The Kansas City Chiefs have a strong track record with undrafted free agent signings. Every year, one or more rookies who went overlooked in the actual draft end up faring better than prospects who ended up being selected by making the team when it counts—heading into the regular season.
This year's roster features several former undrafted rookies. From cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace to linebacker Jack Cochrane to defensive end Malik Herring. Joining them this year are linebacker Cooper McDonald, who cracked the 53-man roster, and tight end Jake Briningstool, who will begin the year on injured reserve.
Looking back at the list of the highest guaranteed contracts handed out to college players who went undrafted, the Chiefs ended up finding a way to keep three of them. The other two were offensive linemen, one of whom was claimed on the waiver wire after roster cuts.
Two of the highest-paid undrafted signings for the Chiefs this spring have been claimed by other teams.
First, here's a look at the list of top UDFA signings by guaranteed money:
- Jake Briningstool, TE - $264K
- Dalton Cooper, OL - $259
- Esa Pole, OT - $254K
- Melvin Smith Jr., - $249K
- Tre Watson, TE - $249K
That list is interesting, because there's one name that should warrant a sort of, "Wait, what?" response from Chiefs Kingdom: Dalton Cooper.
Chiefs fans know Briningstool's name quite well at this point. Pole was a fan favorite as well, and Chiefs Kingdom was quite disappointed that the team didn't protect him from waivers (the New York Jets ended up reaping the reward). But Cooper's name coming between them is interesting, since he never garnered much attention while in training camp.
Cooper came to the Chiefs from Oklahoma State, where he spent two years following a transfer from Texas State. The five-year starter came with loads of experience (58 games) and a pro-ready frame at 6'5", 323 lbs. The Chiefs hosted him with a pre-draft visit among the 30 allotted, a sign that general manager Brett Veach was eyeing him as a post-draft grab.
Perhaps it's telling that the Chiefs didn't keep Cooper around when they didn't seem all that enamored with the selections of backup offensive linemen in the first place. It's not as if camp reports from St. Joseph were raving about the leap forward in Hunter Nourzad's play, for example.
However, the Chiefs also went lean on the number of linemen they kept to start the year, a sign of the versatility they've developed at the position. But the decision to keep other areas of the roster well-stocked might have cost K.C. the chance to stash a guy like Cooper or Pole among the top 53.
Cooper passed through waivers this week, and the Chiefs formed their practice squad without him. For now, the Packers are the ones providing a home for him on their practice squad, which is not a surprise since they also had a top-30 visit with him. That does mean that any team can sign him away to their active roster, so if the Chiefs really wanted Cooper back, they could make that happen.
Other than Cooper, the Chiefs did quite well with their undrafted guarantees. Such wild cards are always unpredictable, but three of the top five are in place to grow over time on a Super Bowl contender.