All Things 2026 NFL Draft/NFL UDFA Signings

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IceBoxGopher

IceBoxGopher

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Draft is tomorrow and plenty of mocks have been rolling out so let's go. Below is some background on this year's class and previous Gophers in the draft.

Gophers finished 2025 at 8-5, won Rate Bowl - Players included in 2026 Mock Drafts:
  • DL Deven Eastern, 2025 B1G Honorable Mention, Senior Bowl Invite
Other Seniors from 2025:
  • QB Emmett Morehead
  • WR Logan Loya
  • WR Le’Meke Brockington
  • TE Jameson Geers, 2025 B1G Honorable Mention
  • TE Drew Biber
  • TE Frank Bierman
  • OL Marcellus Marshall
  • OL Aluma Nkele
  • OL Dylan Ray
  • OL Spencer Alvarez
  • DL Jalen Logan-Redding, 2024 B1G Honorable Mention
  • DL Lucas Finnessy
  • DL Nate Becker
  • DL Rushawn Lawrence
  • DL Mo Omonode
  • LB Devon Williams, Hula Bowl Invite
  • DB Jai'Onte' McMillan
  • DB Darius Green
Minnesota in drafts since 2010
2010 - Gophers finished 2009 at 6-7, lost Insight Bowl
  • WR Eric Decker, R3, Denver Broncos
  • LB Nathan Triplett, R5, Minnesota Vikings
2014 - Gophers finished 2013 at 8-5, lost Texas Bowl
  • DT Ra’Shede Hageman, R2, Atlanta Falcons
  • DB Brock Vereen, R4, Chicago Bears
2015 - Gophers finished 2014 at 8-5, lost Citrus Bowl
  • TE Maxx Williams, R2, Baltimore Ravens
  • LB Damien Wilson, R4, Dallas Cowboys
  • RB David Cobb, R5, Tennessee Titans
  • DB Cedric Thompson, R5, Miami Dolphins
2016 - Gophers finished 2015 at 6-7, won Quick Lane Bowl
  • DB Eric Murray, R4, Kansas City Chiefs
  • LB De’Vondre Campbell, R4, Atlanta Falcons
2017 - Gophers finished 2016 at 9-4, won Holiday Bowl
  • DB Jalen Myrick, R7, Jacksonville Jaguars
2019 - Gophers finished 2018 at 7-6, won Quick Lane Bowl
  • LB Blake Cashman, R5, New York Jets
2020 - Gophers finished 2019 at 11-2, won Outback Bowl, Ranked No. 10
  • DB Antoine Winfield Jr., R2, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • WR Tyler Johnson, R5, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • LB Kamal Martin, R5, Green Bay Packers
  • LB Carter Coughlin, R7, New York Giants
  • DB Chris Williamson, R7, New York Giants
2021 - Gophers finished 2020 at 3-4
  • WR Rashod Bateman, R1, Baltimore Ravens
  • CB Benjamin St-Juste, R3, Washington Commanders
2022 - Gophers finished 2021 at 9-4, won Guaranteed Rate Bowl
  • DE Boye Mafe, R2, Seattle Seahawks
  • OT Daniel Faalele, R4, Baltimore Ravens
  • DE Esezi Otomewo, R5, Minnesota Vikings
  • TE Ko Kieft, R6, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 - Gophers finished 2022 at 9-4, won Pinstripe Bowl
  • C John Michael Schmitz, R2, New York Giants
  • DB Jordan Howden, R5, New Orleans Saints
  • DB Terell Smith, R5, Chicago Bears
2024 - Gophers finished 2023 at 6-7, won Quick Lane Bowl
  • DB Tyler Nubin, R2, New York Giants
2025 - Gophers finished 2024 at 8-5, won Duke's Mayo Bowl
  • OT Aireontae Ersery, R2, Houston Texans
  • DB Justin Walley, R3, Indianapolis Colts
  • LB Cody Lindenberg, R7, Las Vegas Raiders
Notable UDFA Signings
  • DB Marcus Sherels, Minnesota Vikings, 2010
  • QB Adam Weber, Denver Broncos, 2011
  • QB MarQueis Gray, San Francisco 49ers, 2013
  • DB Troy Stoudermire, Cincinnati Bengals, 2013
  • DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2016
  • DL Steven Richardson, Los Angeles Chargers, 2018
  • LB Jack Gibbens, Tennessee Titans, 2022
  • QB Tanner Morgan, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2023
  • RB Mohamed Ibrahim, Detroit Lions, 2023
  • TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Dallas Cowboys, 2024
  • WR Daniel Jackson, Houston Texans, 2025
  • DL Danny Striggow, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2025
 

IceBoxGopher said:
Draft is tomorrow and plenty of mocks have been rolling out so let's go. Below is some background on this year's class and previous Gophers in the draft.

