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Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
10 NFL undrafted free agents who could make initial 53-man rosters as rookies
Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. By definition, undrafted free agents might seem like an afterthought to most after being repeatedly passed over. But that's hardly the case for NFL teams. Advertisement To fully capitalize on months of extensive scouting work, front offices extend their personnel push well beyond the seven rounds of each draft. The work begins immediately as franchises flock to sign undrafted free agents, often ponying up significant sums of guaranteed money just to get what amounts to a first look at players. Many of those who latch on with teams during this portion of the process will end up on practice squads, operating in a sort of football purgatory as teams monitor their development. But that designation leaves them open to being signed away by competitors willing to put them on their active roster, so any organization worried about its promising young talent being poached must tread carefully. And with no shortage of recent success stories from the undrafted ranks – including Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker, who nearly matched the rookie yardage output of first-round teammate Xavier Legette, and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Omar Speights, who started 10 games in 2024 – coaching staffs have plenty of reason to keep an eye out for unlikely early contributors. With training camps set to start up next month, here are 10 undrafted free agents who this year have a chance to make the initial 53-man roster for their respective teams: Efton Chism III, WR, New England Patriots With New England having centered its draft on an all-out effort to support second-year quarterback Drake Maye, it seemed inevitable that an offensive newcomer would set himself apart during offseason workouts. Yet rather than first-round offensive tackle Will Campbell, second-round running back TreVeyon Henderson or third-round wideout Kyle Williams, it was a little-known slot receiver from Eastern Washington who created as big of a buzz as anyone. Advertisement Chism, who broke Cooper Kupp's school single-season record for catches with 120 last year, quickly became a favorite of Maye, who estimated he found the 5-10, 195-pound target for "like 50 catches" in organized team activities. That only means so much prior to the start of training camp, but it unquestionably highlighted Chism's potential value given the Patriots' mandate on putting the 2024 No. 3 overall pick in more favorable spots after a rookie year rife with challenges. "I think he's a talented player. I think he has a certain skill set. He's dedicated. He's studied extremely hard," Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said in June. "He has a good feel for what we're asking him to do. I think the biggest thing for receivers is that there's trust from the guy that throws the football. "When you earn the quarterback's trust ... it doesn't take you long to figure out who the quarterback trusts. It's the ones they target. That's a good indicator." Chism's appeal as a safety valve in a Josh McDaniels-helmed system known for creating opportunities for slot receivers should be readily evident. But Demario Douglas looks to be entrenched in that role for the near future, and securing a spot on the roster might entail leapfrogging several more high-profile pass catchers in Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte and Javon Baker. If Chism continues to make his mark in a more competitive setting throughout the summer, however, he could be too promising to part with. Cobee Bryant, CB, Atlanta Falcons After placing a premium on jolting its pass rush with first-rounders Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., the Falcons then shifted their focus toward reshaping their secondary with second-round safety Xavier Watts and third-round nickel Billy Bowman Jr. But the work might not have ended there. Atlanta also added Bryant, a three-time first-team All-Big 12 selection who notched 13 career interceptions at Kansas. His 180-pound frame will need to be filled out for him to hold up against NFL receivers, particularly given his hyperphysical style that could leave him prone to plenty of penalties. But his consistently elevated aggressiveness serves him well in other phases of his game, and the Falcons' cornerback depth is relatively limited. Wide receiver Nick Nash and offensive guard Joshua Gray also have a solid shot at sticking around. Jared Ivey, DE, Seattle Seahawks On first blush, the Seahawks' edge rush might seem to be too deep to lend itself to an undrafted player latching on, with free-agent signee DeMarcus Lawrence and Boye Mafe being backed by Uchenna Nwosu and 2023 second-round pick Derick Hall. But Mike Macdonald's complex scheme demands a lot from its pass rushers, and Seattle could use some short-term insurance given Lawrence and Nwosu combined to play in just 10 games last season due to injuries. Ivey lacks the explosiveness of a typical developmental edge threat, but his versatility and skill set should endear him to Macdonald. Isaiah Neyor, WR, San Francisco 49ers With Brandon Aiyuk seemingly on track to start the year on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, the 49ers' outlook at receiver is far from settled. But that dynamic