Story by
What draft experts said about Packers UDFA edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly
- Story by
- What draft experts said about Packers UDFA edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly
The Green Bay Packers are expected to sign UCF edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL draft.
Kelly was a pre-draft visitor to Green Bay . The 21-year-old ranked as the 37th best edge rusher in the draft class and received a draftable grade from Dane Brugler of The Athletic, making Kelly one of the top undrafted signings by the Packers in 2026.
Advertisement
As a true freshman at Miami , Kelly produced 4.0 sacks over 12 games. He transferred to UCF following a knee injury -- which cost him most of the 2023 season -- and then created 8.0 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, five pass breakups and an interception across 24 games over the last two seasons. Both of his forced fumbles in 2025 were returned for touchdowns.
Per PFF, Kelly had 26 pressures and 26 stops in 2025 and 23 pressures and 27 stops in 2024. He posted strong grades, with a 78.7 in 2024 and 75.9 in 2025.
Kelly looks the part at 6-5 and 256 pounds, with massive hands (10 1/2") and the longest arms among edge rushers at the combine (35 1/8"). While Kelly had impressive jumps (37" vertical, 9-11 broad), his athletic testing was let down by a poor 40-yard dash (4.88) and slow agility finishes (4.76 short shuttle, 7.62 three-cone). His Relative Athletic Score is 5.79 out of 10.0, so right about average for an edge rusher given his size.
What draft experts said about the Packers undrafted free agent edge rusher:
Advertisement
Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Nyjalik (Nai-juh-leak) Kelly grew up in the Oakland Park, Fla., area with his mother (Nyecha), a track coach. His daughter (Masunni) turns 3 in June 2026. Kelly grew up around the game (his great uncle and grandfather both played at Florida A&M). He attended Dillard High School, where he posted a combined 25 sacks over his junior and senior years. A four-star recruit, Kelly had an impressive offer sheet and committed to Florida State before flipping to Miami. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2023 and entered the transfer portal. He landed at UCF and led the team in forced fumbles as both a junior and senior. Kelly has a super-long frame, and his arms measured the longest among the 35 edge rushers invited to the NFL combine. He uses his extension to stack blocks and battle through traffic versus the run, although wild tackling attempts lead to misses. He also uses his length to long-arm blockers and set up bull-rush attempts. However, he doesn’t show much of a rush plan and relies more on hustle than skill, which leaves him out of position. Overall, Kelly is a raw player in both phases, but his long arms and consistent effort are reasons to be encouraged that his best football is ahead of him.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Two-year starter with NFL-caliber measurables. Kelly needs to get stronger and play with better grit to leverage his gap and win individual block battles in run support. Improved hand usage and refined counters might bolster his chances of creating pressure, but it’s hard to envision much sack production given his lack of quickness and explosive power. Kelly will have to battle for a roster spot as an even-front end.
Advertisement
Scouts Inc. (ESPN)
Kelly possesses an elite length and frame, with 35-inch arms and 10-inch hands. But he lacks the ideal bulk for an edge rusher. Kelly has adequate initial burst, plays with good eye discipline and will use his length to be a factor from the backside. He finished fifth on UCF in tackles (46) this past season. Kelly has good fight when he stays low, but his pad level is inconsistent and can result in a weak anchor. He flashes some long-arm ability but lacks ideal bend to carve a tight path and doesn't have a strong pass-rush plan. Overall, Kelly has some raw tools that need further development.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: What draft experts said about Packers UDFA edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly
