Analysis of the Notable 2025 UDFA Signings
Every year, hundreds of players who hoped to hear their names called go undrafted. This is not the end of their journey, however. Many of these players will be signed by NFL teams and given a chance to make their rosters; many of them will do just that. There are actually more UDFAs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame than first-round picks. The fact that there are multiple UDFAs for every first-round pick helps their chances, but the underlying point remains: you can make it in the NFL as UDFA. In the sections below, I list the notable 2025 UDFA signings accomplished by each team (in alphabetical order) along with short commentaries.
I actually feel that a UDFA is in a better position than a 7th-round pick. I know that every player wants to be drafted, but a UDFA can pick his situation instead of having it dictated to him. His contract will also be shorter by a year (3 years vs. 4 years), enabling him to hit free agency sooner and cash in if he flourishes. For all these reasons, it’s important to get to know some of the UDFAs being signed this week and over the next couple of months. These players were either expected to be drafted but passed over or players who were simply undervalued by teams and need just one opportunity to prove themselves.
I’ll stop rambling here; let’s get to the signings! If I missed anyone, please let me know in the comments! I tried to discuss at least one player for each team. This post may be updated if more notable UDFAs sign, so check back occasionally.
Arizona Cardinals
OT Josh Fryar, Ohio State: Buckeyes linemen usually receive more attention than this. Arizona wanted Fryar badly though, handing him $269K in guaranteed money. Part of that stems from the fact that his college offensive line coach, Justin Frye, is now with the Cardinals. Fryar allowed no sacks during the 2024 CFP, and that was while playing through an injury. With 30 starts under his belt, Fryar looks like a good bet to be a quality swing tackle in the NFL.
Atlanta Falcons
WR Nick Nash, San Jose State: This one was a stunner to me. It’s rare to see an FBS player win the receiving triple crown and fail to get drafted. Nash did so despite leading the nation in catches (104), yards (1,382), and TDs (16). He did all this despite originally going to school to play QB! The 6′, 203-lb receiver is still learning how to play the position, but he already looks great in the slot. His 4.57-s 40 time is just fine at that position. I’m fulling expecting Nash to make this team and contribute immediately.
CB Cobee Bryant, Kansas: I can’t find a justification for Bryant going undrafted. His 4.53-s 40 time wasn’t amazing, but it was hardly disqualifying. I had a 4th-round grade on the 3x First-Team All-Big XII player. Bryant has size (6’0″) and excellent ball skills, finishing his career with 13 INTs. The man seems very motivated to prove people wrong, and I suspect he will.
IOL Joshua Gray, Oregon State: At least this time I know why a player went undrafted. Gray’s smaller size (299 lbs) and very short arms (31 inches) mean that he can’t stay at his former position of tackle. He might not even work out at his 2024 position of guard, though he played well there for the Beavers. I think his best spot is at center, where his athleticism can be highlighted but his physical limitations can be shielded. Atlanta never replaced Drew Dalman, who left in free agency. Maybe Gray is the guy.
Baltimore Ravens
LB Jay Higgins, Iowa: Unfortunately, my Combine losers article was dead on with this one. His athletic testing was a disaster, but I didn’t think he’d fall out of the draft entirely due to his tape. Higgins earned 295 tackles over the past two seasons and picked off 4 passes in 2024. His instincts are impressive, and he should at least be a good special teamer to start. Don’t be surprised if he makes an impact on defense sooner than later though. Skill supersedes athleticism sometimes.
Buffalo Bills
C Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State: I was hoping for a receiver out of the Bills’ UDFA class, but you can’t go wrong with more linemen. Bayer has 46 starts at Lamar and Arkansas State, and he developed into a very good pass protector. He looked good at the Senior Bowl, even against Power 4 opponents. I don’t see an immediate path for Bayer to become a starter or even a backup, but if Buffalo values line depth, they should keep him on the roster or the practice squad at minimum.
