Coming off of a 2023-24 Super Bowl Championship and after returning a large chunk of production from last season, one may think that the Chiefs may be content with their 2024 NFL Draft class and sign very few, if any undrafted free agent deals (UDFA). Despite their success, the Chiefs have signed a surprisingly high 17 players!
UDFA players are essentially rookie tryout players that a team wants to claim as their own. In other words, if a team wants a punter to try out for their team, but not allow them to try out for another team, they sign them on a UDFA deal. For other rookie tryouts without a UDFA deal, they are essentially allowed to tryout, but aren’t under any kind of contract. In other words, a UDFA player is somewhere between a drafted player and a true rookie tryout player.
What is the Path of a UDFA?
For a UDFA player to get signed they certainly have an uphill battle, but for many players it is still the opportunity of a lifetime. First, a player participates in a team’s mini-camp. These camps typically last three days and conclude with a few of the players getting to advance to OTAs or the NFL version of spring football camp.
Teams are allowed to have up to 90 players on their roster between OTA’s and the start of the NFL season. By the start of the season, that number needs to be 53. Considering 45+ players on the roster were on active rosters the year before, plus the drafted players also being thrown into the mix, the odds of a player making it from a mini-camp to 53-man roster is pretty rare.
What Happens to UDFA Players Who Don’t Make a 53-Man Roster?
For many players, the answer is simply nothing. Many players end up never suiting up again, especially since there is a limited amount of opportunity outside of the NFL. The UFL is certainly helping, and the CFL is an option for some, but unlike basketball players that have ample opportunities all over the world, many players don’t get the opportunity to ever play again.
Other players will be fortunate enough to land on a practice squad. Each NFL team is allowed to have up to 16 practice squad players that earn a decent salary (about $250,000 over a season). Many practice players are upgraded during the season as injuries pile up.
Finally, some players get cut but decide to be ready to play. Again as injuries stack up, sometimes teams look for free agents to sign who aren’t part of a current team. This is a tough and risky business to be in, but for some players, any chance to play is worth the risk and grind.
Will The Kansas City Chiefs Sign Any UDFA?
Predicting whether a UDFA will end up making a team is like trying to win the lottery. There is a reason most UDFA weren’t drafted in the NFL draft, but there are a few players who seem to be positioned in a spot to potentially make it to OTA’s and the preseason where they will be given more opportunities.
- Ryan Rhekow – Punter from BYU
- Ryan Rhekow likely make a preseason roster somewhere, whether it is with the Chiefs or another team. Rhekow was widely regarded as the second best punter in this years class, and had any team wanted to use a pick on a punter, Rhekow would have heard his name.
- Phillip Brooks – Wide Receiver from Kansas State
- Phillip Brooks was a very effective receiver for Kansas State going for 823 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns last season. Known for his speed and open field elusiveness, had Brooks been two or three inches taller, he potentially could have been a mid round draft. Standing at 5’7″ he is small for a receiver, but he will have a chance to show that size doesn’t matter with his skill set.
- Luquay Washington – Linebacker from Central Connecticut
- Anytime a player from a FCS school, it is worth following. Every once in a while a diamond in the rough can be found from an FCS school. Although most great FCS players now move up through the transfer portal, there can still be exceptions found. Washington is interesting because he was originally signed by the Chargers, but he backed out and signed with the Chiefs. He also was part of a terrible 3-9 team last year, and didn’t really put up great numbers during his career. Something is off here, making it a must watch player.