Gophers finished 2025 at 8-5, won Rate Bowl - Players included in 2026 Mock Drafts:
  • DL Deven Eastern, 2025 B1G Honorable Mention, Senior Bowl Invite
Other Seniors from 2025:
  • QB Emmett Morehead
  • WR Logan Loya
  • WR Le’Meke Brockington
  • TE Jameson Geers, 2025 B1G Honorable Mention
  • TE Drew Biber
  • TE Frank Bierman
  • OL Marcellus Marshall
  • OL Aluma Nkele
  • OL Dylan Ray
  • OL Spencer Alvarez
  • DL Jalen Logan-Redding, 2024 B1G Honorable Mention
  • DL Lucas Finnessy
  • DL Nate Becker
  • DL Rushawn Lawrence
  • DL Mo Omonode
  • LB Devon Williams, Hula Bowl Invite
  • DB Jai'Onte' McMillan
  • DB Darius Green
Minnesota in drafts since 2010
2010 - Gophers finished 2009 at 6-7, lost Insight Bowl
  • WR Eric Decker, R3, Denver Broncos
  • LB Nathan Triplett, R5, Minnesota Vikings
2014 - Gophers finished 2013 at 8-5, lost Texas Bowl
  • DT Ra’Shede Hageman, R2, Atlanta Falcons
  • DB Brock Vereen, R4, Chicago Bears
2015 - Gophers finished 2014 at 8-5, lost Citrus Bowl
  • TE Maxx Williams, R2, Baltimore Ravens
  • LB Damien Wilson, R4, Dallas Cowboys
  • RB David Cobb, R5, Tennessee Titans
  • DB Cedric Thompson, R5, Miami Dolphins
2016 - Gophers finished 2015 at 6-7, won Quick Lane Bowl
  • DB Eric Murray, R4, Kansas City Chiefs
  • LB De’Vondre Campbell, R4, Atlanta Falcons
2017 - Gophers finished 2016 at 9-4, won Holiday Bowl
  • DB Jalen Myrick, R7, Jacksonville Jaguars
2019 - Gophers finished 2018 at 7-6, won Quick Lane Bowl
  • LB Blake Cashman, R5, New York Jets
2020 - Gophers finished 2019 at 11-2, won Outback Bowl, Ranked No. 10
  • DB Antoine Winfield Jr., R2, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • WR Tyler Johnson, R5, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • LB Kamal Martin, R5, Green Bay Packers
  • LB Carter Coughlin, R7, New York Giants
  • DB Chris Williamson, R7, New York Giants
2021 - Gophers finished 2020 at 3-4
  • WR Rashod Bateman, R1, Baltimore Ravens
  • CB Benjamin St-Juste, R3, Washington Commanders
2022 - Gophers finished 2021 at 9-4, won Guaranteed Rate Bowl
  • DE Boye Mafe, R2, Seattle Seahawks
  • OT Daniel Faalele, R4, Baltimore Ravens
  • DE Esezi Otomewo, R5, Minnesota Vikings
  • TE Ko Kieft, R6, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 - Gophers finished 2022 at 9-4, won Pinstripe Bowl
  • C John Michael Schmitz, R2, New York Giants
  • DB Jordan Howden, R5, New Orleans Saints
  • DB Terell Smith, R5, Chicago Bears
2024 - Gophers finished 2023 at 6-7, won Quick Lane Bowl
  • DB Tyler Nubin, R2, New York Giants
2025 - Gophers finished 2024 at 8-5, won Duke's Mayo Bowl
  • OT Aireontae Ersery, R2, Houston Texans
  • DB Justin Walley, R3, Indianapolis Colts
  • LB Cody Lindenberg, R7, Las Vegas Raiders
Notable UDFA Signings
  • DB Marcus Sherels, Minnesota Vikings, 2010
  • QB Adam Weber, Denver Broncos, 2011
  • QB MarQueis Gray, San Francisco 49ers, 2013
  • DB Troy Stoudermire, Cincinnati Bengals, 2013
  • DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2016
  • DL Steven Richardson, Los Angeles Chargers, 2018
  • LB Jack Gibbens, Tennessee Titans, 2022
  • QB Tanner Morgan, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2023
  • RB Mohamed Ibrahim, Detroit Lions, 2023
  • TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Dallas Cowboys, 2024
  • WR Daniel Jackson, Houston Texans, 2025
  • DL Danny Striggow, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2025
Click to expand...
Thanks
 

I used to follow the draft fairly closely but the yakking about it from a bunch of guys living in their parents' basements just became too much for me so I've pretty much tuned it out. I did a search regarding Eastern's status and most everywhere has him as a Day 3 or UDFA guy. One guy had him going in the 3rd round. Curious where he ends up. Can't teach size.

