“First you start, then you get better.” This was a recent trend on social media, with people showing when they started doing something (a hobby or going to the gym) and how they are now. This can also apply to the NFL, with sayings like “it’s not how you start, it’s what you do when you’re there”.
It’s easy to think that not being drafted is the end of the road for a player, but it’s quite the opposite. A recent study by Breanna Wright and Major Bottoms Jr. shows that undrafted players have similar success rates to third-round selections.
Besides the data, legends like Kurt Warner, John Randle, James Harrison, Antonio Gates, and many others serve as inspiration for those who didn’t get a call during Draft weekend. With rookie minicamps now behind us, let’s see who could be the next great undrafted free agent.
Arizona Cardinals: Valentin Senn, OT, Connecticut
A part of the International Pathway Program (IPP), Valentin is originally from Austria. He started over 40 games at left tackle during his college career. Senn isn’t a particularly good athlete, but had a good production in Connecticut, not allowing a sack in his last season and earning an 80.9 PFF run-blocking grade.
Atlanta Falcons: Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas
I was surprised when I saw that Bryant wasn’t selected in the Draft. The Falcons had a troublesome secondary in 2024, which could open up a door for Cobee Bryant. He is an aggressive corner who loves contact, for better or worse. If he can learn to control this aggressiveness to avoid penalties, he could see some snaps as a rookie alongside A.J. Terrell.
Baltimore Ravens: Thomas Perry, iOL, Middlebury
It can’t be a bad thing when you’re a football player and your nickname is “Thomas the Tank”. Although he played in a Division III school, he looked the part in the Shrine Bowl. Most analysts believe he should transition to center in the NFL, but with the Ravens set with Tyler Linderbaum, it will be seen if John Harbaugh gives Perry a shot at guard.
Buffalo Bills: Jacob Bayer, iOL, Arkansas State
A two-time All-Sun Belt center, Bayer plays with very strong hands, courtesy of his time as a powerlifter. He recovered from a torn ACL in just 5 months last year, missing only the first game of the season.
Carolina Panthers: Luke Kandra, iOL, Cincinnati
The Panthers invested heavily in offensive linemen in the past two years, so it’s hard to see Kandra getting immediate chances. At the very least, Kandra is a reliable depth option, not missing a game in the past two seasons. He is also a very smart player who rarely draws a penalty, and even though he won’t win every rep, he manages to lose slowly, which is fine.
Chicago Bears: Power Echols, LB, North Carolina
Echols is the typical case of production over traits. He isn’t a bad athlete, but also nothing spectacular. He improved a lot in coverage as a senior, defending 7 passes (6 in the past three years combined) and had almost 300 tackles in his three years as a starter for North Carolina, with 13 for loss.
Cincinnati Bengals: Seth McLaughlin, iOL, Ohio State
It’s not every day we see a starter for Nick Saban in Alabama transferring out, but that’s the route McLaughlin chose when he left Tuscaloosa for Columbus. The 2024 Rimington Trophy winner, he was viewed as one of the best centers in the country. Sadly, an Achilles injury caused him to miss the last six games of the season and should keep him out of at least part of training camp. With Ted Karras in the last year of his deal, the Bengals could use this year to “redshirt” McLaughlin while he rehabs.
Cleveland Browns: Donovan McMillon, DB, Pittsburgh
McMillon can quickly become a run stopper from the safety position, as this is what he did in Pittsburgh. If he wants to be a dependable starting safety, he will need to improve his coverage, though. He has the athleticism to recover and play deep safety, but struggled with this task. He’ll probably have a role playing closer to the line, as he’s strong enough to disengage from wide receivers and quick to avoid offensive linemen.
Dallas Cowboys: Alijah Clark, DB, Syracuse
A very versatile safety, Clark could become a chess piece on a Cowboys’ defense that should be good. He aligned almost everywhere in Syracuse’s backfield, and this is something that defensive coordinators usually love.
Denver Broncos: Xavier Truss, OT, Georgia
Mostly a right tackle in the last two seasons, Truss also has experience inside. It’s unlikely he will push to start at RT with Mike McGlinchey on the roster, but he could go back to left guard, where he played in 2022, and compete for the backup spot or even for the starting job in 2026.
