After a disappointing 2025 NFL Draft in which no BYU players were selected for the first time in a decade, the Cougars returned to form in 2026, with two players drafted and six more signed to free agent contracts. In addition, DT John Taumoepeau and OLs Austin Leausa and Weylin Lapuaho received minicamp invites with the Chiefs, Raiders, and Colts, respectively, and I will add them to this write-up if they sign free agent contracts. Despite relatively few prominent contributors graduating after the 2025 season, BYU will still be well-represented in the 2026 NFL rookie class. And the best is likely yet to come for the Cougars in the NFL Draft, with a large group of high-level seniors set to graduate next year.
Jack Kelly, LB, New York Giants: With a name like 'Jack Kelly', there was really only one city where he could end up. Kelly, the newly-crowned King of New York, was drafted 193rd overall in the 6th round after an outstanding senior season in which he fought through injuries to record 55 tackles, an astonishing team-high 10 sacks (no other BYU player had more than 3), and 5 quarterback hurries, along with a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown, en route to First Team All-Big 12 honors. Kelly was always viewed as the Cougars' best NFL draft prospect this year, and I had initially predicted that he would be the only player from BYU drafted (I'm glad to have been wrong about that). He should have a great opportunity to develop at the NFL level in the Giants' potent defensive system.
Carsen Ryan, TE, Cleveland Browns: Ryan was seen by many prognosticators as a potential draft sleeper who could sneak into the later rounds, and that's exactly what happened, as the Browns ultimately took him in the 7th round, 248th overall. Ryan had a fantastic senior season in 2025, providing the Cougars with the first really elite production they had enjoyed at the tight end position since early in Isaac Rex's sophomore year, all the way back in 2021. After three seasons of limited snaps at UCLA and Utah, Ryan emerged as a star for BYU, finishing as the team's third-leading receiver with 45 catches for 620 yards and 3 touchdowns. He quickly developed strong chemistry with freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, becoming a reliable safety blanket for him. Ryan has a knack for turning checkdowns into big plays--he's underratedly quick and shifty in the open field, but still strong enough to pancake a pass rusher or drag a tackler an extra five yards.
Mory Bamba, CB, New York Jets: Bizarrely, the six BYU players who signed undrafted free agent contracts in this class did so with just two teams: three with the Las Vegas Raiders, and three with the New York Jets! Mory Bamba, the first of the Jets' three signees, was not initially seen as an especially strong NFL prospect--a relatively limited contributor at BYU who got his share of reps as a senior but never really stood out. Then came BYU's pro day. In a performance that left scouts stunned, Bamba was clocked at an astonishing time of 4.19 seconds in the 40-yard dash; together with his 6'3" frame, his flat-out speed immediately made him the talk of the event. And now, he has parlayed it into an NFL contract. I have no idea how to project Bamba's career at the NFL level--he's relatively raw, and was signed almost entirely on the strength of his freakish athleticism. I hope that with professional development and conditioning, he can reach his potential and enjoy a long career.
Will Ferrin, K, New York Jets: The second of three Cougars signed to UDFA contracts by the Jets, Ferrin leaves BYU as one of the greatest special-teamers in program history, owning all-time program records for consecutive field goals made (25) and PATs made (120) and tying the program record for longest made field goal (56 yards). He was about as reliable as a toaster throughout his BYU career, and in 2025, he never missed inside 40 yards. A mild late-season slump did nothing to deter the interest from NFL teams that had been growing since the end of his junior season--he very plausibly could have moved on to the NFL after 2024 if he had wanted to. Big Game Bill projects really well at the next level--his consistency and cool nerves should give him staying power in the league.
