That line about how it can be better to be an undrafted free agent rather than a last-round NFL draft pick? Apparently there's something to it.
Both of Dartmouth's undrafted free agent signees are in the news, and judging by what the stories suggest about former Big Green defensive lineman Josiah Green and former offensive line teammate Delby Lemieux, both made smart decisions on where to sign.
From the story (LINK):
Green finished 2025 with an 84th percentile pressure rate, 70th percentile pass rush win rate, 84th percentile sack rate, 69th percentile conversion rate, 15th percentile stop rate, 7th percentile tackle rate, and 5th percentile missed tackle rate.
Green Alert Take: First it was wRC+ in baseball, and now this? I'm being left behind . . .
The more understandable bottom line from the piece:
The Bucs being high on him is understandable. They don’t have a qualified fill-in who can do the things (Calijah) Kancey can as a pass rusher. But Green might be able to provide that specific skillset in a limited fashion. . . .
Green has the juice. He’s the only player on the depth chart who really profiles as a Kancey-light. And that gives him a unique opportunity to grab the 53rd spot on the depth chart or become a key practice squad elevation throughout the year.
The athleticism is real. The archetype and pass rushing traits are just as real. Josiah Green’s path to playtime might be real as well.
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Per Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic, Lemieux is the best UDFA fit for the Vikings’ roster: “A three-time All-Ivy League left tackle, Lemieux (6-5, 309) is a terrific athlete who moved inside to work at center for scouts during the pre-draft process. He has short arms (31 3/8 inches), but he’s a great athlete and a very intelligent lineman.”
Searching for other analysts to praise Lemieux isn’t particularly difficult. True, nobody had him (among) the draft’s big four centers — Logan Jones, Jake Slaughter, Conner Lew, and Sam Hecht — but there’s a lot to like in the former tackle who is moonlighting as a center.
And . . .
Within all of the uncertainty, the Vikings have Delby Lemieux quietly hanging out in the background. Again, he’s not a serious option to start, but he is competing to be the backup. Last year, all of LB Austin Keys, TE Ben Yurosek, G Joe Huber, WR Myles Price, DT Elijah Williams, and other UDFA talents made the final roster. Why not another for the upcoming season?
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EXTRA POINTI have a complaint that many of you in this part of the country will disagree with, as is your right. ;-)
