The Official 2026 NFL Draft Thread

Dutch Oven

Browns have signed Spencer Fano’s brother Logan as a free agent

TexasAg1969

@tiamat63 said:

Must suck to be the 2nd best conference right now.

And yet the Browns took 5 SEC player out of their 9 picks.?

TexasAg1969

FA so far:

Logan Fano -- EDGE, Utah (CBS Sports
Matt Zenitz@mzenitz
Source: The #Browns are expected to sign former Utah edge rusher Logan Fano.

Was a team captain and All-Big 12 selection last season.
Apr 25, 2026 323 4View on X
)
Bernard Gooden -- DL, LSU (CBS Sports
Matt Zenitz@mzenitz
The #Browns are signing former LSU defensive lineman Bernard Gooden, a source tells me and @chris_hummer.

Was a starter at LSU last season. Was previously a standout at USF.
Apr 25, 2026 92 1View on X
)
Tyreak Sapp -- EDGE, UF (ESPN
Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
Rookie free agent signings:
🏈Stanford CB Collin Wright with the Texans
🏈Miami LB Wesley Bissainthe with the Chiefs
🏈UF edge Tyreak Sapp with the Browns
🏈Ole Miss TE Dae’Quan Wright with the Eagles.
Apr 25, 2026 1.2K 93View on X
)
T.J. Harden -- RB, SMU (CBS Sports
Matt Zenitz@mzenitz
Source: The #Browns are signing former SMU running back T.J. Harden.

Ran for 787 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
Apr 25, 2026 71 0View on X
)

TexasAg1969

3 more for the Browns:

Davon Booth -- RB, Mississippi State (NFL Media
Tom Pelissero@TomPelissero
Former Mississippi State RB Davon Booth is signing with the Browns, per source.
Apr 25, 2026 359 18View on X
)
DeCarlos Nicholson -- RB, USC (NFL Media
Tom Pelissero@TomPelissero
Former USC CB DeCarlos Nicholson is signing with the Browns, per source.
Apr 25, 2026 263 22View on X
)
Michael Coats Jr. -- CB, West Virginia (Sports Illustrated
Justin M@JustinM_NFL
Sources: The Cleveland Browns are signing West Virginia CB Michael Coats Jr. to a UDFA deal #NFLDraft #DawgPound
Apr 25, 2026 248 2View on X
)

TexasAg1969

cal's QB Mark Gronowski of Iowa is signing FA with the Dolphins as is Texas A&M RB Le'Veon Moss.

tiamat63

@texasag1969 said:

And yet the Browns took 5 SEC player out of their 9 picks.?

Neat. Get at me in the next 25 years when your doormat program wins one of those precious SEC titles.

TexasAg1969

@tiamat63 said:

Neat. Get at me in the next 25 years when your doormat program wins one of those precious SEC titles.

I'll be glad to do so since that takes me to 104 years old.?

Gator

@texasag1969 said:

cal's QB Mark Gronowski of Iowa is signing FA with the Dolphins

Camp arm. ?

Canton Dawg

@texasag1969 said:

And yet the Browns took 5 SEC player out of their 9 picks.?

And out of the first 11 picks, 4 were Buckeyes. ?

Dutch Oven

@canton-dawg said:

And out of the first 11 picks, 4 were Buckeyes. ?

Which just stresses how Ohio State's OLine play has to improve in the years to come. The mediocre OLine kept the Buckeyes from winning another title last season.

Good thing is the newish OLine coach in Columbus has been doing some quality work recruiting in the last two recruiting classes. Young talent is coming to Ohio State on the OLine, and a lot of it. That had been a problem in the years before.

TexasAg1969

CBS Grades the draft. Only the Browns and Vegas got "A". There were others with "A-".

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-2026-team-grades/

Ibleedbrown

I’ll paste Dane Brugler’s write ups on the rest of our picks.

Parker Brailsford:

Overview

Hometown: Mesa, AZ
Birthday: October 20, 2003
Age: 22.5
Jersey: No. 72
High School: Saguaro
Year: Fourth-year junior

A two-year starter at Alabama (and three-year starter overall), Brailsford was the center (right-handed snapper) in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s zone-based scheme. He was a key part of Washington’s Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line in 2023, which helped the Huskies reach the national championship game. He then anchored the Tide’s offensive line the past two seasons.

A twitched-up big man, Brailsford fires out of his stance to cut off pass-rush angles or reach in the run game. He lacks the mass and power to manhandle defenders but plays stronger than his size would indicate, and his long wingspan is an asset for him. His range can be weaponized on screens/pulls/climbs, though he needs to be more consistent picking off targets in space.

