#udfa

DT Tywone Malone Jr. wasn't selected in the seven rounds of the NFL draft, but was picked up as an undrafted free agent by the Saints.

Chiefs Undrafted free agent LB Leo Chenal ready to do damage.

IG: chiefs (5/5/22)

Undrafted Free Agent Targets: @DFF_Mike2 gives you two Wide Receiver Targets

Everyone is always looking for an edge in the later rounds of their rookie drafts. A pretty good source of that can be undrafted free agents. I’d like to let you in on my top couple UDFAs. The common theme of these guys is going to be players who landed on good offenses. I’m going to try to focus on the positives of each player, as there is not much benefit to focusing on the negatives of…

It’s hard enough to make an NFL roster when a player is drafted. It’s even harder to make an impression without a draft pedigree, but Sean Payton has shown that he’s willing to give every player a chance no matter how they get there.

Moments after Mr. Irrelevant is picked with the 256th or so pick in the NFL draft, all 32 teams begin the race to land each year’s most desirable undrafted free agents (UDFAs). Within hours, most of the promising talent has already been scooped up onto an NFL roster.

All the pre-draft research on every prospect comes into play as teams scramble to be the first to call those they think can actually make an impact on their team. Saints UDFA wide receiver, Keith Kirkwood, had his current team on his radar since before the combine.

Saints wide receivers coach, Curtis Johnson, called Kirkwood before the combine in an attempt to lure him to New Orleans in the event he wasn’t drafted. “Just from hearing his voice I just knew he was determined to get me here to be a New Orleans Saint,” Kirkwood said. “I knew I wasn’t going to be drafted, so I had my mind set that when things all boiled down I wanted to be a New Orleans Saint.”

Even though Kirkwood is having a great training camp, the Saints crowded receiver corps may be tough to crack. But his presence and willingness to sign with the Saints is a reflection on the growing history of UDFAs becoming quality contributors for the Black and Gold.

Back in 2005, the Saints signed a wide receiver to their practice squad. He had been released by the Cleveland Browns after initially going undrafted. The following season, he was allocated to NFL Europe where he played for the Berlin Thunder before being activated to the Saints roster for the final six games. He was then cut and resigned to the practice squad the next day.

In 2007, Lance Moore finally made his first start for the New Orleans Saints. He then had a career year in 2008. With Marques Colston out with injury, Moore amassed 79 receptions for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns. His two point conversion in the Saints’ Super Bowl win will live in Saints fan infamy. Last month, he was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame.

Yet the Saints had another franchise Hall of Famer emerge from the undrafted abyss in 2007. Running back Pierre Thomas beat out fourth round pick Antonio Pittman for the final running back spot and never looked back. He scored 41 touchdowns for the Saints over seven seasons, including a very crucial score in their Super Bowl win.

Thomas and Moore may be the most beloved and longest tenured of any undrafted players to make a Saints roster, but they are only a couple names on an even longer list of quality players that have come after them.

In 2008, it was Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Lynell Hamilton. Dunbar played eight years in the league to Hamilton’s four. In 2009, it was Jonathan Casillas. He’s still in the league playing with the Giantsand has two Super Bowl rings, one with the Saints and one with the Patriots.

In 2009, it was Junior Galette. He spent four seasons with the Saints, earned a contract extension, and even after two consecutive Achilles tears and numerous off the field issues, still made the Washington roster for three more years before finally waning out of the league.

In 2011, it was Isa Abdul-Quddus and Joe Morgan. In 2012, it was Travaris Cadet and Tyrunn Walker. In 2013, four UDFA’s made the Saints roster. Tim Lelito, Ryan Griffin, Glenn Foster, and current Saints tight end Josh Hill all earned a spot.

In 2014, Brandon Coleman and Kasim Edebali each earned crucial time on the field. And even though it took them another year to realize their potential, in 2016 Ken Crawley and Tommylee Lewis began their journeys towards trusted and valued contributors. Arthur Maulet has taken his chance from last year’s signing and made the most of it. He’s having a terrific camp and is only making the coaches’ job of cutting the roster down even harder.

J.T. Barrett reportedly signing 3-year deal with Saints

J.T. Barrett accepted an invite to the New Orleans Saints’ rookie minicamp on Monday, and now the Saints are reportedly keeping him longer than that. Per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.

Barrett still won’t be a lock to make the Saints’ roster, because nothing is guaranteed for undrafted free agents. But coach Sean Payton is at least going to take a look at the player who holds the Big Ten’s all-time touchdowns responsible for record.

Here’s what some talent evaluators said about Barrett before the draft:

“He’s been an unbelievably productive college quarterback, but there is a difference between being a college player and an NFL prospect,” Senior Bowl director Phil Savage told Land of 10’s Ryan Ginn. “He was on our list but never quite made it over the hurdle to get an invite. I think the world of J.T. in terms of what he’s achieved at Ohio State. You don’t do what he did in Columbus by accident.”

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. appears to be of a similar mind. In February, he told reporters that he didn’t think it was likely that Barrett will hear his name called.

“I think he’s a developmental guy,” Kiper said. “His passing skills, accuracy and decision making, that’s the big question mark. I’d probably look at him more as an undrafted free agent.”

One of the draft’s other star analysts came in on the other side of that debate, though. Mike Mayock of the NFL Network said in a conference call that he thinks Barrett will end up a late-round selection and go on to a promising pro career.