Analysis
5/1/23
8 min read
25 Best UDFA Signings Following the 2023 NFL Draft
As soon as the NFL draft ends, front offices begin competing to bring in the class' most sought-after undrafted free agents. Our scouting department broke down the 25 best undrafted free agents who have signed contracts with NFL teams:
>>READ: Tracking Every 2023 UDFA Signing
Top 25 UDFA Signings
1. Raiders: McClendon Curtis, OL
Curtis is a big man who wins reps by using his length and toughness. He has positional flexibility but may be better inside at guard. He is not a top-level athlete but is somebody who could see the NFL field right away as a rookie.
2. Buccaneers: Rakim Jarrett, WR
Jarrett is a speedy receiver with a big play and run-after-the-catch ability. He needs to work on his hands and strength at the catch point. Has the potential to be a No. 2 receiver in the league.
3. Texans: Ali Gaye, Edge
Gaye is a long and muscular edge rusher who compensates for inconsistent pad level with good strength and speed. He plays with high pads and his lack of rush moves can stall him out. Overall, Gaye possesses ideal size, strength and speed to be an effective edge rusher.
4. Colts: Emil Ekiyor Jr., OG
Ekiyor is an athletic interior offensive lineman who can play in space and at the second level. He does need to get stronger, but there's a chance he finds his way onto the field sooner than later.
5. Chargers: Jerrod Clark, DT
Clark is a big-bodied nose tackle who is best when he plays head-up football. He stands his ground as a space-eater type of player rather than a guy who gets upfield. He needs to play with better vision and hands.
6. Chargers: Mikel Jones, LB
Jones is an instinctive player with good straight-line speed but lacks size and overall strength at the point. He wants to slip and slink around blocks but still has good strength for his size. He has good eyes in coverage, but lack of length will cause him some issues.
7. Cowboys: Hunter Luepke, FB/TE
Luepke is a tough, energetic, tweener type of player who was highly productive at the FCS level. He will need a specific role with a team that has a plan for him but has shown he can be successful if used properly.
8. Seahawks: Matt Landers, WR
Landers is a tall, long wideout who builds up his speed and unleashes it to create separation. He is a raw player and route runner with upside due to his size, speed and ball skills. Overall, Landers is a raw prospect with talent, deceptive run-after-the-catch ability and burst.
9. Chiefs: Isaiah Moore, LB
Moore was a three-time captain for North Carolina State who has outstanding instincts and intangibles for the position. He plays with toughness and good strength, though speed is a question mark.
10. Vikings: Andre Carter II, Edge
Carter is a long-levered, high-motored defensive end with rare traits. Though he's raw in some areas of his game, he has good quickness and toughness to help compensate. NFL coaching will only help him grow and get better. Carter was once viewed as a first-round pick, so there's no doubt the talent is there to develop.
11. Lions: Connor Galvin, OT
Galvin does not have any "wow" traits, but this player is smart, instinctive and has enough size to be productive. He is an average finisher in the run game. Overall, this is a likable player. He had enough size and ability to get picked and play, so the Lions get good value getting Galvin as a UDFA.
12. Browns: Lonnie Phelps Jr., Edge
Phelps Jr. is a length-deficient defensive end who compensates with good quickness in his get-off, use of hands in his rushes and effort and motor to finish. Phelps Jr. is sudden off the snap and quick to get on an edge, showing good footwork to redirect when needed. Against the run, he has good speed to beat the reach or collapse backside, flashing a hot motor to pursue carriers.
13. Ravens: Tashawn Manning, OG
Manning is a strong, tough and powerful guard who can lock on and move defenders off the football. He fits best in a gap-power offense and will struggle to fit in other schemes.
14. Seahawks: Jake Bobo, WR
Bobo is a tall, long wideout with good short-area ability but average long speed. Bobo has outstanding size for the position. He is a high-cut player with some short-area ability, but he does not have great speed or explosiveness. Bobo possesses good route savvy, understands how to weave/stem and sees coverages well.
15. Buccaneers: Sean Tucker, RB
Tucker is a compact and productive multi-purpose running back who lacks the suddenness and creativity to stand out in this year’s class, unfortunately. He does not have high-end starter traits, but he could find a role as 3rd down back with his sure hands and vision.
16. Cowboys: Earl Bostick Jr., OT
Bostick fits the profile of an NFL offensive tackle with high-end initial quickness, agility and range. While his play strength is below average, those top-tier athletic traits are hard to find and provide a lot of upside and developmental value.
17. Giants: Habakkuk Baldonado, Edge
Baldonado is an edge defender with good size, length and natural skills. He’s not a twitchy or explosive rusher, but he plays with effort and displays a variety of moves with his hands. He should find a role as a backup or in a rotation, and he has the athleticism and motor to fill a role on multiple special teams units.
18. Ravens: Dontay Demus, WR
Demus is an outside-only receiver with ideal size and reliable hands. He lacks explosiveness and quickness to separate and loses too many contested catches for a guy of his size. He is not a crisp route runner and has just above-average sink in his hips. Demus has a tendency to round his cuts.
19. Panthers: Jalen Redmond, DT
Redmond played interior defensive line for the Sooners and showed good motor and toughness. He’s at his best as an inside up-the-field player in a 4-3 defense. He plays with a good motor while having a good feel for blocks and is an instinctive player.
20. Lions: Mohamed Ibrahim, RB
Ibrahim plays the position with a warrior mentality, but he lacks size, speed, quickness and elusiveness. We projected he'd be a late-round practice squad player, so being a primary UDFA makes sense. Ibrahim will make himself difficult to cut during training camp.
21. Broncos: Thomas Incoom, LB
Incoom is a raw defensive end who still needs his pass-rush technique polished up. He has a natural ability that helps compensate for his flaws with strength and speed. He can use his hands to hit swim or swipe moves but lacks loose lowers to bend at the top or suddenly spike inside.
22. Ravens: Keaton Mitchell, RB
Mitchell is an undersized running back with extreme quickness and elusiveness. He has a chance to be a change-of-pace complement to a more traditional power back.
23. Vikings: Ivan Pace Jr., LB
Pace Jr. is an extremely undersized inside linebacker prospect with a unique and violent play style. He’s at his best as a downhill penetrator. He has a rare ability to avoid blockers to disrupt plays in the backfield and pressure the quarterback. Pace is not a great fit in most base defenses, but he might find a role as a core special teamer and impactful rusher in exotic pressure packages.
24. Panthers: Rejzohn Wright, CB
Wright is an outside corner with excellent height and length for the position. He is a smart, competitive zone corner who lacks the feet and lateral quickness to match up with quick dynamic route runners.
25. Eagles: Mekhi Garner, CB
Garner is a big press corner with unusual mass for the position. He has the length and strength to bully receivers, but he is very hot and cold with his effort.
