These 20 former BYU players in the NFL have a chance to make an NFL roster this year... or get cut

As BYU football fans, we not only experience the joy of watching Kalani Sitake's squad win on Saturdays, but we also get to watch former Cougars excel in the NFL on Sundays. With 20 former Cougars currently on NFL rosters, let's check in on their current outlook for earning an NFL roster spot this year.

NFL teams need to cut their preseason rosters down from 90 to 53 on the evening of Sunday, August 30th. Some former BYU players will simply be cut and out of an opportunity for now. Others will be released and either get claimed off waivers by another team or sign with their current team's practice squad. The most dominant will make 53-man rosters and thrill Cougar fans throughout the upcoming NFL season.

Here's my outlook of the chances for all 20 former BYU Cougars in the NFL have to make a roster this season:

Tyler Allgeier, RB, Arizona Cardinals - Outlook: Roster lock

The outstanding running back spent four years with the Atlanta Falcons and put up 3,392 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns. This past offseason he signed a two-year, $12.3 million deal with the Cardinals and will be a key part of their offense.

Zayne Anderson, S, Miami Dolphins - Outlook: Roster lock

Now entering his sixth NFL season, Zayne left the Green Bay Packers this past offseason to follow his former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to Miami as Hafley becomes the Dolphins new head coach. He is currently listed as the starting safety on the team's unofficial depth chart.

Mory Bamba, CB, New York Jets - Outlook: Who knows???!!!

Mory Bamba has had a wild and crazy start with the Jets. The undrafted rookie flew under the radar until having a legendary preseason debut televised on NFL Network with five tackles and four (FOUR!) passes defended. Heck, I even wrote a tongue-in-cheek article about his jaw-dropping performance making him look like a young Deion Sanders. But just as the 6-foot-2 freak of an athlete exploded from obscure UDFA to a future Hall of Famer, he got injured and will miss "a couple of weeks."

The Jets are in a tricky spot here. If they try to stash him on the practice squad by waiving him and re-signing him, another team could claim him off waivers. But if they sign an unproven rookie to the 53-man roster, he could be taking the spot of another player who is better prepared to immediately contribute. My gut tells me the Jets waive him to try to stash him on the practice squad but another team will claim him off waivers. I think he'll make a 53-man roster somewhere in the NFL this year and see the field as a rookie.

Tyler Batty, OLB, Minnesota Vikings - Outlook: Mostly safe to make the 53-man roster

Batty made the Vikings 53-man roster last year as an undrafted rookie despite suffering a preseason injury that cost him five games. He ended up with 12 tackles in 12 games last year. While he won't start, he's essentially a lock to reprise his role on special teams and providing depth off the edge.

Chris Brooks, RB, Green Bay Packers - Outlook: Roster lock

Now entering his third season with the Packers and fourth in the NFL, Brooks has established himself as a reliable rotational player on passing downs and a special teams mainstay. He played 203 offensive snaps last year and that number should rise in 2026.

Brady Christensen, OL, Carolina Panthers - Outlook: Roster lock

Christensen has been a versatile mainstay in Carolina since they drafted him No. 70 overall in 2021. Having recovered from his season-ending injury last year, the Panthers re-signed him for 2026 and he has showed well in the preseason. He'll reprise his role as quality depth and a capable starter when needed.

Blake Freeland, OT, Indianapolis Colts - Outlook: Mostly safe to make the roster, but...

This is a critical year for the 2023 fourth round pick. He enters the final season of his rookie contract and his miniscule $1.35 million cap hit will likely keep him in Indy this year. His play was shaky in 2023 and 2024, then he missed the entirety of the 2025 season due to injury. This feels like a make-or-break year for Blake.

Isaiah Jatta, OT, Las Vegas Raiders - Outlook: High risk of being waived

Life in the NFL is tough for undrafted rookie free agents. After getting zero snaps in the Raiders first preseason game, Jatta did get a healthy 17 snaps on offense last week. He was recently listed as the third-string left tackle on the Raiders unofficial depth chart, and that's prime territory for a UDFA to fall victim to final roster cuts. However, if he's let go he's still a good candidate for a practice squad this year.

