Less than ten percent. That’s how many undrafted free agents actually survive cutdown day in the NFL, a brutal reality check compared to the nearly 90 percent success rate for early-round picks. But man, sometimes you just see guys who don’t get the memo about those long odds, right? Two rookies are absolutely tearing it up in training camp right now, making front offices regret every single pass they took on them.
The 6’6″ Behemoth Nobody Wanted
Kansas City snagged offensive tackle Kahlil Benson after rookie minicamp, and let’s be real, nobody outside of his family probably noticed. The dude started for a national championship-winning program at Indiana last year, clocks in at a massive 6’6″ and 319 pounds, and he’s athletic! Yet, no combine invite, zero of the 257 draft picks used on him. Scouts dinged him for being a bit unpolished, lacking consistency. Well, guess what? He’s making everyone eat crow now. Benson isn’t just looking like a lock for the final roster, he’s legit pushing to start at right tackle in Week 1. He’s been running with the first team in practice consistently, and it’s impossible to ignore. His teammates are buzzing, too. Left tackle Josh Simmons called him a “very physical player” and shouted out his effort, saying, “you can’t really teach effort. I mean, that’s what he’s giving out there.” Even prized free-agent pickup Kenneth Walker III noted how Benson kept playing well after the pads came on. Head coach Andy Reid basically confirmed Benson’s spot, talking about the competition for the right tackle job and how “both of them can play.” He said they “just got a young guy that we haven’t seen too much, but he has some talent. Let’s see where that goes.” Yeah, “some talent” is an understatement when a guy goes from undrafted to potentially starting Opening Day!
Khalil Jacobs Shakes Off The 40-Yard Dash Haters
Down in New England, the Patriots might’ve found a total gem in linebacker Khalil Jacobs. This guy slid out of the draft completely because of a rough Pro Day showing back at Missouri. I mean, 4.77 seconds in the 40-yard dash isn’t exactly burning up the track, but holy smokes, he’s proving speed isn’t everything. Jacobs had a killer final season at Missouri in 2025, racking up 47 tackles (five for a loss), three sacks, and a couple of pass defenses in 13 games. The man knows what he’s about, too. He fired back at the critics, saying, “We play football. We’re not track runners. I have tremendous game speed, so I don’t allow 40 times and things like that to determine the kind of player I am.” And you know what? Coach Mike Vrabel is totally backing him up, praising his ability to just “get to his spots” on the field. That’s exactly the kind of gritty, smart player you want on your defense, not some combine warrior who can’t play real football.
With training camps heating up, the competition for those coveted 53-man roster spots is absolutely insane. These two guys, Kahlil Benson and Khalil Jacobs, are not just fighting for a job, they’re making a statement about heart and grit. Keep an eye on the final roster cuts coming up because if these performances hold, we’re about to see some serious impact players hit the field when Week 1 kicks off!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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