The 2025 NFL Draft is over, but that doesn’t mean teams are done adding rookies to their rosters. With 90-man offseason rosters, the largest chunk of each NFL team will actually consist of undrafted free agents.
While many UDFAs won’t make it through the grind of training camp and preseason, every team finds a few diamonds in the rough that slip through the cracks of seven rounds. After the early waves of undrafted free agency, which players and teams stand out as the biggest winners and losers?
Biggest Winners From Undrafted Free Agency
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons only made five draft picks, tied with the Minnesota Vikings for the fewest of any team. However, the Falcons have made up for that in rookie free agency. Of PFSN’s top 15 undrafted free agents, Atlanta signed four:
- CB Cobee Bryant, Kansas (No. 4)
- G Joshua Gray, Oregon State (No. 8)
- DT Simeon Barrow, Miami (No. 9)
- WR Nick Nash, San Jose State (No. 11)
No other team signed more than two of PFSN’s top 15 UDFAs. All four players Atlanta signed were ranked within PFSN’s top 200 on the pre-draft big board, highlighting how the Falcons effectively added fifth- and sixth-round level talents without having those picks.
Cornerback looks like the team’s biggest need after Atlanta didn’t use any draft picks on the position. Cobee Bryant was a ball hawk with eight interceptions and 12 passes defended for the Jayhawks over the past two seasons. In Atlanta’s off-coverage zone scheme, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him challenge Mike Hughes and Mike Ford Jr. for playing time opposite A.J. Terrell.
Nick Nash is another familiar name to draftniks. A former quarterback, Nash has only played wide receiver since 2022. He broke out this past season for the Spartans, totaling 104 catches for 1,382 yards and 16 touchdowns (the most receiving TDs in the FBS). At 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds, Nash will need development time but could earn a role in a Falcons offense full of former first-rounders.
Cam Ward
The Tennessee Titans signed just one of PFSN’s top 40 UDFAs, but it’s a key one for their top pick. Cam Ward thrived targeting slot receiver Xavier Restrepo during his lone season at Miami, and now the former Hurricanes will be reunited in Nashville with the Titans signing Restrepo.
Restrepo’s stats jump off the page. He’s Miami’s all-time leader in both receptions (200) and receiving yards (2,844) for a career. While he played five seasons in college, his freshman year was effectively a redshirt (one catch for 12 yards in 2020). Last year with Ward, Restrepo led the ACC with 1,127 receiving yards and caught 11 touchdowns.
However, Restrepo’s 4.85-second 40-yard dash time at his Pro Day made him virtually undraftable. He claimed to have hurt his hamstring before the run, but teams apparently weren’t convinced enough to draft him. For all his productivity, Restrepo won’t be a burner in the NFL, hamstring or not.
The Titans had a thin receiver depth chart a week before the draft but have worked to change that. They signed Tyler Lockett the day before the draft began, then picked Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor on Day 3. Still, given his familiarity with Ward, Restrepo should have a chance to earn a roster spot and perhaps grow into Lockett’s successor in the slot.
Seattle Seahawks Defense
The top-ranked UDFA on PFSN’s pre-draft rankings was LSU cornerback Zy Alexander. The No. 104 overall player, Alexander was ranked as an early fourth-round pick and should have a strong chance to make the 53-man roster after signing with the Seattle Seahawks.
Alexander first emerged as a star at Southeastern Louisiana in 2021, amassing six interceptions before transferring to LSU. He validated his standing at the SEC level, totaling four picks and 15 passes defended during his two seasons with the Tigers.
Seattle also signed PFSN’s top-ranked edge defender in Ole Miss’ Jared Ivey (No. 178 overall). A 6-foot-6, 274-pound edge, Ivey looks the part of an NFL big end. He was highly productive during his final two collegiate seasons, piling up 12.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.
The Seahawks have a deep corps of edge rushers. However, Boye Mafe is entering the final year of his rookie deal, while 34-year-old DeMarcus Lawrence has missed double-digit games in two of the last four seasons. Ivey should have an opportunity to earn a role on defense.
Miami Dolphins Offense
The Miami Dolphins had a meat-and-potatoes draft. Their first three picks were on interior offensive or defensive linemen, and four of their first five picks were on defense. That approach reflected a desire to fix holes on the defensive depth chart, which could lose more talent if Jalen Ramsey is traded.
The Dolphins added skill players late in running back Ollie Gordon II (Round 6) and quarterback Quinn Ewers (Round 7). However, they bolstered the offense in UDFA, signing PFSN’s No. 4 wide receiver (Andrew Armstrong, No. 189) and No. 2 tight end (Jalin Conyers, No. 226).
Armstrong is a big receiver at 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds who posted 78 catches for 1,140 yards for Arkansas last season. He could compete for an X receiver role as a contested-catch artist.
