With only a few days before the 2024 NFL Draft, it’s that time again to take a look at how many undrafted free agents (UDFAs) each team might sign.
| Team | Current Roster | Draft Picks | Projected UDFAs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 58 | 9 | 23 |
| Ravens | 61 | 9 | 20 |
| Bears | 68 | 4 | 18 |
| Cowboys | 65 | 7 | 18 |
| Titans | 65 | 7 | 18 |
| Raiders | 64 | 8 | 18 |
| Bengals | 62 | 10 | 18 |
| Seahawks | 66 | 7 | 17 |
| Lions | 66 | 7 | 17 |
| Dolphins | 68 | 6 | 16 |
| Bills | 64 | 10 | 16 |
| Jets | 68 | 7 | 15 |
| Rams | 64 | 11 | 15 |
| Falcons | 68 | 8 | 14 |
| Vikings | 67 | 9 | 14 |
| Bucs | 70 | 7 | 13 |
| Jaguars | 69 | 8 | 13 |
| Panthers | 70 | 7 | 13 |
| Patriots | 70 | 8 | 12 |
| Saints | 69 | 9 | 12 |
| Browns | 73 | 6 | 11 |
| Giants | 75 | 6 | 9 |
| Broncos | 73 | 8 | 9 |
| Chiefs | 74 | 7 | 9 |
| Steelers | 75 | 7 | 8 |
| Colts | 76 | 7 | 7 |
| Texans | 74 | 9 | 7 |
| Comman-ders | 74 | 9 | 7 |
| Packers | 72 | 11 | 7 |
| Eagles | 79 | 8 | 3 |
| 49ers | 77 | 10 | 3 |
| Cardinals | 78 | 11 | 1 |
As always, the formula used to calculate these projections is simple: subtract from the maximum roster size (90) the number of players currently on the roster, and the number of draft picks each team currently has.
This season, the Chargers lead the way with an estimate of 23 UDFAs, largely due to having the fewest players under contract right now at 58. This is not too surprising given the major change at general manager and head coach with Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh, as the team is likely to continue to change significantly with their arrival. Perhaps a little more surprising is the other team with a Harbaugh as the head coach in the Ravens, who unlike the Chargers have a coaching staff and front office that is highly tenured. A wide array of teams are bunched together afterward, with the Bears the most notable due to only having 4 draft picks right now–albeit two of them being the 1st and 9th overall picks.
On the other end, as it stands right now the Cardinals would have room for only one UDFA, with the 49ers and Eagles next up with only three spots for UDFAs. Something that most of the teams on the lower end have in common, however, is possessing a high number of draft picks. This is certainly the case with the Cardinals, who have garnered 11 of them right now, tied for most in the league. They are also second only to, oddly enough, the team with the fewest draft picks in the Bears, in draft pick value according to the Fitzgerald-Spielberger system.
Because draft day trades and other transactions will happen, these numbers will not be the final result. They may, however, give some hints as to what teams could do during and immediately after the draft. Teams with a high numbered UDFA potential could lower this number by acquiring more picks in this draft, either by trading down or trading away future picks. Teams with a low numbered UDFA potential could raise this number by trading up in this draft, or defer some picks into future drafts via trades, to lower the number of picks they make now. Teams on this low end are also more liable to cut some veterans currently on the roster.