NFL Long Snapping Update Before Training Camps

With official NFL off-season activities concluded and training camps opening next month, there have a been a few snapping moves that will impact teams when camps start.

The Texans were the most active this month, working out veterans Blake Ferguson and Cam Lyons, but not signing either. Instead, they waived Tucker Addington, who signed a reserves/future contract in February. That move leaves rookie Austin Brinkman as the only snapper on the Texans roster. Addington just signed with the Steelers where he will compete with Christian Kuntz.

As expected, the Broncos released veteran Zach Triner who was signed while Mitchell Fraboni recovered from a back injury.

Following these moves, four clubs have two snappers on their rosters (Bears, Bengals, Browns and Steelers) while the Patriots and Texans each have rookie snappers with Julian Ashby in New England and Brinkman in Houston.

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UFL and CFL Snapper Updates

While things have been quiet with NFL snapping news, the UFL is in the playoffs and the CFL is just underway with its regular season.

Alex Matheson of the St. Louis Battlehawks was named to the All-UFL team. Six different UFL snappers recorded tackles during the regular season, led by Trae Barry with six. Marco Oritz and Peter Bowden recorded two each and Turner Bernard, Antonio Ortiz and Ryan Langan had one tackle.

On the CFL side, the nine snappers that started the season last year remain the same. Below is the list of each snapper by team.

BRITISH COLUMBIA 47 Kyle Nelson

CALGARY 52 Aaron Crawford

EDMONTON 52 Luke Burton-Krahn

HAMILTON 58 Gordon Whyte

MONTREAL 50 Louis-Philippe Bourassa

OTTAWA 53 Peter Adjey

SASKATCHEWAN 46 Jorgen Hus

TORONTO 47 Adam Guillemette

WINNIPEG 40 Mike Benson

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NFL Draft Review for Long Snappers

With all rookie mini-camps complete, the impact of long snappers from the 2025 NFL Draft class is a bit clearer. After carefully reviewing all but a handful of mini-camp rosters, I calculated a total of 25 snappers that were either drafted (1), signed as undrafted free agents (5) or received a mini-camp tryout (19). The full list of players are summarized in the chart below.

After the Draft, the Patriots released veteran Joe Cardona and the Dolphins did the same with Blake Ferguson. Cardona subsequently signed with the Dolphins and they in turn released the undrafted rookie they had just signed, client Kneeland Hibbett.

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Long Snapping Update for Day 3 of NFL Draft

Julian Ashby became the first long snapper to be drafted since 2021 when the Patriots selected him with the 35th pick in Round Seven.

Six other snappers signed undrafted free agent contracts and at least five snappers have earned rookie mini-camp tryouts.

Here are the signings and tryouts as of this evening.

SIGNINGS

Austin Brinkman (Texans)

Luke Elkin (Bears)

Kneeland Hibbett (Dolphins)

Brent Matiscik (Browns)

William Wagner (Bengals)

TRYOUTS

Blake Arnoult (Giants)

Trey Flint (Chiefs)

Christian Johnstone (Broncos)

Mason Napper (Bills)

Austin Riggs (Vikings)

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Draft Day for Long Snappers

Today is the third day of the NFL Draft and is the big one for long snappers. After at least one snapper was drafted from 2015-2021, none have been chosen in the past three years.  There is a chance that changes today. It is likely anywhere from six to eight teams may look to add a snapper, either by drafting one or as an undrafted free agent.

Looking at historical numbers, 10 snappers have been selected in the last 20 years. The highest was Joe Cardona to New England in the Fifth Round in 2015. Two decades ago, 10 were drafted in the four years from 2000-2003. None were taken in the five drafts from 2010-2014.

Just prior to the Draft, the Broncos added veteran Zach Triner, as Mitchell Fraboni is recovery from a recent medical procedure on his back.

Stayed tuned to Longsnap.com for all long snapper news, signings and tryouts.

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Long Snapping Odds and Ends

With veteran free agency in the NFL slowing down and the NFL Draft approaching, it is a good time to catch up on various snapping developments at the professional level.

The Jets and Steelers are looking at snappers, with both clubs working out Matt Hembrough and Sean Wracher. Peter Bowden will also be part of the workout in Pittsburgh.