Dane’s takeaway

Brailsford will only appeal to certain teams, because of his frame, but he is light on his feet, tough as nails and can handle everything from a mental standpoint. He has the potential to be a starter for a scheme living in an outside-zone world.

Combine stats

Tap any column header to see its definition. Scroll right to see more metrics.

STAT	HT	WT	HAND	ARM	WING	BP	10	20	40	VJ	BJ	SS	3C
Combine	6′1^7/8	289	9^1/2	32	80^3/4	27	1.7	2.84	4.95	32^1/2	9′10	4.72	DNP
Pro Day	6′1^7/8	290	9^1/2	32	80^3/8	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP

Note: Combine: No three-cone (choice).

Strengths

Explodes out of his stance with fluidity and balance (elite broad jump)
Best 10-yard split (1.70 seconds) among all offensive linemen at NFL combine
Rangy player and comfortably reaches backside defensive tackles
Gracefully gets where he is going and can be a weapon on screens/climbs
Dogged hands to engage and stubbornly stay attached
Sinks hips to neutralize power and slow down bulls
Sees things quickly and makes split-second reads
Rarely searching — understands angles/moves and gets to work
Determined worker — learned to love the weight room at a young age
Voted a team captain by his teammates in 2025 (Brailsford and QB Ty Simpson captained the offense)
Durable and plays through bumps and bruises (42 starts over past three seasons)

Weaknesses

Undersized; has always been lighter for the position
Not a people-mover in the run game (and never will be)
Blocks with a wide base, which hurts reaction quickness to inside moves
Struggles to recover once he loses leverage
Can be pushed from his spot by angle blocks
Penalized 17 times over three seasons as a starter, including five flags (three holds, two false starts) in 2025
Saw some time at guard but likely a center-only prospect in NFL

College stats

Tap any column header to see its definition.

YEAR	SCHOOL	GP	GS	POS
2022	Washington	0	0	—
2023	Washington	15	15	13 C, 2 RG
2024	Alabama	13	13	C
2025	Alabama	14	14	C

2022 Redshirted; enrolled January 2022
2023 Freshman All-American; Second Team All-Pac 12; Joe Moore Award
2024 Second Team All-American; enrolled January 2024
2025 Third Team All-SEC; missed one game (injury); team captain

Background

Parker Brailsford, who has two older brothers, grew up outside of Phoenix, with his father (Phil). He was introduced to football at age 7 by his uncle, and it quickly became his favorite sport over tee-ball and basketball. He played on the offensive and defensive lines throughout little league and started weightlifting in middle school.

Brailsford enrolled at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., a program that has produced NFL players such as Christian Kirk, Byron Murphy and Denzel Burke. He joined the freshman team in 2018 and was named a captain at center and defensive tackle. Brailsford moved up to varsity as a sophomore and started every game at right guard, which earned him first-team all-region honors. He moved to center for his junior and senior seasons and earned all-state honors both years. For his senior year, Brailsford led Saguaro to a 12-1 record and the 2021 Class 5A state championship. He was also a standout track athlete and set personal bests of 41 feet, 9 inches in the shot put and 118-4 in the discus.

A three-star recruit, Brailsford was the 23rd-ranked interior offensive lineman in the 2022 class and the No. 8 recruit in Arizona. He received his first scholarship offer, from FCS Northern Arizona, after his sophomore season, followed by his first FBS offer (New Mexico). His first major offer came from USC (July 2020), and he later received offers from Arizona, BYU, Colorado, Kansas State, Michigan State and Washington State. His final offer came from Washington (May 2021), and he committed a few days later. Even though Washington fired Jimmy Lake as head coach a few weeks before signing day, Brailsford stayed committed under Kalen DeBoer and the new staff. He was the third-ranked recruit in DeBoer’s inaugural class at Washington. After Nick Saban retired and DeBoer left for the Alabama head coaching job in January 2024, Brailsford entered the portal and followed DeBoer to Tuscaloosa.

He graduated from Alabama in August 2025. Brailsford skipped his senior year and entered the NFL Draft. He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl but later pulled out of the event.

Ibleedbrown

Justin Jefferson:

Overview

Hometown: Memphis, TN
Birthday: March 20, 2003
Age: 23.1
Jersey: No. 10
High School: Bartlett
Year: Fifth-year senior

A one-year starter at Alabama, Jefferson played the Mike linebacker role in defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s multiple scheme. The junior college transfer had a tough first year as he adapted to SEC standards under Nick Saban, but his comfort level started to grow the past two seasons. He stepped in for an injured Deontae Lawson in 2024 as the “Stinger” linebacker before taking over Jihaad Campbell’s spot in 2025.

