8 players with Sacramento-area ties sign with NFL teams after draft. Who are they?
The NFL draft in the 1940s had 32 rounds, then it was pared down to 20 rounds in the 1960s, then down to 17 in the 1970s and 12 from 1977-1992. Since 1994, there have been seven rounds.
In other words, it’s not easy to get drafted or to make an NFL roster. But those who are not drafted still have a shot.
Since the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday, scores of players with Sacramento-area ties signed with teams as undrafted rookie free agents. No players from the immediate Sacramento area were drafted, though Stockton native Jonah Coleman was picked in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos after starring at running back with the University of Washington.
Here’s a peek at some locals who aim to play for pay. Each signed in recent days for a shot to make a 53-man roster or a team’s practice squad. Training camp rosters include 90 players.
Michael Briscoe, WR
The Vacaville High School of Solano County product signed with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks after leading Cal Poly with 779 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns in 2025.
While batting injuries, the 6-2, 205-pound Briscoe led the Big Sky Conference in yards per reception with 21.5 as a junior.
Rodney Hammond Jr., RB
After playing three seasons at the University of Pittsburgh, Hammond starred in his lone Sacramento State season, and signed with the Denver Broncos.
The 5-9, 205-pound Virginia native rushed for 1,213 yards and 13 touchdowns for Sac State, and he sizzled with a 99-yard kickoff return score.
Murvin Kenion III, DB
A Vallejo native, the 5-11, 205-pound Kenion signed with the Green Bay Packers after a much-traveled collegiate career. He first played for the City College of San Francisco, then the University of Idaho, then Sacramento State, and, as a senior, with Nevada, where he started all 12 games at safety in earning All-Mountain West Conference honors.
Kenion quarterbacked his prep team in Vallejo — St. Patrick-St. Vincent High — to a CIF State championship in 2017.
Eli Simonson, OL
A Nebraska native and a mountain of a man at 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, Simonson signed with the New England Patriots after starting for three years in the trenches for UC Davis, earning All-Big Sky Conference honors as a player and a student.
Simonson did not play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers after signing with the program out of high school.
Cian Slone, LB/Edge
A Rocklin High School and American River College graduate, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Slone signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Slone was a JC All-American at ARC and a two-year starter at Utah State. As a graduate transfer, Slone started every game in 2025 at North Carolina State. He impressed in his Pro Day workout before the draft.
Elijah Tau-Tolliver, RB
A Nevada native where he was the state Player of the Year, the 6-1, 215-pound Tau-Tolliver signed with the Baltimore Ravens after playing for Sacramento State and Michigan State.
He rushed for 950 yards at Sac State in 2024 and led Michigan State last fall with a 5.9 yards-per-carry average.
Michael Wortham, WR
A star quarterback at Center High School and at Sierra College in Placer County before switching to receiver, Wortham signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Wortham earned All-Big Sky Conference honors at receiver at Eastern Washington and again for his senior season in 2025 at Montana, where the 5-8, 180-pound burner produced a school-record 2,431 all-purpose yards.
Zelmar Vedder, DB
A Stockton native who starred at East Union High in Manteca and at Modesto Junior College, the 6-3, 195-pound Vedder signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. He played at Sac State for two seasons, then with the Houston Cougars of the Big 12 in 2025.
Vedder led Sac State in pass-breakups in 2024 and made tackles in 11 of 13 games with Houston in also earning Academic All-Big 12 honors. His nickname is “Z.”
This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 1:51 PM.