2023 Undrafted Free Agents - 18 Commit to Sign

[Fouts2herbert]

Nic Melsop, OT. A man amongst boys. Moves well, attacks downfield, overwhelms everybody.

The chargers must really like him, Meslop got guaranteed money from the chargers on top of his signing bonus, I don’t remember the chargers doing that before, they mist’ve gotten into biding war with another team for his services…

I think his total guarantees come out to like 25k (don’t laugh) but I just don’t remember the chargers doing that before, perhaps they have and I just never heard of it…

[Fouts2herbert]

Besides Clark, there are two other edge rushers and a safety that have a chance. The safety looks promising, good speed and size.

By now we could safely make the argument that the chargers scouting department has had as much success as any other NFL team in finding players in UDFA…

Guys like, Bennett, Binn, Plummer, Dielman, Tolbert, Floyd, Carney (?), Welker, Parker, Gates, Davis, Ekeler…and I’m forgetting a bunch…there was a time when I could rattle off a more complete list but these are the ones that come to mind now…I think soon we’ll be able to add a couple more guys if they continue to stick to the roster, guys like ogbonbemiga, layne, sarrell, hall, clark, dicker….

[Formula 21]

The chargers must really like him, Meslop got guaranteed money from the chargers on top of his signing bonus, I don’t remember the chargers doing that before, they mist’ve gotten into biding war with another team for his services…

I think his total guarantees come out to like 25k (don’t laugh) but I just don’t remember the chargers doing that before, perhaps they have and I just never heard of it…

The Bolts have traditionally been cheap with UDFAs and have not gotten into bidding contests before, IIRC.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

The Bolts have traditionally been cheap with UDFAs and have not gotten into bidding contests before, IIRC.

As I understand it, there is a total budget for UDFAs that teams cannot exceed. So if they pay big bonus money to one UDFA, a team will be able to sign fewer UDFAs, collectively.

[21&500]

The chargers must really like him, Meslop got guaranteed money from the chargers on top of his signing bonus, I don’t remember the chargers doing that before, they mist’ve gotten into biding war with another team for his services…

I think his total guarantees come out to like 25k (don’t laugh) but I just don’t remember the chargers doing that before, perhaps they have and I just never heard of it…

It's the little things like these that could end up making a difference.
props to the front office for reaching further into that penny purse.

Also, what's it say about how highly they value Max Duggan to use their only 7th round pick instead of Meslop or Clark who they've either negotiated more money or more guaranteed.

...Herbert better watch his back, okay no not really.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

The chargers must really like him, Meslop got guaranteed money from the chargers on top of his signing bonus, I don’t remember the chargers doing that before, they mist’ve gotten into biding war with another team for his services…

I think his total guarantees come out to like 25k (don’t laugh) but I just don’t remember the chargers doing that before, perhaps they have and I just never heard of it…

That's hysterical, watching him bulldoze anybody he touches. This is a Trey Pipkins-like acquisition, only it's a UDFA signing, not a 3rd round draft pick.

[Formula 21]

It's the little things like these that could end up making a difference.
props to the front office for reaching further into that penny purse.

Also, what's it say about how highly they value Max Duggan to use their only 7th round pick instead of Meslop or Clark who they've either negotiated more money or more guaranteed.

...Herbert better watch his back, okay no not really.

Herbert may not be physically ready to compete at the beginning of training camp, he may not pass his physical. The Bolts had to get a qb out of the draft, they couldn’t go into TC with one active qb. And they couldn’t risk the UDFA market being able to provide another decent qb.

[Formula 21]

From Nic Melsop interview. He certainly knows what it takes to succeed at this level.



If you could sell yourself in one sentence what would you say?

A dominating physical and athletic lineman that finishes through the whistle and has the IQ to see the whole picture.

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be?

I would compare myself to David Bakhtiari. This is because he may not be the biggest tackle in the NFL but he uses his athleticism to dominate the opposing team. He also has great footwork and elite hand placement.

[Boltinloudguy]

My 2 favorite to make the squad are
NT/DT Jerrod Clark
S AJ Finley

maybe DB Mullen, but I’ll give him another year to develop before making the 53.

[Topcat]

They signed a few UDFAs from REALLY small programs. (Campbell? Samford? Lane College? Ball State? Delta State?!?) Most of those guys get blown out of the water pretty quickly, but every once in a while you find an Austin Ekeler.

Yep...these Sammy Small Schoolers look good on tape, but could turn into Pip-like projects. Still, they're worth a look...

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

Herbert may not be physically ready to compete at the beginning of training camp, he may not pass his physical. The Bolts had to get a qb out of the draft, they couldn’t go into TC with one active qb. And they couldn’t risk the UDFA market being able to provide another decent qb.

I tore the cartilage between some ribs in August one year, and it wasn't until the following May that it felt healed. I found myself thinking the other day that right about NOW is when Herb should be at 100% and feeling no ill effects from his injury.

If Herb couldn't pass a physical now, how the hell did he manage to pass a physical to play the final 16 games of the 2022 schedule?!? <squints and shakes head>

[Heatmiser]

The Bolts have traditionally been cheap with UDFAs and have not gotten into bidding contests before, IIRC.

That is actually the opposite of the truth. Under Smith they typically paid more for UDFA than other teams and it was a big part of their success. Several (most?) of this crop got guaranteed money ranging from $20k to over $100k for Clark.

TG