The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the NFL's best teams at identifying undrafted players who could make a positive impact on the team. Whether it's Nikki Remigio, Mike Caliendo, Carson Steele, or Chris Roland-Wallace, to name a few, there seems to always be at least one guy who winds up contributing in the long run.
They obviously hope this year will be no different. The Chiefs have already signed seven players and invited numerous others to rookie minicamp, so general manager Brett Veach is doing his best to not leave any meat on the bone.
However, one signing so far has ranked above the others, as Kansas City broke the bank to acquire one player in particular.
Clemson TE Jake Briningstool gets a $30,000 signing bonus and $234,000 in total guarantees signing with Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, per source.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) April 27, 2025
That’s more guaranteed than some late-round draft picks will receive. https://t.co/V0tRfCOloM
Chiefs Give UDFA Clemson TE Jake Briningstool $234,000 Guaranteed
According to Chiefs insider Matt Derrick, Kansas City signed former Clemson standout tight end Jake Briningstool to a deal with a $30,000 signing bonus and $234,000 guaranteed. As Derrick points out, that's more guaranteed than some late-round picks will receive. Needless to say, going undrafted worked out well for Briningstool.
That's the most money the Chiefs have handed out so far, and likely indicates that the bidding war for Briningstool's services was fierce. The six-foot-six, 215-pound receiving threat had 127 catches for 1,380 yards and 17 TDs during his four-year Tigers career, showcasing exciting receiving ability and athleticism.
The Chiefs are always in the market for a quality receiving tight end, especially with Travis Kelce's career nearing it's conclusion. Obviously, the odds are stacked against Briningstool as an undrafted player, yet this contract is still an indication that the organization believes in him.
Even if Briningstool doesn't make the 53-man roster, he could stick on the practice squad while he develops. There's no better place to learn how to play tight end than Kansas City, making it the perfect spot to train and work on his game. At the least, he'll have enough money in the bank to be a step ahead of his undrafted peers.
We'll see if anything comes of this signing, yet the Chiefs clearly see something in Briningstool and fans should take notice.