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Harris, Smith, Whaley, Capps, Harrell sign with teams, but nothing for O’Grady

O’Grady’s past catches up with him not being picked in the NFL Draft … or quickly snapped up in free agency as fellow tight end agrees to deal along with other players.

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Maybe everything you need to know about how NFL teams are evaluating players these days is lightly-used tight end Chase Harrell got a deal with a team after the draft while Cheyenne O’Grady is still waiting.

That has little to do with talent and how the league takes into account a lot more than how fast, strong and well you play football these days.

NFL teams don’t take as many chances if there is a hint of off-field questions these days. It’s not substance abuse these days as much as it is simply getting to meetings on time, not missing classes and nothing to do with what’s on the tape.

Here’s a list of the Razorbacks who have signed undrafted free agent deals (and it may be updated):

T.J. Smith, Los Angeles Chargers
Chase Harrell, San Francisco 49ers
De’Jon Harris, New England Patriots
Devwah Whaley, Cincinnati Bengals
Austin Capps, Atlanta Falcons

By the numbers, the odds are actually better taking the free agency route than getting picked after the third round.

Last year in the NFL on opening day, over 30 percent of team rosters were made up undrafted free agents … in other words, about 16 players per team on average.

As I learned covering the NFL years ago if you aren’t going in the first three rounds it’s better to be an undrafted free agent. It’s in the numbers.

If you’re a free agent and have multiple offers, you can pick the team where you have the best shot of making the roster.

And you can rest assured teams ask as many questions about free agents these days as they do players they are drafting … only they avoid problems. The last thing they’re interested in doing is having to babysit a free agent.

O’Grady’s problems, ultimately, were of his own doing and they’ve been well-chronicled over the last five years. Getting kicked off the team midway through last season near the end of Chad Morris’ time probably shouldn’t have been too surprising.

He’s got the talent. There’s no question about that.

It’s the other things that count for just as much these days. Instead of being picked by a team he’s in the position now of having to hope for a chance.

Which will be slim, at best.

Clay Maxey Autogroup

2024 Razorbacks Football

Fri, Dec 27Liberty Bowl
vs Texas Tech (Memphis)
W, 39-26
Thu, Aug 29vs UAPB (Little Rock)W, 70-0
Sat, Sep 7@ Oklahoma StateL, 31-39 2OT
Sat, Sep 14vs UABW, 37-27
Sat, Sep 21@ AuburnW, 24-14
Sat, Sep 28vs Texas A&M (Arl)L, 21-17
Sat, Oct 5vs TennesseeW, 19-14
Sat, Oct 19vs LSUL, 34-10
Sat, Oct 26@ Mississippi StateW, 58-25
Sat, Nov 2vs Ole MissL, 63-31
Sat, Nov 16vs TexasL, 20-10
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana TechW, 35-14
Sat, Nov 30@ MissouriL, 28-21

2024 High School Rankings

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Bryant (21)13-02461
2.Greenwood (4)13-02242
3.Bentonville9-41855
4.Little Rock Parkview13-11734
5.Conway10-21563
6.Pulaski Academy10-31128
7.Shiloh Christian9-477
6.Benton10-2676
7.Fayetteville9-3527
9.Rogers8-4359
Others receiving votes: Arkadelphia 20, Farmington 15, Valley View 5, Hot Springs Lakeside, Mountain Home 2, Salem 2, Conway Christian 1, Little Rock Christian 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (25)13-01251
2.Bentonville9-4983
3.Conway10-2772
4.Pulaski Academy10-3485
5.Fayetteville9-3174
Others receiving votes: Rogers 10.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (25)13-01251
2.Shiloh Christian9-4964
3.Benton10-2772
4.Mountain Home10-3513
5.Lake Hamilton8-420
Others receiving votes: Little Rock Catholic 6.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (25)13-11251
4.Farmington12-2904
3.Valley View12-1683
5.Hot Springs Lakeside10-3605
2.Joe T. Robinson10-2252
Others receiving votes: Morrilton 3.
CLASS 4A
1.Arkadelphia (25)13-21252
2.Elkins14-1991
3.Little Rock Mills12-1523
4.Southside Batesville13-1465t
5.Warren10-3284
Others receiving votes: Malvern 3.
CLASS 3A
1.Salem (25)11-4125
2.Bismarck14-11001
3.Mansfield11-365
4.Fordyce11-1422
5.Osceola10-2214
Others receiving votes: Booneville 17, Prescott 3, Rivercrest 2.
CLASS 2A
1.Conway Christian (25)14-01252
2.East Poinsett Co.10-4984
3.Junction City9-468
5.Mount Ida9-341
4.Carlisle11-1251
Others receiving votes: Des Arc 8, Bigelow 6, Murfreesboro 3, Cross County 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (25)8-0751
2.Midland11-1502
3.Cedar Ridge9-2223
Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3.

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