Every year, the Kansas City Chiefs (and every other NFL team) sign a significant number of undrafted prospects following the NFL Draft in the hopes of unearthing a gem who was higher on their internal draft board. The 2025 crop yielded many potentially exciting players as well who, for various reasons, were passed over during the draft's seven rounds.
Not all prospects are treated the same. Some of them are given higher signing bonuses than others. Does that compute with future success? Let's look at last year's group of rookie free agents who were given the most money. One year is a small sample size, but the hit rate in 2025 was rather impressive.
Jake Briningstool, TE - $264K
The Chiefs spent the most money convincing Jake Briningstool to sign with the team. After setting Clemson's record for most receptions by a tight end in his career (127), the two-time All-ACC honoree was given $264K to play for the Chiefs, where he made an impact as a pro-ready prospect who looked like a nice addition to the draft class.
Briningstool is still with the team after a year, and it seems as if K.C. likes its internal options at tight end since they failed to make a single move in free agency or the draft in 2026. Briningstool has not been handed anything just yet, and there's more competition in camp, but there's also a very clear path for someone to step up behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray to compete with former fourth-round pick Jared Wiley.
Dalton Cooper, OL - $259
The Chiefs signed Cooper, an offensive tackle, out of Oklahoma State to a healthy signing bonus after last year's draft with the goal of seeing how his experience at left tackle would translate to the NFL. Cooper might have found a long-term home on the Chiefs' practice squad, but he was claimed on waivers when released before active roster cuts by the Green Bay Packers. He remains with the Packers in 2026 on a futures deal.
Esa Pole, OT - $254K
Esa Pole was an instant fan favorite when the Chiefs signed him out of Washington State, and his ongoing success helped ease the frustrations of losing Cooper to the Packers. After the Chiefs suffered several injuries at the position, Pole ended up starting at left tackle for K.C. down the stretch, a silver lining in an otherwise frustrating season. This summer, it will be interesting to see how the competition for swing tackle looks with Pole, Wanya Morris, and others.
Melvin Smith Jr., CB - $249K
For all of the moves made in the secondary by Brett Veach this offseason, Melvin Smith is a name that's been overlooked as one of the few holdovers from 2025. Yet the Chiefs liked him enough to offer him a quarter-million, and he remains on the offseason roster one year after being signed in the first place. The Southern Arkansas product was always a long shot to be drafted, given the leap in competition, but the Chiefs clearly like his length (6-1), ball skills (9 interceptions in his last two collegiate seasons), and added return ability.
Tre Watson, TE - $249K
Briningstool is not the only tight end among the lot. The Chiefs also signed Texas A&M's Tre Watson a year ago, and he remains in Briningstool's shadow on the roster. Watson was brought back for a second season back in January on a futures deal. Together with this year's big undrafted addition—Wyoming's John Michael Gyllenborg—Watson is hoping to find a way to upset Wiley and earn a TE3 role out of training camp.
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