Entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent (UDFA) and carving out a meaningful NFL career is a daunting, uphill battle. After the conclusion of the NFL Draft, teams rush to sign UDFAs to fill out their 90-man offseason rosters. The majority of these players will be one-year “camp bodies” to help NFL teams get through training camp and the preseason before getting cut.
In any given year, upward of 400-500 new UDFAs flood NFL training camp rosters.
A small percentage of these players will make the 17-man practice squad. Even fewer will make the 53-man roster. Only a tiny percentage will ever play a down in the NFL.
While no BYU players were drafted in 2025, five have signed as UDFAs with NFL teams. Here are the odds of each of them sticking with an NFL team throughout their rookie season:
Tyler Batty, DE, Minnesota Vikings
I’ve already written in depth about what a good situation Batty finds himself in with the Minnesota Vikings. He should have been a sixth-round pick, in my humble opinion, as his game and his body are NFL-ready. NFL.com ranked him as the No. 1 undrafted defensive end. There’s a reason why the Vikings reportedly gave him a $259,000 guaranteed contract, which is a massive sum for a UDFA.
I’m confident Batty will at minimum make the practice squad this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make the 53-man roster as a rookie.
Odds of making practice squad or 53-man roster: 98%
Caleb Etienne, OT, Cincinnati Bengals
Etienne was also projected in some draft circles as a Day 3 draft pick who ultimately went undrafted. NFL teams are going to love his size at 6-foot-6 and 329 pounds. They will also love his elite athleticism with his 9.27 Relative Athletic Score. His positional versatility will also be a positive in his NFL journey as he played left tackle, right tackle, and guard during his two seasons at BYU.
There’s a reason why NFL.com ranked him as the No. 2 undrafted tackle. Offensive line was one of the Bengals biggest draft needs, so Etienne should at least stick with a practice squad as a rookie, and could ultimately make a 53-man roster.
Odds of making practice squad or 53-man roster: 87%
Jakob Robinson, CB, San Francisco 49ers
What’s positive for Robinson is the 49ers signed him quickly after the draft, meaning they had their eye on the All-Big 12 Second Team corner. Jakob ran a blazing 4.39 40-yard dash at Big 12 Pro Day, adding athleticism to his impressive college resume. His Relative Athletic Score for "explosion" (vertical and broad jump) and speed (40-yard-dash, with splits) were both considered "great" for an NFL cornerback.
Jakob was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl and was ranked the No. 23 cornerback to go undrafted so he’s a known quantity to NFL front offices. Cornerback was one of the 49ers biggest positions of need going into the draft and they only selected one - Upton Stout in the third round - so they could be looking to add more depth at the position. Every team needs young, fast, productive corners, and that's Jakob Robinson in a nutshell. It's more likely than not that he ends up on a practice squad in 2025.
Odds of making practice squad or 53-man roster: 64%
Blake Mangelson, DL, Pittsburgh Steelers
After initially agreeing to a rookie minicamp invitation from the Minnesota Vikings, “The Mangler” secured a UDFA contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After his All-Big 12 Third Team season in 2024 Mangelson wasn’t appearing in any NFL mock drafts this year. He played both defensive end and defensive tackle at BYU, and that flexibility could help him fit in the Steelers 3-4 defensive scheme.
Mangelson has NFL athleticism, too. His 8.36 Relative Athletic Score is excellent and was mostly held back by his by his relatively low weight when compared to traditional defensive tackles, but Pittsburgh could deploy him as a defensive end. The reality is it will be an uphill battle for Mangelson to stick in the NFL, but he has the tools to potentially fit in the right scheme.
Odds of making practice squad or 53-man roster: 18%
Darius Lassiter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Darius Lassiter has NFL size. He’s coming off a solid season in Provo putting up 45 receptions, 703 yards, and four touchdowns. However, his measurables from the Big 12 Pro Day showed a lack of athleticism that will make it hard for him to stick in the NFL. His 2.77 Relative Athletic Score and 4.65 second 40-yard dash will make it tough for him to get separation at the next level. Darius will need fit an offensive scheme almost perfectly to survive beyond this year's training camp.
Odds of making practice squad or 53-man roster: 11%