When you're a franchise like the Kansas City Chiefs picking at the end of every draft, it can be challenging to find young talent that is cost effective. Despite the challenges of picking at the end of each round the Chiefs have done a great job in the draft.
Another area they've had great success in is the undrafted free agent market. Kansas City consistently brings in one of the best classes of UDFA every season, while not all of these players will make the roster it builds competition and depth.
UDFA class rankings are live on @fantasypros!
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) May 7, 2024
More than 20% of NFL snaps each year are taken by undrafted free agents — see where your team finished in the last Moneyball frontier pro football has left for talent on the cheap ⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/hJpBePYFje pic.twitter.com/nH84SRXG2u
Historically, the Chiefs have had great success in developing undrafted talent into meaningful contributors. Some names they've done this with include Tershawn Wharton, Tommy Townsend, Byron Pringle, Charvarius Ward, and Malik Herring. Some of these players are fringe roster depth and others have gone on to be All-Pros (Townsend and Ward). The Chiefs have had great success at finding contributors after the draft, let's take a look at who some of those players could be in 2024.
5. Miles Battle, CB, Utah
At 6'3" and 196 lbs., Miles Battle ran a 4.37 40-yard dash and tested extremely well. However, he's 24 and has been a college athlete since 2018 so there are some developmental questions there.
Battle is still pretty raw since he switched from receiver to corner during his college career. Battle's path to making the roster is going to center around special teams and potential upside on defense. He fits the profile that Steve Spagnuolo loves for corners.
In order to make the roster he will likely need to outperform 2022 7th-round pick Nazeeh Johnson and 2023 7th-round pick Nic Jones. Corner is going to be an interesting battle to watch in St. Joe.
4. Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU
Ryan Rehkow was the consensus No. 2 overall punter in this year's draft class. The Chiefs were able to land him as a UDFA rather than take a punter in the 4th round like the Chicago Bears did.
Rehkow has a solid leg and is experienced with four years of starting duties. Accuracy is a strength of his as well. His path to making the roster is fairly easy: beat out Matt Araiza. The Chiefs brought in Araiza early in the spring to compete for the job as well.
Araiza has an incredible leg but might not be as accurate. The Chiefs only signed him to a one-year deal, so if Rehkow can produce similarly, there's reason to like his cost-controlled future.
3. Curtis Jacobs, LB, Penn State
Curtis Jacobs was Dane Brugler's 10th-rated LB prospect for the 2023 class. He's a slightly undersized backer who projects as a sub-package player with special teams contributions.
Jacobs tested well and has some splashy plays in coverage. He's not the most physical defender, but with the presence of Nick Bolton and Leo Chenal, the Chiefs have players who fill that void. If Jacobs can show more on defense than Cam Jones and Jack Cochrane, he could be the fourth or fifth LB on the roster.
The Chiefs used 4 linebackers consistently with Wille Gay, Bolton, Chenal, and Tranquill. Jacobs could very well fill some of the responsibilities that Willie Gay had.
2. Carson Steele, FB/RB, UCLA
At 6'0" and 228 lbs. Steele would be one of the biggest running backs the Chiefs have had under Andy Reid. However, he might be a highly athletic fullback option for the Reid offense.
Reid went without his fullback for the first time last year and he might want to add it back into the offense. Steele would be a pretty explosive fullback with decent receiving ability too. He had over 150 yards receiving every season of his college career.
For Steele to make the roster, he'll need to fill on special teams and show ability in pass protection too. Usefulness in short yardage would be ideal as well.
1. Fabien Lovett, IDL, FSU
Fabian Lovett is another older prospect (he turns 25 this season) who has lots of tools in his bag to help him make the roster. His 6'3" 316 lbs. frame flashed along the interior line during his career. He has real pass-rushing upside for an interior player. He struggled with consistency though and rotated in and out frequently on a line with lots of NFL talent.
Lovett can make this roster by competing at what might be the Chiefs' weakest position (besides Chris Jones). Tershawn Wharton, Mike Pennel, Derrick Nnadi, and Neil Farrell are all familiar faces who are not really high-impact players over a season. Other than Farrell, all are on one-year deals as well. Lovett could be the best interior pass rusher in that group.