NY Jets Undrafted Free Agent Tracker- 2021

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NY Jets Undrafted Free Agent Tracker: Live analysis for every UDFA signing

 

by Justin Fried12 hours ago Follow @JustinTFried

The 2021 NFL Draft has come to an end. The NY Jets made a total of 10 picks throughout the three-day event and came away with a few players who should hopefully serve as foundational pieces of the roster for years to come.

Players like Zach Wilson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Elijah Moore should immediately make a sizable impact on offense. While late-round picks such as Jason Pinnock, Hamsah Nasirildeen, and Jonathan Marshall could be useful developmental projects.

But just because the draft is over, doesn’t mean the fun has to end.

With the conclusion of the draft, the race for undrafted free agents has officially begun. Signings are already taking place, and the Jets have entered the fray.

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Every year, notable undrafted free agents emerge as prominent players for their teams. Just last year, one of the NFL’s leading rushers, James Robinson, went unselected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Jets have managed to receive excellent production from players like Robby Anderson and Damon Harrison over the years — both signed with the team as undrafted free agents.

In more recent years, Kyle Phillips and Bryce Huff have both become solid front-seven contributors, despite going undrafted. Who will be this year’s surprise contributor?

Keep checking back for live analysis of every undrafted free agent the Jets sign.

List of NY Jets undrafted free agent signings

 

 

• Hamilcar Rashed Jr., EDGE, Oregon State

The first undrafted signing for the Jets is that of Oregon State pass-rusher Hamilcar Rashed Jr. Rashed was a three-year starter in college and broke the Oregon State sack record with 14.0 in 2019.

He had a bit of a down year in 2020, but was voted first-team All-American in 2019 as one of the best edge rushers in college football. Most expected Rashed to be a Day 3 pick, but the Jets managed to quickly scoop him up as an undrafted free agent.

This might be the most notable undrafted addition the Jets make.

 

 

• Teton Saltes, OT, New Mexico State

Teton Saltes is a developmental offensive tackle with ample athleticism. He’s 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, and thrived as a three-sport athlete in high school (football, basketball, and track).

He’ll need some time to develop, but Saltes has the physical traits to become a future swing tackle in the NFL. Notably, Saltes has also been highly regarded for his off-field efforts.

Saltes was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his community service work which included working with his native Oglala Lakota tribe to combat COVID-19 and his work with suicide prevention organizations.

A high-character guy and a great athlete.

 

 

• Kenny Yeboah, TE, Ole Miss

Kenny Yeboah spent the first three years of his college career at Temple before transferring to Ole Miss for his redshirt senior season. He started eight games for the Rebels in 2020 hauling in 27 catches for 524 yards and six touchdowns.

Yeboah isn’t a superb blocker, but he’s an athletic guy with good pass-catching traits. At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, he has good size and could be an effective move tight end in Mike LaFleur’s offense.

Most predicted that Yeboah would be a Day 3 pick and he was one of the more notable undrafted free agents. The Jets reportedly gave Yeboah a $20,000 signing bonus and a $180,000 base salary guarantee, per NFL Network’s Tom Peilssero, indicating that there’s a decent chance he makes the roster.

This is a good signing for the Jets.

 

 

• Milo Eifler, LB, Illinois

Milo Eifler was a two-year starter at Illinois and a transfer from Washington. A standout linebacker and running back in high school, Eifler also won league titles in shot put and was a four-star recruit.

He transferred to Illinois in 2018 in search of more playing time and he found it starting 17 games over the last two years. Eifler is an athletic, rangy linebacker who lacked the instincts and anticipation to make him a higher-rated prospect.

But the athletic profile is there for him to be a consistent contributor on special teams. At 6-foot-1, 228 pounds, Eifler will likely compete for a backup linebacker spot on the team with a chance to make the roster if he excels on specials.

 

 

• Michael Dwumfour, DT, Rutgers

Michael Dwumfour is a local product from Rutgers by way of Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Dwumfour spent the first four years of his career at Michigan serving as a rotational defensive lineman before transferring back to his home state as a graduate student in 2020.

The 6-foot-1, 294-pound defensive tackle earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in his senior season at Rutgers. He finished with 25 tackles, two for a loss, and a half-sack.

Dwumfour is undersized for the position but possesses a quick first step and has a high motor. Someone who will compete for one of the final roster spots on a deep Jets defensive line.