Garrison Grimes, LS, New York Jets: It seems appropriate that, having signed BYU's star kicker, the Jets would also want to bring in the guy who was snapping the ball to him. Long snapper is a relatively thankless position--nobody really pays attention to you unless you really mess up. So when I say that Grimes had a quiet senior season for the Cougars in 2025, I mean that as a high compliment. After transferring in from Baylor for his final season of college eligibility, Grimes was a solid, reliable presence and did his job consistently well. It's worth nothing that one of the longest NFL careers by a former BYU player belonged to long snapper John Denney, who played fourteen seasons for the Miami Dolphins and retired as the franchise's longest-tenured active player. Long snapper is a position where teams do not like turnover, and a quietly dependable player can stick around for many years.
Isaiah Jatta, OL, Las Vegas Raiders: Like the Jets, the Raiders somehow signed three BYU players as undrafted free agents in this class (not to mention inviting Austin Leausa to their rookie minicamp)! Isaiah Jatta played two seasons at BYU after transferring in from Colorado, and started all fourteen games at left tackle for the Cougars in 2025 en route to Third Team All-Big 12 honors. At 6'6" and 315 lbs., Jatta is an imposing physical presence, but he also gained a reputation among his teammates for being a highly cerebral and intelligent player--qualities that should serve him well at the NFL level.
Chase Roberts, WR, Las Vegas Raiders: Any hopes that Chase might sneak into the later rounds of the draft pretty much ended with his performance at the NFL combine--his 40 time was, shall we say, less than inspiring. But it's impossible to ignore his college production--he finished his BYU career 7th all-time in receiving yards and put up 802 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2025 despite sharing WR1 targets almost equally with Parker Kingston. We got an indicator of how good Chase was going to be all the way back in the second game of his college career--the 2022 Baylor game, when he posted 122 receiving yards, a touchdown reception, and a touchdown pass to Jaren Hall. Chase was consistently one of the most visible leaders in the program--a two-time captain--and has been a strong fan-favorite since his freshman season. I have no idea whether he is athletic enough to be a productive NFL player, but he unquestionably has the talent and work ethic required.
Tanner Wall, S, Las Vegas Raiders: Tanner Wall has one of the best stories of any recent BYU football star--a former walk-on wide receiver who became a First Team All-Big 12 safety and one of the best defensive backs in the nation as a senior. Wall was never as flashy as teammates like Faletau Satuala and Evan Johnson, but he was a steady, intelligent, and hard-hitting presence, much needed in an otherwise fairly young defensive backfield. One of the 2025 team's most important leaders on and off the field, he brings a level of maturity and experience that few rookie defensive backs will be able to equal.
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Arizona Cardinals: The cursed career of Tyler Allgeier continues. This offseason, he finally got out of Atlanta, where Bijan Robinson's presence left him basically permanently locked out of starter-level carries, and signed a two-year, $12.25 million contract with the Cardinals...who immediately drafted Doak Walker Award-winning Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love 3rd overall! In all likelihood, this will mark the second consecutive team that has signed Allgeier, only to immediately bench him for a top-10 draft pick. It's incredibly painful to watch. I hope that he will be given a real chance to get the carries he deserves, but at this point, I'm not holding my breath.
Zayne Anderson, S, Miami Dolphins: After a 2025 season where he appeared in 14 games for the Packers, recording 15 tackles and two forced fumbles, Zayne Anderson signed a one-year, $1.42 million contract with the Dolphins in the offseason. He became a reliable bench contributor for Green Bay over the course of three seasons there, and hopefully, he will get enough reps to carve out a similar position in Miami.
Tyler Batty, DE/LB, Minnesota Vikings: Though he suffered a preseason injury prior to his 2025 rookie campaign and missed the first several games of the season as a result, Batty still played in 12 games for the Vikings, recording 12 tackles. Minnesota's staff has experimented with using him in different roles on defense, including at outside linebacker and even as a secondary nose guard in a viral effort to stop Philadelphia's infamous "Tush Push". However, he got most of his playing time, and made his biggest impact, on special teams. It's clear that the Vikings like Batty--they played him an unusual amount for an undrafted rookie coming off an injury, and that bodes well for his future.