could open up an opportunity for Neyor, a 6-4, 218-pound speedster who drew a rave initial review from six-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle. Advertisement "He was running a route and he got like 9 1/2 yards in two strides," said Kittle on a June appearance on the "Bussin with the Boys" podcast. "I was like, 'Holy (expletive).' It was insane. We watched it like 10 times in the tight end room. We were like, 'How is he doing this?'" Neyor first broke out at Wyoming in 2021 by averaging nearly 20 yards per catch and hauling in 12 touchdowns. But after tearing his ACL at Texas and only posting modest production last year at Nebraska, he still lacks a handle on the finer points of the position. Still, Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch might be reticent to allow other teams to swoop in, and Neyor might be able to earn a spot on the initial roster if he can beat out seventh-round selection Junior Bergen. Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Green Bay Packers A three-year starter on Georgia's star-studded defense, Stackhouse doesn't offer the flashy athletic traits of former teammates like Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis or even Warren Brinson, whom the Packers selected in the sixth round in April. But the 6-4, 327-pounder eats up space in the run game and routinely blows up blocks. With T.J. Slaton's departure leaving a void for that role on an interior line group otherwise built on penetrating, Stackhouse can carve out a fairly straightforward niche despite his playmaking limitations. Andrew Armstrong, WR, Miami Dolphins The Dolphins' draft class was defined by a dedication to fortifying its fronts, with the team's first three selections coming along the offensive and defensive lines. But that approach, combined with Miami's Day 3 strategy, left the organization to look towards the undrafted free agent ranks to address a receiving corps that looks dangerously thin behind Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and free-agent signing Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Of the four first-year wideouts added after the draft, Armstrong looks to be the best bet to crack the roster. The 6-4, 202-pounder can add a different flavor to Mike McDaniel's aerial attack by providing Tua Tagovailoa with a possession receiver who can thrive in contested-catch scenarios. Tight end Jalin Conyers also could push for a spot, especially with Jonnu Smith's contract standoff yet to produce a resolution. Seth McLaughlin, C, Cincinnati Bengals A torn Achilles suffered last November no doubt weighed down the draft stock of McLaughlin, who was a fixture for Alabama's front before transferring to Ohio State and winning the Rimington Trophy last year. If not for the ailment, the 6-4, 304-pounder would have had a strong chance to be selected given his track record as a heady blocker capable of compensating for his pedestrian frame and athleticism. On a Bengals line that has struggled to afford Joe Burrow with any steady protection, McLaughlin could be an intriguing understudy to Ted Karras, though he'll have to 2024 seventh-round pick Matt Lee for the role. An undrafted free agent could also claim a job on the other side of the ball, as defensive tackles Howard Cross III – who played under new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden at Notre Dame – and Eric Gregory will try to make a push at a spot where Cincinnati has long underperformed. Ben Chukwuma, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Anyone guessing who landed the highest guaranteed payout among undrafted free agents probably wouldn't land on an offensive tackle from Georgia State who started for a little more than one season and didn't earn all-conference honors. Nevertheless, it was Chukwuma who stood above all his peers after netting $300,000 from the Buccaneers, according to multiple reports. The 6-6, 310-pound blocker, who moved to Georgia from Nigeria when he was 17, only began playing football after attending a walk-on tryout at Georgia State. Having paid a hefty sum to secure his services, the Buccaneers' brain trust clearly is interested in what it can make of Chukwuma and his tools. Jah Joyner, DE, Las Vegas Raiders Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce give the Silver and Black a solid foundation for a unit otherwise seemingly devoid of building blocks. Behind them, however, there's little certainty. Neither first-round disappointment Tyree Wilson nor Charles Snowden have provided much of a spark, even in backup roles. Joyner might not push either for a spot on the second string, but his tenacity could make him a solid rotational piece. Da'Quan Felton, WR, New York Giants Any question about the Giants' satisfaction with their wide receiver depth after the draft was quickly answered by the team signing five undrafted players at the position. Of those brought on, Felton might be the most fascinating - and have the best chance of securing a backup job. The 6-5, 213-pound target sizes up as a natural partner for Russell Wilson given his knack for hauling in contested catches downfield. With few other big bodies in New York's receiving corps, Felton could hold down a unique role while becoming a more precise route runner and eliminating the drops that have long plagued him. Advertisement All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL undrafted free agents 2025: Who could make rosters as rookies?