Carolina Panthers
G Luke Kandra, Cincinnati: If a guard doesn’t allow a single sack in his senior season for a Power-4 school, he deserves to be drafted. Kandra wasn’t, though he did post a zero-sack season in 2024. His run blocking was also sneaky good. On tape, I saw an overall athletic player who needs a bit more development but is already pretty good. To me, that’s a 4th-round grade. The Panthers, who are trying their best to protect QB Bryce Young, got a good one in Kandra.
K Ryan Fitzgerald, Florida State: This is the second straight year with a good UDFA kicker (Harrison Mevis, my pick for 2024, is doing quite well in the UFL). Carolina has only Matthew Wright under contract at the position, meaning that the job is up for grabs. The past two years, Fitzgerald has been exceptional, and he was a perfect 13/13 on FGs in 2024. He also hasn’t missed a PAT since 2022. This feels like a case where the rookie has the inside track for the starting role.
WR Muhsin Muhammad III, Texas A&M: Every year, we have a few legacy players that sign with their dad’s teams. Famed Panthers WR Moose Muhammad can be added to the list of proud papas. That’s the only notable thing about this signing though, as the younger Muhammad didn’t do much in college, and 6th-round rookie Jimmy Horn Jr has the inside track to a roster spot.
Chicago Bears
LB Power Echols, North Carolina: Normally, a height of 5’11” is almost disqualifying for an LB. However, the Bears must disagree if they gave Echols $130K guaranteed. He’s a very experienced player who is a tackling machine, and he earned 1 INT each season. Echols’ physical limitations may limit him to special teams, but he strikes me as someone who would be good in that role.
S/LB Major Burns, LSU: Ok, so maybe I picked these two partly because I liked their names. But they really were the most intriguing UDFAs that the Bears signed! Burns is a tweener who probably fits best at strong safety. Either way, he belongs near the line of scrimmages, where he crashes down on opposing RBs. He isn’t nearly as comfortable in coverage, but he’s a sure tackler. Chicago didn’t devote enough resources to the defense, so Burns can actually make this team.
Cincinnati Bengals
C Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State: Undrafted purely due to injury concerns, McLaughlin would’ve been selected if he hadn’t torn his Achilles last year. At Alabama, he played well as a blocker but oddly struggled snapping the football. Whatever was wrong, he fixed it at OSU. Assuming his recovery goes well, McLaughlin could be a starting center in the NFL in 2026.
Cleveland Browns
G Dartanyan Tinsley, Cincinnati: With Cleveland’s UDFAs, I specifically looked at offensive linemen. The roster is honestly pretty good in most other spots. Receiver is still a need, but the Browns didn’t do much there. Up front though, they signed Tinsley, an advanced pass protector with long (34″) arms. He isn’t as good in the run game when he has to move forward, but when he’s tasked with holding his ground, that’s where he shines. I think he has sufficient power to go along with that length. At least as a reserve, Tinsley could get a shot at replacing one of the aging veterans on Cleveland’s line down the road.
Dallas Cowboys
WR Traeshon Holden, Oregon: Since the Cowboys didn’t really sign any top-tier UDFAs, I picked one based on his position. Dallas, who needed a WR to complement CeeDee Lamb, completely ignored the position during the draft, so I was curious to see who they’d sign after the draft concluded. Holden is a big receiver (6’3″) whose speed (4.57 s) dragged his stock down. However, his college position coach, Junior Adams, is now the WR coach with Dallas. I assume he had some sway in this signing, and he knows the best way to use Holden. Maybe that will give him a leg up in his fight for a roster spot.
Denver Broncos
WR/KR Courtney Jackson, Arkansas State: Either Denver read my top 10 draftable returners article or they simply used their eyes. Jackson was the most explosive returner in the country last season. However, there’s one weird aspect to this landing spot: the Broncos already have an elite returner in Marvin Mims. That makes the fit curious unless they only use Mims on punts. Hopefully Jackson can show out on some preseason kick returns so he can latch on with a team who needs him.
