Cowboys wide receiver and Patriots tight end highlighted as undrafted rookies press case during camp and preseason

Training camp has a persistent undercurrent every year: undrafted rookies who get a chance to prove they can play now. On Tuesday, CBS Sports pointed to a Cowboys wide receiver and a Patriots tight end as two of the more notable examples of UDFAs making noise during the early stages of the preseason process, when coaches look for consistency, reliability, and upside across practices and limited game reps.

The leaguewide backdrop helps explain why those moments carry extra weight. CBS Sports noted that last season, 54 undrafted free agents were on active rosters to open the year, and that UDFAs collectively produced significant playing time, contributing over 3,300 offensive snaps and 3,200 defensive snaps in 2025. That kind of usage is not incidental, it is the result of front offices identifying low-cost talent and coaching staffs finding ways to get it onto the field.

From a roster-building perspective, undrafted players can change the math. Because they typically enter without the salary expectations that come with higher-profile draft picks, teams can take developmental swings or role-focused gambles while keeping more cap space available elsewhere. That is especially relevant for wide receiver and tight end depth, positions where teams often prioritize route readiness, run-after-catch ability, and dependable separation, or, in the tight end case, blocking soundness and matchup versatility.

For Dallas, the CBS Sports piece frames the Cowboys wide receiver as someone using the camp and preseason window to separate from the pack. Wide receiver is also a position where “making noise” can show up in multiple ways, not just headline plays. Coaches watch for clean releases, hands that hold up under contact, understanding of timing across the quarterback’s progressions, and the ability to earn targets even when reps are limited. An undrafted player who can do several of those things quickly gives the staff a practical reason to keep them around.

In New England, CBS Sports’ spotlight on a Patriots tight end carries a similar theme, with tight end often functioning as a hybrid between offense and protection. The route tree may be simpler than at other positions, but the margin for error can be narrow because of spacing, third-down assignments, and the importance of taking the right angle in the run game. A rookie who can contribute in multiple facets tends to fit better into the weekly plan, and that can be the difference between being a camp body and becoming a roster piece.

Still, training camp momentum does not automatically translate into Week 1 roster status. The preseason is also where teams manage snap counts, avoid exposing players to unnecessary injury risk, and use game scripts to evaluate specific skills. Even a player who “looks good” can be overtaken by a veteran’s knowledge of the system, a drafted player’s investment level, or a depth option who offers a clearer matchup-based value.

What to watch next is whether the Cowboys wide receiver and Patriots tight end can turn practice attention into repeatable on-field production during late preseason looks. If they continue to earn consistent reps and show that their impact is not confined to one bright moment, their cases will become harder to ignore for the final roster decisions that come after the preseason slate.

In the broader picture, the continued presence of UDFAs on active rosters and the scale of their playing time underscores a central truth about the modern NFL: the league’s best teams are not only drafting well, they are also developing, evaluating, and trusting that the next roster contributor might arrive through a different door. Undrafted rookies can be that door, and this year’s Cowboys and Patriots examples illustrate why that pathway remains so consequential.