Chris Brooks, RB, Green Bay Packers: Chris Brooks' resilience in the NFL continues to be one of the best stories among former BYU players. Despite an underwhelming senior season in which he was hampered by both injuries and a dreadful offensive line, Brooks has stubbornly stuck around at the NFL level. He appeared in 15 games for the Packers in 2025, recording 36 carries for 183 yards and a touchdown along with 11 catches for 69 yards. His hard work was rewarded this offseason with a new two-year, $4.85 million contract that will keep him in Green Bay.
Caleb Etienne, OL, Minnesota Vikings: Etienne began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, who signed him as an undrafted free agent last year. However, an offseason injury meant that he spent almost the entire 2025 season on injured reserve. In December 2025, he was waived by the Bengals altogether, and shortly thereafter, the Vikings added him to their practice squad. Etienne has NFL-caliber size and athleticism, but he will need to show that he can stay healthy and make progress on his technique in order to stick in the NFL.
Blake Freeland, OL, Indianapolis Colts: Blake Freeland remains one of the most freakishly athletic football players ever to graduate from BYU, but unfortunately, his four-year-old career with the Colts has been defined by a rash of injuries which have limited his playing time. The latest was the worst--he broke his leg during a preseason game against the Packers in August 2025 and spent the entire season on injured reserve. It's not clear where his career will go from here--the Colts still seem to believe in him to some extent, but he has to stay healthy or he probably does not have much time left on an NFL roster.
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams: Puka Nacua has managed to make things weird this year, even as he has cemented himself as one of the best wide receivers in the entire NFL. On the field, his 2025 season was his most successful yet, and by a significant margin: he rang up 129 catches for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns (all career highs) while earning his second Pro Bowl nod and his first ever First Team All-Pro selection. Off the field, though, he has been plagued by scandals, including an unsavory incident where he appeared to have been baited into making an antisemitic joke on a controversial right-wing podcast, and another where he and his brother, fellow former Cougar Samson Nacua, were accused of stealing a teammate's car--though this allegation proved to be false. All of that is to say that as wildly successful as his career has been over the last three seasons, Puka desperately needs to get his head on straight and focus on football before his off-the-field antics go too far and actually threaten what has, to this point, been an extraordinarily brilliant NFL journey.
Ryan Rehkow, P, Cincinnati Bengals: Rehkow has had about as good a start to his career as he could have hoped for--his first two NFL seasons were the best two seasons by a punter in the history of the Bengals franchise. He was one of the top punters in the league in average yards per punt in 2025, and was on the doorstep of his first Pro Bowl nod--an honor that feels virtually inevitable at this point. Everything is looking pretty great for Ryan Rehkow at the moment.
Jakob Robinson, CB, San Francisco 49ers: If the start to Ryan Rehkow's career was a dream come true, Jakob Robinson started in a waking nightmare. After being signed to a UDFA contract by the 49ers last offseason, Robinson had a phenomenal preseason, mightily impressing the San Francisco coaches. The staff was talking about him as a genuine potential future starter. And then, against the Chargers in the Niners' last preseason game, he broke his arm--season over. It's a mark of the impression Robinson made on the staff in San Francisco that they signed him to a three-year, $2.98 million contract right out of the gate, meaning that he will be in the Bay Area for a while yet and should get plenty of opportunities to cement himself at the NFL level.
Kedon Slovis, QB, Arizona Cardinals: Of all the players on this list, Kedon Slovis is probably the most surprising. To be clear, it's a pleasant surprise--I'm thrilled that he has somehow carved out a place for himself at the NFL level. Like Chris Brooks, Slovis suffered through a single season at BYU that was largely defined by a bad offensive line making his life miserable. But after bouncing quickly from the Colts to the Texans' practice squad as a rookie, he has settled in as Arizona's third-string quarterback. He even spent most of the 2025 season on the Cardinals' active roster after an injury to Kyler Murray left Jacoby Brissett as Arizona's only healthy QB. Slovis played in two regular season games for the Cardinals in 2025, though both appearances were brief and largely inconsequential. Putting it frankly, I did not expect Slovis to last this long at the NFL level, and as a result, while I'm delighted that he is still on a roster, I have no idea how long he will be able to keep this going.
