The Chargers’ 14-man undrafted free agent crop rounds out this year’s class of priority free agents. Here are the UDFAs vying to catch on with Los Angeles’ AFC team:
- Trevon Bradford, WR (Oregon State)
- Leddie Brown, RB (West Virginia)
- Erik Krommenhoek, TE (USC)
- Raheem Layne, S (Indiana)
- Tyreek Maddox-Williams, LB (Rutgers)
- Kevin Marks Jr., RB (Buffalo)
- James McCourt, K (Illinois)
- Brandon Peters, QB (Illinois)
- Brandon Sebastian, CB (Boston College)
- Ty Shelby, OLB (Louisiana-Monroe)
- Stone Smartt, TE (Old Dominion)
- Skyler Thomas, S (Liberty)
- Andrew Trainer, T (William & Mary)
- Isaac Weaver, C (Old Dominion)
Brown finished his Mountaineers career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, totaling 22 rushing touchdowns in that span, while Marks was a four-year regular at Buffalo. Despite playing alongside Jaret Patterson during his first three seasons, Marks amassed a 1,000-yard rushing slate as a sophomore in 2019 and finished with 33 touchdowns with the Mid-American Conference program. These two will join the Chargers’ Austin Ekeler-led backfield, which includes backups Joshua Kelley, Larry Rountree and fourth-round rookie Isaiah Spiller.
Peters, who spent six years at Illinois, struggled with accuracy (54% career completion rate) at the Big Ten program and missed time due to injury as a senior. His most productive season came in 2019, when he threw 18 touchdown passes. The Fighting Illini’s kicker from 2019-21, McCourt enjoyed his best year as a senior, when he made 18 of 23 field goals. McCourt’s eight 50-plus-yard makes are the most in program history. He joins a Bolts team that has experienced kicker trouble in recent years but one that added longtime Washington specialist Dustin Hopkins last season.
Smartt joined Old Dominion as a transfer quarterback in 2019 and started for the Commodores that year. He struggled as a passer, but after the pandemic nixed Old Dominion’s 2020 season, Smartt moved to wide receiver. He caught just 17 passes in 2021, but the Bolts will try him at tight end alongside Krommenhoek, who caught just 15 passes last season. The Chargers did not re-sign Jared Cook but added Gerald Everett in free agency; he joins Donald Parham as the team’s top tight ends.
I am not trying to be “that guy,” but I just want readers to know the factual truth about the aforementioned Illinois’ QB, Brandon Peters.
Peters did not spend six years at Illinois, as I’m sure most Wolverines fans remember. In 2017, it might have only been for six games, but it was then Sophmore Brandon Peters that helped QB Big Blue’s offense..He stayed on the team for 2018 as well, but only appeared in two games..
It wasn’t until 2019 that Peters made his debut for Illinois, helping lead them to a bowl appearance…