NFL
Which UDFA signing by the #Chiefs do you think could make the roster this season?
As the Kansas City Chiefs launch rookie minicamp, the club is wrapping up its work in the aftermath of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Undrafted free agents are valuable contributors to plenty of teams, and general manager Brett Veach is no stranger to finding good ones. Kansas City’s hope is for another solid haul this year, especially as the back-to-back reigning champs look to stay young and affordable at the end of the roster.
On Saturday, the Chiefs formally revealed their list of 2024 UDFA signings. Here’s the full group:
TCU RB Emani Bailey
UCLA RB Carson Steele
USC DB Christian Roland-Wallace
Marshall OL Ethan Driskell
Florida State DT Fabien Lovett Sr.
Villanova OL Nick Torres
Penn State LB Curtis Jacobs
James Madison WR Reggie Brown
Southern Miss LB Swayze Bozeman
Utah CB Miles Battle
BYU P Ryan Rehkow
Kansas State WR Phillip Brooks
Tennessee Chattanooga OT Griffin McDowell
Oklahoma OL McKade Mettauer
Texas Tech TE Baylor Cupp
Central Connecticut LB Luquay Washington
Kent State CB Derrick Miller
Kansas City has also made some corresponding moves. Wide receiver Anthony Miller was recently released, in addition to wideouts Jacob Copeland and Shi Smith, tight end Izaiah Gathings, safety Tyree Gillespie and defensive end Jordan Smith being waived. The club withdrew its exclusive rights free agent tender for linebacker Cole Christiansen, although he can still return to the club.
Some of the headliners from this year’s UDFA class were known in advance. For example, Bailey and Steele were mentioned by Veach as candidates to compete for the Chiefs’ third running back job. On the other side of the ball, Jacobs was widely expected to be drafted but him joining an already loaded linebacker room will help the rich get richer. Zack Eisen of Arrowhead Report listed Lovett as a potential Day 3 draft target along the defensive line.
In addition to the UDFA collective, those invited to rookie minicamp will have an opportunity to make a lasting impression on the organization very soon. This year, the Chiefs’ minicamp runs from Saturday, May 4 through Monday, May 6. This three-day window is followed up by OTAs commencing later in the month.