Every year during the NFL Draft, hundreds of players realize a lifelong dream. However, for every player who hears their name called, there are a handful of players who won’t get selected.
What’s next for these players who don’t get picked? Let’s break down what goes down in the aftermath of the NFL Draft and what happens to the prospects who aren’t selected.
What’s Next for NFL Draft Prospects Who Don’t Get Picked?
Any prospect who isn’t selected in the NFL Draft becomes an undrafted free agent, and they are free to sign with any team in the league. Unlike the drafted players who had zero control over where they ended up, undrafted free agents control their own destiny.
By the time the seventh round rolls around, some players actually prefer to become an undrafted free agent rather than get drafted because they want the freedom to negotiate with multiple teams to find the right roster fit. Also, UDFAs sometimes earn more guaranteed money than late-round picks since there is a bidding war for their services.
Immediately after the draft ends, teams rush to sign undrafted free agents because it’s a low-risk, high-reward way to add even more young talent to the roster.
When an undrafted free agent signs with a team, they get a training camp invite, which is an opportunity to prove themselves and earn a roster spot.
What happens if a player doesn’t get signed as an undrafted free agent? The goal would be to land a rookie minicamp invite from an NFL team. Every year, there are examples of players who earn a training camp invite after thriving in a rookie minicamp.
Once at training camp and the preseason, the undrafted players will try to prove they are worthy of a roster spot or, at the very least, a practice squad spot.
For players who don’t get a training camp invite (or even a rookie minicamp opportunity), they will likely pause their NFL dream and go pro in a different league, joining a team in the UFL or CFL in hopes that they can produce at a high level and get a team’s attention.
How Much Do UDFAs Make?
Every NFL undrafted free agent is required to sign a three-year contract with league-minimum salaries in each season. In 2025, the minimum salary is $840,000, and then it will increase to $885,000 next season and $930,000 in 2027. Rookies drafted after the third round will earn the same figures on their new contracts.
The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement limits the amount of total signing bonuses a club can give its entire UDFA class. Two years ago, that figure was reportedly $172,337. Instead, teams can guarantee a significant portion of a player’s salary to convince him to sign.
Last year, the Arizona Cardinals gave WR Xavier Weaver a $255,000 guarantee, which led all undrafted free agents. The year before, Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Andre Carter II earned a $300,000 base salary guarantee.
After their three-year contract is complete, UDFAs will not have accrued enough NFL service time to become unrestricted free agents. Instead, they enter the league’s restricted free agent process, where they can be entered at one of four levels.
While drafted players can’t be extended until their third NFL season is complete, undrafted players can get new deals with their incumbent clubs after just two years. Accessing that second contract one year earlier is a benefit of going undrafted.