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Liverpool offer Doak in Palace swap deal'
Liverpool are willing to offer 19-year-old Scotland winger Ben Doak as part of a deal for Crystal Palace's 24-year-old England defender, Marc Guehi. (Sun) Lawrence Shankland has interest from clubs in England and Saudi Arabia, but Heart of Midlothian retain a line of communication with the out-of-contract Scotland striker while determined not to increase their offer, which would make the 29-year-old their highest-paid player. (Edinburgh Evening News) Advertisement Hearts head coach Derek McInnes says Stuart Findlay, who was on loan with him at Kilmarnock, gives him multiple qualities in one defender following the 29-year-old's season-long switch from Oxford United. (Edinburgh Evening News) Former Rangers striker Jermain Defoe says Leicester City centre-half Conor Coady's "eyes lit up" over the prospect of signing for the Ibrox club and the 32-year-old is eager to complete the transfer. (Daily Record) Ecuador midfielder Jose Cifuentes has confirmed he has returned to Rangers after Aris Thessaloniki could not raise the money needed to make the 26-year-old a permanent signing despite the Ibrox club extending the deadline and reducing the £3m fee following his loan spell in Greece. (The National) With no transfer agreed for Rangers 30-year-old Cyriel Dessers, AEK Athens head coach Marko Nikolic has insisted he is not worried about signing delays, telling Gazzetta that he still has plenty of forward options and that his priority is a left-back. (Gazzetta via The Scottish Sun) Advertisement While AEK Athens are very keen on Cyriel Dessers - with the Nigeria striker having shook hands on a £30,000-per-week contract - a transfer fee has yet to be agreed, with Rangers hoping to make a profit on the £4.5m they paid for the 30-year-old in 2023. (Daily Record) Queens Park Rangers aimed a cheeky dig at Rangers following the Championship club's capture of 23-year-old Ghana midfielder Kwame Poku from Peterborough United for around £300,000 in compensation, the London club's X account announcing that: "Kwame Poku signs for THE Rangers", followed by a winking face emoji. (Glasgow Times) Rangers hope to beat Basel to the signature of Brazilian midfielder Metinho after the Swiss club had an offer for the 22-year-old rejected following his loan spell from Troyes. (Scottish Sun) Romania legend Ilie Dumitrescu has revealed that Ianis Hagi told him he had turned down an offer with Legia Warsaw but is in advanced discussions with clubs in the top five European leagues following the 26-year-old midfielder's exit from Rangers. (Spotmedia) Advertisement Kalidou Sidibe, the 26-year-old midfielder who was touted as a potential £1.7m target for Celtic earlier this year, is one of five players for whom Guincamp believe they can bank sizeable transfer fees after missing out on promotion to Ligue 1, according to Foot National. (Foot National via Daily Record) Former Celtic and Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths has signed for semi-professional Stirling Macedonia Lions in the second-tier National Premier Leagues Western Australia after the 34-year-old ended three years with third tier Mandurah City. (Scottish Sun) Scottish striker Lee Erwin has signed for Jordanian Pro League club Al-Faisaly after the 31-year-old's four-month spell with Gostivari in North Macedonia. (The Herald) Newcastle United beat several Premier League rivals to the signature of 16-year-old Rangers striker Alfie Hutchison. (Fabrizio Romano on X) Advertisement Brighton & Hove Albion forward Zebedee Lawson's agent has taken to Instagram to hint that the 16-year-old's transfer to Rangers is imminent. (Daily Record) Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has told Red TV he expects another three or four new signings at Pittodrie this summer in addition to the four already secured. (Press & Journal)
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Liverpool offer Doak in Palace swap deal'
