Jp's Xs & Os Blog

Every year, the NFL draft brings in hundreds of people who go on to have great careers. In this draft I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of great all-pro players, but what about the players who fall in the later rounds or undrafted? Most importantly, how can we tell if these players will actually be signed? This is where the draft becomes interesting and the true work begins for both players and staff, so stay tuned for what’s next.

When teams go through their big board on draft night, they tend to gamble in the later rounds, just like we saw this year. Teams will pass on a player for many reasons but hope to sign them after the draft concludes. This strategy is nerve-wracking due to the fact of how much of a risk youre taking by letting this person fall because you truly don’t know if they’ll be there, which leaves you out of a key role in the draft process. Most of these players are evaluated on more factors than just their ability to play on the defensive or offensive side of the ball. They’re evaluated on their football intelligence, teammate skills, and special team ability. These traits are often overlooked by some surface-level fans. That’s exactly why they’re banking on them being there in a later round or as an undrafted free agent. What every NFL football team needs to be successful is players willing to do every job on the field, including the not-so-glamorous. 

(Teaching how to break down UDFAs off special team play)

This discussion is where we get into high-value late-round selections and lower-value late-round/undrafted selections. The ones that you most commonly see are the high-value ones. These are the players they view as versatile. Such a player significantly improves their chances of being retained through training camp. If this player has great special teams tape from college and shows they aren’t afraid to do hard work, GMs and coaches will take more risks choosing them over another player who excels at just one thing. This answers the questions every coach has, like “Can he help us right now?” “Can he help in more than one aspect of the game?” Answering these questions allows them to know that they’re receiving a consistent player, and this is how you can apply it. Watch the film and see what they do best if it’s more than one thing. If they excel at this, you can have a general idea of who will be retained and who ultimately will be released. 

(Southeastern University where the pre-draft All-American Bowl is held for underrated players)