Kansas City Chiefs vice president of player personnel Ryne Nutt said Monday that the team was “very excited” about the group of undrafted free agents coming in for this weekend’s rookie minicamp.
“We think this is going to be one of the better (undrafted) free-agent classes we’ve had,” Nutt said.
It’s worth remembering this to start: UDFAs face long odds of making it. There are still exceptions each year, including players like linebacker Cooper McDonald, who made the Chiefs’ initial 53-man roster last season after coming in as an UDFA from TCU.
So, who might have a chance to play his way onto K.C.’s roster this year?
From looking at the Chiefs’ reported and expected UDFA signings, here’s a list of eight players who could have the best shot.
8. Vincent Anthony Jr., Edge, Duke
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Anthony as this class’ 36th-best edge rusher, saying he has a “best-case outcome of an Arden Key-type career.” Anthony had 15 career sacks for the Blue Devils and has good size (6-foot-5, 258 pounds), though Brugler notes he’s only an average-twitch athlete who had some struggles going against stronger blockers. The Chiefs’ depth chart seems like it still could be one pass rusher short, so Anthony has that going for him as he looks to impress the coaches.
7. Wesley Bissainthe, LB, Miami
Brugler says Bissainthe (pronounced bih-SAINT) is an aggressive tackler and someone whose energy could help him stand out on special teams. The 6-1, 225-pound Bissainthe can struggle to get off blocks, but he still has enough size/speed combo to be worth a look — especially for a Chiefs team that could be seeking competition for a back-of-the-roster linebacker spot.
6. John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, Wyoming
The Leawood, Kan., native and Rockhurst High graduate will be showcasing for his hometown team. Gyllenborg is an athletic specimen — he actually made The Athletic writer Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” in August — while boasting 21.6 mph speed and a 37-inch vertical jump. He needs to work on his blocking, and drops have been an issue, but the 6-5, 249-pounder has enough physical tools to earn a long look as the Chiefs sort through options behind mainstays Travis Kelce and Noah Gray.
5. Xavier Nwankpa, S, Iowa
Nwankpa (pronounced WAUM-puh), who is Brugler’s 23rd-ranked safety, was a three-year starter for Iowa and has good size and speed at 6-2, 208 pounds. He didn’t always show the best instincts, however, and showing off as a special teams standout could be his best path toward a potential roster spot. The Chiefs, as mentioned in our latest depth-chart piece, suddenly have a roster glut in the secondary, meaning Nwankpa potentially faces a tougher path than others on this list.
4. Jaydn Ott, RB, Oklahoma
The 5-11, 198-pound Ott finds a familiar home with the Chiefs, as he’ll link back up with Chiefs running backs coach DeMarco Murray, who was his position coach at Oklahoma. Ott is a bit of an enigma; he had a strong first two seasons at Cal (and also made Feldman’s “Freaks List”) before struggling in his final two campaigns with injuries. Brugler had him as the 21st-ranked running back in this class, describing him as a “bursty, one-cut runner” who could potentially thrive on third downs and on special teams as a kick returner. Questions about injuries and his toughness will be obstacles for Ott to overcome as he looks to get into the team’s running back competition behind Kenneth Walker III and rookie Emmett Johnson.
3. Cole Brevard, DT, Texas
General manager Brett Veach said before the draft he hoped to come away with two defensive tackles; he ended up getting only one, while using a first-round pick on Peter Woods. That’s good news for Brevard, who joins a team that looks like it could use one more rotational player on its defensive interior. Brevard, at 6-2 and 343 pounds, is Brugler’s 50th-ranked defensive tackle and often flashed in college as a powerful run-stopper.
NT Cole Brevard taking on four blockers at POA on third-and-1 pic.twitter.com/UyHFGAznn5
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) August 30, 2025
2. DeShon Singleton, S, Nebraska
Brugler was high on Singleton, giving him a fifth- to sixth-round draft grade while ranking him as the 15th-best safety in this class. Singleton looks the part at 6-3, 205 pounds, and he led Nebraska last season in passes defended and interceptions. He’s not always fluid with his movements, though, and like Nwankpa, could see special teams as his best opportunity to make an early impression.
1. Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati
Caldwell will arrive in K.C. as the freakiest of the “Freaks List” alums. His relative athletic score — a metric used to evaluate prospects’ measurements — ranked a perfect 10.0; it’s the second-best mark of any receiver since 1987, with only Calvin Johnson ahead of him.
Jeff Caldwell is a WR prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 10.00 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 2 out of 3926 WR from 1987 to 2026.
Behind Calvin Johnson, pending pro day.https://t.co/ouxCKYCrgp pic.twitter.com/GK7dXNMK8s
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) March 21, 2026
Brugler ranked Caldwell as his 26th-best receiver and gave him a fifth- to sixth-round grade. The 6-5, 216-pound Caldwell ran a 4.31-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine with a 42-inch vertical jump, but he remains raw at the position and also needs to show he can play with better strength. He might be a project, but Caldwell could also pay off huge with the right development system and coaching staff. The Chiefs appear to have a few openings at wideout on the end of their roster, so Caldwell appears to be in an ideal situation if he proves to be a quick learner.
