it as the No. 4 or 5 outside linebacker."

Mulumba has also received a vote of confidence from coach Mike McCarthy, according to Dougherty.

"I thought (Mulumba) jumped out in the spring," McCarthy said. "It’s been no different since he put the pads on. I think he’s an excellent fit for our defense. He plays with excellent leverage with his long leverage. He has a nasty streak to him."

Eric Martin, New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints need all of the help they can get on defense, considering they fielded one of the NFL’s worst in 2012.

If they can get help from an undrafted rookie, they’ll gladly take it.

Former Nebraska defensive end Eric Martin, who’s transitioning into an outside linebacker in Rob Ryan’s 3-4 defense, has gotten off to a good start this preseason, even though a minor injury has left him limited in recent practices.

Mike Triplett of The Times-Picayune believes Martin, who tallied 8.5 sacks during his senior season at Nebraska, has the best shot of any undrafted rookie to make the 53-man roster when the preseason ends.

“Not only has he shown his dynamic ability as a pass rusher, but he has also shown his prowess as a hammer on special teams—another strength of his in college,” Triplett wrote.

Chad Bumphis, Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins seem set at receiver with Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson.

But you can never have enough depth at the position, considering how unpredictable injuries can be. Here’s where undrafted rookie Chad Bumphis could surprise by landing on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster.

Behind Miami’s top three receivers, the rest of the position group is up for grabs. Bumphis has done his part by impressing the coaching staff thus far.

“I know one thing,” head coach Joe Philbin said, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “No. 16 [Bumphis] is catching a lot of passes. Chad is a good football player.”

Bumphis finished Miami’s first preseason game with five catches for 85 yards. He’s hoping to wind up in the rotation as a slot receiver, something the 5’10” rookie did in college at Mississippi State. As a senior, he caught 58 passes for 922 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“To play that slot receiver, you have to be nifty and crafty,” offensive coordinator Mike Sherman told the Herald. “He appears to be that.”

Brandon Magee, Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys believe they got a steal by signing Brandon Magee, an outside linebacker out of Arizona State.

The team’s website noted that the Cowboys had a fourth-round grade on Magee, even though they didn’t select him in the 2013 draft. It’s plausible Magee went undrafted due to an Achilles injury sustained a year ago. Even so, the Cowboys were able to wind up with him in the end.

He hasn’t disappointed this preseason.

With the Cowboys moving to a 4-3, Tampa 2-based defense under new coordinator Monte Kiffin, there’s some thinking that Magee might contribute a good bit.  Against Miami in Dallas’ preseason opener, Magee tallied six total tackles, and he could wind up being Sean Lee’s backup, according to Calvin Watkins of ESPN Dallas.

Magee also has some special-teams value, which is another reason why he’s practically a shoo-in to make the roster. Oh, plus the fact the Cowboys gave him a guarantee of $70,000 as an undrafted rookie, more than any seventh-round draft pick saw from a year ago in the 2012 draft.