Colts 15 Undrafted Free Agents: Comprehensive Breakdown
Feb 20, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; University of Massachusetts tight end Jean Sifrin catches a pass during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jean Sifrin, TE UMass
Analysis: The 6’5, 245 pound Sifrin is raw for a tight end, but has displayed impressive athleticism for the position. He’s also one of Gil Brandt’s top undrafted free agents and could be a potential sleeper. Already 27 years old as a junior, Sifrin caught 41 receptions for 637 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns for the Minutemen. He was named 1st-Team All-MAC.
Originally from the Bahamas, Sifrin is an interesting story because he dropped out of high school in 2005, but managed to get into football after a recruiter noticed him at a flag football game of all places. He eventually attended junior college before ending up at UMass.
At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.84 forty yard dash time, had a 33 inch vertical jump, and had a 114.0 inch broad jump.
Like many of these players, Sifrin faces an uphill battle to make the Colts, especially as a tight end. Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener have the first two tight end spots cemented on the depth chart, and the team has to be impressed with Jack Doyle‘s jack-of-all-trades game at the 3rd spot behind them. There’s still former converted basketball standout Erik Swoope in the mix as well, who spent last season on the team’s practice squad.
Still, it sounds like Sifrin has the athleticism to turn some heads, even if he is very unpolished at the position. He could be well worth at least a practice squad stash for the team going forward.
Via his NFL.com Draft Profile:
"BOTTOM LINE Raw but athletic tight end with above-average leaping ability and open-field talent to stress defenses vertically. While he played in-line and standing, he looked much more comfortable as a stand-up tight end. Sifrin could improve rapidly with a committed approach and NFL coaching, but he has a very limited career window due to his age, which could push him way down on some draft boards."