Heel Tough Blog: Four Tar Heels Sign UDFA Deals

The 2026 NFL Draft came and went without a single Tar Heel hearing his name called for the first time since 2016. Despite that being the case, there were four players who signed with teams as undrafted free agents on Saturday that will look to make NFL rosters this summer. Here’s a look at where those four landed and who has the best chance of making their respective roster.

CB Thaddeus Dixon- New York Giants

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Dixon was the first Tar Heel picked up following the draft and is the guy that has the best chance to make an NFL roster this year. The Giants did select a cornerback in the draft in the form of Colton Hood, but this is not a particularly deep unit for this team. At the least, he should be able to hold onto a practice squad spot with the team, if not compete to make the 53-man roster. If it isn’t with the Giants, he should be able to land somewhere else unless he really struggles this summer.

CB Marcus Allen- Minnesota Vikings

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Allen is a guy who really helped himself in the pre-draft process after struggling this past year as a senior and has landed in a solid spot for him. Allen doesn’t have near the track record that Dixon has, so he will need to have a better performance this summer, but the depth here isn’t great for the Vikings despite drafting Charles Demmings in the 5th Round. If he can find some of what made him stand out at the East-West Shrine Bowl, he has a shot to at least hold on to a practice squad spot.

IOL Chad Lindberg- Los Angeles Rams

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Lindberg is a guy who is more of a longshot to make an NFL roster. The Rams are in pretty good shape on the interior of the offensive line, especially at center. Lindberg’s versatility could help him, but he is going to need a pretty strong showing to have a chance of even making it on a practice squad this fall.

IOL Austin Blaske- Los Angeles Rams

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Blaske is in a similar boat to Lindberg with the Rams. The two will likely be battling for the same spot on the roster with Blaske likely moving back to the interior, but he could be a factor at tackle, as well. That versatility gives him a chance, but he will need a strong showing in the next few months to be a part of this roster in some capacity in the fall.