Shortly after the 2024 NFL Draft concluded, Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz was on a mad dash, signing a whopping 21 undrafted free agents. It’s an impressive quantity, but what about the quality?
There’s a reason why 257 players were drafted, and these prospects weren’t, right? After all, how many undrafted players typically make the Chargers roster? We set out to answer that question by taking a look at the last five rookie undrafted free agents to make the Chargers roster.
*Note: These are players that were part of the Chargers UDFA class signed after the draft, not mid-season acquisitions or players signed off waivers or other practice squads.
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Andrew Farmer
Unlike many other prospects who carve a path to the NFL, Andrew Farmer didn’t have the benefit of playing for a big college football program like USC. Instead, Farmer played football for the Lane Dragons, a Division II NCAA program. While it may have prevented him from getting drafted, he still landed on the Chargers’ radar and was one of the first players called up from the practice squad as a rookie last season. Still, Lane saw only 60 defensive snaps across eight games, recording three tackles.
A.J. Finley
Despite clearly having NFL size at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, A.J. Finley didn’t hear his name called in the 2023 NFL Draft after a four-year career at Ole Miss. Luckily, Finley latched on with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent. While Finley played in 12 games as a rookie, most of his time came on special teams, where he played 200 snaps.
Brevin Allen
Another prospect who was never really on anyone’s radar coming out of high school, Brevin Allen wasn’t even ranked as a recruit. Yet, he found a home with the Campbell Fighting Camels. Don’t act like you haven’t heard of the Fighting Camels before today. They play at the FCS level, so they don’t exactly face off against Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan powerhouses of the past.
Despite his long journey to the NFL, Allen got noticed by the Chargers in the 2023 draft class. While he didn’t make the final roster, Allen signed onto the practice squad and was already on the field by Week 1. Yet, he’d play just 12 snaps as a rookie. Still, the 23-year-old could have a bright future ahead.
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Elijah Dotson
Continuing the theme of small-school players who went pro, running back Elijah Dotson hails from Sacramento State and Northern Colorado, both FCS schools. Yet, his reduced exposure didn’t prevent the multi-purpose back from getting on the Chargers’ radar. Seeing action in four games, where he took four carries for six yards as a rookie, Dotson has a lot of competition in the backfield heading into his second season.
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Terrell Bynum
Finally, a player who was on the radar of several pro football scouts after playing at Washington and USC, Terrell Bynum doesn’t have impressive measurables. A 6-foot receiver with 4.58 speed, it’s no surprise Bynum went undrafted in 2023, yet the Chargers liked the wideout enough to sign him to the practice squad. However, he only played one snap, and is no longer with the team. He has since landed on the Colts.
Making the roster is one thing, but developing into the next Austin Ekeler is another. Still, anyone getting the chance to continue their football career after going undrafted has already beaten the odds. For the Chargers’ front office, identifying affordable talent via the undrafted free-agent route has become routine. We’ll see if that continues under new leadership.
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