Veteran free agent snappers from last year’s NFL rosters that remain unsigned include Rick Lovato, Jake McQuaide, Taybor Pepper and client Patrick Scales.

Rutgers snapper Austin Riggs was left off our initial list of snappers that were invited to snap for teams at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine.

Finally, there was one snapping change in the UFL since the start of training camp, as San Antonio replaced Dalton Godfrey with Cam Lyons.

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Long Snapper Position Very Active in Free Agency

Veteran free agency has been an active time for long snappers and included some rare team changes when veterans Charley Hughlett signed with the Eagles and Jon Weeks reached a deal with the Niners.

To track all of the movement to date, below are the signings by team:

ARIZONA: Aaron Brewer (1 year)

ATLANTA: Liam McCullough (4 years)

BUFFALO: Reid Ferguson (4 years)

CAROLINA: J.J. Jansen (1 year)

CHICAGO: Scott Daly (1 year)

CINCINNATI: Cal Adomitis (1 year)

DALLAS: Trent Sieg (3 years)

DENVER: Mitch Fraboni (3 years)

KANSAS CITY: James Winchester (1 year)

GIANTS: Casey Kreiter (1 year)

PHILADELPHIA: Charley Hughlett (1 year)

SAN FRANCISCO: Jon Weeks (1 year)

TENNESSEE: Morgan Cox (1 year)

Veteran free agents that remain unsigned as of today include Rick Lovato, Jake McQuaide, Taybor Pepper and client Patrick Scales.

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Snapping Update As Free Agency Begins

Veteran free agency in the NFL begins today at noon eastern with the legal tampering period during which discussions with free agents can commence.

In advance of that, all three pending restricted free agents have signed new deals and a handful of unrestricted free agents are also returning to their existing clubs.

For the restricted free agents, Cal Adomitis (Bengals) as previously reported returns on a one-year deal, while Mitchell Fraboni (Broncos) signed a three-year extension and client Liam McCullough (Falcons) returns on a four-year extension.

Unrestricted free agents to sign new one-year deals include Aaron Brewer (Cardinals), JJ Jansen (Panthers) and Casey Kreiter (Giants). Reid Ferguson of the Bills inked a new four-year extension.

The Browns released Charley Hughlett last week, so he is another veteran snapper that is available.

Below is a list of the eight unrestricted free agents that are free to negotiate with other teams today.

Cox (TEN)

Daly (CHI)

Lovato (PHI)

McQuaide (MIA)

Scales (CHI)

Sieg (DAL)

Weeks (HOU)

Winchester (KC)

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Latest Snapping Moves in the NFL and UFL Snappers

At least one veteran long snapper is now looking for work.  The Browns released Charley Hughlett, who was injured most of last season.  Hughlett was one of the longest tenured Browns and snapped for the club since 2014 and in 152 games.  For now, Rex Sunahara, who did well replacing Hughlett last season, is the only snapper on the roster.

Cal Adomitis signed a one-year deal with the Bengals and avoids becoming a restricted free agent next month. 

UFL training camps will open soon for its second season and six of the eight teams return their snapper from last season.  Ryan Langan (Birmingham), Jordan Ober (Michigan), Turner Bernard (Memphis), Alex Matheson (St. Louis), Trae Barry (DC) and Antonio Ortiz (Arlington) all return, while new snappers are Marco Ortiz (Houston) and Dalton Godfrey (San Antonio).

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Snapping Update Before the NFL Scouting Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine starts next week and, in advance of that, there have been some snapper signings, new special teams coaches and five top Draft prospects received invites to Indianapolis.

The Panthers signed veteran and potential unrestricted free agent JJ Jansen to a one-year deal that will bring him back in Carolina for a 17th season! To date, the Texans are the only team to sign a snapper to a reserve/future deal for next year, signing Tucker Addington. Jon Weeks is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

The last three specials teams coaching vacancies have been filed, with Chris Tabor in Buffalo, Darren Rizzi in Denver and Phil Galiano in New Orleans.

The Combine continued the trend from last year of inviting five snappers to snap for the specialists. Julian Ashby (Vanderbilt), Austin Brinkman (West Virginia), Luke Elkin (Iowa), Brent Matiscik (TCU) and William Wagner (Michigan) will all be in Indianapolis next week.

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