Having come up just short in last year’s Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs are out for revenge, with QB Patrick Mahomes and WR Tyreek Hill leading the charge. With their high-powered offense looking even more dangerous and their strong defense recovered from their disappointing Super Bowl performance, the Chiefs were able to make some noise in this year’s NFL Draft, even without having a first-round selection.

chiefs, patrick mahomes, tyreek hill

Kansas City was without their first-round selection after striking a deal with the Baltimore Ravens to acquire unhappy offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who felt that his long-term role was at left tackle, a role he would have to give up with Ronnie Stanley returning from injury. Happy to add a long-term stalwart to protect Mahomes’ backside, the Chiefs sent out their first-rounder in a multi-pick deal that brought in some much-needed OL help.

Even after the draft, the Chiefs were still making additions to their roster, eventually coming to terms with eight undrafted free agents that will be facing an uphill climb to make the final 53-man roster.

But there is one specific UDFA that stands above the rest and looks to be in a prime position to hold down a roster spot this upcoming season – see which surprising name fits that bill.

Shane Buchele


Quarterback – Southern Methodist University

Let this explanation be prefaced with this anecdote – Chad Henne certainly had his moment in last year’s playoffs, as he helped seal the deal at the end of the Chiefs – Cleveland Browns game.

But that was likely the final moment left in his tank, as the former Michigan Wolverine star and now 35-year-old QB fills the role of clipboard holder better than NFL-level QB. While Buchele certainly would have a lot to learn making the jump from the NCAA to the NFL, his skillset projects well and looks to be a favorite of the KC front office.

Most UDFAs earn a standard contract that provides them with a signing bonus (as a thank you for joining the team) as well as a guaranteed salary for coming into camp, so there is a least a bit of meat on the bone. But for Buchele, his services were in high demand after the draft, so much so that the Chiefs won the bidding war by handing the former SMU product a $15,000 signing bonus and a massive $160,000 base guaranteed salary.

Handing out that amount of guaranteed money is a solid indicator of what Buchele’s role with this team likely will look like moving into the season, provided his performance during both training camp and the preseason slate meets expectations.

In his 2020 campaign, Buchele threw for just over 3,000 yards, 23 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions in 10 games, putting a solid end to his collegiate career. All teams need at least three QBs in their camps so they can get through drills and all preseason games, but Buchele looks to be more than just a camp body at this point.

While not setting the world on fire in college, hence why he was not drafted, Buchele projects as the perfect addition moving forward for the Chiefs in their QB2 role. Needing to add a trustworthy backup option on a cheap deal (replacing Henne with Buchele would actually cost the Chiefs more than if they kept Henne, but potential wins out over experience), the Chiefs would be extremely smart to take a flier on Buchele.