Jefferson is an undersized yet compact, rocked-up athlete, with the pursuit speed to impact the game in numerous ways. His skills diagnosing plays appeared to improve as he got deeper into the 2025 season, although it won’t be as easy at the next level to make up for all his wasted steps. He is a twitchy tackler but needs to use that same physicality when attacking blocks.

Dane’s takeaway

Jefferson is still working through the mental part of the position, but he makes plays based on his urgent athleticism and movement ability in space. His special teams value and upside on defense are enough to earn a roster spot.

Combine stats

Tap any column header to see its definition. Scroll right to see more metrics.

STAT	HT	WT	HAND	ARM	WING	BP	10	20	40	VJ	BJ	SS	3C
Combine	6′0^3/8	223	10	31^3/4	77^3/4	DNP	1.59	2.66	4.57	38^1/2	10′5	DNP	DNP
Pro Day	6′0	215	10	31^7/8	77^1/4	DNP	1.55	2.63	4.53	DNP	DNP	4.25	6.81

Note: Combine: Limited workout (choice).

Strengths

Flies to the football and covers a large area in a short time
Closes on ball carriers with burst, exploding through targets
Sharp pursuit angles to sideline, shutting down perimeter lanes
Packed on muscle to frame and has adequate length
Mirrors eyes of the QB in drop zones
Violent hands at catch point to turn catches into incompletions
Explosive blitzer and spy, with untapped potential in both areas
Competitive kid who puts in time and effort off the field
Boasts skill set to be core-four special teamer

Weaknesses

Undersized body type by NFL standards
Sucked up and spit out by offensive linemen
More likely to try to run around blockers than to use his hands to work off them
False stepper and reacts to first movement
Runs pursuit into contact and needs to use better tempo
Can do a better job feeling route relationships behind him
Quarterbacks will look for — and attack — his area in coverage
Struggles to nail down playbook kept him off the field in 2023
Only one full season as a starter

College stats

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YEAR	SCHOOL	GP	GS	TKLS	TFL	SACK	FF	PD	INT
2021	Pearl River Community College (Miss.)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2022	Pearl River Community College (Miss.)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2023	Alabama	14	0	4	0	0	1	0	0
2024	Alabama	12	3	60	6.5	2	1	1	0
2025	Alabama	15	15	85	6.5	3	1	6	1

2023 Enrolled January 2023

Background

Justin Jefferson, one of four children (two boys, two girls) in his family, grew up in Memphis, Tenn., with his mother (Teresa), a police officer. Jefferson started playing football at age 5 and was a quarterback, running back and linebacker throughout Pop Warner. He was an “active kid,” and his mom signed him up for different activities to exert his energy, including jiu-jitsu and kickboxing.

Jefferson attended Bartlett High School, just outside of Memphis. After playing on the freshman team, he moved up to varsity and became part of the linebacker rotation, posting 26 tackles. After a .500 season in 2018, Jefferson helped Bartlett to a winning record and a spot in the 2019 Class 6A state playoffs. As a senior, Jefferson was an all-state and all-region linebacker, with 116 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and a pair of interceptions (which he returned for a combined 117 yards and two touchdowns). He also caught two passes, both for touchdowns, including a game-winning score in overtime of the 2020 regional championship, as Bartlett finished 10-2. Jefferson also ran track as a senior at Bartlett, posting personal bests of 11.28 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 23.36 in the 200.

A no-star recruit, Jefferson wasn’t ranked by 247 Sports Composite in the 2021 class. He picked up his first scholarship offer from FCS Southeast Missouri State (April 2020). By the end of his senior season, Jefferson had added offers from Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State, UT-Martin and Western Illinois, but he didn’t qualify academically and was unable to commit on signing day. Instead, Jefferson looked at junior college options and joined one of his high school teammates at Pearl River (Miss.) Community College. After posting 57 tackles as a freshman, he had 86 as a sophomore in 2022.

Jefferson was the top-ranked juco linebacker (and No. 2 juco recruit overall) in the 2023 class. He received dozens of offers, including from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and USC. Jefferson committed to the Tide and was the 14th-ranked recruit in former head coach Nick Saban’s 2023 class. After the 2024 season, he took advantage of a new NCAA rule that awarded an extra year of eligibility for former junior college athletes.

Jefferson graduated with a degree in sport management (December 2025). He accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl but pulled out because of a minor injury.

