NFL Draft Review for Long Snappers

Posted on May 13, 2025 by longsnap

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.

2025 NFL DraftDownload

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Long Snapping Update for Day 3 of NFL Draft

Posted on April 26, 2025 by longsnap

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

Posted on April 26, 2025 by longsnap

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

Posted on March 25, 2025 by longsnap

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

Posted on March 17, 2025 by longsnap

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

Posted on March 10, 2025 by longsnap

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

Posted on February 27, 2025 by longsnap

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

Posted on February 20, 2025 by longsnap

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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Super Bowl Wrap-Up

Posted on February 11, 2025 by longsnap

The 2024 NFL season concluded Sunday with the Eagles decisive win over the Chiefs. Snapper Rick Lovato of the Eagles won his second Super Bowl ring and had an assisted tackle in the game. He was also called for two false starts on two separate field goal attempts.

The only other snapper to record a tackle in the playoffs was Josh Harris of the Chargers who had a solo tackle in the Wild Card round.

As usual, there have been a number of coaching changes since the end of the season and that usually impacts special teams coaches. Below are the teams where the special teams coach was either fired or left and the name of the new coach if one has been hired. As of today, vacancies still exist with Buffalo, Denver and New Orleans.

BUFFALO: Matt Smiley/TBD

DALLAS: John Fassel/Nick Sorensen

DENVER: Ben Kotwica/TBD

MIAMI: Danny Crossman/Craig Auckerman

NEW ORLEANS: Darren Rizzi/TBD

JETS: Brant Boyer/Chris Banjo

49ERS: Brian Schneider/Brant Boyer

TENNESSEE: Colt Anderson/John Fassel

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2025 College All-Star Game Long Snappers

Posted on January 26, 2025 by longsnap

Many of the top long snapping prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft were selected to college all-stars games to impress NFL scouts and coaches. Two games have not yet been played, as the East-West Shrine Game will be played Thursday, while the Senior Bowl is Saturday. The remaining games have all been played.

Here are the snappers for some of the top all-star games this season:

SENIOR BOWL

Austin Brinkman (West Virginia) and William Wagner (Michigan)

EAST-WEST SHRINE BOWL

Brent Matscik (TCU) and Josh Wojciechowicz (Colorado School of Mines)

TROPICAL BOWL

Kneeland Hibbett (Alabama) and Christian Johnstone (Appalachian State)

HULA BOWL

Donato Crisanti (Rhode Island), Gage King (UCF), Austin Riggs (Rutgers) and Wojciechowicz

FCS BOWL

Bobby Cleary (Campbell) and Joe Seidel (Davenport)

DREAM BOWL

Jonathan Duff (Eastern Kentucky) and Zac Heaton (Western Colorado)

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