Cougars in the NFL: 2023 Draft Update

The 2023 NFL Draft is over, and a total of three Cougars were selected—not bad by historical BYU standards, especially given that the team as a whole had a relatively disappointing year in 2022. As of this writing, another four players from the 2022 roster have been picked up as undrafted free agents by NFL teams. This will be a list of all former Cougars currently under contract in the NFL, starting with the seven newly drafted and signed players. If additional players who are currently free agents (Daniel Sorensen and Kyle Van Noy, for example) sign contracts later in the offseason, I will update this list accordingly.

2023 NFL Draft Selections:

Blake Freeland, OL, Indianapolis Colts: To absolutely nobody's surprise, Blake Freeland was the highest Cougar taken in the 2023 draft. Though some draft analysts had him mocked as high as the 2nd round, he ultimately went early in the 4th as the Colts claimed him with the 106th overall pick. Freeland follows in the footsteps of his great predecessor at BYU's left tackle spot, Brady Christensen. As incredible as Christensen's 2020 season was at BYU, the totality of Freeland's career might honestly be more impressive. A freakish athlete who played QB (and basketball) in high school, Freeland recorded hilarious combine numbers for an offensive lineman with a dazzling 37-inch vertical leap and 4.98-second 40-yard dash. He was impressive from the moment he stepped on campus at BYU, starting a majority of games in 2019 and 2020 before starting all 13 games in each of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was a team captain and third-team All-American as a senior. He's not as prototypically NFL-ready as Brady Christensen was and will probably need some development before he's ready for rotational minutes in the NFL, but he has all the physical tools he could need to be successful in Indianapolis.

Jaren Hall, QB, Minnesota Vikings: If I'm being honest, I expected Jaren to go a little higher than the 5th round, 164th overall. ESPN had pegged him as the 7th best QB in the draft and he was ultimately the 12th QB taken. Apparently, that was mostly down to injury history and a somewhat lackluster Pro Day performance. Regardless, Minnesota is a great landing spot for him. Kirk Cousins is a gifted but low-key player who could be a great mentor for Jaren, and Jaren will possibly have a chance to compete for the starting job at some point in the future. He's an incredibly special player. When healthy, he combines accuracy, arm strength, and athleticism in a Russell Wilson-like package that could translate really well to the next level. It's been a privilege to watch him at BYU, both as a great player on the field and a great person off it.

Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams: Just as Jaren Hall went lower than I thought he would, Puka Nacua went a little higher. I thought his injury history would keep his ceiling around the late 6th round. Instead, he was taken with the 177th overall pick at the end of the 5th round. He has a chance to compete for playing time immediately on a Rams roster that lacks depth behind superstar Cooper Kupp at WR. He has the speed and hands to be a rotational player at the NFL level if he can stay healthy. He was supremely enjoyable to watch in a BYU uniform—you could always count on him for highlights. BYU has plenty of receiving talent coming up behind him, but he will be missed.

2023 Undrafted Free Agents:

Christopher Brooks, RB, Miami Dolphins: At times during the 2022 season, I was, if I'm being honest, a little disappointed in Brooks. There were games where he stood out, but a lot of the time he looked timid, like he was struggling to see the field and find gaps to run through. As the season went on, though, he really improved and finally stepped into the RB1 role that had always been his to claim. And apparently, he did enough to get attention at the next level. Athletically, Brooks has every tool an NFL team could want in a running back. If he can be aggressive and assert himself, he will certainly have a shot at a pro career.

Kaleb Hayes, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars: Kaleb Hayes had a bit of a quiet BYU career at times. That's not necessarily a bad thing—he did his job reliably and when he did get attention, it was always positive. After transferring from Oregon State in the 2021 offseason, he started 20 games in two seasons at BYU. Hayes saved his best for last, posting an eye-catching 8-tackle performance in the Cougars' New Mexico Bowl win over SMU. He vacates an important spot in a somewhat depth-poor cornerback room and Jernaro Gilford faces a tall task in replacing his production.

Harris LaChance, OL, Indianapolis Colts: Man, the Colts like their BYU offensive linemen. Teammates for four years at BYU, Harris LaChance and Blake Freeland will be teammates again in Indianapolis. LaChance has flown a little under the radar on a couple of the most talented offensive lines in BYU history. While stars like Brady Christensen, Blake Freeland, Kingsley Suamataia, and Clark Barrington have taken the spotlight, LaChance has played well since assuming a more prominent rotational role during the 2021 season. As a full-time starter in 2022, LaChance really impressed at times even as others on the O-line got more attention. He is an underrated prospect who has a real shot at making a roster.

D'Angelo Mandell, CB, Dallas Cowboys: D'Angelo Mandell has one of the most remarkable stories of any BYU player, period. After being rescued from a troubled home life in San Diego by the kindness of one Mandell family, D'Angelo Gunter (as he was then known) became a high school football standout and turned down USC, Washington, Washington State and Vanderbilt to sign with BYU. After one year in Provo, though, he felt so uncomfortable and out of place that he returned to San Diego and worked odd jobs for nearly a year before the Cougar coaching staff could convince him to return. Upon rejoining the team, he decided to change his last name to Mandell to honor the family that had taken him in and given him a shot at success. He also started playing really well. When not hampered by injuries, Mandell was a consistent contributor in the secondary. He started a total of 24 games at BYU and was one of only three defensive players to start all 13 games during the Cougars' ranked campaign in 2021. If past experience is any indication, his work ethic and perseverance should give him a fighting chance in the NFL.

