What do Kurt Warner, Tony Romo, Antonio Gates, Wes Welker, and James Harrison have in common? They were all undrafted players who made a huge impact on the field after getting their shots to stick with an NFL team.
In 2023, several UDFAs played key roles for their teams, including the Bears’ Tyson Bagent and the Giants’ Tommy DeVito, who each started games under center. There were a lot of contributions across all positions.
NFL teams are looking to find more such gems this year. Based on underrated talent and depth chart needs, here are the top undrafted candidates to earn final roster spots in training camp:
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Beau Brade, S, Ravens (Maryland)
The Ravens looked down the road to College Park for some post-draft safety help. Brade fits their profile of a physical, intimidating hard-hitter for his size (6-0, 203 pounds). He also has plenty of untapped potential in coverage.
Former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald was replaced in house by Zach Orr, who should keep some of the effective three-safety looks. With Geno Stone (Bengals) leaving in free agency, there is room to support starters Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams. even with the first-round drafting of Nate Wiggins changing the cornerback depth.
Curtis Jacobs, LB, Chiefs (Penn State)
The Chiefs didn’t retain free agent Willie Gay Jr. (Saints), leaving a need for some depth behind returning starters Drue Tranquill, Nick Bolton, and the promoted Leo Chenal. Jacobs (6-1, 235 pounds) can easily stand out from a group of other undrafted free agents. He’s got the right situational profile for Steve Spagnulo with his natural coverage and blitzing skills.
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Gabe Murphy, EDGE, Vikings (UCLA)
Murphy should have been drafted along with former teammate Laiatu Latu, but there were concerns about how he could consistently hold up at 6-2, 247 pounds. He doesn’t dazzle, but he can do a lot of little things right for DC Brian Flores to consider him for a rotational role.
Nelson Ceaser, EDGE, Seahawks (Houston)
They buried Ceaser in the draft, but he deserved more praise as an early Day 3-type talent. Like Murphy, he provides a good combination of power and quickness, doing his best work vs. the run. He has a fair shot to make it for Mike McDonald ahead of some underwhelming young veterans in Seattle.
Dallin Holker, TE, Saints (Colorado State)
Holker should have been drafted as the successor to rising star Trey McBride (Cardinals) in Fort Collins. At 6-3, 241 pounds, his size may have kept him from getting picked. but he’s a versatile, smooth pass-catching athlete still developing route-running and blocking skills. There’s some room on the depth chart behind Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau, and Holker can take advantage.
Sam Hartman, QB, Commanders (Notre Dame)
The Commanders have Marcus Maritoa as the stopgap, seasoned backup to No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels. Hartman (6-1, 222 pounds) underwhelmed at the NFL Combine to keep him from being drafted after an accomplished college career. His arm doesn’t stand out, but he can be effective spreading the ball as a pocket passer in Kliff Kingsbury’s system. He should have more appeal as a developmental No. 3 than well-traveled Jeff Driskel.
Kedon Slovis, QB, Colts (BYU)
The Colts extended Joe Flacco’s career after his supersub stint with the Browns, signing him to replace Gardner Minshew as the top backup to Anthony Richardson. But No. 3 Sam Ehlinger is a holdover pre-Shane Steichen’s offense. Slovis (6-2, 223 pounds) did have a good NFL Combine and showed off his speed, footwork, and accuracy. He has vast college experience from three schools, also including USC and Pitt. He has the mental makeup to stick and learn behind Flacco.
Austin Reed, QB, Bears (Western Kentucky)
Bagent is working to keep the top backup job in the transition from Justin Fields to Caleb Williams, but a new offense under Shane Waldron is shaking up the QB depth chart. Reed saw former Hilltopper Bailey Zappe get his shot with the Patriots, and he should push Brett Rypien plenty. Reed (6-1, 220 pounds) can be a worthy project because of his short-to-intermediate passing.
Jack Plummer, QB, Panthers (Louisville)
Plummer is already No. 3 on the depth chart behind second-year No. 1 overall pick and surefire top backup Andy Dalton. That gives him a more favorable path than the QBs above. At 6-4, 216 pounds, Plummer has a big-enough arm with which Dave Canales can work well.
Joshua Cephus, WR, Jaguars (Miami)
Cephus (6-2, 189 pounds) is competing to make the team as a big slot who’s at his best getting open on inside routes. There’s limited depth behind rookie Brian Thomas Jr., Christian Kirk, and Gabe Davis given Devin Duvernay is needed most for the return game. Cephus will try to make the team behind Kirk and prove that he can be an outside alternative at times to Parker Washington.
Tulu Griffin, WR, Raiders (Mississippi State)
Griffin (5-10, 181 pounds) is a quick after-the-catch, big-play receiver. The Raiders’ WR depth chart will have a lot of competition behind Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, with Tre Tucker as the current default No. 3. Michael Gallup and Jalen Guyton were added, but the door to make the team as a fifth wideout is wide open. Griffin should get more buzz as he goes to work catching plenty in camp.
Cody Schrader, RB, 49ers (Missouri)
Schrader is a versatile, tough cog with some juice, and that gives him a shot, even in a crowded space behind Christian McCaffrey. The team also drafted Isaac Guerendo and signed Patrick Taylor to add to Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason, but Kyle Shanahan doesn’t look at draft status in determining his backfield — see sixth-rounder Mitchell making the team over third-rounder Trey Sermon in 2021.
San Francisco is now thinking about cutting the oft-injured Mitchell, thus the stockpiling of options. Schrader will need to stand out from the speedy Guerendo to prove he can explode in the zone-blocking running game, even when blocking is off.