An Undrafted Free Agent Receiver Is Turning Heads for the 2026 Kansas City Chiefs

The pantheon of successful short-statured NFL players with name recognition is a small fraternity. Players like five-foot-six Darren Sproles come to mind, as well as Maurice Jones-Drew at five-foot-seven, Wes Welker at five-foot-eight, Hall of Fame-caliber Steve Smith at five-foot-nine, and Kansas City’s own Dante Hall, at five-foot-eight. Time will tell, but there may be another spot in that pantheon for an undrafted free agent who is seizing his opportunity to impress during Chiefs OTAs. Jacob De Jesus went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft, but Kansas City, in desperate need of a spark in the wide receiver room, is taking a chance on the five-foot-seven UNLV and University of California alum, who they believe could provide that spark.

Special teams is the gauntlet where late-round picks and undrafted free agents hone their abilities to make the active 53-man roster. While at UNLV during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, De Jesus was one of the most prolific return specialists in all of college football with a total of 1,521 yards between punt and kick returns. As a receiver, the versatile athlete had 96 receptions for 1,118 yards and five touchdowns. In 2025, he transferred to Cal where he set the single-season record with 108 receptions for 1,030 yards and six touchdowns; he averaged 8.9 yards per reception.  While in the Golden State, De Jesus was still a dangerous player on special teams, with 622 yards between punt and kick returns. An excellent student throughout his college career, the Kansas City prospect and former two-time first-team All-Mountain West selection has the intelligence to complement his outstanding play on the field. During the Chiefs' mini-camp, De Jesus impressed with crisp route running and sure hands. Undoubtedly, the main reason he went undrafted is his size, but if he continues to shine, Kansas City would be hard-pressed to pass on him, given the needs of the receiver room.

First things first, De Jesus needs to make the team, and the odds are stacked against him, but with the tenacity he’s shown so far throughout his collegiate career, it's his unwavering will that could get him over the hump at Arrowhead. The former California Golden Bear has intangibles that have carried him through some stiff odds that offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy holds in high regard. If there was ever a chance for someone like De Jesus, it’s now. Rashee Rice is currently in jail with a knee in rehab after surgery, and Xavier Worthy still has much to prove, giving the Central Valley native a window of opportunity. With Chad O’Shea, the three-time Super Bowl-winning receivers coach now at Kansas City, De Jesus is under the tutelage of someone who can get the most out of him. The odds are long for the undersized receiver, but it isn’t the size of the dog in the fight that matters, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.