Which UDFA has the best chance to make the Steelers roster?
The draft is over, but the fun thing about the draft is, it really never ends. Instead, it gets flipped around a bit and we have this “after draft” period where teams go shopping for “undrafted free agents” or UDFA’s for short.
We’ve done a lot of podcasts, articles, etc. to bring everyone up to speed on who we drafted, why, and what to expect. Now it’s time to explore those who are joining the Steelers as UDFA’s. UDFA’s get signed pretty quickly after the draft ends. The truth is, most of the players signed as UDFA’s are going to be practice squad guys at best, and just camp bodies at worst.
But there are diamonds in the rough, even here.
- Donnie Shell, who should be in the hall of fame, was an undrafted free agent. (And that was when the draft was like eleventy rounds. Look it up!)
- B.J. Finney was an undrafted free agent who has impressed and provided solid depth on the O-line.
- James Harrison was an undrafted free agent.
Need I say more?
Is it possible the next Deebo is in the group of UDFA’s signed by the Steelers after the draft? Probably not, but you never know. Since we’ve done so much talking about who we did draft, let’s take a look at the prospects who the Steelers recently signed as UDFA’s.
Nelson Adams, DT, Mississippi State
To be honest, there is not a lot of information on Adams. He was certainly glad to be signed by the Steelers though
Thankful to be signing an UDFA deal with the Steelers! Just the beginning!
— Coach Nelson Adams (@Coach_Adams94) April 29, 2017
He wasn’t invited to the combine, and his pro-day numbers are modest at best (40-YD: 5.19, BP: 17, VJ: 28, BJ: 08’07”, SS: 4.82, 3C: 7.76), but he does have the heart.
As a senior at Mississippi State, he had 2.5 sacks and 25 tackles so he was able to contribute. He has the size, but he will need to work hard to be anything more than a possible practice squad player.
Christian Brown, DT, West Virginia
Brown is a good interior athlete who has sometimes shows twitch, but not consistently. He has the quickness necessary to beat blockers and has good upper body power (20 reps on BP at his pro-day).
Like Adams, he will need to work hard to both improve and impress if he hopes to even make the practice squad, but he has enough ability that he could provide depth on the defensive line.
Provided he can overcome his biggest issue, which is pad-level. He also has to learn to play with better composure, he was flagged for four personal fouls last season (late hits and unsportsmanlike conduct).
Ethan Cooper, G, Indiana-Pennsylvania
Is Ethan Cooper this year’s B.J. Finney?
Maybe.
He has the frame that teams like. One of relatively few UDFA’s who was a combine invite. Cooper was projected to go in the sixth or seventh round of the draft, so this is a solid signing.
Cooper has “position flexibility”, having played both guard and tackle and solid upper body power (26 reps on BP). According to his NFL.com draft profile, he has “good football intelligence with an understanding of defensive concepts.” Like many undrafted players, he has more weaknesses than positives, but many of these, like pad-level, can be coached out of him.
The biggest question, having played at Indiana-Pennsylvania, is the level of competition. He should be better at run blocking, but Mike Munchak can probably help with that. He could develop, and the good news is the Steelers have a Hall of Fame line coach who can help him do just that. Cooper has a good shot at making the practice squad and could be called up to the 53 down the road if necessity demands.
Plus this was pretty cool –
My brother is officially a Pittsburgh Steeler!!! @ECoop59 pic.twitter.com/E2GaohwQff
— Kevin Brown (@MuggaKev) April 29, 2017
Francis Kallon, DE, Georgia Tech
Kallon was one of the Georgia Tech guys that the Steelers brought in for pre-draft visits. Kallon has the size and speed/agility to provide depth at DE. He ran a 4.9 40 – not bad for a guy his size. He has long arms and was on the radar of several teams.
He wasn’t as productive as expected at Georgia Tech, and that is concerning, but Kallon has the kind of upside that teams often take a chance on late in the draft. His problem is trying to do more than being a practice squad player because the Steelers are pretty deep on their D-line, especially after signing Tyson Alualu.
Still, if he can show enough in camp, he can find a spot on the squad and be there “Johnny Maxey” like if needed. It gives him time to develop his skills under the tutelage of John Mitchell.
Keith Kelsey, LB, Louisville
This was Kelsey’s tweet immediately following the draft:
Take note of every linebacker that was takin befor me! On another note imma Pittsburg steeler baby
— k2 (@keithkelsey55) April 29, 2017
That’s the kind of fire we want. They talked about this a lot on the NFL network, how as each day goes by and you don’t hear your name, or get that call, the chip on your shoulder grows. That chip can be a good thing when it’s driving you to prove everyone wrong, and that certainly looks like the fire that’s in Kelsey’s belly.
