All-purpose yard master Tobais Palmer has signed as an undrafted free agent with Jacksonville, a team he may have a genuine shot at making. Of the seven receivers that made 10 or more catches for the Jags last year only three return, and 2012 fifth overall pick Justin Blackmon will miss the first four games of the upcoming season due to a drug suspension.
Cecil Shorts, who led the team in yards (979) and touchdowns (seven), returns alongside Blackmon, who had a team-high 64 catches as a rookie. Jordan Shipley made 23 catches last season, one for a touchdown, and should make the ream, but that still leaves at least two spots.
2013 fourth-round pick Ace Sanders from USC-East is a good bet to secure a roster spot, but after Sanders the competition is not exactly anything that should intimidate Palmer. He'll battle Mohamed Massaquoi, who had 17 grabs for Cincinnati last year, Tony Clemons, who has three career catches, Mike Brown and Taylor Price, neither of whom registered a catch last year, and fellow undrafted free agents Cole McKenzie and Jamal Miles for a roster spot.
One thing working against Palmer is that Sanders is a dangerous return man and slot receiver type, which is exactly the role Palmer will be pursuing. Palmer amassed 1,130 kickoff return yards last season, the second most in ACC history, and that yardage included a pair of touchdown returns. Palmer set an ACC single-game record with 496 all-purpose yards against Clemson (277 on kick off returns and 219 receiving yards). His 219-yard effort through the air was the third-best game total in program history. For the season, Palmer hauled in 54 balls for 781 yards and six scores. Palmer came on late in his senior season, notching all three of his 100-yard receiving games and all six of his touchdown grabs over the Pack's final six games.
Palmer's signing gives the Pack eight players from the 2012 team that will be in NFL camps.