Undrafted Free Agents 2016: Vernon Adams Rumors, Predictions for Signed Players

NFL fans across the country have spent the days following the 2016 draft dissecting the players their teams landed and figuring out which impact rookies to pick when their fantasy leagues roll around. However, some of the top talent from the college game last season went undrafted.

Playmakers such as Oregon’s Vernon Adams, Alabama’s Jacob Coker, Kansas State’s Glenn Gronkowski, Ohio State’s Jalin Marshall and Duke’s Jeremy Cash were undrafted free agents once the seven-round spectacle came to a close in Chicago on Saturday. 

Coker, Gronkowski, Marshall and Cash have all reportedly been signed since they went undrafted, while Adams’ immediate future has been the subject of some speculation.

With that in mind, here is a look at the full draft results before digging into the latest rumors surrounding Adams and some predictions for a few of the players already signed.

Vernon Adams Rumors and Outlook

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

Rand Getlin of NFL Network provided a glimpse at Adams’ future after he wasn’t picked: “I'm told Oregon QB [Adams] will be in Renton next week for a rookie minicamp tryout with the Seahawks.”

Getlin also reported the former Oregon signal-caller had a tryout planned with Washington after he was done with Seattle.

The fact Adams already has multiple tryouts scheduled is welcome news for football fans hoping to see him on the field again this fall.

He started his career at Eastern Washington and threw for more than 10,000 yards and 110 touchdowns, per his NFL.com draft profile. He transferred to Oregon and worked through some injury concerns, but he still tallied 26 touchdown passes to only six interceptions and helped fill the shoes of former Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.

Adams doesn’t bring the same type of speed as Mariota, but he is a solid decision-maker (hence the low interception total), and he can escape pressure in the pocket and progress through his receivers with relative ease. He has solid touch on his deep ball as well.

The Pac-12 Network shared a look at some of his accolades:

Confidence is not a concern, either, considering Adams appeared on The Dan Patrick Show and said this when asked if he is better than No. 1 pick Jared Goff: “Honestly, if I’m not as good as him, I am better than him. I’m not going to sit here and say he’s better than me because there’s nothing that he’s doing that I can’t do.”

Adams did beat Goff in their head-to-head showdown last season, 44-28, and threw for four touchdowns and ran for another in the process.

David Steele of Sporting News called Adams the “most notable snub this year” when he wasn’t picked based on his playmaking ability and tendency to come through when the lights are on for big games.

Perhaps the biggest concern with Adams is his height. His NFL.com draft profile listed him at 5’11”, but the fact the Seahawks are one of the teams trying him out is noteworthy. Russell Wilson is also listed at 5’11” on the Seahawks’ official website, which means this team knows something about experiencing success with undersized quarterbacks who were overlooked on draft day (Wilson was a third-round pick). 

If Adams impresses in meetings and tryouts, look for Seattle to take a flier on the former Oregon Duck, especially since Wilson can mentor him as someone who was asked similar questions going through his predraft process.

Predictions for Notable Signed Free Agents

Jacob Coker

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Gil Brandt of NFL.com said Coker will sign with the Arizona Cardinals. One thing that will help Coker make the roster is the fact he came from Alabama and understands what it is like to perform against top-notch competition in pressure-packed moments.

He was the Offensive MVP in his team’s College Football Playoff semifinals victory over Michigan State and then led the Crimson Tide to the national title with 335 passing yards against Clemson.

The Cardinals are looking to compete for a Super Bowl in 2016 after falling short in the NFC Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers. They need quarterback depth that is accustomed to winning in those pressure-packed situations in case Carson Palmer goes down with injury, and Coker fits the bill.

Prediction: Coker makes the roster for Arizona.

Glenn Gronkowski

Brandt said Gronkowski will sign with the Buffalo Bills, and the thing that jumps out about the Kansas State product is his pedigree.

Bills coach Rex Ryan knows how talented the Gronkowski family is from years of being burned by Glenn’s brother Rob in the AFC East with both Buffalo and the New York Jets. He probably jumped at the chance to get a Gronkowski on his team.

Gronkowski played fullback for the Wildcats, but he was also a solid pass-catcher near the goal line. Between his ability to split out as a tight end if necessary and his family name, look for Gronkowski to crack the Buffalo roster before the 2016 season. 

Prediction: Gronkowski makes the Bills. 

Jalin Marshall

Paul Vernon/Associated Press

Brandt said Marshall will sign with the New York Jets after he wasn’t drafted.

The same things about playing in a big-school environment and pressure-packed situations that applied to Coker can also be said about Marshall. The wide receiver helped Ohio State win the national title during the 2014 campaign as both a pass-catcher and dynamic punt returner, and he essentially saved the season with four total touchdowns in a tightly contested November win over Indiana.

Marshall brings plenty of versatility to the table as a special teams contributor and receiver. In fact, he was even a quarterback in high school and could theoretically throw the ball on trick plays.

Prediction: That versatility will help Marshall land a special teams role for the Jets this season.

Jeremy Cash

Brandt said Cash will sign with the Carolina Panthers.

The fact Cash wasn’t picked at all was one of the real surprises of the draft. He was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year last season for Duke and a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller even ranked him as the second-best strong safety available in the draft—behind only Florida’s Keanu Neal, who was a first-round pick on Thursday—and said he was a second- or third-round pick and a “future starter.”

Cash simply has too much talent not to make a team this year, and the Panthers will be glad they signed him at some point this season.

Prediction: Cash makes the Panthers and sees the field at times in 2016.