Liverpool are willing to offer 19-year-old Scotland winger Ben Doak as part of a deal for Crystal Palace's 24-year-old England defender, Marc Guehi. (Sun), externalLawrence Shankland has interest from clubs in England and Saudi Arabia, but Heart of Midlothian retain a line of communication with the out-of-contract Scotland striker while determined not to increase their offer, which would make the 29-year-old their highest-paid player. (Edinburgh Evening News), externalHearts head coach Derek McInnes says Stuart Findlay, who was on loan with him at Kilmarnock, gives him multiple qualities in one defender following the 29-year-old's season-long switch from Oxford United. (Edinburgh Evening News), externalFormer Rangers striker Jermain Defoe says Leicester City centre-half Conor Coady's "eyes lit up" over the prospect of signing for the Ibrox club and the 32-year-old is eager to complete the transfer. (Daily Record), externalEcuador midfielder Jose Cifuentes has confirmed he has returned to Rangers after Aris Thessaloniki could not raise the money needed to make the 26-year-old a permanent signing despite the Ibrox club extending the deadline and reducing the £3m fee following his loan spell in Greece. (The National), externalWith no transfer agreed for Rangers 30-year-old Cyriel Dessers, AEK Athens head coach Marko Nikolic has insisted he is not worried about signing delays, telling Gazzetta, external that he still has plenty of forward options and that his priority is a left-back. (Gazzetta via The Scottish Sun), externalWhile AEK Athens are very keen on Cyriel Dessers - with the Nigeria striker having shook hands on a £30,000-per-week contract - a transfer fee has yet to be agreed, with Rangers hoping to make a profit on the £4.5m they paid for the 30-year-old in 2023. (Daily Record), externalQueens Park Rangers aimed a cheeky dig at Rangers following the Championship club's capture of 23-year-old Ghana midfielder Kwame Poku from Peterborough United for around £300,000 in compensation, the London club's X account announcing that: "Kwame Poku signs for THE Rangers", followed by a winking face emoji. (Glasgow Times), external Rangers hope to beat Basel to the signature of Brazilian midfielder Metinho after the Swiss club had an offer for the 22-year-old rejected following his loan spell from Troyes. (Scottish Sun), externalRomania legend Ilie Dumitrescu has revealed that Ianis Hagi told him he had turned down an offer with Legia Warsaw but is in advanced discussions with clubs in the top five European leagues following the 26-year-old midfielder's exit from Rangers. (Spotmedia), externalKalidou Sidibe, the 26-year-old midfielder who was touted as a potential £1.7m target for Celtic earlier this year, is one of five players for whom Guincamp believe they can bank sizeable transfer fees after missing out on promotion to Ligue 1, according to Foot National. (Foot National via Daily Record), externalFormer Celtic and Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths has signed for semi-professional Stirling Macedonia Lions in the second-tier National Premier Leagues Western Australia after the 34-year-old ended three years with third tier Mandurah City. (Scottish Sun), externalScottish striker Lee Erwin has signed for Jordanian Pro League club Al-Faisaly after the 31-year-old's four-month spell with Gostivari in North Macedonia. (The Herald), externalNewcastle United beat several Premier League rivals to the signature of 16-year-old Rangers striker Alfie Hutchison. (Fabrizio Romano on X), externalBrighton & Hove Albion forward Zebedee Lawson's agent has taken to Instagram to hint that the 16-year-old's transfer to Rangers is imminent. (Daily Record), externalAberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has told Red TV he expects another three or four new signings at Pittodrie this summer in addition to the four already secured. (Press & Journal), external
National Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Moving on from Masai: Getting to know new Raptors bosses Bobby Webster and Dan Tolzman
Article content Now, Webster will, somewhat reluctantly, given his preference to remain low profile (he once even interviewed for the CIA), step into the spotlight. Article content Webster lives in Toronto with his wife Lauren and their three children. Article content Article content Born in Tucson, Ariz., Tolzman went to Minnesota to play basketball, but ended up quitting the team at the University of Minnesota-Morris, to join the sports information department. He'd follow that media relations path all the way to the NBA, joining the Denver Nuggets in 2004-05 as an intern. By the time Ujiri was running the Nuggets, Tolzman had been promoted to media relations manager and he then shifted to a role as a scout, which isn't the most common switch in professional sports. Article content Ujiri saw enough out of Tolzman that he brought him with to Toronto as director of scouting when Ujiri replaced Bryan Colangelo as Raptors general manager in 2013. Article content Tolzman was promoted in the summer of 2015 to director of player personnel and was also named the first general manager of Raptors 905, the club's developmental squad. Article content 'I'm honoured to have been named the first GM of Raptors 905,' Tolzman said then. 