The NFL Draft is officially in the books. With respect and admiration for the BYU Cougars' two draftees, Jack Kelly and Carsen Ryan, the fun doesn't stop with the final pick. Because once the countdown is over and the selection board is full, the rush to sign undrafted free agents is only beginning. And believe me, this is where the draft process gets really interesting.
Those who whiffed on the draft still have NFL dreams, and many of them will still get the opportunities to play on Sunday. Sure enough, it didn't take long for BYU's stars of last season to announce undrafted free agent deals. And the best part? Two teams in particular just couldn't get enough of what Kalani Sitake and his BYU alumni were cooking up.
Those two teams? The New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders.
The Jets may have ruined the career of Zach Wilson (and for that, I will never forgive them), but they clearly haven't had enough of that royal blue Kool-Aid, because they're running away with three former Cougars in free agency.
BYU Cougars to New York Jets
Will Ferrin, Kicker
Mory Bamba, Cornerback
Garrison Grimes, Long-snapper
The addition of Ferrin and Grimes is fascinating, as the two have already spent the last season developing chemistry on the same special teams unit. Grimes has also been making noise in NFL circles for being the most athletic long-snapper in the history of the NFL with a flawless 10.0 relative athletic score for his position.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders picked up three BYU stars of their own, alongside Indiana quarterback and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, and Hawai'i's Japanese kicker Matsuzawa Kansei -- a fan favorite who wore a jersey with his surname written in Japanese kanji -- for good measure.
It's almost as if Las Vegas is on a mission to become the most likable team in all of football, or at least sucking up to the built-in nearby fanbase that BYU football could deliver.
Among the Raiders' BYU additions are two players who dominated in the secondary at either end of the ball last season.
BYU Cougars to Las Vegas Raiders
Chase Roberts, Wide Receiver
Tanner Wall, Safety
Isaiah Jatta, Offensive Line
Though these free agency deals don't guarantee a spot on the final 53-man roster, BYU football is making a statement at the next level.
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