Detroit Lions: Caden Prieskorn, TE, Ole Miss
A former quarterback, Prieskorn is probably one of the last rookies ever born in the last century. His motor should bode well with the culture Dan Campbell built in Detroit. His willingness to block and versatility to also play fullback could give him a roster spot in 2025, giving him a chance to gain more experience at the tight end position.
Green Bay Packers: Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Georgia
Stackhouse had a very clear role for the Bulldogs’ defense: eat space. And he did that to perfection. His block-shedding is surprisingly not very good, but his ability to stop offensive linemen from climbing to the second level paved the way for the linebackers and safeties to make plays. Even in a very good DT room, Nazir Stackhouse could get some snaps in obvious running situations.
Houston Texans: Daniel Jackson, WR, Minnesota
One of the most productive receivers in Gophers’ history, Jackson had a very impressive highlight reel in college, constantly making spectacular catches. However, if you look past the great back-shoulder catches, he also had a lot of drops. He can be a weapon in the NFL, but his hands will need to be better if he wants to catch passes from C.J. Stroud.
Indianapolis Colts: Blayne Taylor, WR, Abilene Christian
Although in a small school, Taylor has the athletic profile that teams want in a wide receiver. He’s listed at 6’5 on ESPN and has over 81″ of wingspan. Pair that size with a 4.44s 40-yard dash on his Pro Day. His best chance to earn a roster spot would be in special teams (as is the case with undrafted free agents), as the Colts look to have their wide receivers set.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Seth Henigan, QB, Memphis
I know it makes little sense to put a QB for the Jaguars when they have Trevor Lawrence and just paid Nick Mullens to be the backup. Still, Henigan could win the fight for QB3 as a rookie and become the QB2 in 2026. Henigan’s ability to buy time in the pocket, quickly diagnose, and play on time is what makes him the perfect backup.
Kansas City Chiefs: Jake Briningstool, TE, Clemson
I know it’s hard for Chiefs’ fans, but Travis Kelce won’t play forever. His replacement probably isn’t an undrafted tight end, but Briningstool could at least help carry the torch while the team searches for Kelce’s replacement. He will have to fight with Jared Wiley and Robert Tonyan, but Briningstool’s athletic upside should intrigue HC Andy Reid.
Las Vegas Raiders: Jah Joyner, EDGE, Minnesota
If I said earlier that Power Echols was production over traits, fewer players on this list have better traits than Jah Joyner. He was late seeing the field in Minnesota due to having two very good players on the roster, but Joyner had the chance to show flashes in 2023 and 2024.
Los Angeles Chargers: Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina
Yes, the Chargers signed Najee Harris and drafted Omarion Hampton in the first round. They still need an RB3. He first started as a wide receiver for Arkansas, before switching to RB and transferring to South Carolina for his senior season. He is patient enough to wait for blocks to develop, but is still raw as a runner, particularly with his pad level. His ability as a wide receiver will make him a fun, gadget player for offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
Los Angeles Rams: Willie Lampkin, iOL, North Carolina
Lampkin was one of my overall favorite players in this class. His mechanics and techniques are a must-see for young offensive linemen, and I was really hoping for him to get drafted. However, his 5’11, 279 lbs frame was too much to overcome. If he were just a little bit bigger, is likely Lampkin would be drafted on Friday. If he can show up at training camp, I have no doubt that Sean McVay will eventually give him a chance.
Miami Dolphins: Jalin Conyers, TE, Texas Tech
Conyers is another tight end with a basketball background. And the athleticism is displayed all over his tape, giving him a good upside in the pros. He is still very raw at the position, both blocking and running routes. If the Miami Dolphins’ staff helps him to develop, he could display the same versatility he had in college for HC Mike McDaniel.
Minnesota Vikings: Logan Brown, OT, Kansas
It’s probably because I’m a Vikings fan, so I pay more attention, but it was hard picking just one UDFA for them. The Vikings haven’t shied away from using the undrafted pool, signing Ivan Pace in 2023, and giving top UDFA money for Dwight McGlothern and Gabriel Murphy in 2024. A former 5-star recruit, Logan Brown highlights the 2025 UDFAs in Minnesota. Brown has the athletic ability and technique to be a starter in the league, but a fight with a teammate got him kicked out of Wisconsin in 2023.
