Undrafted Free Agents Who Should Command Your Attention This Offseason

For undrafted free agents, landing a spot on a final 53-man roster comes down to taking advantage of the limited opportunities during camp and the preseason schedule.

Unlike the top drafted players—or a first-round talent like La'el Collins, who went undrafted because of off-field concerns—the majority of college free agents have to produce with very few reps in practice if they want to earn snaps in August during the preseason games. Coaches and the front office won't be offering any sense of security. These guys have to flash on the field, make plays or show up on special teams to push a veteran—or a late-round draft pick—off the roster.

And they have to stay healthy. Miss a couple of practices in camp, and these rookies start to tumble down the depth chart. Availability is the key.

With rookie camps opening up this weekend, here are five undrafted players I'm going to keep an eye on throughout the offseason schedule, based on their skill sets, projected talent and roster situation.

Titans FS Cody Prewitt (Ole Miss)

I was a little surprised when Prewitt went undrafted, given his size (6'2", 208 lbs), speed (4.47 at pro day) and the SEC production he put on tape as a four-year starter at Ole Miss. In a weak safety class, with a Senior Bowl invite, I expected Prewitt to come off the board on Day 3 to a team looking for a middle-of-the-field safety who could develop into a starter in the NFL.

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Prewitt was ultra competitive when I watched him practice during Senior Bowl workouts, especially in red-zone one-on-one drills, where he challenged every route and competed hard with former Miami tight end and Raiders draft pick Clive Walford. I don't think Prewitt is a true "plus" athlete on the field, but he has plenty of length and enough range to improve his game speed with experience in the pros.

The key for Prewitt to making the cut will be special teams. That's the ticket for any late-round or undrafted defensive back. If he can show straight-line, stopwatch speed covering kicks, play on the front line of kickoff returns and make plays as a wing (or gunner) on punt coverage, he will get more reps in the preseason to show his value at safety.

Jets TE Wes Saxton (South Alabama)

Saxton is the perfect example of what teams look for in undrafted free agents. For a tight end, he has NFL size (6'3", 248 lbs), speed (4.65 40 time) and functional athleticism (36" vertical jump), but he needs work as a route-runner to make a team and produce in the NFL.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Like Prewitt, I expected Saxton to come off the board in the late stages of the draft (Rounds 6 or 7) based purely on size and speed. He could project as an H-Back in two-tight-end sets, where he can align off the ball and run the quick, short-to-intermediate routes in the middle of the field. That's where he can use his athletic ability to win some matchups.

Given the unsteady ground of the Jets' quarterback situation, adding another pass-catching tight end behind Jace Amaro can be looked at as a positive if Saxton makes the transition versus pro competition in camp. The athleticism displayed gives him a good shot to make this team.

Jaguars CB Nick Marshall (Auburn)

I had questions on Marshall making the switch from quarterback to the defensive secondary, but he looked really smooth on the practice field at the Senior Bowl. At 6'1", 207 pounds, he is a natural athlete who plays with balance, displays pretty good footwork and has the change-of-direction ability to compete on the field.

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Marshall's learning curve is something to focus on here when he lines up versus NFL wideouts this summer. He's not a burner (4.54 40 time) and will have to rely on technique to win in the pros. Plus, can he become a game-day contributor on special teams? That's a direct ticket to making the club for a prospect like Marshall.

Jaguars defensive back coach DeWayne Walker is one of the best in the NFL. He is a true teacher in the secondary. The way I see it, this is an ideal landing spot for Marshall as he gets to work with a coach who will push him to develop his eyes, footwork and overall technique during the offseason.

Texans OLB/DE Lynden Trail (Norfolk State)

Trail makes this list because of his measurables (6'7", 269 lbs, 34 7/8" arms) and the super raw talent he could bring to an NFL team. I watched him at the Senior Bowl, where he played as an outside linebacker, rushed off the edge and even made some plays lined up at tight end in the red zone.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

As an outside linebacker in a 3-4 front, Trail has the athletic ability, but his technique is very underdeveloped. He needs pro coaching, reps and as many opportunities as he can get with the Texans as a stand-up linebacker or rushing off the edge as a defensive end in a possible sub-package situation.

Trail might benefit from a year on the practice squad, where he can work his technique during the season, improve his functional strength in the weight room and learn from the vets when it comes to defeating blocks, using his hands on contact and creating leverage at the point of attack. However, the raw ability here is the key, and pro coaches love the challenge of developing a rookie like Trail.

Rams DT Louis Trinca-Pasat (Iowa)

Trinca-Pasat doesn't have the ideal NFL frame (6'1", 290 lbs) on the interior of the defensive line or the athletic testing numbers that are going to jump off the page, but the former Hawkeye can play. He's old-school, relying on power at the point of attack, consistent hustle and aggressiveness against the run.

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The three-year starter in Iowa City has to show the Rams—a team with one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL—that he can hold down a spot as a rotational tackle for coordinator Gregg Williams. Trinca-Pasat is the type of player who never stops competing, and that sells with Williams, a coach who preaches effort and speed to the ball on every snap. You don't want to take a play off for this guy.

Trinca-Pasat might not have the flash of many of the defensive tackles who were drafted last weekend, but after watching him play back at Iowa and talking with his coaches, this is a rookie to keep an eye on over the summer. He could find a role in St. Louis if he plays with leverage and shows the ability to handle one-on-one matchups.

Five more undrafted free agents to watch:

- Dolphins LB Mike Hull (Penn State)

- Cowboys WR Antwan Goodley (Baylor)

- Bears QB Shane Carden (East Carolina)

- Packers CB/FS Ladarius Gunter (Miami)

- Vikings SS Anthony Harris (Virginia) 

Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.

Follow @MattBowen41