Payton Wilgar, LB, Kansas City Chiefs: Payton Wilgar made a splash early in his BYU career, starting 12 of 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2019 and regularly starting thereafter. He was a great player on the field and a great leader off of it, and he leaves an enormous hole at the linebacker position. While the addition of AJ Vongphachahn in the portal eases the pain of that vacancy a little, there's no question that Wilgar will be missed. He has been invited to a minicamp with the Kansas City Chiefs; if he doesn't make the Chiefs' roster, he will attend a second minicamp for the Buffalo Bills.

All Other BYU Players in the NFL:

Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons: BYU fans have known since 2020 that Tyler Allgeier is a very special running back. And as the heart and soul of the Cougar offense in 2021, Allgeier showcased what looked like a very pro-ready skillset en route to being drafted in the 5th round by Atlanta. But I doubt even the most blue-goggled BYU homer expected THIS out of him. As a rookie in 2022, Allgeier rushed for an incredible 1,035 yards—joining Jamaal Williams as one of the first two BYU running backs to reach 1,000 yards in an NFL season—despite not getting much playing time early in the season. Unfortunately (and bizarrely), the Falcons apparently still aren't ready to hand over the RB1 spot to Allgeier full time, as they drafted Texas star and Heisman candidate Bijan Robinson in the first round of this year's draft. Looks like Allgeier will have to prove himself all over again. Thankfully, he seems up to the task.

Zayne Anderson, S, Buffalo Bills: Signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2021, Anderson spent much of his rookie year on the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster late in the season. He then spent the majority of the 2022 season on the practice squad. In total, he appeared in 7 games for the Chiefs over those two seasons. He recently signed a two-year deal with the Buffalo Bills and hopefully, he will be able to cement a rotational spot on Buffalo's defense.

Matt Bushman, TE, Kansas City Chiefs: After seeing his dreams of being drafted shattered by an ACL tear in fall camp back in 2020, Bushman sat out his entire senior year at BYU. But such was his effectiveness prior to that injury that the Raiders still decided to take a flyer on Bushman, signing him as an undrafted free agent after the 2021 draft. He spent most of his rookie year on the Las Vegas practice squad before being signed to the Chiefs' practice squad late in the season. In the 2022 preseason, Bushman appeared in one game and dazzled everyone, catching three passes for 73 yards and a pair of TD's. But late in that game, Bushman's career took yet another unfortunate turn when he broke his collarbone. This injury resulted in his release from the Chiefs, but after healing, he was signed back onto their practice squad late in the 2022 season and remains there currently. Clearly, as his 2022 preseason performance demonstrated, he has all the skills necessary to be a very good NFL tight end if his health ever decides to cooperate.

Brady Christensen, OL, Carolina Panthers: Of the five Cougars selected in the 2021 NFL draft, Brady Christensen has had the best career by far to this point. In fact, he's been downright sensational. Christensen has played in every single regular season game for the Panthers—all 33 of them—and has started 23 games at both tackle spots and left guard since they made him a third round draft choice. In 2022, his sophomore campaign, he started all 17 games at left guard and was one of the most effective young offensive linemen in the NFL. His future looks almost blindingly bright.

Michael Davis, CB, Los Angeles Chargers: Signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2017 following an up-and-down BYU career, Davis has shown impressive staying power since entering the NFL. Following a quiet rookie year, he's become a regular starter for the Chargers over the last five seasons. Davis, who is Mexican-American, has especially connected with and become popular among Chargers fans of Mexican heritage and has done a great deal to connect with that community. He is under contract with the Chargers through 2024 and seems to have established himself as a solid NFL contributor.

James Empey, OL, Tennessee Titans: A 41-game career starter and an Outland Trophy watch-lister in both 2020 and 2021, James Empey anchored the BYU offensive line when healthy. The son of former Cougar player and coach Mike Empey, James was a force to be reckoned with on the field. But they say the most important ability is availability, and James Empey spent a lot of time injured over the course of his BYU career, which probably explains why he wasn't drafted in 2022. He ultimately signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent but never saw the field for them as a rookie. Now, after a successful minicamp tryout, Empey has been given another shot at a pro career, this time with the Tennessee Titans. Hopefully, he can make enough of a splash in the offseason to merit a 53-man roster spot.

