An undrafted free agent getting over $200,000 in guaranteed money is a pretty wild bet, but that’s exactly what the Colts dropped on center Geno VanDeMark after the 2026 NFL draft. This isn’t chump change for a guy who wasn’t drafted, making his immediate future with the team a super interesting case study, especially since his Year 1 outlook already points to the practice squad.
Who is This Guy Anyway?
Alright, so who are we talking about here? Geno VanDeMark is a 6-foot-5, 326-pound rookie offensive lineman, 24 years old, who finished his college career at Alabama after two seasons, following two seasons at Michigan State. The guy has seen some serious action in the trenches, logging over 1,500 career snaps across those four years. That’s a ton of experience, right? What’s even better for an undrafted guy is his versatility, having played all three interior offensive line positions. Most of his snaps came at right guard, which is a bonus.
Last season, his pass-blocking was pretty solid: he allowed just two sacks and twelve pressures over 365 pass-blocking snaps, and was penalized only once. That’s some serious work in the trenches! Now, his PFF grades weren’t exactly mind-blowing , 106th in pass-blocking efficiency out of 190 eligible guards, and 84th in run-blocking out of 331 linemen. But hey, for a UDFA, those aren’t terrible, and it shows he’s got a foundation to build on.
Big Money, Big Question Marks?
Let’s get back to that over $200,000 in guaranteed money. That’s a huge commitment for an undrafted free agent, man. He was one of only five Colts UDFAs to snag that kind of significant cash. You don’t just hand out that kind of money if you’re not serious about a guy, so it tells you the Colts brass saw something undeniable in his game, something they couldn’t risk losing to another team. Think about it, most UDFAs are scratching for minimums, hoping to catch an eye. This kid got a legit investment.
But here’s where it gets interesting: you’d think that kind of investment means a clear path to the 53-man roster, right? Not so fast. Even with that vote of confidence from the front office, VanDeMark’s rookie season path is looking pretty challenging.
Year One Outlook: Scrapping for a Spot
So, what’s next for Geno? The Colts definitely need to figure out who backs up starting center Tanor Bortolini this summer. Early signs, though, point to Dalton Tucker as the favorite for that backup center gig. So, where does that leave VanDeMark, the big money UDFA? The early word is his ceiling for Year 1 may be the practice squad. This isn’t some walk-on; this is a guy they paid real money for, who played a ton of snaps in college. And he’s fighting tooth and nail just to stay on the radar. He’ll likely be battling it out with Josh Kreutz and Jimmy Morrissey for those practice squad spots. It’s a real fight for survival, even with that guaranteed money in his pocket. Does that money give him an edge? Maybe psychologically, but on the field, it’s all about performance, right?
This summer, leading into training camp, it’s all about development and showing out. That $200K guarantee shows the front office believes in his raw talent and versatility. Now he’s gotta prove he’s worth that investment, even if it’s from the practice squad. Get ready to watch him compete against Kreutz and Morrissey. It’s gonna be a grind.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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