Kingsley Suamataia, OL, Kansas City Chiefs: Kingsley's rookie season in 2024 was, by most measures, somewhat disappointing--all the more so because he had an extraordinary amount of hype around him when he was drafted 63rd overall. He failed to cement himself as the starting left tackle of the future in Kansas City, and was ultimately benched midway through the season. However, his fortunes took a decided turn for the better in 2025--slotted in as the Chiefs' starting left guard, he was one of the better guards in the entire league according to PFF, finishing with an impressive 65.7 pass-blocking grade. Kingsley has clearly earned the trust of the coaching staff at his new position, and while he will potentially never become the high-end left tackle he was drafted to be, his future in the NFL still looks very bright.
Khyiris Tonga, DT, Kansas City Chiefs: It must be good to be Khyiris Tonga right about now. After signing a one-year contract with the Patriots prior to the 2025 season, he enjoyed the most successful campaign of his NFL career, anchoring one of the best defensive lines in the league and contributing significantly to his team's playoff success. He even had fun stepping in on offense occasionally, serving as a gadget fullback in heavy run packages. Then, fresh off a run to the Super Bowl, he inked a three-year, $21 million deal with Kansas City last month. Everything about Tonga's career is trending in the right direction right now, and it's fun to see him get the recognition he deserves after so many years of fighting for playing time.
Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers: Fred Warner's hitherto charmed NFL career endured its first major setback in 2025, as he suffered a season-ending ankle injury early in the season. As a result, he missed out on the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro selection for the first time since 2021. Had the Niners made a deep playoff run, he might have been able to rejoin them; unfortunately, they ran into Seattle's buzzsaw early on, and Fred had to watch helplessly from the sideline as his team was blown off the field in the divisional round. He was formally cleared to return to full practice last week, and should be ready for the start of the 2026 season, when he will probably quickly regain his place as the best linebacker in the NFL.
Zach Wilson, QB, New Orleans Saints: The strange and depressing saga of Zach Wilson continues. After spending the 2025 season with the Dolphins but never making it higher than third on the depth chart, he agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Saints this offseason, where he will back up Tyler Shough. Zach's career just sort of makes me sad at this point. In many ways, his arc has been similar to Jimmer Fredette's in the NBA--a superstar talent in college taken high in the draft by a terrible team that ruined his development before it really had a chance to get started. I hope there is still a chance for him to reach his potential somewhere, but the NFL is an unforgiving and merciless league, and I'm not sure how many opportunities he has left.
As you might have noticed (indeed, as one reader of the initial version of this article pointed out), there are several notable names missing from this list. Kyle Van Noy, Brady Christensen, and Taysom Hill are all currently unsigned free agents, and if they sign with NFL teams over the course of the offseason, I will, of course, add them to the list above. Kyle Van Noy spent three successful seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, making a Pro Bowl appearance in 2024, but his contract expired after the 2025 season and the team has not, thus far, shown any indication that it's in a hurry to re-sign him. KVN has hinted that if the Ravens choose not to re-sign him, he may retire from the NFL rather than pursuing another opportunity elsewhere. Taysom Hill's career is similarly up in the air--his contract with the Saints has expired, and the injuries he has recently dealt with make it seem increasingly unlikely that he will get a new deal. If this is the end for Taysom, it has been tremendously fun to watch him carve out a unique and exciting NFL career. Of the three major free agents I've listed here, the most intriguing is Brady Christensen, who suffered a season-ending injury back in October which has left his NFL future somewhat mysterious. It's not at all clear that the Panthers have any interest in bringing him back, but if they don't, there are no doubt other teams who would be anxious to sign an experienced and versatile starter on the offensive line.