I think a couple of other guys--particularly Geers--will end up in training camps and who knows what happens from there. Kallerup surprised me and it goes to show that in the uber-specialized world of pro football roster building, a guy with a with a particular set of skills (cue Liam Neeson) can find a way into collecting an NFL paycheck.
 

50PoundHead said:
I used to follow the draft fairly closely but the yakking about it from a bunch of guys living in their parents' basements just became too much for me so I've pretty much tuned it out. I did a search regarding Eastern's status and most everywhere has him as a Day 3 or UDFA guy. One guy had him going in the 3rd round. Curious where he ends up. Can't teach size.

I think a couple of other guys--particularly Geers--will end up in training camps and who knows what happens from there. Kallerup surprised me and it goes to show that in the uber-specialized world of pro football roster building, a guy with a with a particular set of skills (cue Liam Neeson) can find a way into collecting an NFL paycheck.
Click to expand...
I think Devin Williams will get a UDFA or camp invite. Linebackers that can tackle and play special teams are always wanted in the NFL.
 

50PoundHead said:
I used to follow the draft fairly closely but the yakking about it from a bunch of guys living in their parents' basements just became too much for me so I've pretty much tuned it out. I did a search regarding Eastern's status and most everywhere has him as a Day 3 or UDFA guy. One guy had him going in the 3rd round. Curious where he ends up. Can't teach size.

I think a couple of other guys--particularly Geers--will end up in training camps and who knows what happens from there. Kallerup surprised me and it goes to show that in the uber-specialized world of pro football roster building, a guy with a with a particular set of skills (cue Liam Neeson) can find a way into collecting an NFL paycheck.
Click to expand...
I think Geers plays in the league long enough to get his pension. He’s a talent.
 


Some articles and projections on Eastern
On the post-draft chances, my guess is Geers, Williams, Redding and possibly Brockington will get UDFA signings.
 

Our potential for an early pick went away when Smith decided to come back. But when the dust settles it won't be shocking if a handful of guys find their way onto NFL rosters either through the draft or the UDFA process.
 

If you sign a Gopher blocking TE, you win a Super Bowl so watch out for Bierman.
 

IceBoxGopher said:
Some articles and projections on Eastern
On the post-draft chances, my guess is Geers, Williams, Redding and possibly Brockington will get UDFA signings.
Click to expand...
I hope you're right, but why Redding?
 



Bob_Loblaw said:
I hope you're right, but why Redding?
Click to expand...

Great amount of experience, consistent defensive contributor, athletic, good size. Not saying he’s going to get a roster or practice squad spot, but should get signed and receive an opportunity.
 

IceBoxGopher said:
Great amount of experience, consistent defensive contributor, athletic, good size. Not saying he’s going to get a roster or practice squad spot, but should get signed and receive an opportunity.
Click to expand...
Gotcha, gotcha. I thought you were talking about Quentin Redding. LOL.

That makes more sense.
 

IceBoxGopher said:
Great amount of experience, consistent defensive contributor, athletic, good size. Not saying he’s going to get a roster or practice squad spot, but should get signed and receive an opportunity.
Click to expand...
For the second time I think in a week, I will use an analogy involving RememberMurray. He has as good a chance of playing in the NFL as LR97. He and Williams, although Williams was a stitch better last year than he had been, will be additions by subtraction to our defense.
 
Last edited:

Gopherchase said:
For the second time I think in a week, I will use an analogy involving RememberMurray. He has as good a chance of playing in the NFL as LR97. He and Williams, although Williams was a stitch better last year than he had been, will be additions by subtraction to our defense.
Click to expand...
To be fair, RememberMurray looked good at the combine.
 



A few more mock drafts including Eastern ahead of tonight.
There are a couple Minnesota D2 players getting a bit of draft/UDFA attention, too.

Minnesota State Moorhead quarterback Jack Strand:
Minnesota State Mankato wide receiver TreShawn Watson:
 












So 1 drafted and 3 UDFA, any rookie mini camp invites?
 


Do we get asterisks for Athan Kaliakmanis (Washington--7th round), Jacob Clark (Raiders--UDFA), and Brady Boyd (Jacksonville--UDFA)?
 



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