It’s a common occurrence to see an NFL player make a roster as an undrafted free agent rookie. What’s less common is seeing a player do so after spending a year away from the game. That’s the feat today’s player is trying to pull off.
Name: Anthony Harrell
# 49
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 229 lbs.
Experience: R
College: Georgia Tech, Florida
Draft: UDFA (2016)
Financial Situation (per Spotrac): Harrell is on a standard three-year UDFA deal. He’s set to make $465k this season with $90k raises in each of the next two seasons. There is no dead cap hit if the Bills release him.
2016 Recap: As far as I can tell, Harrell didn’t play professional football in 2016. He played sparingly as a graduate transfer for the Gators in 2015 (recording three tackles in three games), but was ruled academically ineligible for the Citrus Bowl that season. he played in the East/West Shrine Game, but went undrafted and didn’t sign with anybody as a free agent.
Positional Outlook: The top of the depth chart is in flux at the linebacker position, but they have plenty of depth on the roster right now. Much like Abner Logan, Harrell projects best as an inside linebacker in Sean McDermott’s scheme. Also like Logan, however, Harrell is looking up at Preston Brown and Reggie Ragland on the depth chart. Honestly, he’s probably looking up at Logan as well.
2017 Offseason: Harrell signed with the Bills at the same time as Logan, as a tryout player on May 15.
2017 Season Outlook: Harrell didn’t do much in college and is a year removed from competitive football. He deserves plenty of credit for earning a 90-man roster spot, but he won’t be moving much farther than that.