The UDFA Files: Wesley Bissainthe is athletic LB with coverage upside

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Wesley Bissainthe #31 of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes runs with the ball after a blocked field goal in the quarter of the College Football Playoff First Round Game between the Texas A & M Longhorns and the Miami Hurricanes at Kyle Field on December 20, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images

NFL OTAs are next week, and this will give theKansas City Chiefsa chance to see all of the talent on the 91-man offseason roster in one setting.

This season's team will not be short on rookies, and the Chiefs have signed a few interesting undrafted free agents to add to the pool of young talent.

The Chiefs need an injection of depth in the linebacker room, a position that seems to have thinned out after having quality depth the last couple of seasons.

To add to the room, the Chiefs signed an undrafted free agent from the University of Miami shortly after the draft.

Wesley Bissainthe

Coming out of Central Miami High School in Miami, Florida, Bissainthe played four seasons for the Hurricanes and was a starting inside linebacker on the 2025 National Championship participants.

A Third Team All-ACC selection in 2025, Bissainthe finished the season with 71 tackles, a sack, and an interception.

Shortly following the National Championship game, Bissainthe declared for the NFL Draft. Although he was not selected, the athletic linebacker put enough on tape to impress Kansas City's front office; he was the only linebacker the Chiefs added from the pool of 2026 draft prospects.

Player evaluation

Bissainthe is a slightly undersized linebacker, standing under 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 225 pounds, but he makes up for it with good speed and good instincts.

Wesley Bissainthe is a LB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 6.23 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 1313 out of 3480 LB from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/h8OIkTkyPfpic.twitter.com/XVbrKzpGfq

- RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 20, 2026

The speed he showed in his 40-yard dash (4.63 seconds) carried over to his game tape, and with a high football IQ and a good understanding of the defense he played in, he was a solid playmaker in Miami's top-notch defense.

Wesley Bissainthe #31

Good job getting downhill, getting around the blockers, and knocking the ball loose from the RB. pic.twitter.com/o4s7pBjHMw

- Caleb James (@CJScoobs) May 21, 2026

Bissainthe was modest in the run game, but because of the dominant Miami defensive line, his run-defense ability was not judged as harshly as it might have been in another defensive scheme. While he was good at getting downhill, his size often put him at a disadvantage when playing near the trenches.

In coverage, we saw Bissainthe shine in the Hurricanes' defense.

Some clips of Wesley Bissainthe in coverage. Smooth mover, looks natural and comfortable playing the middle of the field and the flats. pic.twitter.com/fvoezzCEMQ

- Caleb James (@CJScoobs) May 22, 2026

A smooth mover with good read and react ability, Bissainthe played well in both man and zone coverage looks for during his career at Miami. Playing almost as a swiss-army knife type in coverage, he did well at covering the flats and the middle of the field. He was athletic enough to cover running backs and strong enough to compete with tight ends in coverage as well.

He will be a long shot to make the active roster, but he has the skills to make the practice squad and possibly earn a spot on the active roster as a special teamer.

The bottom line

Bissainthe played mostly as the starting middle linebacker in the Miami defense, but in Kansas City, he will be much more suited to play the WILL position - a weakside linebacker - which will help him to maximize his athletic ability as well as coverage skills.

The Chiefs' current weakside linebackers include starter Drue Tranquill, who is in the final season of his contract, and second-year player Jeffrey Bassa, who saw little playing time in 2025. The team will likely give Bassa more snaps in 2026 and see whether there are future plans for him at the position.

It is possible that Bissainthe could see some snaps, but given concerns about his play strength in the box and his inability to get off blocks at times in the run game, it seems likely he would be cut and would have to start the season on the practice squad for Kansas City.

Special teams could be in his wheelhouse, and this would give him a chance to put his athletic ability and ability to create big hits on display.

Wesley Bissainthe makes the tackle on 3rd down.

Play under review for Targeting pic.twitter.com/wE4Hk4YzIp

- Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) September 6, 2025

Bissainthe had multiple big collisions in the open field during his time at Miami, and these are the kind of plays that could translate well to being a solid special teamer in the NFL.

Speed, big hits, and football intelligence can go a long way in deciding whether a team wants to keep a prospect around or not, and Bissainthe is in a good position, given he has all three.