So, all the lights have been carted out of AT&T Stadium. The tv cameras are gone, but the league continues on. 256 players were selected in 3 days, but there is another pool of players that make up the life blood of the league – Undrafted Free Agents. Not every NFL player was drafted. So, let’s look at what the process of the UDFA is.
UDFA Odds and Numbers
NFL teams are smart. They have done enough research in the incoming player pool to peg players all over the country that may fit on their squad. Some teams only had 5 Draft picks this year due to trading in previous years. So, how does the NFL fill the gaps? Before we get into all that, I wanted to do some simple math for you.
NFL Training Camps will open in July. NFL teams are allowed to invite 90 players to their training camp. So, that’s 90 players times 32 teams.
90 Training Camp Slots x 32 Teams = 2,880 players
The Final 53 man roster at the end of a given season times 32 teams, which includes the 8 man Practice Squad that do not dress for games.
53 Final Roster Spots x 32 Teams = 1,696 players
So, the difference there is 1,184 players. The Draft only gives the league 256 players. That leaves 928 players to fill Training Camp rosters.
That needs to be filled up with Street Free Agents (meaning unsigned players from the Free Agency Period to Training Camp) and Undrafted Free Agents. So, between the original 53 man rosters, which not all of them will be retained, but hang with me here. Once the Draft picks have been made, a team on average will need to invite 29 players from either the Street FA pool or UDFA pool.
That’s a ton of players. Now, it also means that roughly 1200 players will not make NFL rosters. 1200 of 2880 – that’s 41.67% of players do NOT make the NFL. That’s insane.
So, of all the players drafted, acquired as a Street FA and signed to camp as an UDFA, you almost have a 50/50 chance of making the team at best. Realistically, a team is much more invested in the Existing Roster and the top 4 round guys, so at best, it’s more like a 1 in 4 chance. Then, from a talent perspective, the UDFAs have a very slim chance to make a team and most have to get asked to a team’s Practice Squad just to get a real look.
Still, the best part about the NFL is that it is the ultimate meritocracy. If you flash, work hard, and make a good impression, then you can make it.
A Success Story
Danny Amendola, the 2 time Super Bowl Champion of the Patriots now with the Miami Dolphins, penned this open letter to UDFAs everywhere.
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/danny-amendola-letter-to-undrafted
Guys like Amendola are out there right now, signed to go to camp with one of the 32 teams. These are the guys I love and root for 100%.
How Does It Work?
Starting in the 5th round, NFL teams will be contacting potential UDFAs during the Draft itself. Unlike a 6th or 7th Round selection, a UDFA can actually field offers from teams. A selected player has no choice, but to accept the Draft team and report to camp. Sure, the draftee could not report to camp, but the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) pre-determines the salary of every player in the Draft. So, holding out to get to a camp really is futile and probably a career killer. UDFAs, if contacted by multiple teams, can accept any offer given to them for a small signing bonus. Smart UDFAs will look at the current roster of a team to see if they have a better chance to make that squad versus another. So, even though the pride of getting drafted may outweigh the relative uncertainty of the UDFA path, the UDFA may have a leg up in the end.
Interesting UDFAs
Here are a few articles reviewing top UDFAs out there.
Here is a UDFA tracker that shows the team, salary and guaranteed amount (signing bonus).
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/undrafted-free-agents/
So, now take a look at your team’s page. See who they have signed as UDFA. Who is going to be the next Danny Amendola? Danny Woodhead? Malcolm Butler? I think my favorite part of watching the Emmy award winning, HBO series, Hard Knocks is the UDFAs and other Street FAs the focused team has that you end up rooting for. I still remember watching the Jets’ Hard Knocks in 2010 and watching Danny Woodhead, this little 5’8″ dude fighting his way on a roster. Now, Woodhead was at camp in 2008 and 2009, but he made a breakthrough in 2010. Like Amendola, you have to make a practice squad usually to stick around.
Here is my squad (Da Bears) – 15 UDFAs signed:
As the minicamps start and on to training camp, remember there are players who are scrapping to make a team any way they can outside of the bright lights of the Draft.
Wegs