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Signing undrafted free agents in the NFL is a tricky proposition. In 2026, UDFA NFL contracts rose to an all-time high. Once the draft is over, teams can sign college players who were undrafted, and the enticement of money talks.
NFL teams just spent $10.6 million on players not drafted. It is worth noting that even though undrafted free agents can sign a three-year contract for just over $3 million, very little of that contract is guaranteed. In fact, many players have nothing guaranteed or paltry amounts of five to twenty thousand dollars guaranteed. Here is a closer look at 2026 UDFA NFL contracts, and it shows teams have different approaches to building the roster.
The Los Angeles Chargers gave offensive tackle Isaiah World $534,000 in guarantees, the most for undrafted free agents this offseason. Taurean York, a linebacker from Texas A&M, netted $325,000 from the Denver Broncos.
Logan Fano, an edge rusher from Utah, earned a guaranteed $310,000 from the Cleveland Browns.
All four teams in the AFC East spent close to the same amount on undrafted free agents, with the Bills going with a strategy of paying every player at least $2500 in guaranteed money. The Patriots signed fourteen UDFA’s, but gave only one player, Tanner Arkin, any guaranteed money.
The Buffalo Bills guaranteed money to each of their UDFA signees, but chose to target players willing to sign for lesser amounts. Of the group, Jackson Acker of Wisconsin is one to watch, as he will readily fill a position of fullback if Buffalo employs two back sets.
The Miami Dolphins made a serious effort to land Wisconsin‘s Mason Reiger, allocating $175,000 of their cash-strapped budget of $232,000 on the Badgers’ speed rusher. Reiger is a solid bet to make the Miami roster in 2026.
The New England Patriots guaranteed money for just one signee, but in a big way. Tight end Tanner Arkin of Illinois is guaranteed $272,500 from the Patriots.
The New York Jets spent big on wide receiver Caullin Lacy of Louisville with a $262,500 guarantee while only spending a total of $292,250 for their entire UDFA signings.
Data from Spotrac.com
Read More: LWOS NFL Draft Profiles
Main Photo Courtesy of Jeff Hanisch – Imagn Images
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NFL teams just spent $10.6 million on players not drafted. It is worth noting that even though undrafted free agents can sign a three-year contract for just over $3 million, very little of that contract is guaranteed. In fact, many players have nothing guaranteed or paltry amounts of five to twenty thousand dollars guaranteed. Here is a closer look at 2026 UDFA NFL contracts, and it shows teams have different approaches to building the roster.
The Los Angeles Chargers gave offensive tackle Isaiah World $534,000 in guarantees, the most for undrafted free agents this offseason. Taurean York, a linebacker from Texas A&M, netted $325,000 from the Denver Broncos.
Logan Fano, an edge rusher from Utah, earned a guaranteed $310,000 from the Cleveland Browns.
2026 UDFA NFL Contracts: AFC East
All four teams in the AFC East spent close to the same amount on undrafted free agents, with the Bills going with a strategy of paying every player at least $2500 in guaranteed money. The Patriots signed fourteen UDFA’s, but gave only one player, Tanner Arkin, any guaranteed money.
2026 UDFA NFL Contracts: Buffalo Bills
| Team | Player | Position | College | Guaranteed |
| Buffalo Bills | Jordan Dunbar | CB | Missouri State | $15,000 |
| Buffalo Bills | Kani Walker | CB | Arkansas | $10,000 |
| Buffalo Bills | Kody Huisman | DE | Virginia Tech | $45,000 |
| Buffalo Bills | Jackson Acker | FB | Wisconsin | $17,000 |
| Buffalo Bills | Bruno Fina | G | Duke | $50,000 |
| Buffalo Bills | Da’Metrius Weatherspoon | G | Syracuse | $12,000 |
| Buffalo Bills | Theron Gaines | LB | Tennessee Tech | $20,000 |
| Buffalo Bills | Cade Denhoff | OLB | Clemson | $20,000 |
| Buffalo Bills | Desmond Reid | RB | Pittsburgh | $15,000 |
| Buffalo Bills | Max Tomczak | WR | Youngstown State | $45,000 |
| Buffalo Bills | Ja’Mori Maclin | WR | Kentucky | $15,000 |
| Buffalo Bills | Gabriel Benyard | WR | Kennesaw State | $2,500 |
| TOTAL | $266,500 |
The Buffalo Bills guaranteed money to each of their UDFA signees, but chose to target players willing to sign for lesser amounts. Of the group, Jackson Acker of Wisconsin is one to watch, as he will readily fill a position of fullback if Buffalo employs two back sets.
