UDFA Gems: Discovering the NFL’s Next Hidden Talents After the 2025 Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone, with teams spending valuable draft capital on the next generation of NFL stars. However, the draft is not the only avenue for teams to acquire talent. Some players prefer to go undrafted to have more control over their destination or secure more guaranteed money. History has shown that some of the most impactful players in the league have arrived as undrafted free agents (UDFAs). Just ask Adam Vinatieri, who went undrafted out of South Dakota State and retired as the NFL’s all-time leading scorer. As the dust settles from the draft, the scramble to sign these overlooked prospects begins. Which of these players will defy the odds and become the next Kurt Warner or Antonio Gates?

The Allure of the Undrafted

The UDFA market is a fascinating landscape where teams can unearth hidden gems. These players, often overlooked due to size concerns, perceived athletic limitations, or simply falling through the cracks in the evaluation process, get a chance to prove their worth. For many, it’s a golden opportunity to showcase their skills and determination, often with a chip on their shoulder. Some players would rather be undrafted in order to get more guaranteed money or work out contracts on their terms. The majority of undrafted free agents are just training camp bodies or roster fillers, but there are always a few on teams who end up making rosters and contributing for years to some. Some even end up as Pro Bowlers or make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Offensive Standouts to Watch

Several offensive players from the 2025 UDFA class have the potential to make a significant impact.

Quarterback: Max Brosmer (Minnesota Vikings) is one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects who went undrafted.
Running Back: Raheim Sanders (Los Angeles Chargers) is a talented running back with the potential to contribute early. The Chiefs have had a lot of past success with UDFAs, with players like Turk Wharton, Charvarius Ward, Carson Steele, and Malik Herring being impactful players just recently.
Wide Receiver: Nick Nash (Atlanta Falcons) is a WR to watch. Nash led college football in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2024 while ranking ninth in PFF overall grade (85.0) among 405 qualifiers. Elijhah Badger (Kansas City Chiefs) is another receiver who could make waves.
Tight End: The tight end position is particularly strong in this UDFA class. Caden Prieskorn (Detroit Lions) is a name frequently mentioned as a potential roster addition. CJ Dippre (New England Patriots) also stands out due to his blocking ability.

Defensive Diamonds in the Rough

The defensive side of the ball also boasts several intriguing UDFA prospects.

Defensive Line: Simeon Barrow (Atlanta Falcons) is a defensive tackle with the potential to make an impact.
Linebacker: Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Cleveland Browns) is a linebacker to watch.
Cornerback: Cobee Bryant (Atlanta Falcons) is a talented cornerback.
Safety: Ian Kennelly (Detroit Lions) is a great athlete and has all the measurables of an NFL safety.

Team-by-Team Breakdown: UDFA Signings and Potential Impact

Here’s a glimpse at some of the UDFA signings across the league and a player from each team to keep an eye on:

Arizona Cardinals: T Jeremiah Byers (Florida State) stands out for his consistency across six seasons of college action.
Atlanta Falcons: WR Nick Nash (San Jose State) brings size and a ton of college production to the table.
Baltimore Ravens: WR Jahmal Banks (Nebraska) could provide a boost to the receiving corps.
Buffalo Bills: WR Kelly Akharaiyi (Mississippi State) has the skillset to excel in 2025.
Carolina Panthers: WR Jacolby George (Miami) is a WR to watch.
Chicago Bears: LB John Walker Jr. (Missouri) is a LB to watch.
Cincinnati Bengals: IOL Seth McLaughlin (Ohio State) is an interior offensive lineman to watch.
Cleveland Browns: CB Shamari Simmons (Arizona State) is an interesting prospect who can be a true Swiss Army knife defensively.
Dallas Cowboys: TE Rivaldo Fairweather (Auburn) is a TE to watch.
Denver Broncos: IOL Clay Webb (Jacksonville State) is an interior offensive lineman to watch.
Detroit Lions: TE Caden Prieskorn (Ole Miss) has a good chance of making the roster.
Green Bay Packers: DB Jonathan Baldwin (UNLV) is an intriguing UDFA signing with solid potential.
Houston Texans: IOL Eli Cox (Kentucky) is an interior offensive lineman to watch.
Indianapolis Colts: IOL Mose Vavao (Fresno State) is an interior offensive lineman to watch.
Jacksonville Jaguars: EDGE B.J. Green II (Colorado) is an edge rusher to watch.
Kansas City Chiefs: WR Elijhah Badger (Florida) led his team in receiving yards in three straight seasons.
Las Vegas Raiders: DB Demarcus Dotson (Southern Utah) combined for 11 interceptions over the past three years.
Los Angeles Chargers: RB Raheim Sanders (South Carolina) is a talented running back with the potential to contribute early.
Los Angeles Rams: IOL Willie Lampkin (North Carolina) ranked first in PFF overall grade (84.8) and PFF pass-blocking grade (88.8) among Power Four guards in 2024.
Miami Dolphins: TE Jalin Conyers (Texas Tech) is a combine invite who was noticeably productive in college.
Minnesota Vikings: QB Max Brosmer (New Hampshire) is one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects who went undrafted.
New England Patriots: TE CJ Dippre (Alabama) stands out from his peers due to New England’s older tight end room and his blocking ability.
New Orleans Saints: LB Tyreem Powell (Rutgers) is a LB to watch.
New York Giants: DB Makari Paige (Michigan) is a DB to watch.
New York Jets: RB Donovan Edwards (Michigan) is a RB to watch.
Philadelphia Eagles: T Hollin Pierce (Rutgers) surrendered only two sacks across more than 800 pass-blocking snaps from 2023 to 2024.
Pittsburgh Steelers: TE J.J. Galbreath (South Dakota) is a TE to watch.
San Francisco 49ers: RB Corey Kiner (Cincinnati) is a RB to watch.
Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Jared Ivey (Ole Miss) is a top candidate to crack the Seahawks’ roster.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Shilo Sanders (Colorado) is a safety to watch.
Tennessee Titans: WR Xavier Restrepo (Miami) is a WR to watch.
Washington Commanders: LB David Gbenda (Texas) is a LB to watch.

The Legacy of UDFAs

The NFL’s history is filled with UDFA success stories. Players like Kurt Warner, the two-time NFL MVP, and James Harrison, the former Defensive Player of the Year, prove that talent evaluation isn’t an exact science. Other notable UDFAs include:

Adam Vinatieri: The NFL’s all-time leading scorer and one of the most clutch kickers in league history.
John Randle: A dominant defensive tackle who recorded 137.5 sacks in his career.
Wes Welker: A prolific receiver who led the league in receptions three times.
Priest Holmes: A dynamic running back who led the league in rushing in 2001.
Antonio Gates: A former college basketball player who became one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.

These players defied the odds and carved out exceptional careers, inspiring future generations of UDFAs to chase their NFL dreams.

The 2025 NFL Draft may be over, but the journey for these UDFA gems is just beginning. As training camps approach, these players will battle for roster spots, hoping to become the next undrafted success story. Keep an eye on these underdogs – they might just surprise you.