BYU Football: What to expect with NFL hopefuls

Sione Takitaki was selected higher than he was expected but Corbin Kaufusi was left off the board with other NFL hopeful BYU Football players.

Sione Takitaki being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the NFL draft was something that back in December nobody would have believed. At the time Takitaki was not expected to go the Senior Bowl, Pro Day or be picked up on the second day of the NFL Draft. After a very impressive finish to his career and postseason games however he found himself in the first few rounds. 

Takitaki was the only Cougar picked up in the draft but other Cougars did receive calls after the draft to join teams for at least minicamps. Here is how all of them may pan out for the teams they have chances to show off for.

Sione Takitaki

As mentioned before, Takitaki was taken in the third round by the Cleveland Browns. A few months ago, we projected five teams that Sione may play for and none of those were the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are coming off of their best year in recent memory in large part due to the improved offense. The defense of the Browns was ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in most categories.

Looking at their roster, Jamie Collins who was the leading tackler for the team as well as second on the team for sacks was let go by the team back in March. Genard Avery who is going into his second year with the team showed potential playing a similar style of football as Takitaki by getting into the backfield totalling 4.5 sacks and 5.0 TFL.

Although Avery appears for now to be the guy ahead of Takitaki on the roster, with the departure of Collins, it seems very unlikely that Takitaki does not see himself on the final 53-man roster to start off the regular NFL season.