Connor Pay has been a mainstay on the BYU offensive line since the 2020. In all he appeared in 53 games for the Cougars with 43 starts. He began the 2024 season with high hopes for a stellar senior campaign that would springboard him to the NFL Combine and then the NFL Draft.
Per BYU’s team website he was named to his third-consecutive Rimington Trophy preseason watch list prior to the 2024 season, but a broken bone in his foot derailed his campaign a bit. He missed four games in the middle of the season dealing with the injury then finished the team’s final four games playing on a foot that was still recovering from surgery.
What are Connor Pay’s chances of getting drafted?
The honest answer is the 6-foot-4, 310-pounder likely won’t be drafted.
He was a fringe draft prospect to begin the 2024 season and the mid-season broken foot didn’t allow him to garner conference or even national honors at his position. His performance at Big 12 Pro Day didn’t help his cause, either. His 3.19 Relative Athletic Score puts him in the bottom third in terms of overall size, strength, and athleticism for a center.
Connor isn’t appearing in mock drafts and he’s currently listed as the No. 655 overall prospect in this year’s draft by NFL Mock Draft Database.
That said, there are a lot of intangibles working in Connor’s favor. For those who listen to the Locked On Cougars podcast hosted by Jake Hatch, Pay has been a regular guest over the years. When you hear him speak, it’s clear that he’s smart. He’s confident and mature. He’s direct but diplomatic. He thinks, speaks, and analyzes the game like a coach. NFL teams want the center to be a “coach on the field” who calls out protection schemes, and any scout worth their salt will quickly see that Connor Pay has those attributes in spades.
Will those intangibles be enough to get him drafted, though?
Unless a borderline miracle happens, Connor Pay’s path to the NFL will be as an undrafted free agent.
Which NFL teams could pursue Connor Pay?
On a recent Locked on Cougars podcast Pay was asked which NFL teams have shown interest in him. Pay said it’s a “good, long list” of interested teams.
Specifically, he mentioned interest from the Raiders, Broncos, Chargers, 49ers, Cowboys, Colts, Seahawks, Chiefs, Dolphins, and Packers. Jake Hatch mentioned teams like these run zone blocking schemes which is what Connor has been exposed to at BYU. Pay then said his interview with the 49ers was “really good” and noted San Francisco’s scheme is similar to BYU’s.
Based on what Connor revealed in the podcast, we’ll put San Francisco at the top of the list for his potential NFL destinations.
Next up would be the Seattle Seahawks. Per Dan Parr at NFL.com, one of their biggest draft day needs is bolstering the offensive line, specifically the interior.
Finally, the Miami Dolphins most pressing need is the offensive line, per Parr. While Connor Pay is a natural center, he has the size and strength to move to guard, if needed.
It probably won’t be an easy path to sticking on an NFL roster for Connor Pay, but don’t count him out. Fringe NFL guys are in large supply, but few of them have Pay’s leadership, intelligence, and football IQ.
Smart scouts should give this smart player a first look among a long list of potential undrafted free agents.