2026 UDFA NFL Contracts: Miami Dolphins
| Team | Player | Position | College | Guaranteed |
| Miami Dolphins | Jim Bonifas | C | Iowa State | $35,000 |
| Miami Dolphins | Rodney McGraw | DE | Western Michigan | $0 |
| Miami Dolphins | Rene Konga | DE | Louisville | $0 |
| Miami Dolphins | Kahlil Saunders | DT | Kentucky | $0 |
| Miami Dolphins | D.J. Herman | FB | San Diego State | $0 |
| Miami Dolphins | Mason Reiger | LB | Wisconsin | $175,000 |
| Miami Dolphins | Mark Gronowski | QB | Iowa | $15,000 |
| Miami Dolphins | Anthony Hankerson | RB | Oregon State | $5,000 |
| Miami Dolphins | Le’Veon Moss | RB | Texas A&M | $0 |
| Miami Dolphins | Louis Moore | S | Indiana | $0 |
| Miami Dolphins | Kevin Cline | T | Boston College | $2,000 |
| Miami Dolphins | Donaven McCulley | WR | Michigan | $0 |
| TOTAL | $232,000 |
The Miami Dolphins made a serious effort to land Wisconsin‘s Mason Reiger, allocating $175,000 of their cash-strapped budget of $232,000 on the Badgers’ speed rusher. Reiger is a solid bet to make the Miami roster in 2026.
2026 UDFA NFL Contracts: New England Patriots
| Team | Player | Position | College | Guaranteed |
| New England Patriots | Jacob Rizy | C | Florida State | $0 |
| New England Patriots | Kenneth Harris | CB | Oklahoma State | $0 |
| New England Patriots | Channing Canada | CB | Texas Christian | $0 |
| New England Patriots | Xavier Holmes | DE | James Madison | $0 |
| New England Patriots | David Blay | DT | Miami (FL) | $0 |
| New England Patriots | JonDarius Morgan | G | Alabama-Birmingham | $0 |
| New England Patriots | Khalil Jacobs | LB | Missouri | $0 |
| New England Patriots | Myles Montgomery | RB | Central Florida | $0 |
| New England Patriots | Peter Manuma | S | Hawaii | $0 |
| New England Patriots | Tanner Arkin | TE | Illinois | $272,500 |
| New England Patriots | Jimmy Kibble | WR | Georgetown | $0 |
| New England Patriots | Cameron Dorner | WR | North Texas | $0 |
| New England Patriots | Kyle Dixon | WR | Culver-Stockton | $0 |
| New England Patriots | Nick DeGennaro | WR | James Madison | $0 |
| TOTAL | $272,500 |
The New England Patriots guaranteed money for just one signee, but in a big way. Tight end Tanner Arkin of Illinois is guaranteed $272,500 from the Patriots.
2026 UDFA NFL Contracts: New York Jets
| Team | Player | Position | College | Guaranteed |
| New York Jets | Mory Bamba | CB | New Mexico | $0 |
| New York Jets | Nathan Voorhis | DE | Ball State | $0 |
| New York Jets | Paschal Ekeji Jr. | DE/ED | $0 | |
| New York Jets | Xavier Hill | G | Colorado | $5,000 |
| New York Jets | Will Ferrin | K | Brigham Young | $0 |
| New York Jets | Jaden Keller | LB | Virginia Tech | $0 |
| New York Jets | Kendrick Blackshire | LB | Texas-San Antonio | $0 |
| New York Jets | Garrison Grimes | LS | Brigham Young | $1,000 |
| New York Jets | Chip Trayanum | RB | Toledo | $0 |
| New York Jets | Sam Scott | RB | Wyoming | $0 |
| New York Jets | Curtis Chase | TE | Texas Christian | $5,000 |
| New York Jets | Caullin Lacy | WR | Louisville | $262,500 |
| New York Jets | Malik McClain | WR | Arizona State | $18,750 |
| New York Jets | D.T. Sheffield | WR | Rutgers | $0 |
| TOTAL | $292,250 |
The New York Jets spent big on wide receiver Caullin Lacy of Louisville with a $262,500 guarantee while only spending a total of $292,250 for their entire UDFA signings.
Data from Spotrac.com
Read More: LWOS NFL Draft Profiles
Main Photo Courtesy of Jeff Hanisch – Imagn Images
Continue reading...
