Before the contract,
before the lights —
who they were first.
44 stories · Updated continuously
Tight End · New York Jets
Jelani Woods
No. 86 · 5th season
Cut once, still here — Woods is working for a roster spot nobody handed him
There is a version of Jelani Woods's story that ends in Indianapolis, on a cutdown day, with a phone call nobody wants to receive. The New York Jets did not let it end there.
Woods came to the Jets after the Indianapolis Colts released him when roster numbers forced the decision — one of those moments where a player's future gets decided by arithmetic, not ability. He landed in New York and kept working.
Read full story →
Content sourced from publicly available information. Gripd is an independent fan platform not affiliated with the NFL or any team.
More The Come-Up
- Cornerback · Seattle Seahawks23 hours ago
Seattle used their last pick on someone they're already calling a ballhawk
— Michael Dansby
- Quarterback · Las Vegas Raidersyesterday
From the starter's spot to the sideline — and he's okay with it
— Aidan O'Connell
- Quarterback · Las Vegas Raidersyesterday
His first words to the Raiders were 'Mr. Brady'
— Fernando Mendoza
- Offensive Tackleyesterday
Holskey came in on a tryout and left with a contract
— Reid Holskey
- Wide Receiver · Las Vegas Raidersyesterday
Shedrick Jackson is trying to make the Raiders. His uncle already did something there.
— Shedrick Jackson
- Defensive End · Las Vegas Raidersyesterday
The Raiders handed a rookie a role and told him to wreck things
— Keyron Crawford
- Wide Receiveryesterday
Home is twenty miles away, and Diggs knows it
— Stefon Diggs
- Running Back · Washington Commandersyesterday
One year, one shot, and an offense that might actually fit
— Rachaad White
- Wide Receiver · Las Vegas Raidersyesterday
Nobody drafted Chase Roberts. The Las Vegas Raiders still wanted him.
— Chase Roberts
- Quarterback · Arizona Cardinals2 days ago
Carson Beck picked a number. He's still learning what the other one meant.
— Carson Beck
- Tight End2 days ago
Mason Pline finds a landing spot with the Kansas City Chiefs
— Mason Pline
- Cornerback · Denver Broncos2 days ago
Nobody expected the Broncos to take Barron at 20. The Broncos did anyway.
— Jahdae Barron
- Quarterback · Las Vegas Raiders3 days ago
Mendoza was the benchmark. Now there's a new name in the conversation.
— Fernando Mendoza
- Defensive Back · Denver Broncos3 days ago
Sawyer Robertson is in the building, and that's already something
— Parker Robertson
- Kicker · Chicago Bears5 days ago
His father carried the Mexican flag to every game. His son just signed with the Bears.
— Gabriel Plascencia
- Quarterback · Las Vegas Raiders5 days ago
The number one pick walks in, and the Raiders are already watching closely
— Fernando Mendoza
- Outside Linebacker · Denver Broncos6 days ago
The tools were never the question for Que Robinson
— Que Robinson
- Cornerback · Las Vegas Raiders1 week ago
The knee cost him three rounds. Now training camp is the answer.
— Jermod McCoy
- Safety · Indianapolis Colts1 week ago
Bynum goes back every offseason, and this time he's bringing more than himself
— Camryn Bynum
- Guard · Buffalo Bills1 week ago
His mother gave up the scholarship. He carried the chair.
— Ar'maj Reed-Adams
- Defensive Back · Kansas City Chiefs1 week ago
Sixth pick, fully guaranteed: Mansoor Delane signs his name
— Mansoor Delane
- Cornerback · Seattle Seahawks1 week ago
Pick 236 is a number. What comes next is the story.
— Andre Fuller
- Wide Receiver · New York Jets1 week ago
Nobody drafted Caullin Lacy. The Jets did the next best thing.
— Caullin Lacy
- Offensive Lineman · Miami Dolphins1 week ago
A first-round pick finds a home in Miami
— Kadyn Proctor
- Linebacker · Los Angeles Chargers1 week ago
Akheem Mesidor's name is officially on the paper
— Akheem Mesidor
- Wide Receiver · Denver Broncos1 week ago
Kolbe Katsis made it to the end of the draft and then the phone rang
— Kolbe Katsis
- Running Back · Seattle Seahawks1 week ago
Seattle didn't wait long to make it official with their top pick
— Jadarian Price
- Tight End · New York Jets1 week ago
Kenyon Sadiq had surgery this offseason. His coach still expects him at camp.
— Kenyon Sadiq
- Linebacker · Denver Broncos1 week ago
Too small on paper, still the last one standing at the end of draft weekend
— Taurean York
- Linebacker · Denver Broncos1 week ago
Last pick, first chapter — Red Murdock lands with the Denver Broncos
— Red Murdock
- Safety · Denver Broncos1 week ago
Miles Scott started as a receiver. Denver drafted him as a safety.
— Miles Scott
- Wide Receiver · Pittsburgh Steelers1 week ago
Germie Bernard signs his name on the next four years
— Germie Bernard
- Center · Cincinnati Bengals1 week ago
128th pick, a lot of questions, and Connor Lew had answers ready
— Connor Lew
- Tight End · Cincinnati Bengals1 week ago
Texas tight end Jack Endries gets his call from Cincinnati
— Jack Endries
- Defensive End · Dallas Cowboys1 week ago
Four years, fully guaranteed, and a name to remember
— Malachi Lawrence
- Tight End · Los Angeles Rams1 week ago
Dan Villari walked in undrafted and left with one of the biggest guarantees in Rams history
— Dan Villari
- Offensive Lineman · Kansas City Chiefs1 week ago
A Super Bowl ring in his pocket, Wanya Morris starts over in Atlanta
— Wanya Morris
- Defensive End · Los Angeles Rams1 week ago
Garrett arrives in LA, and the Rams made sure the money works
— Myles Garrett
- Offensive Lineman · Buffalo Bills1 week ago
The Bills drafted a man who had never played football. Now they're figuring out where he fits.
— Travis Clayton
- Tight End · Philadelphia Eagles1 week ago
Eight seasons in, Goedert looked around and came back anyway
— Dallas Goedert
- Wide Receiver · San Francisco 49ers1 week ago
One city, one team, one long run — and then San Francisco called
— Mike Evans
- Defensive Tackle · San Francisco 49ers1 week ago
Osa Odighizuwa is using his platform to talk about something the NFL rarely talks about
— Osa Odighizuwa
- Wide Receiver · Tennessee Titans2 weeks ago
Robinson switched numbers, and the reason behind it says everything
— Wan'Dale Robinson