Taysom Hill, Utility, New Orleans Saints: I've given up trying to figure out Taysom Hill's position with the Saints. He's nominally listed as a tight end on their roster, though he spends most of his offensive snaps as a receiver, running back, or wildcat quarterback. Whatever position he plays, Taysom has made an almighty splash in New Orleans since former head coach Sean Payton took a chance on him back in 2017. In March of 2022, he signed a four-year deal worth anywhere between $40 and 95 million depending on what position he plays going forward. His 2022 campaign, despite increased positional ambiguity and no starts at his natural quarterback position, was arguably his best yet, and the highlight came as he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after an absolutely ridiculous game 4 performance against Seattle wherein he rushed for 122 yards on 9 carries, completed his only pass attempt for a 22-yard TD, and recovered a Seahawks fumble on special teams. Despite his official designation as a tight end throughout the 2022 season, Hill set career highs for rushing attempts, rushing yards and yards per carry. While the Saints' new head coach, Dennis Allen, doesn't seem to share Sean Payton's enthusiasm for Hill, the future nevertheless looks bright for the NFL's most unique player.

Dax Milne, WR, Washington Commanders: Since becoming the last of the five Cougars drafted in 2021, Dax Milne has established himself as a solid return man and fringe rotation receiver in Washington. While his playing time in the offense has been limited, he's been solid enough on special teams to continue holding down a roster spot. He totaled 6 catches for 37 yards and a touchdown in 2022.

Sione Takitaki, LB, Cleveland Browns: Sione Takitaki's career has been punctuated by big highlights, like his massive game-sealing interception in the 2022 AFC wildcard game, but also injury struggles and inconsistency. Most recently, Takitaki started eight games for the Browns in 2022 before injuring his knee and missing the rest of the season. In March of this year, he signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him in Cleveland.

Khyiris Tonga, DT, Minnesota Vikings: Another member of BYU's awesome 2021 draft class, Tonga played over 200 snaps for the Chicago Bears as a rookie 7th-round pick. However, following a change in defensive coordinators, the Bears made the somewhat controversial decision to cut Tonga during the 2022 offseason, and he was subsequently signed to the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad. Just prior to game 8 of the 2022 season, the Vikings, in need of some defensive line depth, acquired Tonga and immediately activated him. He played the rest of the year in Minnesota and even started the last two games of the regular season. In the process, he became a bit of an analytics darling, consistently grading well according to PFF. He is now on a new one-year deal with Minnesota, where he will hopefully be able to contribute enough to secure a lasting place for himself in the league.

Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers: There's no question about it—Fred Warner is the best BYU alum in the NFL right now. Oh, and also arguably the league's best linebacker, period. He's certainly making more money than most—his current four-year contract, signed back in 2021, makes him the third-highest-paid linebacker in football. He's coming off his first ever All-Pro selection (first team, naturally). His opponents respect him, his teammates love him, and he's on a trajectory that only points one direction—if he can enjoy a few more healthy seasons of consistent play, Canton and a gold jacket will be waiting for him at the end of what has turned into a truly incredible NFL career. In fact, if he keeps this up, he will pose a serious challenge to another 49er legend, Steve Young, for the title of best all-time Cougar in the NFL.

Chris Wilcox, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers: After being drafted in the 7th round by the Buccaneers in 2021 and then promptly waived, Wilcox was signed to the Colts' practice squad, cut, and then signed to the Cardinals' practice squad. He is now on the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers. While he's never been signed to a regular season roster, Wilcox has done enough to hang around the league. Hopefully, he'll have some success breaking into a 53-man roster this year.

Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans Saints: After spending his first four NFL seasons as, at best, an underused change-of-pace back for the Packers, Jamaal Williams left Green Bay in free agency and signed with Detroit for the 2021 season. He was fine in 2021 but still didn't get lead-back carries. That all changed in 2022, as Williams had a truly spectacular breakout. He rushed for 1,066 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season, breaking the Lions' franchise record for most rushing TD's in a single season. The previous record-holder? Some guy named Barry Sanders. And it wasn't just a great statistical season—Williams raised his social profile in the NFL significantly, demonstrating his ability to be a positive force in the locker room and endearing himself to fans with his witty and sometimes outlandish interviews. He's rapidly becoming one of the most generally liked players in the NFL. This offseason, Williams is on the move again, having signed a three-year deal which will reunite him with college backfield-mate Taysom Hill in New Orleans. His career seems to be trending in the right direction!

Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets: Hoooo boy, here we go. Zach Wilson has been nothing if not controversial since the New York Jets made him the highest BYU player ever taken in the NFL draft (2nd overall) in 2021. He followed a rough rookie year with an even rockier sophomore campaign that saw him benched and eventually demoted all the way to third string behind Joe Flacco and Mike White. Worse, he attracted criticism from the media and his own teammates for failing to take accountability for his poor play in a controversial week 11 interview. He started a total of nine games in 2022 but never looked all that solid. And admittedly, at the end of the season, things were looking pretty grim for his NFL future, especially if he was going to stay in New York, an environment infamously brutal to young quarterbacks. But all of that looks a little different now, and there's maybe even...hope on the horizon? The Jets recently announced a trade for future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers is a great QB, and his play style is notably similar to Wilson's. The two also have some chemistry—Wilson is an unabashed Aaron Rodgers fan, and the two connected during the preseason last year. In interviews, Rodgers has already expressed his willingness to be a mentor for Wilson. Like Steve Young in the 80's, Wilson might just need a couple of years backing up an all-time great to get his feet under him and unlock his NFL potential.