Predictions For BYU Players in 2026 NFL Draft
The NFL Draft is Thursday. Hundreds of young football players eagerly await for their name to be called by the commissioner or special guest of the league as it hosts the draft over three days, with rounds two and three on Friday, ending with the final four rounds Saturday. For BYU, this is not a year of highly touted prospects.
It’s highly unlikely the Cougars have a player hear their name called during the first two days of the draft (Rounds 1 through 3). Saturday, which is Rounds 4 through 7, is when to pay attention. The Cougars are in a bit of a dry spell when it comes to higher draft picks.
Only Kingsley Suamataia (second round, 63rd overall) has been drafted higher than the fourth round since Zach Wilson was taken second overall in 2021. Still, we should see several BYU alums at least getting looks at various training camps around the league when summer hits. Let’s predict which Cougars will actually get drafted, and possibly pinpoint where.
Jack Kelly , LB Kelly feels like the only Cougar from the 2025 squad that has a greater-than-50-percent chance at being drafted this weekend. Pro Football Network ranks Kelly as the 189th prospect in this class (there are 257 draft slots this year). They state “Kelly is a mid-to-late-round LB prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, with clear run-and-chase value and a track record of production.
” They continue, saying “While Kelly’s attack profile is compelling, his profile does have warts. A 15% missed tackle rate in 2025 hints at a lack of control with angle breakdowns and wrap-up technique, and he can be picked on in coverage with his average fluidity, inconsistent zone feel, and subpar ball skills. Best as an attacking SAM-backer, Kelly has immediate rotational and multi-phase appeal, but needs to shore up his tackling and improve his coverage game before he can be a full-time starter.