OT/G Xavier Truss, Georgia: Most sites list Truss as a guard, and he does have experience there, but he started every game at RT for Georgia last year. In terms of size, he’s reminiscent of former first-round Bulldog Amarius Mims at 6’7″, though he’s considerably lighter at 309 lbs. His arm length is sufficient for a tackle at 33 inches, but I suspect that his feet are the culprit for the guard projections. Truss is a mauler, so maybe guard would be a good fit for him. Positional versatility can’t hurt though.
Detroit Lions
LB/DL Keith Cooper Jr, Houston: When a team’s UDFAs don’t seem all that notable, follow the money. Cooper received a team-high $140K in guarantees. As someone with experience at both the traditional MLB spot and on the defensive line, Cooper brings some good versatility. He racked up some disparate sacks, including 14 sacks and 8 PBUs. Coach Dan Campbell loves these rugged football players, so even if he starts on special teams, Cooper could find himself on the roster or practice squad soon.
Green Bay Packers
DT Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia: Green Bay already drafted one Georgia DT in Warren Brinson, and now they’re adding his teammate. Doubling up on Bulldog DTs worked for the Eagles, so why not? The difference is that Stackhouse is not a pass rusher by any stretch. However, he’s an excellent run defender as a true nose tackle. Green Bay tends to struggle with the run, so I love this pickup. Stackhouse can play on the first two downs before his former and current teammate subs in for the third!
LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky: The Packers landed another good UGA player, though Dumas-Johnson finished his college career with one year at Kentucky. A broken arm ended his time at Georgia, but he played really well before that. He was even a first-team All-American in 2022! Dumas-Johnson is a thumper in the run game and has some pass rushing skills (13 sacks in his career). On early downs and in subpackages, he can be a key reserve on defense while also contributing on special teams.
Houston Texans
DT Junior Tafuna, Utah: Tafuna created some buzz with a great week at the senior bowl. That’s good because he plays a traditional DT role that doesn’t stuff the stat sheet. He possesses tremendous power at the point of attack, creating room for his teammates to make plays. As a defensive head coach, DeMeco Ryans understands the value of that type of player. The Texans are fairly deep on the defensive line, but Tafuna has a chance to prove himself in a good situation.
Indianapolis Colts
K Maddux Trujillo, Temple: Frankly, the Colts gave me slim pickings here. Thus, I went with the UDFA with the best chance to make the roster. Spencer Shrader replaced Matt Gay this offseason, but he’s not a lock to win the starting job. I thought Trujillo had an erratic leg, but he has good range and could benefit from kicking in a dome. I’ll monitor this camp battle.
Jacksonville Jaguars
QB Seth Henigan, Memphis: With two FCS QBs and Graham Mertz getting drafted, I’m shocked that Henigan didn’t get picked. Trevor Lawrence isn’t at risk of losing his job, but the backup QB spot is wide open. Nick Mullens is a bit of a loose cannon, whereas Henigan is a model of consistency who started 50 college games. He could have a long career as a #2 QB.
DE Danny Striggow, Minnesota: Jah Joyner was the most-discussed Golden Gopher UDFA (see below), but Striggow got $254K guaranteed from Jacksonville, so they must really see something in him. He did have 11 sacks and 113 tackles over the past two seasons, and I liked his run defense on tape. Jacksonville didn’t really address their defensive line during the draft, so this is a golden opportunity for an unheralded player to make a splash.
Kansas City Chiefs
WR/KR Elijhah Badger, Florida: We now have 2 of my top 10 returners signed! Badger was a solid receiver in college, putting up three consecutive 700-yard seasons. I had him pegged as a late-round selection, but he wasn’t drafted at all. That’s a shame, as he can be a possession receiver and a return option. Kansas City may need his services if other options falter.
TE Jake Briningstool, Clemson: Is this Travis Kelce’s successor? I doubt it, but the Chiefs didn’t give Briningstool $234K in guarantees just to cut him. He’s tall (6’5″) with a large catch radius, and he’s at least an average blocker. Briningstool played during an odd time at Clemson without great QB play, so his numbers aren’t elite. Stats can be deceiving though, and I like KC signing him as a developmental option given their dearth of pass-catchers.