'The NBA D-League is all about development, and I look forward to using this opportunity to develop in my career while building and maintaining a competitive roster of young up-and-coming players. Article content 'The benefits of owning a D-League team will be tremendous for the players and staff of the Raptors organization for years to come.' Article content Sure enough, Raptors 905 would win a championship and a pair of conference titles in the renamed NBA G League and has served as a pipeline for the big club. Article content When Webster was elevated and Weltman left in 2017, Tolzman became Raptors assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel, his current roles. Article content Article content In general terms, Tolzman has been regarded as the head of Toronto's scouting department for years now and spearheaded the recruitment and signing of Fred VanVleet as an undrafted free agent and helped the team unearth gems like Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Norman Powell. Article content He was the chief spokesman for the Raptors when they used to gather the media to chat about draft prospects working out for the team, and he continues to mostly be the draft face of the club leading up to the event each June and right afterward (he talked twice last week, Webster once). Article content He has often espoused the take the best player available strategy in drafts, and with Tolzman's input, the Raptors did just that in taking Collin Murray-Boyles ninth overall, despite a glaring need at centre. Article content 'I think the biggest thing is to not make draft decisions based on your current roster and your current situation,' Tolzman had said years ago. 'You keep it in the back of your head. You'll take it into account when you're drafting players. But if the most talented guy or the highest guy on your list happens to be in a position where you're loaded up, you can work something out later.' Article content While Webster and Tolzman are now at the top of the chain of basketball operations, MLSE president Keith Pelley said the club is searching for a new president (Webster will be in the running for the job) and other long-standing members of the front office (like senior basketball advisor since 2005 Wayne Embry and VP basketball strategy & research Keith Boyarsky, with the club since 2009, amongst others), will also be staying on. Article content
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bolton Wanderers end tie-up with sports data firm Ludonautics after two years
WANDERERS have ended their relationship with sports advisory firm Ludonautics. The club has confirmed that the link-up, which was agreed two years ago to give them access to high-end scouting data, has been cut. Advertisement Ludonautics were given B class shares in Bolton's parent company, Football Ventures (Whites) limited, two years ago in exchange for access to data which they felt would help them improve recruitment, specifically overseas. The parting of ways is understood to have been amicable, with Wanderers now shifting back to a more traditional blend of data and in-person scouting under new sporting director, Fergal Harkin. A spokesperson for the club told The Bolton News: 'Our partnership with Ludonautics has ended. We are extremely grateful to Ian (Graham) and his team for their help and expertise on the specific projects we partnered on.' Ludonautics was founded by former Liverpool director of research Ian Graham, who worked in Jurgen Klopp's data room alongside Michael Edwards to create a Premier League and Champions League winning squad between 2012 and 2023. Advertisement Graham was responsible for one of the Premier League's first in-house analytics departments, which paved the way for the data boom of the 2020s but the link with Bolton has not proved as productive as it was originally hoped. Mr Graham said: 'Despite our professional partnership coming to an end, I wish BWFC nothing but success both now and in the future. It was a pleasure to work with and assist their progressive ownership and management team for the period we did."
