Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool said there was something particularly notable when the Kansas City Chiefs attempted to sign him as a rookie free agent.

Or, make that one voice.

Briningstool, considering four NFL teams after going undrafted, said the Chiefs benefited from having a closer on the other end of the phone line: head coach Andy Reid.

Advertisement

“That was pretty unique to here, which really stood out to me, just showing how much they valued me, how much they cared,” Briningstool said this week during the Chiefs’ annual rookie minicamp. “So I think that’s really what stood out about here.”

Briningstool, who signed with the Chiefs and agreed to a $30,000 signing bonus according to a source, quickly made an impact after arriving in KC.

He had a standout day during rookie minicamp practices open to reporters last Sunday, as the 6-foot-6, 240-pound target hauled in a pair of deep contested catches.

KC certainly could have room on the roster if Briningstool continues to thrive in future weeks. Travis Kelce and Noah Gray return at tight end, while 2024 fourth-round pick Jared Wiley is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November.

Advertisement

Briningstool (pronounced “BREN-ing-stool”) said the Chiefs had shared that they saw some potential in him.

“Just talking to Coach Reid on the phone, I think he laid out a great plan for me. Just the situation, being able to come in here and learn from a great tight end room, and just be able to take full advantage of that opportunity,” Briningstool said. “I think also, this offense, I think it fits my skill-set, stuff I do really well. So I’m glad to be here and excited to go to work.”

It’s a bit surprising that Briningstool went undrafted. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, for instance, gave Briningstool a fifth- to sixth-round grade, saying he is “a possession-based tight end who majors in zone-beaters but will struggle to separate against man coverage.”

Briningstool was a consistent contributor for national power Clemson over four seasons, setting a school record for tight ends with 127 career receptions. Last season, he earned third-team All-ACC honors while catching 49 passes for 530 yards with seven touchdowns.

Advertisement

The 22-year-old said he believed going from Clemson to KC would make for a smooth transition because of previous experiences.

“I think just being around a championship culture, being around a championship team — guys that compete at a high level, guys that love to win — I think that’s really what attracted me the most (to KC),” Briningstool said. “Just being able to come in here and compete with guys who have done it at the highest level and also been very successful. And a team that competes for championships, I think, is something I want to be a part of.”

Briningstool also appears motivated after being snubbed on draft day. He said the final day of the three-day draft was “a crazy day — a day I definitely won’t forget anytime soon” while surrounded by family members and friends.

“Just always dreamed my whole life of getting that call, and then, ultimately ended up making my (NFL) decision after the draft had concluded,” Briningstool said. “But just having my support system around me really made it better. And also, I think I ended up in a great spot, so I’m excited.”

Advertisement

One transition he will face is working with a huddle. Clemson’s offense was entirely communicated through sideline hand signals, which means Chiefs rookie minicamp was a different experience for Briningstool as he processed play-call information from the quarterback on the field.

The good news? Briningstool should get plenty of help in future interactions with Chiefs players, which will include Kelce.

“He’s had a Hall of Fame career,” Briningstool said, “and that’s something I can look up to and learn from.”