Undrafted Free Agents 2015: Updated Outlook on Most Intriguing Prospects

Following the 2015 NFL draft, there was another "draft" of sorts as teams rushed to sign the top players who were not selected. Many found homes almost immediately, while others are still weighing their options.

Among the notable players who have already been scooped up are Alabama quarterback Blake Sims, Texas running back Malcolm Brown and Auburn quarterback-turned-cornerback Nick Marshall. A number of undrafted free agents find a way to be important parts of NFL teams on a yearly basis, and based on the amount of talent that was available following the draft, that trend promises to continue.

As teams pick through the remainder of the undrafted free-agent class and attempt to unearth a gem, here is a closer look at some of the most intriguing players remaining in the pool.

Brandon Bridge

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Among the quarterbacks who were available in the latter stages of this year's draft, few were more interesting and brimming with talent than South Alabama's Brandon Bridge.

The 6'4" signal-caller from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, had an up-and-down season in his first full year as a starter in 2014, but he did manage 19 total touchdowns and showed some flashes of brilliance for the Jaguars.

It was initially reported that the big Canadian had signed a free-agent deal with the Detroit Lions, but that was premature, according to Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon:

Bridge remains available on the open market, and he is a player quarterback-needy teams should certainly take a long look at. ESPN's Adam Caplan believed he was worth a flier late in the draft due to his impressive physical tools:

NFL Network's Charles Davis echoed that sentiment and even vouched for Bridge's character as well:

In addition to that, Bridge is motivated by representing Canada in the NFL. Per Bill O'Hare of BuffaloBills.com, he wants to erase the stigma attached to Canadian quarterbacks and prove that they are capable of getting the job done at the highest level.

"I mean, that's just a chip on the shoulder. You want to prove them wrong," Bridge said. "The last one to do it was Jesse Palmer, I believe, and I definitely want to be in the same category with him—hopefully play in the NFL, and put Toronto on the map, showing that we have the talent."

There is no question that Bridge has talent, and while most seem to agree that he needs a lot of work before becoming a viable NFL quarterback, he is an athletic, tools-laden guy who is at least worth a spot on the practice squad.

Based on how starved organizations are for quarterbacks these days, it shouldn't be much longer before Bridge lands a deal.

La'el Collins

The LSU offensive lineman almost certainly would have been a first-round pick had off-field concerns not scared teams away from committing to him. He is now there for the taking on the undrafted free-agent market, and it is likely that a ton of teams will be interested in his services.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Collins has been sought for questioning by Baton Rouge, Louisiana, police in the shooting death of a 29-year-old woman. That woman is believed to be Collins' ex-girlfriend, and while he is not considered a suspect, authorities still want to speak with him.

That was enough to dissuade teams from drafting the big offensive tackle, but once concern is alleviated, assuming he is cleared, things should pick up for him in terms of offers.

Per ESPN's Andrew Brandt, the expectation is that Collins will start the process of deciding where he will sign after meeting with police Monday:

There was some talk regarding Collins potentially re-entering the draft in 2016, but as pointed out by NFL.com's Gil Brandt, that isn't an option due to the fact that he went undrafted:

While this is far from an ideal situation for a player who was projected to be among the top 25 to 30 players off the board, Collins is now in a somewhat advantageous spot.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, Collins can now pick and choose where he wants to go, reach free agency a year earlier than drafted players and potentially make more money than some early picks:

"

Masterstroke for La'El Collins going un-drafted vs. Had he been selected in late rounds. Stands to benefit immensely...

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) May 2, 2015"

As tough as it may be for Collins to have gone undrafted, he may stand to benefit from this experience down the road.

The fact that he has the final say on where he ultimately lands means he could potentially come in and start immediately as an undrafted free agent. That is fairly uncommon, but Collins finds himself in a rare situation, and the manner in which it plays out will undoubtedly be closely monitored by football fans everywhere.

Taylor Kelly

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The 2015 draft was fairly light on quarterbacks being selected, and one of the biggest names to slip through the cracks was Arizona State's Taylor Kelly.

He enjoyed a great deal of success with the Sun Devils, as he threw for a total of 57 touchdowns combined in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. His play dropped off a bit as a senior, with just 22 touchdowns and 2,114 yards, but he battled through injury and missed three games.

With that said, few quarterbacks in the draft had as much starting experience as Kelly. In terms of size and physical tools, though, Kelly is somewhat lacking.

He stands only 6'1", and his arm strength is somewhat suspect. There were also mixed feelings regarding his ability from some of his wide receivers, according to Brad Denny of AZFamily.com:

Kelly does have some qualities that set him apart from other signal-callers, however. For starters, he is a very capable runner, as evidenced by his more than 1,000 combined rushing yards between the 2012 and 2013 campaigns. He also ran for nine touchdowns in 2013, so he brings an extra dimension that most other quarterbacks don't.

Also, Kelly is extremely intelligent, as evidenced by this tweet courtesy of AZCentral.com's Doug Haller:

While Kelly doesn't have the type of frame and big arm that scouts look for, that isn't the only type of quarterback that can succeed in the NFL. Kelly is a crafty passer who finds a way to get the job done despite his shortcomings.

There is no doubt that the Eagle, Idaho, native faces an uphill climb when it comes to catching on with an NFL team, but he has the intangibles to make it happen.

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