Nadame Tucker isn’t like many undrafted free agents coming into the NFL.
The Los Angeles Chargers signed Tucker to a deal after the draft knowing that he would be 26 years old by the time he walks into training camp.
Some teams could view that as a liability, but the Chargers are taking a different approach with it. Tucker started out in community college for two years at Independence in Kansas and Hutchinson before transferring to Houston ahead of the 2022 season. After three seasons with the Cougars,
he had only 13 appearances, with 10 tackles. He got one last chance at Western Michigan, where he finally moved onto NFL radars.
“Tucker, who went undrafted out of Western Michigan, played for first-year defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary last season. Tucker was one of the most disruptive rushers in college; he was a third-team All-American, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, led the FBS with 21 tackles for loss and tied for the lead with 14.5 sacks. Tucker could compete for the final edge rusher spot, a battle that could come down to him and 33-year-old veteran Bud Dupree,“ ESPN insider Kris Rhim wrote.
Tucker is a rookie, but he won’t have the mentality of one. He’s been playing football at a high level for six years and his ascent this past season proves that he is on an upward trajectory. If Tucker can use that momentum to go into training camp, he could carve out a spot on the roster with the Chargers.
BFTB community, what do you think of Tucker’s career path? Will he truly have a chance to make the Chargers roster? Let us know in the comments section below.
