The Los Angeles Chargers capped their 2025 NFL Draft by signing 18 players to contracts as undrafted free agents. As you scan that list, one name sticks out like a sore thumb... DJ Uiagalelei.
Remember this guy? Maybe you were someone who saw him all the way back in season two of the Netflix series QB1: Beyond the Lights. Though he wasn't featured in the show, he was the backup to one of the quarterbacks who was, Re-al Mitchell.
Back then, he was seen as a future star at the position. He came into college football as a five-star recruit, going to Clemson, one of the top programs in the country. He seemed to have it all, the prototypical size, the big arm. He was chosen as the successor to Trevor Lawrence.
But he never came close to living up to the hype. After a lackluster stay at Clemson, he transferred to Oregon State ahead of the 2023 season. Following just one season there, he jumped into the transfer portal again, landing at Florida State. If you watched the first college football game of the season last year, where Florida State, who was one of the top teams in the country in 2023, lost to Georgia Tech in Ireland, it was obvious that Uiagalelei was hurting his team by being on the field.
He finished his college career completing just 58.5 percent of his throws while tossing 30 interceptions. His performance took him from a surefire first-round prospect to a player who went undrafted. Born in California, he is back close to home with the Chargers.
But one thing should be clear... he isn't going to be an NFL quarterback.
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Sure, that's where he's listed. The Chargers also have Taylor Heinicke and Trey Lance battling for the backup job to Justin Herbert. So what can Uiagalelei do? As predicted by NFL media member Albert Breer, he should consider a position switch, specifically to tight end.
That would be an interesting decision for him to make as there is room for a tight end on the Chargers roster, even with the addition of fifth-round pick Oronde Gadsden II. Uiagalelei has plenty of athletic ability and though his dream has been to be an NFL quarterback, if he wants to have a shot to make an NFL roster, he might want to consider that advice.
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