Las Vegas Raiders
EDGE Jah Joyner, Minnesota: On paper, Joyner has the profile to be an effective edge player. He’s 6’4″ and 262 lbs, and he possesses 34″ arms. However, he lacks some strength when he gets jammed, and he isn’t an elite athlete. That probably led to his fall, but the strength can be worked on. Assuming he can learn to set the edge in run defense, I like his chances of making the Raiders. Tyree Wilson hasn’t worked out, so the edge rushing spot opposite Maxx Crosby is wide open.
CB Mello Dotson, Kansas: As a longer corner at 6’1″, Dotson’s 4.57-s 40 time isn’t a deal-breaker. A 4-year starter at Kansas, Dotson led the Big XII with 5 INTs and 2 pick sixes. He’s also an aggressive run defender who is not afraid to tackle. Las Vegas curiously ignored their secondary in the draft. That makes this a fantastic landing spot for Dotson, who might see playing time.
Los Angeles Chargers
RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, South Carolina: “Rocket” lived up to his name by running a 4.47-s 40-yard dash despite being a 6’2″, 225-lb back. His best season came in 2022, when he earned 1443 yards at 6.5 YPC. Sanders did well in 2024 as well though, topping 1000 scrimmage yards and showcasing his receiving ability for the first time. As evidenced by the first-round selection of Omarion Hampton, HC Jim Harbaugh is prioritizing RBs. Sanders should have a chance to stick in LA.
QB DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State: Once an elite recruit, Uiagalelei’s time at Clemson started great before crashing spectacularly. He transferred to Oregon State, struggled, and then moved again to FSU. There, he played his worst before ending his college career injured. This signing is only notable because Uiagalelei was a 5-star recruit and a big-time name. His star has dulled considerably, and he’s not even likely to make an NFL roster with his subpar accuracy.
Los Angeles Rams
WR Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State: Undersized and resigned to the slot, Presley nonetheless became the Cowboys’ all-time leader in receptions. His run-after-catch ability led to much of his yardage, and he seems to fit the type of receiver that the Rams covet. There’s a bit of a logjam at the position, but Presley’s return skills could help him make the roster initially before carving out a role on offense.
LB Shaun Dolac, Buffalo: We talked about Dolac during the Bahamas Bowl, where we noted that his LB corps saved the Bulls’ season. The leader of that group, Dolac had insane production, with 168 tackles (and a conference-leading 19 TFLs) and 5 INTs. He’s a bit undersized as an ILB at 6’1″ and 225 lbs, but he tested well athletically. Given his instincts, I can see him making an impact on special teams and earning a reserve role on defense.
Miami Dolphins
TE Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech: Conyers stuck out to me because his play style resembles that of Jonnu Smith, who made the Pro Bowl for Miami last year. He has a big frame to box out CBs but enough speed to run away from linebackers. Blocking isn’t his forte, so he won’t see a ton of playing time, but his $115K in guarantees suggest that he’ll at least have a supporting role.
Minnesota Vikings
OT Logan Brown, Kansas: Does the league have something against Jayhawks? This is one of the most egregious draft whiffs of the year. Brown, who stands 6’6″ and 311 lbs with 33 7/8″ arms, was a mauler for Kansas. In their run-heavy attack, he regularly paved lanes for Devin Neal. He struggled a bit with speed rushers, but no power rushers were able to get by him. A likely swing tackle for now with starting upside, Brown was worthy of a day-3 pick. The Vikings got a steal here.
DE Tyler Batty, BYU: The consensus is that Batty is the best edge player who went undrafted. With a career-high of 5 sacks (back in 2023), that may seem confusing. However, teams sometimes value edge rushers who are good against the run. Among all players in this class, few are better than Batty in that regard. He has an excellent 34 career TFLs and 224 total tackles. Minnesota’s current edge rushers are best against the pass, so Batty could fill a role that the team doesn’t currently possess.
