2025 NFL Draft: Auburn DL Philip Blidi signed undrafted free agent deal with Tennessee Titans

Former Auburn defensive lineman Philip Blidi has signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zentiz.

The 6-foot-3, 284-pound Blidi, who transferred from Indiana a year ago, started seven of 12 games during the 2024 season on The Plains, tallying 21 total tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack last season. Blidi started 11 of 12 games with the Hoosiers, racking up 30 total tackles, four for loss, 11 quarterback hurries and one pass breakup in 2023.

Blidi joins quarterback Payton Thorne and tight end Rivaldo Fairweather as undrafted players out of Auburn to sign UDFA deals following the conclusion of this weekend’s 2025 NFL Draft. Thorne signed with the Cincinnatti Bengals while Fairweather landed with the Dallas Cowboys.

They join the three Auburn players that were drafted this weekend, beginning with running back Jarquez Hunter getting selected in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Rams, receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith going to the Los Angeles Chargers in the fifth round, and EDGE Jalen McLeod getting taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars in Round 6 on Saturday.

Prior to his one season in Bloomington, Blidi spent three seasons at Texas Tech, where he tallied 40 total tackles, 6 1/2 tackles for loss and 2 1/2 sacks while playing primarily as a backup.

Blidi landed in Lubbock as a three-start prospect out of Portales (New Mexico) in the 2020 cycle, checking in as the No. 2 overall player from the state, the No. 61 EDGE prospect and No. 815 overall recruit in 2020, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Report: Auburn QB Payton Thorne lands with Cincinnati Bengals as UDFA

Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne has signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Thorne returns to the Midwest after starting his career at Mcihigan State before finishing his college career on the Plains.

Of course, Cincinnati already has one of the more established quarterbacks in the NFL and Joe Burrow is not going anywhere anytime soon, after signing a five-year extension worth $275 million. The Bengals have invested a lot in Burrow and believe he can help them win a Super Bowl.

However, there is always an opportunity to fight for backup and even third-string jobs. Jake Browning spent the 2024 season behind Burrow and Logan Woodside was listed as the third quarterback. Thorne will have an opportunity to compete for a spot on Cincinnati’s roster this offseason due to the UDFA deal.

In 11 games this season for Auburn, Thorne threw for 2,713 yards and 21 touchdowns while completing 62.8-percent of his throws. All of those stats were career highs, going back to his true freshman season with Michigan State.

— On3’s Thomas Goldkamp and Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.