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.”
It sounds like a team that wants a pass-rushing linebacker who can hold his own against the run is where he would land. He is not considered among the best linebacker prospects, given others’ ability to defend the pass in coverage better than Kelly.
Teams like the Bengals, Bills, Buccaneers, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Jaguars, and Rams seem like the teams most needy in an area where Kelly would fit.
Prediction: 6th Round to the Colts (Pick No. 214)
Chase Roberts, WR
Frankly, it feels like less-than-50-percent of a chance Roberts gets drafted. Pro Football Network has him down at No. 330 in their rankings, far below the cutoff of 257 picks. However, Pro Football Focus puts him at 200th, with CBS Sports ranking in 227th. Needless to say, there’s some disparity in what draft evaluators think of the four-year Cougar receiver. His size, at 6-foot-3, certainly gives him an advantage over some. He improved from his lowly 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine during BYU’s Pro Day. Still, a 4.51 time isn’t going to turn heads.
With his combination of size, experience, and sure hands, it’s likely a receiver-needy team gives him a look during training camp.
Prediction: Signs as undrafted free agent with Miami Dolphins
These were the only two BYU Cougars invited to the NFL Combine. That is how NFL scouts view the current crop of BYU players. Others will likely earn undrafted contracts, such as Carsen Ryan, Mory Bamba, Will Ferrin, Tanner Wall, and Isaiah Jatta.