 

 

 

 

• Tristen Hoge, OG, BYU

The Jets add one of Zach Wilson’s starting offensive linemen from college in former BYU guard Tristen Hoge. Hoge originally committed to Notre Dame as the No. 1 center in the nation, but he struggled to find playing time.

He transferred to Notre Dame where he quickly took over the starting right guard job and became a three-year starter. Hoge struggled to stay on the field during his time at BYU missing eight games in his junior year due to a leg injury.

The 24-year-old also missed four games in 2020 due to COVID-19 and pneumonia. Hoge is a powerful interior blocker with decent athleticism, but his poor technique could hold him back.

He’ll compete for a backup interior line spot on the roster.

 

 

• Brendon White, S, Rutgers

Another local Rutgers product joins the fold, this time in the form of safety Brendon White. Originally from Ohio, White was a four-star recruit and the No. 2 recruit in the state of Ohio when he committed to Ohio State.

However, he was only ever given a part-time role prompting him to transfer to Rutgers for his senior season. White started five games in 2020 earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors after totaling 40 tackles, three pass deflections, an interception, and a forced fumble.

The 22-year-old is a solid run defender with questionable coverage skills that could limit him to special teams. But at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, it will be interesting to see if the Jets try him at linebacker.

 

 

• Grant Hermanns, OT, Purdue

Grant Hermanns was a three-star recruit and the No. 3 player in the state of New Mexico coming out of high school. He committed to Purdue and became a four-year starter starting all 33 career games that he played in college.

At 6-foot-7, 300 pounds, Hermanns is a tall, lanky offensive tackle who is quick-footed but struggles to get leverage against powerful defensive linemen.

His lack of strength, especially in the run game, could limit his ceiling at the next level. But if he puts on some weight and learns how to gain leverage against shorter, stouter defenders, he could become a serviceable swing tackle.

 

 

• Parker Ferguson, OT, Air Force

Parker Ferguson starting playing football in high school in his junior year, where he starred as a defensive end. He committed to Air Force as a two-star defensive end recruit before moving to the offensive line.

Ferguson put on over 50 pounds and moved to left tackle (he hadn’t played OL since middle school) quickly becoming his team’s starter. The Indiana native started 28 games at left tackle for Air Force from 2018 to 2020 earning first-team All-MWC honors this past year.

At 6-foot-3, 306 pounds, Ferguson doesn’t have ideal size and could be moved to guard in the NFL. That said, he’s only 21-years-old (turns 22 this month) and could be an intriguing developmental prospect for the Jets.

 

 

• Chris Naggar, K, SMU

The Jets have added a kicker! After many believed that the Jets could look to target a kicker on Day 3 of the draft, they add one here in the form of SMU’s Chris Naggar.

Naggar originally committed to Texas and saw time in 2019 as the team’s punter before transferring to SMU. The 23-year-old was named the AAC Special Teams Player of the Year and was voted first-team All-AAC.

He made 17-of-21 field goals in his senior year and was 43-of-46 on extra points. Naggar connected on two game-winning field goals last year in high-pressure situations to keep SMU undefeated against two ranked opponents in Memphis and Tulane.

The Arlington native joins the likes of Sam Ficken and Chase McLaughlin on the roster and will likely compete for the kicking job this summer.

 

 

• Jordyn Peters, S, Auburn

The Jets continued their renewed focus on special teams with the signing of Auburn safety Jordyn Peters. Peters only started five games in college and was primarily a special-teamer at Auburn.

He logged 766 career special-teams snaps and blocked a total of five kicks (four punts) including one that was recovered for a safety. Peters did see some playing time as a safety in his senior season and even recorded his only career interception.

The soon-to-be 22-year-old (he turns 22 on May 2nd) likely won’t contribute much on defense, but could earn a roster spot as a core special-teamer in the mold of the newly-signed Justin Hardee.

 

 

• Isaiah Dunn, CB, Oregon State

The Jets add another cornerback here in Oregon State’s Isaiah Dunn. And it’s reportedly for a hefty sum — a whopping $185,000 in total guarantees which is the largest contract ever given to an undrafted cornerback.

Dunn started 26 career games over four years at Oregon State and was a consistent contributor on defense for the Beavers. He notably tore up his pro day recording a blazing 4.36 40-yard dash.

At 5-foot-11, 189 pounds, Dunn is experienced in zone coverage and is a very good athlete. It’s interesting to see him get so much in guarantees given that he wasn’t exactly a highly-ranked prospect by most outlets.

Expect Dunn to compete with the Jets’ rookie draft picks for a spot on the active roster or practice squad.