Kelsey reminds me very much of a guy who is currently on the Steelers roster – Vince Williams. Vince is a little bigger, and a better athlete overall, but the fire that burns inside these guys feels the same.
Kelsey is strong (23 reps on BP), and he is a solid tackler. He’s considered a two-down linebacker, and a liability in coverage, but he’s definitely a thumper.
Here is just a sampling from his NFL.com draft profile:
Prefers to play the game downhill looking to attack near the line of scrimmage. Will not stop pursuing the football until he hears the whistle blow. Has desired aggressiveness for an interior linebacker spot. Body up, wrap ’em up, tackler. Stat sheet filled with hustle plays.
ILB depth is not strong for the Steelers right now, and Kelsey’s future is in his own hands. Practice squad in all likelihood, but this is a guy who, if he can contribute on special teams, could make a roster push.
He’s likely to become a camp phenom come training camp – just watch!
Scott Orndoff, TE, Pittsburgh
Orndoff is another prospect who was projected to go in the sixth or seventh rounds. He will have a head start because Pitt has a pro-style offense, so his transition to the pro game will be that much simpler. He is a bit like Matt Spaeth, a solid blocker who can catch a little. In fact, his NFL.com draft profile says very clear he can become a “solid blocking “Y” tight end for a run-heavy team.”
But Orndoff can make contested catches too and could be a red-zone target who might be overlooked by opposing teams.
If Orndoff works hard, he has the potential to creep on to the TE depth chart and make the 53 man roster. The TE list is pretty long for the Steelers right now, and I don’t see Orndoff pushing Jesse James or Ladarius Green, but Xavier Grimble could be a guy who Orndoff might push, and even David Johnson.
Unless he really performs poorly at camp and in pre-season games, he’s a guy who will certainly be on the practice squad but don’t be surprised if come the end of training camp Orndoff is on the roster.
Nick Schuessler, QB, Clemson
I don’t want to sound mean, or to cast shade on this young man, but let’s be honest: when you sign a backup quarterback, you are really just bringing in a camp arm.
Yes, Schuessler was Deshaun Watson’s backup at Clemson. He never started a game in college, not one. He only threw 66 total passes in 4 years at Clemson.
It’s not all bad. Schuessler is a smart guy and he has an above average arm. But regardless of his upside, a guy who can’t start in college is unlikely to spend much time on a professional roster. But Schuessler will almost certainly be one of the first cuts made, and may never even see a snap in a preseason game.
Rushel Shell, RB, West Virginia
He’s not a big guy. Depending on what shoes he has on, or maybe what day of the week it is he is ether 5’ 10” or 5’ 9”. But he has some weight, coming in at 227 pounds.
Shell is athletic for his size, and he has flexible hips which are fluid. He has good feet and can string together moves to make defenders miss. His height will make him vanish amongst the trees of much taller O-linemen. His powerful lower half provides balance which allows excellent balance on contact. Shell can absorb a blow and maintain his track and he is able to make defenders miss in space on swing passes.
Shell’s thick, compact frame says “power runner” but the reality is that he has the athleticism to make defenders miss in tight quarters. He has enough burst to get through traffic and to the second level.
His NFL.com draft profile notes that:
Shell has posted consistent, but unspectacular numbers over his four years, but the tape shows a player who can run with adequate power, wiggle and quickness.
Overall, he may have a tough time being anything more than a practice squad guy, and maybe not even that. With Le’Veon, James Connor and Knile Davis, it’s questionable that he can push any of those guys off the 53.
Terrish Webb, DB, Pittsburgh
Webb was a slightly undersized safety at Pittsburgh who had a decent set of pro-day numbers (40 YD: 4.55, BP: 11, VJ: 32 1/2, BJ: 10’02”, SS: 4.44, 3C: 6.97) but who didn’t get much attention from the NFL during the draft. ‘
Because he was local, the Steelers know him and have at least some familiarity with him considering they share a facility. Webb started for three years and had five interceptions while at Pitt, but he’s unlikely to crack the roster and may struggle to find a spot on the practice squad.
Let’s be honest, Pitt’s secondary last season, well, they struggled. Webb wasn’t “the lone ray of light” or anything like that. He has holes in his game and will need to clean a lot of things up to make a professional roster.
The roster is jammed with DB prospects right now (11 CB and 5 S, not including Webb) so he will have an uphill battle even to make the practice squad.
Conclusion
The guys on this list are the “signed” UDFA’s who the Steelers picked up after the draft. They aren’t the only guys who are headed to rookie mini-camp though, as there are a decent number if “invitees” who are being given the opportunity to “play their way” on the team.
Is the next Deebo, or Donnie Shell in this group?
The odds are against it, but there are guys who have the ability to make themselves part of the conversation.
