After the Denver Broncos selected Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly with the final pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, the mad dash began. Within minutes, dozens of undrafted free agents had signed with teams. By Sunday morning, more than 200 free agents had signed.
That number will continue to swell before rookie minicamps next week and will fluctuate throughout the offseason. Who knows if we'll see another Kurt Warner, Antonio Gates or another future Hall of Famer signed, but we do know some players will transform from unwanted prospect to NFL star.
MORE: Chad Kelly Tweeted About John Elway in 2011
Here are five undrafted free agents who might be on Week 1 rosters.
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KD Cannon – WR, 49ers
The 49ers clearly felt offseason signings of Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin were enough to not address the receiver position until the fifth round of the 2017 draft.
KD Cannon, a 5-foot-11, 182-pounder with a 37-inch vertical, is a big-time athlete who terrorized Big 12 secondaries the last three seasons (195 catches for 3,113 yards and 27 touchdowns). Criticized for his size and an inability to secure tightly contested pass, among other things, Cannon still left early and went undrafted.
If the Niners keep six receivers, it's realistic Cannon could join Garçon, Goodwin, Bruce Ellington, Jeremy Kerley and fifth-round pick Trent Taylor on the Week 1 roster.
Taysom Hill – QB, Packers
It's always hard to tell which teams sign undrafted quarterbacks just so they have someone to throw at rookie minicamp or because they actually want their services beyond May — or training camp in August. Taysom Hill may check both boxes for the Green Bay Packers.
Third-year quarterback Brett Hundley still has two years left on his four-year, $2.5-million rookie contract, so barring a delectable trade offer or major injury, it's unlikely they part with him before 2018 (Update: The Packers nearly traded Hundley on Friday and are expected to move on before 2018, according to ESPN's Rod Demovsky.)
However, Taysom Hill, the injury-cursed former BYU quarterback, could be the Packers' No. 3 quarterback if he can beat out Joe Callahan, a former undrafted D3 star who held the job most of last season.
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Ben Boulware – LB, Panthers
Clemson linebacker Boulware, a 6-foot, 238-pounder who had 197 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and seven sacks the last two seasons, immediately signed with the Carolina Panthers after the conclusion of Sunday's seventh round.
Lauded for his leadership, competitiveness and toughness, Boulware was knocked for his lack of quickness, short arms and subpar footwork. The Panthers drafted zero linebackers and Boulware is an intriguing special-teamer and potential replacement for Thomas Davis if he shows enough versatility on the outside.
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Travin Dural – WR, Saints
LSU receiver Travin Dural was once a highly touted recruit and can't-miss NFL prospect. Injuries and an Pop Warner quarterbacks slowly moved him down draft boards, but the 6-foot-1, 202-pounder remains a valuable prospect, especially now that'll join a real offense.
The Saints traded Brandin Cooks and drafted zero receivers. Though they did sign Ted Ginn Jr. to a three-year deal in March and Michael Thomas appears to be a future star, Drew Brees needs help.
New Orleans has struck it big on late-round or UDFA receivers in the past (e.g. Marques Colston, Willie Snead, Lance Moore) and may have found another beauty in Dural.
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Ricky Seals-Jones – WR, Cardinals
Another undrafted early entrant, Ricky Seals-Jones is a gigantic (6-foot-5, 243 pounds) target with huge hands (9 5/8 inches) and good blocking skills. However, his draft stock plummeted because of poor quickness, below-average hands and an inability to create separation.
The Arizona Cardinals drafted only one receiver and zero tight ends, a position Seals-Jones could switch to. With Michael Floyd gone, Larry Fitzgerald nearing retirement and no long-term solution at tight end, the opportunity is there for Seals-Jones to earn a roster spot as a developmental target.
