Overlooked and out for blood: Elijhah Badger making waves at Chiefs camp

What started as a longshot invite as an undrafted free agent is turning into what could possibly be a Cinderella story for former Florida Gator, Elijhah Badger.

Badger is making his presence widely known in the first week of Chiefs training camp. The Chiefs signed Badger as an undrafted free agent, but he is proving that he belongs.

Tuesday, on a play in which the ball took a hard right angle, Badger adjusted himself perfectly as he used his wingspan to reach and grab the ball, bringing it in for a fantastic completion.

The rookie from South Sacramento, California averaged 20 yards per catch in 2024. He led Florida with 806 receiving yards (13th in the SEC), along with 39 receptions and four receiving touchdowns. He posted the third-most receiving yards by a Gator in a single season across his final 10 games and had three games in which he averaged 100 receiving yards.

According to Chris Ains of Arrowhead Addicts, part of our Fansided Network who covers the Chiefs, the Chiefs are in need of a wide receiver. In 2024, though the Chiefs went to the Super Bowl, their receivers showed inconsistencies in their production and three of their receivers went down with injuries last season as well, and at the end of a long day at camp on Tuesday, they had two other receivers go down with injuries (Hollywood brown, ankle; Skyy Moore, hamstring).

The Chiefs need a receiver who can do exactly what Badger showed on the field Tuesday, someone who can beat a defender and win the ball.

Badger is a player who’s not afraid to get aggressive. He is listen as one of Brett Kollmann’s top-10 receivers in camp this summer. If he can continue to perform at the level he’s been showing since mini camp in May, Gator fans may need to clear their Sunday schedules to watch Badger take the field next to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense.