The Kansas City Chiefs are continuing to search for undrafted free agents as they prepare for the team’s rookie minicamp. The Chiefs already had a successful NFL Draft, loading up their offensive line with Ohio State’s Josh Simmons in the first round, but finding gems in the UDFA class could be an added boost for a team with aspirations of another Super Bowl.
All of the players invited to rookie minicamp will have a massive opportunity to join a contender. But in the case of one receiver, he may already have one foot out the door as he has his eyes on a bigger shot that was gifted to him on Tuesday night.
Chiefs WR Damien Alford Taken With No. 1 Pick in CFL Draft
Wide receiver Damien Alford was invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp earlier this week but the 6-foot-5, 224-pound receiver may have found a better opportunity after he was selected by the Calgary Stampeders with the No. 1 overall pick in the CFL Draft.
Alford split time between Syracuse and Utah during his collegiate career but his time with the Utes ended after four games after he had difficulties picking up the playbook. Alford also had trouble producing at Syracuse, catching 33 passes for 610 yards and three touchdowns during the 2023 season. But he has some appealing qualities to teams at the next level.
Alford ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at this year’s Big 12 combine and had a mix of size and speed that was tantalizing to other programs. Although he initially decided to transfer to Florida Atlantic after the season, he changed his mind and decided to go pro.
The Stampeders were the team to take a chance on Alford and they relied on his connections as a Montreal native and his familiarity with quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. TSN’s Salim Valji also noted that Alford has worked out with Adams Jr., who started 10 games for the Oregon Ducks back in 2015, and the 23-year-old expressed excitement in playing with him on a full-time basis.
“I couldn’t have asked for better, to be honest,” Alford said. “I know how he throws…now going to the pro levels and being able to work with him on a continuous basis, the sky’s the limit.”
Alford sounds like a player that has his eyes on the CFL rather than the NFL but there could be other reasons. Kansas City’s depth chart may be hard to crack with Rashee Rice, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Xavier Worthy occupying the starting spots and the Chiefs have options on the back end with Skyy Moore, JuJu Smith-Schuster and fourth-round draft pick Jalen Royals.
The depth chart signals that Alford would have had an uphill climb just to take the next step toward becoming an NFL wide receiver, which is why he will likely take the experience and bring it with him to Canada when the rookie minicamp concludes.