A complete list of Kansas City Chiefs undrafted free agents
By Matt Conner
In addition to the six rookies drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, they will add several undrafted free agents. Here’s an updated and complete list.
The Kansas City Chiefs used a total of six overall selections in seven rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft. In the process, they added three new contributors for the offense and the defense apiece, including one of the league’s fastest players in wide receiver Mecole Hardman. Those six are just the first rookies added to the roster, however.
In the minutes and hours after the draft’s conclusion, the Chiefs will add many more rookies to their total with the signing of several undrafted free agents. Last season, running back Darrel Williams and linebacker Ben Niemann were just two of the most impressive rookie free agents signed by the Chiefs, and there’s good reason to expect a couple more gems to be added in the next day or two.
Here’s a running list of the Chiefs rookie free agents as we learn about them.
Joel Blumenthal, WR, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Blumenthal is a promising slot prospect who turned heads catching anything and everything from Kyler Murray at his pro day. Still an ultimate longshot earning a closer look.
Burrell is a 6’0, 195 lb. defensive back who comes with two years of starting experience with the Lobos. He put up a combined 105 tackles, 16 passes defended and 1 interception in those 24 games.
Custis was a one-year wonder at Syracuse. He broke out last season with 51 catches for 906 yards and 6 touchdowns after only catching 13 passes the previous three seasons. The result was a second-team All-ACC pick and teams salivating over his 6’4 frame. The Chiefs did well to bring in this tall target for a closer look.
Felton Davis, WR, Michigan State
He’s got the size and physical skills to go up and fight for the ball, which could mean good things for the Chiefs once Felton is healthy from an Achilles injury. Davis had 31 catches for 474 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns in limited action last season.
Austin Errthum, K, Northern Iowa
Just like Jack Fox (see below), Dave Toub has likely given Brett Veach a couple players to identify to bring in for the sake of any emergency that comes up during the season. Errthum made 82% of his field goal attempts in 2018. for Northern Iowa.
Ferguson was teammates with Darwin Thompson, the team’s sixth round pick, at Utah State and comes to the Chiefs as a 6’0, 210 lb. safety prospect who was honorable mention all Mountain West last season. Ferguson had 74 total tackles, 5 passes defended, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble in 2018.
Fields has to be considered one of the best overall bets to stick with the Chiefs given his reputation, skill set and experience at Clemson combined with the team’s need for help at the position. Brett Veach said he tried a few times to get a corner, but the timing was never right, save for when the team drafted Rashad Fenton in the sixth.
Fontana weighed in at 6’1, 298 lbs at his pro day and put up 29 reps on his bench press. Missed the entire 2017 season for the Jayhawks due to injury, but returned to start 9 games this past season.
Jody Fortson, Jr., WR, Valdosta State
It’s hard to turn away the chance to look at a wideout who stands 6’6. The small-school prospect had only 14 catches in 9 games for VSU, so the Chiefs have some work to do to sift through for pro potential.
Dustin Colquitt is the favorite, of course, but competition never hurt anyone. Conference USA special teams player of the year and likely someone that Dave Toub wants to see up close. Colquitt is the Chiefs oldest player, so it’s always helpful to have other names to call in case a need arises.
What can be said about long snappers, really? Frey started 46 games at A&M. You can read an interview here if you want to read a full article on a long snapper.
Darius Harris, LB, Middle Tennessee State
The college teammate of Charvarius Ward, Harris visited the Lions, Cowboys, and Redskins but signed with the Chiefs as a rookie free agent. Harris had 97 tackles last season, including 12 for a loss, to go with 5 sacks, 4 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles.
The Hawkeyes defensive end comes to the Chiefs with four years experience and plenty of special teams finesse. Had 30.5 tackles for loss in his career including 13.5 sacks. He’ll likely look quite seasoned at key points next to several rookies in minicamp.
Hobbs is a big target at 6’4, 230 lbs. who put up solid receiving numbers for the Golden Hurricane for the last four seasons. Last season he only had 39 catches for 480 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Overland Park native has been invited to camp with the Chiefs.
Johnson is a 6’0, 226 lb. linebacker who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. Johnson led the Longhorns with 90 tackles, including 16.5 for a loss. Second team All-Big 12 in 2018.
Jamire Jordan, WR, Fresno State
Jordan is a light receiver with return ability from Fresno State who had 27 catches for 434 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns last season. Put up a strong 42″ vertical leap at Fresno’s pro day to go with a 4.41 second time in the 40-yard dash.
Andre Lindsey, WR, Sacramento State
Lindsey averaged a ridiculous 30+ yards per reception last year for Sacramento State. He only had 25 catches but he turned them into 756 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Chiefs will get a chance to see this small school talent up close to see just how real that kind of production looks at the pro level.
The Kansas City Chiefs reportedly signed Linta to a three-year deal and they also added Shurmur. Does this mean they’re willing to carry a couple guys on the practice squad? What does this mean for Chase Litton? Maybe even Chad Henne? They must like something about Wagner’s QB that has scouts thinking real pro potential.
John Lovett, QB/ATH, Princeton
Players like Taysom Hill are changing the way that some former quarterbacks are charting their own course in the NFL. The Chiefs signed their own version here with John Lovett, who won the Ivy League Player of the Year as the Tigers quarterback.
Marcus Marshall, RB, James Madison
Marshall was a part-time running back for JMU last season, but made the most of his playing time by averaging 5.7 yards/carry. He also put up a 4.5 second time in the 40-yard dash at James Madison’s pro day.
Dakari Monroe, CB, San Jose State
Dakari Monroe was a special teams player and versatile corner for San Jose State who started 22 games in his collegiate career. He had 50 tackles and 4 interceptions last season. Check out this insane INT against Brigham Young.
Logan Parker, TE, Southern Utah
Parker is a right-sized target at 6’4, 250 lbs. but his college production is fairly sparse. The Chiefs are clearly picturing something more at the pro level here than anything he did at Southern Utah, since he only had 20 total catches last year for 241 yards and 1 touchdown.
Reagan and his quarterback, Kyle Shurmur, are a package deal as undrafted free agents. That’s good news for the Chiefs, who get to add an SEC product to their competition for spots along the offensive interior.
Shurmur’s name is familiar because his father is head coach of the New York Giants. His song has been a star quarterback from Vandy who has set numerous school marks and is an intelligent young quarterback with a real chance to stick here against competition from last year’s undrafted QB, Chase Litton.
Simba is an NFL prospect from our friends up north that drew interest from not only K.C. but several other teams to his pro day, including the Packers, 49ers, Bears, Jets and Browns. Simba is mammoth at 6’7, 343 lbs. and just started playing football six years ago.
Thompson is a slightly bigger receiver at 6’1, 205 lbs. who played with Kareem Hunt in college. Last season he caught 43 passes for 592 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns, showing himself to be a nice end zone fixture. He finished with the best shuttle time among wideouts at this year’s combine.
James Williams, RB, Washington State
The 5’9, 197 lb. running back was an early entrant from Washington State with a real chance to make this Chiefs roster as a well-rounded back with stellar hands. Last season, he caught 83 passes and he had 202 total catches over the last three seasons. He also averaged 4.6 yards/carry last season and 4.9 yards/carry for his career. Projected as mid-round value who slipped all the way. Chiefs got a real find here.
Julius Wingate, WR, Stony Brook
The 6’4, 220 lb. wideout is another big target the Chiefs have brought in to check out—an easy theme to pick up from the full list above. Led the team with 40 catches for 556 yards and 6 touchdowns.