It\u2019s not often a team in the National Football League is able to sign a former 5-star and Top 50 national recruit as an undrafted free agent.<\/p>\n
But this past cycle, the Denver Broncos<\/a> were able to do that inking Jacksonville State offensive lineman Clay Webb to an undrafted free agent deal. He received a $15,000 signing bonus and $210,000 in total guarantees\u2014the third most<\/a> of any UDFA the Broncos signed.<\/p>\n One of the most coveted offensive linemen in his recruiting class, Webb committed to the Georgia Bulldogs<\/a> after being chased by over a dozen of the NCAA\u2019s top programs. Alas, his recruiting profile and hype never translated to making an impact in the SEC.<\/p>\n In three years with the Bulldogs, he appeared in just five games as a reserve player. He was missing in action for their entire 2021 National Championship run. Georgia certainly didn\u2019t have a lack of talent on their offensive line. However, a court case and legal battle<\/a> was a likely culprit in his lack of playing time on the field. That issue has been resolved with the lawsuit being dismissed.<\/p>\n To continue his gridiron journey, Webb transferred to Jacksonville State and made an instant impact for the Gamecocks. From 2022-2024, he appeared<\/a> in 36 games with 32 starts at left guard. His high level of play this past season earned first-team All-Conference USA honors. He was a driving force in their success on the ground, helping them achieve back-to-back Top 5 finishes in rushing offense the past two seasons.<\/p>\n Webb earned an invitation to both the Senior Bowl<\/a> and NFL Combine<\/a> and stood out at both of them. There is no doubt he is talented. But is he ready to make the jump from Jacksonville State to the NFL in his first season? Let\u2019s discuss.<\/p>\n Player Profile<\/p>\n Age: 25 | Experience: Rookie | College: Jacksonville State | Height: 6\u20193\u201d | Weight: 312 pounds<\/p>\n Arm Length: 32\u201d | Hand Size: 10\u201d | Broad: 8\u201911\u201d | Vertical: 31\u201d | Bench: 29 reps<\/p>\n 40-yard dash: 5.11 seconds | 3-Cone: N\/A | 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.9 seconds<\/p>\n Clay Webb\u2019s 2025 outlook with the Broncos<\/p>\n After six years in the collegiate ranks, Webb enters the NFL at the age of 25. I would be concerned with the age if his strength and technique weren\u2019t up to par. Though I\u2019d argue those are two of his best traits\u2014especially in the run game.<\/p>\n Webb\u2019s strength at the point of the attack in the trenches stands out. If you\u2019re looking for another force player on the interior, he definitely fits the bill with his tenacious playing style. Whether it\u2019s operating in zone or gap concepts, his ability to move defenders off the ball with power is noticeable. Those are things that will bode well for him trying to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster.<\/p>\n The Gamecocks run the ball nearly twice as much as the pass it. So, it\u2019s hard to grasp what kind of future potential he might have as a pro pass protector. To his credit, Jacksonville State\u2019s website stated he only surrendered one sack this past season. But compared to other prospects and players fighting for a role on the team, he is probably quite a bit behind with experience. Is he NFL ready in that respect? Probably not, but that\u2019s why we have Zach Strief, one of the best offensive line coaches in the league to get him up to speed.<\/p>\n While he played left guard at Jacksonville State, Webb had significant reps at center during the Senior Bowl and held his own against the competition in Mobile. According to some analysts, his lack of length and average movement ability [opted not participate in 3-cone drill] might necessitate a move to the pivot in the pros. Even so, I would expect him to get reps at both guard and center for the Broncos over the summer.<\/p>\n Final Thoughts<\/p>\n The Broncos\u2019 offensive line was one of the team\u2019s primary strengths in 2024. Each of the past two seasons under Head Coach Sean Payton, an undrafted lineman has made the roster to be coached up by Zach Strief. They\u2019ve also carried nine offensive linemen total each year since Payton took over.<\/p>\n Could Webb extend that streak to a third year? I think it\u2019s possible. In fact, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if the Broncos allocated another spot to the offensive line when assembling their final roster this season. Instead of carrying three quarterbacks, I could very well see Denver opting for just Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham. That would free up a spot to continue investing in their offensive line. <\/p>\n