Cody Schrader lands NFL opportunity after going undrafted
Cody Schrader had the unfortunate experience of going undrafted this weekend in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, it did not take long for the All-American running back to get a call after the draft.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the San Francisco 49ers are adding Schrader as an undrafted free agent. The 49ers have not announced a signing, but Schrader himself did respond to the report, saying all he needed was an opportunity.
All I needed was an opportunity. https://t.co/IOhXFCoMV9
— Cody Schrader (@codyschrader_7) April 28, 2024
After 882 yards from scrimmage in 2022, Schrader delivered a season for the ages in 2023 with 1,627 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns for Eli Drinkwitz’s Tigers. With over 1,800 yards of offense, Schrader finished 8th in Heisman Trophy voting and a consensus All-American.
As for the fit of his destination, Schrader lands with the 49ers where Christian McCaffrey is entrenched as the star back. However, Kyle Shanahan is always looking for pieces to integrate within the offense, and Schrader will at least get his chance to carve out a spot in San Francisco.
While Schrader was not drafted, it was a particularly strong showing for the Tigers over the weekend. Darius Robinson was a key piece of the SEC’s 1st-round picks, and Mizzou went on to produce 6 selections.
Go get ’em kid
I hope he does well. There are going to be a lot of players get UDFA chances. Sometimes they pay off really big. Even if they don’t, if they can stick around for 3 years on a roster, they will make more than they probably would in any other job and be eligible for the NFL pension.
Hard to believe Schrader didn’t get drafted, did he have a bad combine performance?
yea, I think the problem was/is, his age. At 25, i guess no one was willing to draft him. I mean, his numbers are heads and tails above Blake Corum’s. I compared 18 offensive stats and 15 Cody beat out Blake Corum. That all said, now at least now he has a chance, and he has proven himself over and over again.
I doubt age is the factor since running backs aren’t expected to last as long as other positions.
Read your comment again and make it make sense… of course age would be a factor in drafting a 25 year old at a position where “running backs aren’t expected to last as long as other positions.” You’ve just completely contradicted yourself.
Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean it doesn’t make sense. Take a look at his overall workload thus far compared to other running backs taken. The idea of running backs not expected to last as long is what is to come once they put the wear on their bodies and get hit in games at Division 1 and in the NFL. It only gets harder.
tpatten is correct
Schrader’s age wasn’t a big factor in his draft status. After the measurables it’s how much wear and tear did Schrader take on in college; knee injuries, shoulder injuries, prone to muscle pulls, prone to ankle injuries, concussions etc. Since the average RB only plays in the NFL for 3-5 years it doesn’t matter if Scrader is 23-24-25. Maybe for a franchise QB or LT a couple of years would make a difference but not for a position with such a short shelf life.
Apparently Schrader tweaked his hamstring while running a 4.61/40 at the Combine. Schrader also turned in a poor performance for his vertical jump. Schrader not getting drafted must have been driven by a bunch of data points with the negatives outweighing the positives.
Getting Schrader as an undrafted free agent was a boon for the 49ers. Barring injury Schrader makes the roster and contributes, probably works his way into the starting line-up.
Yes Cody’s age translates to the NFL pros as …Well a 21 yr. old running back has 9 years left, but Cody has only five(5) years until those legs reach that magic # of 30 yrs. old. He’s a heckuva back & I hope he has a good NFL career.
He pulled his hamstring at the combine. So yeah, bad combine. Not surprised he was passed over – it’s the story of his life. Also the story of his life that he perseveres and excels and proves the “experts” wrong about him. So, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he finds a way to make his mark in the NFL.
I would want him on my team even if he never played a down. The kid is tough as nails and works harder than anyone. If nothing else he will make RB1 work a little harder to stay RB1
To understand Schrader, his success at Truman State, his conquest of the SEC (among the best running back defenders in college football), and predict his near future as an NFL running back you have to have been a coach practiced at watching film. If you have done this in your career you will see several important trends:
1. Schrader is a team man and his teammates like him and respect him.
2. Schrader is not a quitter, in fact he is the inspirational opposite of a quitter and this is dynamite for any roster.
3. Schrader has a unique physical ability to accelerate into the “scrum” AND at the same time hit the most vulnerable micro-soft spot. For example he can read a defender whose hands are tied up even if he is not moved out of the way and exploit a place other backs can’t. Or he can find a micro seam in a scrum and accelerate into that seam for 3 more yards. And there’s more to Schrader than that even.
Not only is he going to make it in the NFL but the league will welcome him and respect him. Yes running backs have a short life in the NFL, but Schrader will probably defy that law of football physics. Because smart works almost everywhere, and the NFL is no exception.
If history tells us anything….chances are good that he makes the roster and contributes
List of Tiger UFAs signed so far
Missouri K Harrison Mevis – Panthers
Missouri OL Marcellus Johnson – Giants
Missouri RB Cody Schrader – 49ers
Missouri G Xavier Delgado – Bucs