New England Patriots: Efton Chism III, WR, Eastern Washington
It’s very fitting that Chism ended up on the team that had Wes Welker and Julius Edelman for years. I’m not comparing Chism to them, mostly because it would be very unfair, but he has the same style of play. He’s a very crafty route runner with reliable hands, also playing bigger than his size. He won’t make the spectacular 40-yard catch downfield, but he will make the tough 5-yard catch to move the chains on 3rd down.
New Orleans Saints: Marcus Yarns, RB, Delaware
Yarns is a typical outside run back. He’s very explosive and has home-run speed. If he’s able to bounce the run outside, it’s tough for the defense to catch him. The problem is that he has poor vision inside the tackles and sometimes forces things outside. Yarn also showed the capability to be a factor in the passing game and could also be a threat as a returner on special teams.
New York Giants: Da’Quan Felton, WR, Virginia Tech
Felton has what you can teach. His combo of size and play speed is rare, capable of running fast and moving quickly at 6’5 and 214 lbs. He needs to work on his release and route running, but his athleticism and hands will make him a candidate on a roster in need of a wide receiver opposite Malik Nabers.
New York Jets: Ja’Markis Weston, EDGE, Florida
I tried my best to select players who could also have an impact on offense/defense, even if only down the line. But Weston is so good on special teams that he deserved to be on the list. Florida listed him as an edge rusher in 2024, but he was also a receiver, safety, and linebacker. He was also the best gunner in college football and should immediately make an impact in the NFL in this role. He could be someone who plays in the league for over a decade without a single snap on defense.
Philadelphia Eagles: Montrell Johnson, RB, Florida
Johnson is very used to not being the focal point in the running game, sharing carries during his time in Gainesville. No one will ever be the starting back in Philly while Saquon Barkley is there, and there also won’t be a running back committee. What Johnson can do is fight for the RB3 (or even RB2) job while showing up on special teams to solidify his spot on the roster.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Sebastian Castro, DB, Iowa
I know this is an analogy few will understand, but Castro reminds me of former Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. Busquets was never the best athlete, actually quite the opposite. But what he lacked physically, he compensated mentally, positioning himself in the best possible spot to disrupt the play.
San Francisco 49ers: Isaiah Neyor, WR, Nebraska
If I said earlier that Da’Quan Felton had a rare combo of size and athleticism, Neyor is even better. The problem is that he is just as inconsistent as he is athletically gifted. If he reaches his ceiling, the 49ers will have found an absolute gem in the undrafted free agent pool, as Neyor could be one of the best WR in the league.
Seattle Seahawks: Zy Alexander, CB, LSU
Alexander had an unusual route in college, starting as a quarterback before switching to corner in SE Louisiana. After three seasons in the FCS, LSU decided to take a chance on him. He shone in his two seasons at Baton Rouge, showing he can be on an NFL team. He isn’t fast, but his long stride compensates for it, and he will struggle against faster NFL players. Mike McDonald has a good reputation for developing defensive players, so Alexander is in one of the best places possible.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Desmond Watson, DT, Florida
He won’t play at his current 464 lbs weight, but likely, Watson will still be the heaviest player in NFL history after he sheds some pounds. The Bucs already have an outstanding defensive tackle in Vita Vea, so he won’t be the starter any time soon. What he can do, however, is be an immovable object in the middle of the line, opening up space for the likes of Vea, Haason Reddick, Lavonte David, and Antoine Winfield.
Tennessee Titans: Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami (FL)
Restrepo is the most surprising player on the list, in my opinion. He is a tough player who will turn a 3-yard catch into an 8-yard gain constantly. He is likely set to a slot receiver role, but this doesn’t mean he can’t excel and be impactful doing this. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up his rookie season as one of Cam Ward’s favorite targets.
Washington Commanders: Timothy McKay, iOL, North Carolina State
McKay’s footwork suits him best for the inside, in my opinion. In a phone booth, he can use every part of his frame to lock defenders in pass protection, and he fires off the snap in the run game. McKay isn’t the best athlete in the world, but he has enough athletic ability to play in the NFL. The Commanders have a need in the interior of the offensive line. If Todd McKay becomes more consistent snap over snap, he could force a role on a young, ascending team.
