2026 NFL Draft: Damon Payne Jr. signed by Kansas City Chiefs as UDFA
Michigan DT Damon Payne Jr. has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 11: Damon Payne #44 of the Michigan Wolverines runs during the game against USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images Michigan defensive tackle Damon Payne Jr. has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.
As outlined in our NFL Draft profile , Payne is a 6-foot-3, 308-pound defensive tackle out of Belleville, Michigan. A five-star recruit, he was heavily targeted by all the major players in college football before committing to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. After spending four years in Tuscaloosa, Payne transferred to Michigan where he racked up 16 tackles, two tackles for loss and one pass deflection as a graduate student in 2025.
He was named Michigan’s Defensive Player of the Week twice and was a steady presence along the interior of the defensive line. A couple new guys making plays on the goal line. 7 TJ Metcalf (Arkansas) comes flying off the edge.
and 44 Damon Payne (Alabama) beats the guard to halt the ball carrier. pic. twitter.