Chiefs to sign high-upside UDFA linebacker that the rest of the NFL inexplicably forgot to draft
The Kansas City Chiefs are capitalizing on a big mistake by the rest of the NFL with one of their undrafted free agents signings. According to numerous reports, the Kansas City Chiefs have signed Penn State LB Curtis Jacobs as an undrafted free agent. A three-year starter for the Nittany Lions, Jacobs finished the 2023 […]
The Kansas City Chiefs are capitalizing on a big mistake by the rest of the NFL with one of their undrafted free agents signings.
According to numerous reports, the Kansas City Chiefs have signed Penn State LB Curtis Jacobs as an undrafted free agent. A three-year starter for the Nittany Lions, Jacobs finished the 2023 college football season with 49 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries.
Jacobs is a talented athlete, who many expected would be selected in the 2024 NFL draft. The Athletic's Dane Brugler had a fifth-round grade on Jacobs, and he was his 10th overall linebacker in the entire 2024 NFL draft class.
Chiefs land an elite athlete from a school known to develop linebacker talent
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 241 pounds, Jacobs is an explosive athlete.
He ran a 4.58s 40-yard dash with a 1.57s 10-yard split at the combine. His 40-yard dash ranked seventh among all linebackers and he was the only linebacker over 240 pounds to post a sub-4.6 40-yard dash. He also jumped a 35-inch vertical and a 124-inch broad jump as well. That explosion often shows up on the field when he's following his instincts and attacking downhill.
At the Shrine Bowl ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, Zebra Sports clocked Jacobs at 20.31 on the GPS, which ranked the fastest among all linebackers in attendance.
His versatility also shows just how talented he is as an athlete. Just check out his snaps by alignment from PFF. Penn State used him all over the defense.
Where Jacobs really has the potential to showcase his speed and explosion is on special teams with the new kickoff rules. It's hard to crack the 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent, but I'd give him a great chance to make it in Kansas City for that value alone.
Tracking the Chiefs’ undrafted free agent signings following the 2024 NFL draft
Keeping track of all of the undrafted free agents signed by the Kansas City Chiefs following the 2024 NFL draft.
