Thanks for this episode, Andy! I absolutely LOVE following the UDFA’s “careers” and eagerly listened to every minute of this episode! I’m a long-time draftnik, and here’s why I love UDFAs: If my team has a great year, my draft picks are penalized, BUT, every team is on a level playing field for the acquisition of UDFAs! In effect, a team has “unlimited seventh round equivalent draft choices.” That’s exciting for me, because I thoroughly believe in the concept of “hidden gems.”
I think Gutey came to the realization that paying more to convince the best UDFAs to sign with Green Bay simply is good economics. If you hit on one or two of them, you win the lottery.
Kyron Drones: I thought he had GREAT arm strength, and he has after-burners on his QB draws, where he outruns the defenders’ angles
RJ Maryland I thought he had GREAT hands/adjust to the ball skills, but if he can’t block on special teams, I think he’ll struggle to even make the PS, but at age 21 with 4.5 speed, boy, if he really works at his blocking…
Josh Gesky: sort of a poor-man’s Zach Tom; he has tremendous potential if he gets the best coaching and has the personal grit to improve. He seems like the ideal blocker for K and P returns.
J. Michael Sturdivant: A perfect example of a developmental prospect
Dillon Wade: also played a year at OT, which is likely to earn him a spot on the PS
Nyjalik Kelly: poor man’s Dani Dennis-Sutton; he is more of an edge-setter than a pass rusher. At least he chased plays, unlike Rashan Gary.

Excited the most for J Michael Sturdivant. Getting him as a UDFA is basically like spending a 6th round pick on a WR. He has all the tools we look for in a WR, size, speed, good blocking, and has great hands. I could see him at best making the 53 and at worst on the PS. Basically, he will be in a battle with Shepard, who is a clone of Sturdivant except for the speed. The Packers WR room has remained as strong on paper even though they lost Doubs and Wicks.

Getsy looks like a keeper and is another UDFA that could have been drafted.

Drones is not as good as McCord, period, but he does have the element of being a better runner so that is intriguing. The fact that GB kept McCord over Ridder tells me they like his potential. 4700 yards passing his senior year at Syracuse is impressive and deserves a long look.

Maryland on film looks very lazy for a tremendous athlete. He makes very little effort in blocking so that would need to improve. I can see a path for him to replace Musgrave as they do basically the same thing, only Maryland is faster and has better hands. We also just signed an Iowa TE, Luke Lachey, and he could be in the mix for blocking TE. Could be a battle there. Iowa TEs are top of the heap in the NFL.

If the Edge rusher was a little faster I could see him as a Packer with great potential. Does he play special teams at all?

Love this episode! Good players are not only interesting, but tend to be part of future churn even if they don't stick after camp in their first year.