Romeo Finley joins three Miami football alums who are starters with the Los Angeles Chargers when he signed as an undrafted free agent following the conclusion of the NFL Draft on Saturday.
Romeo Finley was the perfect example of proving that hard work paid off during his tenure with the Miami football team. Finley signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers after not being selected in the 2020 NFL Draft this weekend. Finley joins three Hurricanes alums who are starters with the Chargers.
Finley joins former teammates safety Rayshawn Jenkins and kicker Michael Badgley and linebacker Denzel Perryman as Miami football alums on the Los Angeles Chargers. Finley began his Miami career as a safety before switching to the LB/S hybrid position of striker as a junior in 2018.
Finley started four games at striker in 2018 and 12 of the 13 games he played in 2019. Finley played in 51 out of a possible 52 games during his Miami career. Improving each season, Finley nearly doubled his previous career-high with 54 tackles in 2019 and adding four tackles for loss, an interception and three pass breakups.
With his experience at striker, Finley will be a valued asset in the modern NFL. Teams often look for players at safety and LB who are equally adept at stopping the run and in pass coverage. Finley finished his Miami career with 95 tackles, nine TFLs, one forced fumble, eight PBUs, three interceptions, and one touchdown.
Thank you @Chargers for the opportunity! Now let’s work! ⚡️⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/9M5SHNgjk8
— ROM30 (@RomeoFinley1) April 26, 2020
Finley is one of 19 UFAs signed by the Chargers and surprisingly projects as a LB in the NFL. In a league that is increasingly becoming positionless in several spots particularly on defense, it’s still surprising that Finley projects as a LB at 6’1 213 pounds. Finley is one of four LBs who signed with L.A. as UFAs.
The Chargers traded up to draft LB Kenneth Murray as their second first-round pick. Murray also fits the mold of a hybrid LB. If Finley can play both LB and safety for Los Angeles he will prove a valuable asset and provide himself with a much better chance of making the Chargers. Finley will also have to contribute on special teams.
Los Angeles drafted safety Alohi Gilman from Notre Dame in the fifth round. Having Jenkins and Perryman on the Chargers at the positions that Finley can play will only help him get acclimated to the NFL. After making the playoffs in 2018, L.A. is coming off a 5-11 2019 season and lost longtime QB, Philip Rivers, in free agency.
The Chargers LB corps is a mix of players that have recently drafted and the additions of Nick Vigil and Malik Jefferson who they signed in free agency during the 2020 offseason. Jenkins and former Florida State star Derwin James are the starting safeties. Nasir Adderly, Roderic Teamer and Gilman are their projected backups.