The Atlanta Falcons are not done bolstering their wide receiver depth following the departure of Julio Jones. On Thursday, the team signed former XFL standout Jeff Badet.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero announced that the signing was coming on Wednesday afternoon right after Badet worked in front of the team. Pelissero referred to the 26-year-old as a “speedster” who has clocked 4.27. 40-yard dash at Oklahoma’s Pro Day.
Badet has an intriguing background and has bounced in and out of the NFL.
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Badet Went Undrafted in 2018
Badet split his collegiate career playing for Kentucky and Oklahoma as a receiver and kick returner.
He declared for the 2018 NFL Draft where he went undrafted but later signed as a UDFA with the Minnesota Vikings. Before being placed on the team’s practice squad, he played in all four of Minnesota’s preseason games where he had 5 receptions for 34 yards.
Badet didn’t give up after not making the 53-man roster. He turned to the XFL in 2020 where he impressed former Sooners coach, Bob Stoops. Stoops ended up drafting Badet 4th overall to the Dallas Renegades.
In a short time, Badet became a face of the XFL and caught 16 passes for 108 yards in five games before COVID-19 forced the league to fold. His contract was terminated and he spent the rest of 2020 with the Washington Football Team, mainly on the practice squad before he was waived this past May.
Badet will join a currently crowded backfield to fight for a spot on the Falcons’ final roster. Though while it’s crowded, it’s wide open as Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage are the only players guaranteed a spot next season. Badet’s special teams experience could give him an upper hand.
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