UDFAs: Vincent Gray to Saints, Brad Hawkins to Falcons
How do UDFA contracts work? Are they guaranteed a spot on the 53 man roster or are these practice squad deals where they are essentially still auditioning for a spot of the roster?
Landing on the practice squad would be considered a better-than-average outcome for an UDFA. Most of them don't make the 53-man roster.
They aren’t guaranteed anything other than the opportunity to attend training camp.
Correct, though they have to get through minicamps first. Signing bonuses vary, depending on how badly the team wants a guy.
Although the spot isn’t guaranteed there are other things that go into it, like the TCU OG the lions signed for a 160k bonus for signing with the lions, the better the player the better the contract and bonus
Good for those guys. Here's to hoping they can either stick with those clubs or make a good enough impression to catch on with another squad!
That's a good landing spot for Hawkins - they need bodies and they didn't draft a safety. He'll also be able to play ST. I bet he sticks.
Gray has more of an uphill battle.
Baldwin signed with the Giants.
Word up.
If Gray has some untapped physical potential, New Orleans is the place to develop. The Saints recently hired S&C wiz Matt Rhea away from Alabama. You might remember Rhea from his earlier stint with the Hoosiers, where he and partner-in-crime David Ballou built Windiana for Tom Scott.