What is an NFL undrafted free agent? What are the rules for UDFA?

The 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone, with 257 players selected by 32 teams over seven round across three days. The Chicago Bears drafted USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick, while Alabama Crimson Tide safety Jaylen Key will be hoping to emulate Brock Purdy after joining the New York Jets as 2024′s Mr Irrevelant. But what about those poor souls who didn’t get picked?

What happens to players not selected in the NFL Draft?

Not being selected in the NFL Draft doesn’t necessarily mean the end of a player’s football career. Any player who wasn’t drafted automatically becomes eligible to join a team as an undrafted free agent (UDFA).

The signing period for UDFAs starts immediately after the NFL Draft finishes, which means teams will already be working on bolstering their rosters by taking a chance on potential future stars. Undrafted free agents can sign standard NFL contracts of different lengths and with different salaries, although they are typically less lucrative than those signed by drafted players.

How can UDFAs play in the NFL?

Players who are signed as UDFAs attend rookie mini-camps, where they have the chance showcase their skills and potentially earn a spot on a team’s roster, although only a small percentage of undrafted free agents tend to achieve that feat.

NFL teams have 90-man rosters during the offseason and preseason, which can potentially include a number of UDFAs. Rosters must be cut to 53 players before the regular season begins, leading to fierce competition for places during training camps and preseason.

Players who don’t make the final cut could end up joining a team’s practice squad. Practice squad players train with the team and are eligible to be signed to the active roster during the season, but they don’t get to play in Games unless they are elevated to the active roster. Practice squad players earn a minimum of $8,400 per week, which is significantly less than what active roster players make.

Although not the norm, some successful NFL stars started out as undrafted free agents, such as Hall of Famers Kurt Warner, who won the Super Bowl with the Rams in 2000, and nine-time Pro Bowl star Warren Moon.