Prospects that didn’t have their names called last week were surely disappointed, but as has been proven time and time again over the years, undrafted players can make NFL rosters, become standout players—or even make the Hall of Fame. Below are ten guys that I believe have a decent chance of making an impact this season and/or beyond.
QB Kedon Slovis (Colts)
Slovis is the biggest longshot of the group, and he ideally will never see the field for Indy because Anthony Richardson—who I expect to have a big year—stays healthy. Of course, things don’t always go according to plan, and Slovis was phenomenal as a freshman at USC in 2019, so perhaps that potential can be reunlocked if he ever gets a shot under Shane Steichen.
RB Blake Watson (Broncos)
Running back seems to be the position where undrafted players often emerge, and Denver had that happen for them in 2023 with Jaleel McLaughlin. Ironically, Watson is a speedster that might push him for a roster spot, and there is room in Sean Payton’s offense for a player with his skillset to have a role behind Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, and fellow rookie Audric Estimé.
RB Cody Schrader (49ers)
The 49ers are loaded at running back, but Schrader is not a player to count out after a dominant season in which he rushed for 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns. And he did it in the SEC for an excellent Missouri team that beat Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, so Shrader has the confidence that he can thrive at the next level.
WR David White Jr. (Jaguars)
His frame is a bit bigger at six-foot-two, but White caught my eye as a player with some route and ball-skill savvy similar to Brandon Lloyd, so it’ll be fun to see him try to put everything together with Jacksonville. Especially with Mac Jones under center working with the backups, White might be a perfect fit to adjust for dimes that are placed off his frame along the boundary.
G Javion Cohen (Browns)
Cleveland spent a third-round pick on Zak Zinter, but the former Michigan standout is recovering from a gruesome leg injury—which could open the door for Cohen to impress early in offseason workouts. After beginning his career at Alabama (as a starter), Cohen took a step back at Miami but landed in a good spot to be developed with Cleveland.
EDGE Gabriel Murphy (Vikings)
Murphy not being selected was one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 NFL Draft, as he was very good alongside Laiatu Latu for a great UCLA defense—resulting in buzz as an early Day 3 pick. The Vikings put heavy investment into the edges this offseason with Dallas Turner, Jonathan Greenard, and Andrew Van Ginkel, but Murphy could crack the squad as rotational depth behind them.
DL Fabien Lovett Sr. (Chiefs)
Kansas City positioned themselves to roll through the AFC yet again with the work they did last week (in particular, I loved the selections of Kingsley Suamataia and Kamal Hadden), but don’t sleep on Lovett. The stout defensive lineman knows how to play with leverage, has impressive length, and played for a championship-caliber defense at Florida State.
LB Kalen DeLoach (Buccaneers)
Speaking of which, DeLoach was another member of the elite Seminoles unit in 2023—and he couldn’t have landed in a better spot to not only make a team, but also make an impact. It’s easy to imagine DeLoach being utilized in a specialist role on passing downs by tracking the quarterback (similar to Devin White) and making plays in coverage.
LB Curtis Jacobs (Chiefs)
Back to the Chiefs, their defense probably doesn’t have a role up for grabs with everyone healthy at linebacker, but Jacobs can crack the team as depth and step in if Nick Bolton or Drue Tranquill were to go down. As a three-year starter at Penn State, Jacobs has experience and athleticism.
S Beau Brade (Ravens)
Brade was our highest-ranked undrafted player (No. 80 overall), and the concern for him is being the type of player that has gone “out of style” in recent years with a comparison to Jamal Adams. However, Baltimore is a spot where it could work out, as Brade’s toughness and instincts will play well there.