Jeff Caldwell 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Kansas City Chiefs WR

The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly signing Cincinnati WR Jeff Caldwell as an undrafted rookie free-agent, per SI.com's Justin M.

Jeff Caldwell is a long-limbed, straight-line athlete with developmental traits and upside. He checks the boxes for teams in need of a height/weight/speed receiver to develop.

Caldwell enrolled at Lindenwood as a former 0-star recruit in the 2021 class. During three seasons with the Lions, he accounted for 1,751 total receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. He transferred to Cincinnati ahead of the 2025 campaign, where his production dipped to finish his collegiate career.

The senior prospect is a long-strider, who eats up grass with every step if given a free release without restrictions. Still, Caldwell is an unrefined route-runner who needs to expand his route tree.

Dame Parson is the lead host of the Locked On NFL Draft podcast. He also serves as co-host of the Scouting Room NFL Podcast alongside Daniel Harms.

Highlights

Jeff Caldwell Highlights

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Scroll down for the complete scouting report.

Where He Wins

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- Lengthy stride to gallop past flat-footed defenders.

- A large target in the red zone with a knack for scoring touchdowns.

- Elite window-extending catch radius. He offers a quarterback-friendly frame to target down the field.

- Good deceleration ability on curls and comeback routes with proper timing to create space at the break point. Sinks his hips well for a receiver of his stature.

- Field awareness on the sidelines to make toe-tapping grabs with good body control.

- Makes difficult or spectacular catches look routine.

Areas of Improvement

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- Has struggled with concentration drops throughout his career.

- Questionable play-strength during contested-catch situations. He lacks the aggressiveness or suddenness to make catches through contact.

- Vertical stems lack explosion or urgency to consistently deceive corners.

- Struggles to stack and separate against press-aligned corners.

- Size is rarely utilized to box out corners and create space for easier catch opportunities.

- Route tree is simple and lacks diversity.

Grade, Rank, and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 6.23 (Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: Jacob Cowing (6.3 in 2024), Tahj Washington (6.3 in 2024), Dontay Demus Jr. (6.3 in 2023)

OVERALL RANK: 199

POSITION RANK: WR28

PRO COMPARISON: Matt Landers

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'5"
Weight: 216
Hand: 9¾"
Arm: 32⅝"
Wingspan: 78⅛

40-Yard Dash: 4.31
3-Cone: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Vertical: 42"
Broad: 11'2"
Bench Press: N/A