Martez Manuel was one of a handful of Mizzou players not to hear his name called during the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City.

In fact, Mizzou DL Isaiah McGuire, a Round 4 pick by the Cleveland Browns, was the only Tiger to be selected in the 7-round event.

But Manuel, a former Mizzou captain and hard hitter from his safety position, won’t have to go far for his first NFL opportunity. As of Sunday, Manuel had officially signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent:

Manuel finished fifth on the team with 49 tackles (10 for a loss) in 2022. He also had 4 sacks, 2 pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Can Manuel play well enough this summer and during the preseason to earn a roster spot with the reigning Super Bowl champions? We’ll see what the next few months hold for the former Tiger, but he’ll certainly be happy to land in a spot so close to his alma mater!