Did the Chiefs Luck Into the Next Calvin Johnson?

Some NFL fans get just as excited for their respective teams' undrafted free agents as they do some of their draft picks.

Kansas City Chiefs fans have plenty of reason for excitement in regard to one particular UDFA signing: Cincinnati wide receiver Jeff Caldwell, who Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports called the "undrafted gem" of the offseason.

"The Kansas City Chiefs may have scored one of the steals of the offseason as an undrafted free agent, as they agreed to terms with former Cincinnati wide receiver Jeff Caldwell," Dajani wrote. "He is a 6-foot-5 pass-catcher that CBS Sports ranked as the No. 167 overall prospect in this entire class. NFL.com also projected him as a fourth-round pick. Yet, Caldwell went undrafted!

"If you’re looking for a lofty NFL comparison for this prospect, Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson’s name has been thrown around. Let’s take a look at Caldwell, and why he’s arguably the most intriguing undrafted free agent this year."

Caldwell had a breakout junior season at Lindenwood in 2024, logging 52 receptions for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 19.4 yards per reception turned quite a few heads, and he transferred to Cincinnati for his senior season.

Though his numbers didn't quite jump off the page like they did the previous year, Caldwell still put forth a solid year, totaling 32 catches, 478 yards, and six scores.

But what really makes Caldwell stand out is his athleticism, his enormous catch radius, and his ability to win jump balls. During his college career, Caldwell won 42.6% of his contested catches, per Pro Football Focus.

While he may never be able to live up to the Calvin Johnson comparisons, Caldwell landed in a great spot in Kansas City - a city dying for a top-tier receiver to fill the void left by Tyreek Hill years ago.

Caldwell is a speedster (he ran a 4.31 in the 40-yard dash) who's got the jumping ability to pluck a lot of balls out of the air. His combination of size and speed is something quarterback Patrick Mahomes hasn't had in his career.

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 10:48 PM.