Chiefs’ UDFA history suggests Jake Briningstool might be next in line

The Kansas City Chiefs have seen a solid number of undrafted free agents make the team as rookies in recent years. This season features some solid bets as well.

Just last season, running back Carson Steele and defensive back Chris Roland-Wallace each made the initial 53-man roster as rookie undrafted free agents. Steele generated buzz with his bowling-ball running style in the preseason. Meanwhile, Roland-Wallace offered versatility that the Kansas City defense likes to have within its secondary.

This year, there are a handful of names who could flash in training camp and the preseason among Chiefs' rookie undrafted free agents. But on the offensive side, one incoming UDFA stands out above the rest. In a competition for tight end depth, Jake Briningstool is a name worth keeping in mind for K.C. fans.

Looking at the Chiefs' tight end competition

Of course, Travis Kelce and Noah Gray have the top two spots locked down on the tight end depth chart. Outside of that, Kansas City has a wide-ranging cast of characters vying for additional roles. Briningstool will contend with Jared Wiley, a second-year player coming off of an injury. Additionally, veteran Robert Tonyan is looking to make his presence felt in this position battle.

That third tight end spot could be utilized as a red-zone threat in condensed sets. Elsewhere, being able to lean on any blocking prowess or special teams ability may also dictate who wins the TE3 job. Briningstool could very well be the type of player that the Chiefs have used in that spot in past years.

Analyzing Jake Briningstool's strengths

There is a lot to like about Jake Briningstool's potential inclusion in K.C.'s offensive system, making him one of the more likely undrafted players who could grab a roster spot.

For starters, Briningstool's frame and length are a dream to have for quarterbacks. Briningstool measured in at 6-foot-6, 241 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine. Most of all, his height and long arms contributed to his making tough catches in traffic during his college career.

Because of his impressive grabs in contested situations, Briningstool was effective in the vertical passing game while at Clemson. He can separate up the field with deceptive movements and a varied tempo. But compared to Tonyan, or even Wiley at this stage, Briningstool may be a more natural mover with the ball in his hands after the catch.

If he gets to showcase that in additional reps with Kansas City, the Chiefs could test Briningstool in a variety of ways this preseason. He can match up against seemingly any-sized defender with his stature. As a result, the Chiefs may try to give him reps up the seams or over the middle.

The Travis Kelce factor

We may only see Travis Kelce play football for one more season. Either way, the Chiefs are going to have to fill his shoes at tight end sooner rather than later. No one will be able to match what Kelce provided for Kansas City for so long. Yet, making sharp choices when constructing the tight end room will already be crucial this year.

If Jake Briningstool shows any sort of promise in training camp and the preseason, it may be too risky for the Chiefs to have him not make the team or stick on the practice squad. If other teams get the shot to add his talents, Kansas City could miss out on a natural pass catcher. His game may not be completely well-rounded. However, Briningstool is a type of security blanket that Patrick Mahomes may trust in as Kelce moves on.