NFL waiver claims don’t always make headlines, but sometimes these moves can quietly help reshape the roster of your favorite team. Each season, a handful of players slip through final cuts only to land in spots where their skill sets actually fit. With 2025 rosters almost set, here are five under-the-radar claims who could make a real impact this season.
Jalyn Armour-Davis — CB, Tennessee Titans
Once considered one of the top cornerback recruits in the country, Jalyn Armour-Davis has struggled to stay on the field since being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The former Alabama star appeared in just 19 total games with the Baltimore Ravens over the past three seasons.
Still, Amour-Davis is only 25 years old and has all of the physical traits that defensive coaches are looking for in a shutdown cornerback. At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Armour-Davis runs a 4.39 40-yard dash and isn’t afraid to step up in the run game. He posted a modest 57.2 coverage grade in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, and was one of the most coveted players on waivers.
The Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, and Miami Dolphins also put in a waiver claim for him, per NFL expert Mike Garafolo, but Tennessee had the No. 1 priority.
Esa Pole — T, NY Jets
Esa Pole went undrafted out of Washington State but he looked the part of an NFL starting tackle in the preseason. At 6-foot-7, 319 pounds, Pole has the kind of length and athleticism that can tame even the best pass rushers.
In 2024, he had an 86.7 PFF grade at Washington State and allowed zero sacks on 498 pass-blocking snaps. He flashed more of that in the preseason with the Kansas City Chiefs, posting a 84.1 pass blocking grade while allowing zero pressures in 49 pass blocking snaps and zero penalties in 68 snaps overall.
The Chiefs were hoping to sign him to the practice squad and many around the organization were surprised that he didn’t make the 53-man roster. He will provide some quality depth on the Jets offensive line behind a pair of first-round picks in left tackle Olu Fashanu and right tackle Armand Membou.
Jordan Jefferson — DT, San Francisco 49ers
A fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Jordan Jefferson is a big-bodied run stuffer who should add some nice depth to the San Francisco 49ers interior offensive line. Jefferson tested as one of the most athletic defensive tackles in his draft class and flashed potential in limited playing time with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season.
According to PFF, he graded out above average against the run and pass on his way to 62.7 overall grade, good for 67th among defensive lineman. He was even better against the run, ranking 49th out of 220 qualified players with a 63.3 grade.
Tommy DeVito — QB, New England Patriots
Tommy DeVito might be the third quarterback on the New England Patriots roster but he’ll provide some quality depth behind Drake Maye and backup Joshua Dobbs. The Patriots got an up-close-and-personal look at DeVito in the final week of the preseason, when he torched the Patriots backups while finishing 17-of-20 for 198 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
DeVito burst onto the scene as an undrafted rookie in the 2023 season. That season, he threw for 1,101 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions in nine games. He is 3-5 as a starter and should be a valuable addition to the quarterback room in New England.
Willie Lampkin — C, Philadelphia Eagles
Lampkin is an undersized center who went undrafted out of North Carolina but he impressed in his preseason debut with the Los Angeles Rams. However, he suffered an unfortunate injury during the team’s second preseason game, prompting head coach Sean McVay to use the waived/injured designation on him.
Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman, long known for making savvy roster moves, wasted no time in picking up the unheralded rookie and for good reason.
Lampkin has experience playing all over the interior offensive line, starting games at left guard, right guard, and center while in college. He looked like an NFL player during the preseason and his performance was far from being a fluke.
In 851 snaps in 2024, he allowed zero sacks while posting an 85.6 overall PFF Grade, the fifth-best mark in college football and the highest among Power 4 teams. He ranked as the best pass-blocker and second-best run blocker among Power 4 guards.