New England Patriots
DE Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly: FCS players typically have at least one physical shortcoming. For Ponder, the issue is his size: 6’2″ and 251 lbs. NFL teams may also be concerned about his level of competition, but he produced. Ponder earned 7 sacks in 2024 due to his quickness, which also enables him to drop back in coverage a bit. New England had the fewest sacks in the NFL last year, so they’re leaving no stone unturned in their quest for rushers. Perhaps Ponder can crack their rotation.
New Orleans Saints
G Torricelli Simpkins III, South Carolina: Simpkins transferred to South Carolina after a great run at NC Central in the FCS. The big jump in competition didn’t stop him, as he started all 13 games at RG for the Gamecocks. More advanced as a pass blocker than a run blocker, Simpkins has some upside if the Saints are patient enough to develop him.
P James Burnip, Alabama: The Saints will have two Australian punters competing. Second-year man Matthew Hayball had a decent season in 2024, but it wasn’t good enough to avoid competition. Burnip got more practice than anticipated in 2024 but performed well, earning a Senior Bowl invite. When two low-cost players battle, the best one will actually win the job.
New York Giants
CB O’Donnell Fortune, South Carolina: It seemed like every South Carolina defender got drafted, but at least one was left out. That would be Fortune, the defensive MVP of the East/West Shrine Bowl. He has length (6’1″) and ball skills (7 INTs over the past 3 years), but his run defense is poor. Corners are primarily meant to cover though, and that’s where Fortune does well. The Giants have almost no depth in the secondary, making this a good place to win a roster spot.
New York Jets
QB Brady Cook, Missouri: Don’t ask me what the 32 teams were looking for in the draft with respect to QBs. Cook, a 3-year SEC starter with 50 TD passes and 21 TD rushes, seems like the type of guy you’d take a flier on late in the draft. Notably, the Jets did not draft any QBs, so Cook will face Jordan Travis and Adrian Martinez for the QB3 role in camp. That’s a winnable battle.
RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan: Had Edwards been eligible for the draft two years ago, he’d have been a day-2 pick. That year, he looked very explosive and had 7.1 yards per carry. Edwards also starred in Michigan’s national championship win. Since then, he hasn’t quite been the same, though he still exceeded 4 YPC. New York will need to determine what changed and try to restore him to his 2022 form. The result of that effort will determine whether Edwards makes the roster.
Philadelphia Eagles
S Maxen Hook, Toledo: The Eagles took a Rocket in first-round CB Quinyon Mitchell last year, and it worked out amazingly. They’re going back to the Toledo well with Hook, who had 356 tackles and 7 INTs as a 4-year starter. He is decidedly not the athletic specimen that Mitchell is, but the Eagles traded CJ Gardner Johnson and only drafted Andrew Mukuba to replace him. A roster spot at the safety position is available, so maybe Hook’s old college roommate can give him some pointers.
Pittsburgh Steelers
S Sebastian Castro, Iowa: Like fellow Iowa UDFA Jay Higgins, Castro is a skilled defender whose athletic testing let him down. Based on his physical abilities, I’m tempted to label him a strong safety only, but that would be underselling his 4 INTs over the past two years. Special teams will be Castro’s way to a roster spot, but his strong instincts leave the door open for more.
K Ben Sauls, Pittsburgh: No; there is no kicking controversy in Pittsburgh. Chris Boswell might be the league’s best and was a First-Team All-Pro last year. But there’s nothing wrong with letting a local kid prove himself and easing Boswell’s load. Sauls holds a share of the Panthers record with a long FG of 58 yards, and he made 87.5% of his FGs last year. This is an audition for the rest of the league, and Sauls will probably have the entire preseason to prove that someone should add him permanently.
San Francisco 49ers
WR Isaiah Neyor, Nebraska: Really? Still no tackles even without a draft pick cost? I digress. Neyor didn’t have a ton of college production, with his 455-yard 2024 effort standing out as one of his best seasons. In this case, the 49ers are betting on traits: a 6’4″, 218-lb WR with 4.40 speed and good route running is an excellent gamble. I suspect that Neyor suffered from the overall offensive ineptitude at Nebraska. With 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan needing receiving options, Neyor could finally break out.
