Kansas City Chiefs Land Undrafted Star Jeff Caldwell: A Potential Game-Changer
The Kansas City Chiefs may have unearthed a hidden gem in the undrafted free agent market by signing Jeff Caldwell, a former wide receiver from Cincinnati. Standing at an impressive 6-foot-5 and weighing 216 pounds, Caldwell was ranked as the No. 167 overall prospect by CBS Sports and projected as a potential fourth-round pick by NFL.com, yet he went undrafted. Athletic Prowess Caldwell's athleticism is remarkable: 40-yard dash: 4.31 seconds 10-yard split: 1.48 seconds (ranked No. 1 at the NFL combine) Vertical jump: 42 inches Broad jump: 11 feet 2 inches His Relative Athletic Score is a perfect 10.00, ranking him second among over 3,900 wide receivers from 1987 to 2026, just behind Calvin Johnson. Collegiate Performance Caldwell's college career began at Lindenwood, where he amassed: 93 receptions for 1,722 yards 23 touchdowns in 28 games During his time at Lindenwood, he tied an FCS single-game record with four receiving touchdowns against Eastern Illinois and was a finalist for the FCS Offensive Player of the Year. However, at Cincinnati, he caught only 32 passes for 478 yards and six touchdowns over 13 games, as he was not the focal point of the offense. Fit with the Chiefs The Chiefs did not prioritize wide receiver in the offseason, re-signing Tyquan Thornton while losing Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster. They drafted Cyrus Allen, another Cincinnati receiver, in the fifth round. With Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid at the helm, Kansas City remains an attractive destination for receivers, but their passing attack has struggled, ranking No. 16 last season. While Caldwell's elite athleticism doesn't guarantee success, his potential warrants attention. The Chiefs offer a unique opportunity for him to prove his worth and possibly become a standout in the NFL.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-04-26