2025 Undrafted Free Agents NFL Teams May Regret Passing on

The 2025 NFL draft ended on Saturday, but teams did not stop adding rookie talent at the bottom of Round 7. In the days since the draft, many notable prospects have found NFL homes as undrafted free agents.

Undrafted free agents aren't guaranteed roster spots the way early-round draft picks typically are. However, many of them will stick, and some will even emerge as high-level contributors.

2023 undrafted free agent Ivan Pace Jr., for example, has appeared in 28 games with 21 starts at linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings over the past two seasons and has tallied 174 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions.

There are probably several teams kicking themselves for not taking a late-round flier on Pace two years ago, and some may feel similarly about a few of this year's undrafted free agents.

Here, we'll examine five who could—and probably should—have been drafted last week, what they can offer their new teams in 2025 and why others may regret passing on them.

TE Jake Briningstool, Clemson

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Former Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool may have landed in the perfect situation. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, meaning he should get an early opportunity to chase the playoffs with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the defending AFC champions.

Briningstool will also get to develop with Kelce and in an Andy Reid offense that regularly creates mismatches with tight ends. The former Tiger, who caught 49 passes for 530 yards and seven touchdowns last season, has legitimate mismatch potential.

The 6'6", 240-pound pass-catcher has the combination of length and ball skills to thrive as a move tight end or big slot at the pro level. He was the 112th-ranked overall prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final big board.

Don't be surprised if Briningstool makes some occasional big plays as a rookie while building toward a more featured role in the future.

"Briningstool is never truly covered because of his ability to leap over defenders and high-point passes like a power forward catching alley-oops in basketball," Dame Parson of the B/R Scouting Department wrote.

While Briningstool should be thrilled to land with Kansas City as an UFA, a few teams should be upset that they let him.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who lost Evan Engram in free agency, could have taken a chance on Briningstool with their final pick (No. 236). The Los Angeles Chargers could have grabbed him at No. 256 and developed him behind reliable but less dynamic tight ends Tyler Conklin and Will Dissly.

L.A. did use a fifth-round pick on Syracuse's Oronde Gadsden II, but Jim Harbaugh loves his tight ends and likely could have found a early role for Briningstool.

OT Logan Brown, Kansas

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The Minnesota Vikings scooped up former Kansas offensive tackle Logan Brown, and they likely got themselves a solid depth piece in the process. With a 6'6", 311-pound frame, Brown has the size, play strength and baseline athleticism needed to be a quality backup or spot starter at the NFL level.

Despite only being a one-year starter at Kansas, Brown has flashed intriguing skill as a pass protector.

"In pass protection, Brown regularly blots out tightly aligned rushers using his size, length and grip strength while flashing the ability to set on and land a stiff, jarring punch to clench up widely-aligned rushers," Brandon Thorn of the B/R Scouting Department wrote.

As soon as this season, Brown could become a reliable swing tackle for Minnesota who won't embarrass himself if called upon to play a series or two.

Other teams should have been interested in Brown, who was the 193rd-ranked prospect on the B/R board. The San Francisco 49ers, for example, have left tackle Trent Williams coming off a season-ending ankle injury and have an average right tackle in Colton McKivitz. They made 11 total picks over draft weekend (last at No. 252) but didn't use a single selection on a tackle.

The New England Patriots used the fourth overall pick on LSU tackle Will Campbell, but given their need to protect Drake Maye, they could have made Brown Mr. Irrelevant (pick No. 257) instead of Memphis defensive back Kobee Minor.

IOL Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State

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In recent years, the Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to draft and develop young offensive linemen. That doesn't mean, however, that Cincinnati doesn't make the occasional smart move regarding prospects.

The Bengals signed former Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin after the draft, which was a brilliant decision. Though the 23-year-old is coming off a torn Achilles, he brings plenty of ability and experience to the proverbial table.

McLaughlin was a three-year starter at Alabama and Ohio State, won two national titles and was named a 2024 Outland Trophy semifinalist. He was the 87th-ranked prospect on the B/R Scouting Department's board and likely would have been drafted accordingly if not for the injury.

"McLaughlin is an older prospect coming off a major lower leg injury with solid athletic ability and the mental makeup, build, play strength and technical savvy to compete for the pivot job when healthy and stick as a starter long-term in a multiple run scheme," Thorn wrote.

Because of the injury, McLaughlin may not compete for a starting job this season. However, he has the potential to eventually take over for Ted Karras, who is entering the final year of his contract.

The Atlanta Falcons, who lost center Drew Dalman in free agency, could have considered McLaughlin with their final pick (No. 218). The Cleveland Browns traded away their sixth- and seventh-round picks ahead of the draft but could have considered trading back into Round 7 for a crack at McLaughlin.

Cleveland has a habit of targeting in-state prospects, and center Ethan Pocic is entering the final year of his contract.

CB Cobee Bryant, Kansas

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The Falcons didn't snag McGlaughlin, but they got an equally impressive rookie when they signed Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant as an undrafted free agent just after the draft ended.

Bryant was the 69th-ranked overall prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final board and a prospect who could play his way into a prominent role early.

"Bryant projects as a middle-round pick with the potential to develop into a starter with proper refinement," Cory Giddings of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "His ball skills and athletic upside give him a high ceiling, but he will need to improve his technique, transitions, and top-end speed to succeed at the next level."

Bryant, who was a three-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, could be a rookie starter and should have interested most teams in need of secondary help during the draft.

The Bengals, who ranked 21st in passing yards allowed last season, didn't use a single selection on a defensive back. Cincinnati could have had Bryant with the 193rd pick instead of using that selection on Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks.

The Miami Dolphins could have used their final pick (No. 253) to add Bryant as insurance at corner. Miami did use a fifth-round pick on Florida corner Jason Marshall Jr. However, the Dolphins are still looking to trade cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

"Whenever it happens, we will make the deal at the appropriate time," general manager Chris Grier said of a Ramsey trade after the draft, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Naturally, Bryant wouldn't outright replace Ramsey, but he could have helped.

Edge Jared Ivey, Mississippi

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Teams are almost always in the market for edge-defenders, yet Mississippi's Jared Ivey slid all the way through the draft before he was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent.

Seattle is a solid landing spot for the 23-year-old, who was the 91st-ranked overall prospect on the final B/R board. The Seahawks can develop him slowly behind veterans like DeMarcus Lawrence, Leonard Williams and Boye Mafe. Yet, Ivey should still contribute as a situational edge-defender sooner than later.

The 6'6", 283-pound Ivey emerged as a disruptive defender after transferring from Georgia Tech to Mississippi in 2022. Over his last two seasons, he recorded 12.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. He logged 165 total tackles and 80 solo stops across 58 collegiate games.

While Ivey may not have the burst or the athletic upside to be a high-level pass-rusher at the NFL level, he can be a reliable edge-setter who occasionally gets to the quarterback.

"Overall, Ivey can at least be a good two-down player who is a starter during his rookie contract, especially as an even-front defensive end," Matt Holder of the B/R Scouting Department wrote.

The Detroit Lions should have taken a look at Ivey with their final pick (No. 244). Detroit is still searching for edge depth behind Aidan Hutchinson and didn't add an edge-defender before taking Boise State's Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round.

The Baltimore Ravens came into the draft needing to get younger on the edge. While they used their second-round pick on Marshall's Mike Green, they could have doubled down and snapped up Ivey late in Round 7 (No. 243).