Conyers profiles as a move tight end after spending more than half his snaps in the slot. He’s a fluid athlete with strong speed for his size, posting a 4.74-second 40-yard dash at 260 pounds.
Armstrong joins a crowded receiver room. Tight end is a little more open, where Conyers could earn a spot behind starter Jonnu Smith.
Buccaneers Preseason Watchability
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had one of the most interesting UDFA hauls. While several players are long shots, they should make for good camp and preseason storylines.
Shilo Sanders, the older brother of Shedeur Sanders, has played safety at South Carolina, Jackson State, and Colorado. His 2024 teammate, wide receiver Will Sheppard, transferred to Colorado after four seasons at Vanderbilt and caught 200 passes for 2,688 yards in college.
The Bucs also signed Texas center Jake Majors (No. 174), their highest-ranked UDFA addition. Majors started 57 consecutive games for Texas and could be a long-term backup center despite his sub-31-inch arms.
Finally, Florida defensive tackle Desmond Watson gained attention for possibly becoming the heaviest player ever drafted. While that didn’t happen, Watson’s 437-pound frame still makes him a player to watch if he appears in an NFL game.
Biggest Losers From Undrafted Free Agency
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have had the fewest reported UDFA signings so far, with just five total. None of their reported signings were ranked higher than No. 275 on PFSN’s pre-draft rankings (North Carolina CB Alijah Huzzie), so it’s not as though they’re landing higher-priority free agents either.
In fairness, the Texans drafted nine players after signing 13 external free agents before the draft. Even with 90-man rosters, Houston didn’t have as much space as other teams, lessening the need to dip deep into the UDFA pool.
Still, only one of their UDFA additions was an offensive lineman (Kentucky center Eli Cox, ranked No. 368 on PFSN’s big board). Houston has only added two rookie offensive linemen, including second-round OT Aireontae Ersery. The Texans will likely rely on a mix of veteran retreads in a massive camp competition for their unsettled offensive line.
Isaac Guerendo
Christian McCaffrey is the clear bell-cow running back for the San Francisco 49ers. However, with him turning 29 before the season and a long injury history, depth matters.
Second-year pro Isaac Guerendo was expected to be the top backup, but the 49ers’ moves suggest otherwise. They drafted Oregon’s Jordan James in the fifth round and signed PFSN’s top-ranked UDFA running back in Cincinnati’s Corey Kiner.
James and Kiner are decisive zone-scheme runners, while Guerendo often frustrated as a rookie by dancing behind the line. He was stuffed on 19% of his runs in 2024, the highest among 49ers backs. Although he averaged 5.0 yards per attempt thanks to explosive plays, he had a boom-or-bust feel.
Guerendo is more physically talented than the rookies, but the new additions suggest the 49ers want a more consistent runner behind McCaffrey. If he can’t adapt, fantasy managers may need to look elsewhere for McCaffrey handcuffs.
Seahawks CBs Not Named Devon Witherspoon
Seattle has a strong cornerback duo with Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon. However, Woolen is entering the final year of his rookie deal and had a rocky 2024.
Every other Seahawks cornerback could be on the roster bubble. Seattle signed top UDFA Alexander and No. 7 UDFA cornerback Isas Waxter (No. 249). Even though the Seahawks didn’t draft a corner, the undrafted competition should push the veterans.
Projected No. 3 corner Josh Jobe has never started more than six games in a season. Other options like Shemar Jean-Charles and second-year pro Nehemiah Pritchett aren’t more proven. Alexander and Waxter have real shots to make the roster and carve out playing time.
Colts, Cowboys, and Bills
The Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, and Buffalo Bills are the only teams yet to sign a UDFA ranked in PFSN’s pre-draft top 400.
The Colts could be an exception, with Temple kicker Maddux Trujillo joining their camp. Trujillo hit a 64-yard field goal at Lincoln Financial Field last season and could challenge Spencer Shrader for the kicking job.
Meanwhile, Dallas’ top UDFA is TE Rivaldo Fairweather (No. 403), and Buffalo’s is QB Taylor Elgersma (No. 429), who comes from Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario. Neither team looks poised to find a big-time contributor from this year’s rookie free agent crop.
Browns Special Teams
Kicking issues were part of Cleveland’s struggles during a 32nd-ranked scoring offense in 2024. Dustin Hopkins made just 18 of 27 field goals (66.7%) and missed three extra points, the lowest FG percentage among kickers with at least 20 attempts.
Yet, the Browns haven’t drafted or signed a rookie kicker. Andre Szmyt, who has played for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks, is on the roster, but he’s never kicked in an NFL game.
Cleveland didn’t have a pick beyond Round 5, so skipping a kicker in the draft makes some sense. Still, six NFL teams signed rookie kickers after the draft. The Browns will have to hope either Hopkins rebounds or Szmyt becomes a surprise contributor.