The undrafted free agency period shouldn’t be overlooked.
Each year, hundreds of players will be signed as undrafted free agents. While most of them are nothing more than bodies to fill the 90-man roster, dozens of undrafted rookies will make the cut, and many more will sign with a practice squad and extend their career. Some will even make a significant impact on their team.
This year there is significantly less undrafted talent than most years due to the extra year of eligibility given by the NCAA, but some positions like wide receiver and cornerback are still full of great talent.
Let’s take a position-by-position look at the best undrafted players from the 2021 NFL Draft. For each position I’ll list my top undrafted prospects and make a quick comment. I will also include other undrafted players in the position if they fall in or near my top 300 overall.
Best Undrafted Quarterbacks:
Jamie Newman, Wake Forest: I was real surprised Newman went undrafted. His arm talent is well above average, with developing accuracy and good character. Sitting out the 2020 season as a raw QB prospect didn’t turn out well for him, but he’ll be a good find for a practice squad.
Shane Buechele, SMU: Buechele lacks elite size or athleticism, so it isn’t a huge surprise he went undrafted. But his above average accuracy and tight spiral make him a solid long time backup in the NFL, similar to the play style of Case Keenum.
Other notable undrafted quarterbacks: Feleipe Franks, Arkansas; Peyton Ramsey, Northwestern; KJ Costello, Mississippi State
Best Undrafted Wide Receivers:
Tamarrion Terry, Florida State: Entering the season Terry was considered a highly touted prospect, coming off of a 2019 campaign where he hauled in 1188 yards and 9 TDs for a team that otherwise struggled to throw the ball. He’s a big body receiver who can be a little tight in his routes, but the main issue is a nagging injury which derailed his season. Still, the size and athleticism is intriguing.
Cade Johnson, South Dakota State: Cade isn’t a freakish athlete, but he is a solid route runner with great hands. His upside may be limited, but there was plenty of buzz around his name following the senior bowl and two phenomenal seasons at SDSU.
Sage Surratt, Wake Forest: Surratt is another big bodied receiver who was very productive catching passes from Jamie Newman at Wake Forest. Separation ability at the next level was the big question mark, but his ball control, size, and production will make him one of the most highly sought after free agents.
Other notable undrafted wide receivers: Tyler Vaughns, USC; Josh Imatorbhebhe, Illinois; Austin Watkins Jr., UAB; Trevon Grimes, Florida; Damonte Coxie, Memphis; Warren Jackson, Colorado State; Whop Philyor, Indiana; Javon McKinley, Notre Dame
Best Undrafted Running Backs:
Javian Hawkins, Louisville: Hawkins is a small running back who entered the draft as just a redshirt sophomore. His freshman year he put up gaudy numbers, and he followed it up with another solid year in 2020. He’s undersized, but is very fast and agile.
Jaret Patterson, Buffalo: Patterson was as productive as any player in 2020, but was limited to just 6 games. In those 6 games he put up an eye popping 1072 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns on 7.6 yards per carry. Production is there, but he has a questionable fit as a one-cut runner who isn’t big enough to run through guys in the NFL like he could in the MAC. Still, his vision and toughness will make him a tough player to cut, and he could have a surprisingly solid career.
Other notable undrafted running backs: Stevie Scott III, Indiana; Spencer Brown, UAB; Pooka Williams Jr., Kansas; Trey Ragas, Louisiana-Lafayette; Rakeem Boyd, Arkansas
Best Undrafted Tights Ends / Fullbacks:
Kenny Yeboah, Ole Miss: I’m frankly shocked that Yeboah wasn’t drafted. The Temple transfer doesn’t offer much in terms of blocking, but he can command the middle of the field as a receiving tight end. Yeboah has great athleticism and soft hands, averaging 75 yards per game as a senior at Ole Miss.
Tony Poljan, Virginia: Poljan has some issues in terms of anchoring in his blocks and open field quickness, but he’s a big tight end prospect who totaled over 900 receiving yards over the past two seasons for Virginia. The soft hands and size are an intriguing combo.
Other notable undrafted tight ends: Matt Bushman, BYU; Nick Eubanks, Michigan; Miller Forristall, Alabama; Tory Carter, LSU; Briley Moore, Kansas State
Best Undrafted Offensive Tackles:
Alaric Jackson, Iowa: Jackson didn’t build on his 2019 campaign as teams wished, and he doesn’t have elite length or athleticism for a tackle. Still, he was a productive zone blocker from a school who really knows how to develop linemen.
Chandon Herring, BYU: There were some red flags with Herring, but he showed insane athleticism at his pro day. BYU’s right tackle is big and fast, skills that you can’t teach.
Other notable undrafted offensive tackles: Adrian Ealy, Oklahoma; Drew Himmelman, Illinois State; Carson Green, Texas A&M; Greg Eiland, Mississippi State
Best Undrafted Interior Offensive Linemen:
Kayode Awosika, Buffalo: I was higher than most on Kayode, who was a big bodied left tackle at Buffalo. He expects to move inside at the next level, and this guy is a straight mauler. A big time run blocker who opened holes for Patterson, and has enough hip fluidity to be serviceable at the next level. Technique needs a lot of fine tuning, but that’s what coaches are for.
Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame: One of five elite linemen from Notre Dame, Kraemer was a five star recruit out of high school who never really put it all together. He’s a big guy with a lot of experience and some positional versatility.
Other notable undrafted guards & centers: Sadarius Hutcherson, South Carolina (G), David Moore, Grambling State (G); Drake Jackson, Kentucky (C)
Best Undrafted Defensive Tackles:
Marvin Wilson, Florida State: I don’t know how this man went undrafted. Once thought of as a future first round pick, Wilson failed to improve throughout his career at Florida State. Still, he has a very compelling size-athleticism combination and a lot of playing experience. He’ll be one of the most sought after guys in free agency.
Naquan Jones, Michigan State: Naquan Jones is a true nose tackle who takes up space and is impossible to move. He doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher, but saw significant improvement disrupting run plays in 2020.
Other notable undrafted defensive tackles: Darius Stills, West Virginia; Jerome Johnson, Indiana; Mustafa Johnson, Colorado; Austin Faoliu, Oregon
Best Undrafted Defensive Ends:
Malik Herring, Georgia: This is the first position where everyone I gave a draftable grade to was drafted. Herring is a 3-4 defensive end who doesn’t do anything special, but rarely makes a big mistake. He’s the typical low-ceiling, high-floor player.
Romeo McKnight, Charlotte: McKnight didn’t look great in 2020 after transferring to the FBS, but he showed good hustle and the same solid first step that allowed him to dominate the FCS level years prior. He has enough size to be a legitimate edge rusher, and has production in the past.
Other notable undrafted defensive ends: Jaquan Bailey, Iowa State
Best Undrafted Linebackers:
Charles Snowden, Virginia, OLB: I was really surprised Snowden went undrafted. He doesn’t play super strong, but he showed great production at Virginia and has a very unique, long frame at 6’6″ 235 pounds. He’s a chess piece with abilities that can’t be taught.
Dylan Moses, Alabama, ILB: Moses got off to a hot start at Alabama before injuries really slowed him down, and his quality of film after returning to Alabama in 2020 wasn’t the same as before his injury. Still, his talent is there. The medical reports likely took him off the board of many, if not most teams.
Hamilcar Rashed, Oregon State, OLB: Rashed doesn’t have next level athleticism, but there has to be a point where you look at the production. 2020 wasn’t a great season for him, but he was one of the most dominant players in the country in 2019, totaling 22.5 tackles for loss and 19 sacks in the PAC-12.
Other notable undrafted linebackers: Anthony Hines III, Texas A&M; Jamar Watson, Kentucky; Justin Hilliard, Ohio State; Paddy Fisher, Northwestern; Max Richardson, Boston College; Darius Hodge, Marshall; Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State
Best Undrafted Safeties:
Ar’Darius Washington, TCU: I was curious what the NFL thought of Washington, who was an advanced metrics darling and one of the most talented safeties in the draft. The problem is that he’s 5’8″ at most, even shorter than guys like Honeybadger and Winfield who were considered very short for the position. The ability is there, but his height is a significant hindrance.
Christian Uphoff, Illinois State: Uphoff didn’t get to play in 2020, but he’s a bigger safety at 210+ pounds with on-ball production and experience playing as a box safety. Man coverage in the slot might not be great, but there’s plenty to like about the size and production.
Other notable undrafted safeties: Paris Ford, Pittsburgh; Aashari Crosswell, Arizona State; Tyler Coyle, Purdue
Best Undrafted Cornerbacks:
Shakur Brown, Michigan State: Shakur is a feisty undersized corner who allowed an insanely low catch percentage in his career at MSU. He was my #15 corner, and the only corner in my top 30 to go undrafted. That’s saying something about his fall. It could be interview related, or potentially the NFL just didn’t think he could hold up outside and as a tackler.
Bryce Thompson, Tennessee: Thompson entered the draft as a junior, having been a decent yet unspectatular player for Tennessee this past year. He has good athleticism and decent size to play outside, but the lack of on-ball production likely held him back.
Other notable undrafted cornerbacks: Trill Williams, Syracuse; DJ Daniel, Georgia; Bryan Mills, NC Central; Olaijah Griffin, USC; Dionte Ruffin, Western Kentucky, Isaiah Dunn, Oregon State
Best Undrafted Kickers / Punters:
Jose Borregales, Miami (FL), K: Borregales had an exceptional season for Miami, hitting 20-of-22 field goals, including 9-of-11 from 40+, and a 57 yarder. He has a strong leg and decent mechanics that should hold up in the NFL.
Alex Kessman, Pittsburgh, K: Kessman has the strongest leg of any place kicker in the draft, having hit a 58 yarder with ease this past year. Accuracy is still coming along, but he hits rainbows and could probably hit a 65 yarder in game if needed.
James Smith, Cincinnati, P: James Smith doesn’t have traditional punting form, but he’s been an All-American caliber punter throughout his career at Cincinnati. He forces fair catches more than anyone else in the class, and has really good accuracy.
Other notable undrafted kickers & punters: Max Duffy, Kentucky (P); Riley Patterson, Memphis (K)
