Which Cougars will be taken in this week’s NFL Draft?

BYU linebacker Jack Kelly (17) hypes up the crows during the first quarter of the game against Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Despite going 11-2 and finishing in a four-way tie for the Big 12 football regular season championship in 2024, the BYU Cougars did not have any players selected in last year’s NFL Draft .

It was a bit of a blow to the program, which had produced at least one draft pick for four straight years before that, starting with Zach Wilson , Brady Christensen, Khyiris Tonga, Chris Wilcox and Dax Milne hearing their names called in the 2021 draft . “That’s my job, trying to help as many of our guys get drafted and (get) opportunities in free agency,” 11-year BYU coach Kalani Sitake said during pro day on March 20 . Wilson (New Orleans Saints), Christensen (Carolina Panthers) and Tonga (Kansas City Chiefs) are still in the league.

Running back Tyler Allgeier was BYU’s only drafted player in 2022, by the Atlanta Falcons. Allgeier recently signed with the Arizona Cardinals. In 2023, Blake Freeland (Indianapolis Colts), Jaren Hall (Minnesota Vikings) and the great Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams) went in the first seven rounds.

Freeland is still with the Colts and Nacua is considered one of the best players in the NFL, despite some well-publicized off-the-field issues. In 2024, BYU’s only draftee was offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia, picked in the second round by the Chiefs and their head coach with strong BYU ties, Andy Reid. Although the 2025 NFL draft was disappointing for the Cougars , at least seven players got free agent opportunities.