Like Seahawks, Packers Give a Fighting Chance to UDFAs

This week, the Seattle Seahawks released an informational brochure to various agents that highlights how accomodating the franchise has been recently with undrafted free agents. 

While the release unquestionably paints Seatlte in a positive light, it's just as kind to the Green Bay Packers. In fact, the release might as well be a promotional tool for the franchise. 

According to the release, the Packers ranked second in 2013 in preseason playing time allotted to undrafted free agents. Over the four years of data, Green Bay is only the franchise to give college free agents at least 29.6 percent playing time during every preseason. 

On average (since 2010), no NFL team has given more playing time to either offensive (35.8 percent) or defensive (29.9) players than the Packers. 

The Seahawks argue getting on the field in preseason is crucial to actually making the final roster. 

The Packers probably agree, given that 13 undrafted free agents have made the Week 1 roster since 2010, the third most in the NFL. Overall, 17 of Green Bay's 70 signings have went on to eventually make the active roster. The 24 percent hit rate is fourth best in the league. 

Teams can start signing college free agents as soon as the draft concludes on Saturday night. The Packers are typically one of the more active teams during the process. Given their recent track record of playing UDFAs in the preseason and keeping them on the final roster, it's easy to see why.

 

Zach Kruse is a 25-year-old sports writer who contributes to Cheesehead TV and is the Lead Writer for the NFC North at Bleacher Report. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected].

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Comments (2)

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Evan's picture

May 07, 2014 at 02:20 pm

I don't think it's as simple as that.

"Overall, 17 of Green Bay's 70 signings have went on to eventually make the active roster. The 24 percent hit rate is fourth best in the league. "

The Seahawks are right there at 15 players out of 65 (22%) since 2010 and most would agree they've done a great job drafting as of late.

Interestingly, the top 10 really is a mixed bag of contenders (GB, NE, SEA), non-contenders (STL, JAX, ARZ) and middle of the road teams (CHI, IND, HOU, DAL). So, there is no clear connection between number of UDFAs and success.

What's also telling, I think, is that SEA is #1 in terms of other teams claiming their waived players. GB is #4.

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Clay Zombo's picture

May 07, 2014 at 01:47 pm

That is a good question. The good ones like Sam Shields probably make it regardless but Ted usually keeps his draft picks on the roster if they are good or not so im not sure it would make much of a difference. UDFAs are Teds idea of free agency pretty much.

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