RB Corey Kiner, Cincinnati: When a Shanahan signs a UDFA RB, he often makes the team. In fact, Kiner might be the team’s leading rusher soon if Jordan Mason is any indication. A starter for the past two years, Kiner is an elusive runner who averaged 5.6 YPC over that span. Christian McCaffrey is RB1, but Shanahan will play whoever is best behind him. Maybe that can be Kiner.
Seattle Seahawks
CB Zy Alexander, LSU: Longtime readers know that I love how LSU develops their defensive backs. A former FCS player, Alexander used his 6’2″ frame well in the SEC, earning 4 INTs over 2 years. He’s a very physical corner who also plays the run, so I had him pegged as a midround prospect. Seattle might have as well, as they’re giving Alexander $249K guaranteed. We’ve seen the Seahawks develop undervalued DBs before, so Alexander has a real chance.
DE Jared Ivey, Mississippi: Ivey going undrafted makes little sense. If you told people that a player had 12.5 sacks and 23 TFLs in the past 2 seasons playing in the SEC, most would say that the player should’ve been picked. I happen to agree, especially with Ivey’s 6’6″ length. His athleticism probably means that he’ll peak as a rotational edge rusher, but so what? As a UDFA signing, that would be an excellent result.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QB/WR Garrett Greene, West Virginia: Greene was an undersized QB with good running ability at West Virginia. I wouldn’t find this notable if I hadn’t seen the “WR” tag on the transaction. He makes sense as a conversion project, but not by this team. Tampa is overloaded with WRs (they drafted two more of them), so Greene’s success will come down to making a practice squad.
S Shilo Sanders, Colorado: If I left Deion Sanders’ other son off of my list, Coach Prime would chew me out. Shilo actually fired his father as an agent, hiring Drew Rosenhaus in a shrewd move. I didn’t see the older Sanders brother as a draftable prospect. He’s an average athlete with moderate production over 6 seasons of college football. As far as landing spots go though, Tampa is a good one. HC Todd Bowles is one of Sanders’ best shots to make a pro career. Let’s see if he can capitalize.
DT Desmond Watson, Florida: In my lifetime following football, I haven’t seen a player with this size before. Watson, who reached 464 lbs in college, never made a major impact because he couldn’t stay on the field. He wasn’t injured; his conditioning was just subpar. In an effort to demonstrate his dedication, Watson has lost 27 lbs in a little over a month. The big nose tackle has skill, but he needs to keep his weight down. Learning from another large NT in Vita Vea should do him plenty of good.
OL Ben Chukwuma, Georgia State: It may surprise you to learn that the UDFA who received the most guaranteed money this draft cycle was Chukwuma, who received $300K. A Nigerian immigrant at age 17, he didn’t play his first football game until two years ago. The 6’6″ blocker showed an aptitude for the game, and he presents a high-upside option with room to grow (literally).
Tennessee Titans
WR Xavier Restrepo, Miami: Based on production alone, Restrepo seemed worthy of a day-2 pick. Alas, athletic testing shattered his stock. His 4.8-s 40 was awful, and his 29 3/8-inch arms may have been even worse for him. That said, there’s no doubt that Restrepo can play; his 1127 yards and 11 TDs last year were no flukes. Top pick Cam Ward probably requested his former Hurricane teammate, which makes this spot better than any other for Restrepo. Don’t be surprised if he makes plays this fall.
Washington Commanders
G Timothy McKay, NC State: This one came to my attention because of the $275K guaranteed that McKay received. Perhaps he fell off teams’ radars for the same reason he fell off mine: a torn pectoral suffered at his pro day. Previously a mid-round prospect, McKay’s injury caused him to go undrafted. This is a highly experienced guard (6 years, 4 as a starter) with good tape. Washington must believe in him to give him that much guaranteed money, so in 2026, keep an eye on this guard.