Jack Kelly, OLB, New York Giants - Outlook: Roster lock

The Giants invested a sixth round pick in this year's draft in Jack Kelly, and he looks like a steal. Now, every BYU fan knew Kelly would thrive in the NFL, but others are now taking notice. He has had a strong camp and is currently the No. 2 weakside linebacker on the team's unofficial depth chart.

Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams - Outlook: Roster lock

The only two questions for Puka this year are: 1) Will he be All-Pro First Team?, and 2) Can he stay out of trouble off the field?

Ryan Rehkow, P, Cincinnati Bengals - Outlook: Roster lock

Now entering his third season as the Bengals' starting punter, look for Rehkow to push for his first Pro Bowl nod.

Chase Roberts, WR, Las Vegas Raiders - Outlook: High risk of being waived

Man, I love Chase Roberts. I was hoping he was going to have a breakout preseason game or two and push to make the 53-man roster. But Chase's summer in Las Vegas has been quiet. In the Raiders first preseason game he played 14 offensive snaps with one reception for 12 yards on two targets. In his second preseason game he played eight offensive snaps (no receptions) and nine snaps on special teams with two tackles. He's not a special teams ace, so his lack of opportunity and production on offense is concerning.

Jakob Robinson, CB, San Francisco 49ers - Outlook: Mostly safe to make the roster

After missing his entire rookie season last year due to injury, the 49ers brought back the formerly undrafted player for Year 2. Reports coming from camp last year indicated Robinson was having an outstanding summer and was on track to make the roster. This year also looks promising as he played 45 defensive snaps in the 49ers' first preseason game and 27 more in their second. He's currently listed as the third string left cornerback on the team's unofficial depth chart, so he's not a lock to make the roster, but it would be surprising for the 49ers to waive him and give another team the chance to swoop in and sign him.

Carsen Ryan, TE, Cleveland Browns - Outlook: About 50/50 to make the roster

The 2026 seventh-round pick is currently the fourth-strong tight end on the Browns' unofficial depth chart, and it's not uncommon for teams to waive late draft picks like Ryan and then stash them on the practice squad. He has had a quiet preseason with just one reception, so he may or may not make the 53-man roster in Week 1.

Kedon Slovis, QB, Arizona Cardinals - Outlook: Likely to be released

Now entering his third NFL season and second with the Cardinals, Slovis finds himself in the dreaded No. 4 QB spot. The Cardinals drafted Carson Beck this year and he supplanted Slovis as QB3, so it's unlikely Slovis will survive final roster cuts this year.

Kingsley Suamataia, OG, Kansas City Chiefs - Outlook: Roster lock

Entering this third NFL season with the Chiefs, Kingsley will start at left guard.

Khyiris Tonga, DT, Kansas City Chiefs - Outlook: Roster lock

After his breakout season last year with the Patriots then signing a 3-year, $21 million deal with the Chiefs this past offseason, Tonga isn't going anywhere.

Tanner Wall, S, New York Jets - Outlook: Likely to be released

While Tanner faces the headwinds of being an undrafted rookie, I'm shocked he hasn't latched on yet. He has already been waived by the Raiders and the Dolphins this summer, only to recently land with the Jets. With just over a week with New York before they have to make final roster cuts, it's highly likely Wall will be waived. The only question is whether he lands on a practice squad somewhere.

Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers - Outlook: Roster lock

He's the NFL's best linebacker. Enough said.

Zach Wilson, QB, New Orleans Saints - Outlook: About 50/50 to make the roster

Wilson came to New Orleans as a free agent this summer to battle Spencer Rattler to serve as QB2 to second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. The fact that Wilson still hasn't unseated Rattler with just a week left until final roster cuts is concerning. Zach didn't show well in the Saints Preseason Week 2 game, and it could end up costing him. If he falls to QB3 behind Rattler, he may be once again looking for a new job.

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