NFL Trade Rumors
Editor’s note: This article was first published on May 4
Just because the draft is over doesn’t mean the work is done. Prospects who weren’t one of the 257 picks at the end of April are eligible to sign with any team as an undrafted free agent, and this is a key piece of team building.
From a simple math perspective, there are not enough picks in the draft for teams to rely on picks exclusively to fill out a 53-man roster, let alone the practice squad or expanded 90-man offseason rosters. But undrafted free agents don’t just fill in the cracks — they become key reserves, role players, starters and sometimes even stars.
This is the latest edition of an annual column spotlighting at least one undrafted rookie from every team who has a chance to make waves, sticking around as a long-term contributor and perhaps even making the roster in Week 1. Not to toot my own horn — then again, if you don’t champion your own wins, who will? — but this piece has a strong track record of identifying quality UDFAs. Past notables include Bears QB Tyson Bagent, Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Vikings LB Ivan Pace Jr., Buccaneers RB Sean Tucker, Rams LB Omar Speights and Patriots S Brenden Schooler.
Last year, there were 53 players highlighted, plus several others mentioned as bonuses. Most are still in the NFL, even if not with the team that originally signed them. Of the 53 spotlighted, 24 are still with their current team and 13 made the active roster in Week 1. The most notable hits include Patriots OLB Elijah Ponder, who had four sacks and played nearly a quarter of the snaps on defense for the AFC champions, Browns DT Adin Huntington, Vikings QB Max Brosmer and Panthers K Ryan Fitzgerald.
Here’s a look at this year’s batch. I’ve included some helpful resources below, including all the reported or official UDFA signings we have so far and a few tools I lean on for evaluations.
Resources:
One of the subplots of the 2026 NFL Draft was the heightened demand for tight ends around the league, which also happened to coincide with a class that was unusually deep. The run on the position started in the second round instead of the fourth, with eight coming off the board on Day 2 and another nine taken before the end of the fifth round.
The 49ers didn’t draft a tight end but they did land a potentially interesting contributor after the draft in Dinkins. He’s a blocking specialist, which is a must for any tight end who plays for 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan. Dinkins is also well...