Ibleedbrown

Joe Royer:

Overview

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Birthday: February 25, 2002
Age: 24.2
Jersey: No. 11
High School: Elder
Year: Sixth-year senior

A two-year starter at Cincinnati, Royer was a Y tight end in former offensive coordinator Brad Glenn’s scheme and split his snaps evenly between the slot (49.3 percent of snaps) and inline (45.4 percent). After injuries derailed his time at Ohio State, he reinvented himself with the Bearcats and in 2024 broke Travis Kelce’s single-season school record for catches by a tight end. However, his usage and production took slight declines in his final year (4.2 catches per game in 2024 to 2.2 in ‘25).

Royer is a smooth athlete for the position, with the impressive hands needed to easily adjust and frame the football, regardless of the placement. Although he is more of a one-speed receiver down the seam, he runs hard and has some giddy-up with the ball in his hands (only FBS tight end with multiple receptions of 60-plus yards in 2025). Though competitive as a blocker, his execution must improve for NFL coaches to trust him.

Dane’s takeaway

Royer lacks an explosive gear as both a receiver and blocker, but his ball skills are above average, and he is well-rounded everywhere else. He projects as a functional TE2 for an NFL offense.

Combine stats

Tap any column header to see its definition. Scroll right to see more metrics.

STAT	HT	WT	HAND	ARM	WING	BP	10	20	40	VJ	BJ	SS	3C
Combine	6′5^1/8	247	10^3/4	31^1/2	78^3/4	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Pro Day	6′5	250	10^5/8	31^7/8	78^1/4	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP

Note: Combine: No workout (choice).

Strengths

Densely built throughout, with quality bulk in his arms and bubble
Natural athlete and more fluid than dynamic in movements
Outstanding hands and grabs almost everything in his catch radius
Appears undaunted in crowded catch points
Quick to turn upfield; ranked No. 5 among FBS tight ends in 2025 in YAC/reception (8.9)
Willing blocker in the run game and competes through the whistle
Able to seal backside runs versus bigger defensive ends
Scheme versatile — split snaps evenly between attached and detached in college
Battled injuries at Ohio State but started all 25 games at Cincinnati the past two seasons

Weaknesses

A tad bow-legged, with disproportionately shorter arms compared to his longer torso
Doesn’t have speed to easily escape man coverage
Not a route technician and needs to be better with the little things
Will battle for extra yards, but you’d like to see him break more tackles
Mediocre aggression as an inline blocker
Tends to be late with his hands, especially in space
Managed 50-plus receiving yards in just three games in 2025
Because of injury, missed more games than he played at Ohio State

College stats

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YEAR	SCHOOL	GP	GS	REC	REC YDS	REC AVG	REC TD	DROPS
2020	Ohio State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2021	Ohio State	5	0	1	9	9	0	0
2022	Ohio State	6	0	2	10	5	0	0
2023	Ohio State	4	0	1	5	5	0	0
2024	Cincinnati	12	12	50	522	10.44	3	2
2025	Cincinnati	13	13	29	416	14.34	4	0

2020 Redshirted; pandemic-shortened season
2022 Missed seven games (groin injury; personal reasons)
2023 Missed eight games (injury); missed bowl game (transfer portal)
2024 First Team All-Big 12; single-season school record for TE catches (passed Travis Kelce)
2025 Third Team All-Big 12

Background

Joseph “Joe” Royer was born and raised on the west side of Cincinnati by his parents (Michelle and Mark). His mother, who was better known as “Micki,” unexpectedly died at age 52 in September 2022. Royer has described his mother as his “best friend” and has her face tattooed on his right arm. Royer has two sisters, both of whom played college soccer — Sammie at Hanover (Ind.) College; Rachel at Western Michigan (2016-19). In June 2022, Rachel married Trey Holtz, an offensive analyst for LSU, son of Skip Holtz and grandson of late Hall of Fame head coach Lou Holtz. Joe’s grandfather (Dick Royer) won a football championship at Ohio’s Elder High School in 1954 and played tight end and defensive end at Notre Dame. He was on the 1957 Irish team that snapped Oklahoma’s NCAA-record 47-game winning streak.

Royer also enrolled at Elder High, a Catholic all-boys school in Cincinnati and one of the top football programs in Ohio. He started his sophomore season catching passes on the JV squad before moving up to varsity. He then posted 31 receptions for 612 yards (19.7 average) and five touchdowns as a junior in 2018, helping the program to eight wins. He had his best season as a senior and helped Elder reach the 2019 Division I state championship (where it lost to Pickerington Central, which included Royer’s future Ohio State teammates Sonny Styles and Ty Hamilton). Royer earned first-team all-state honors as a senior (39 receptions for 646 yards and 10 touchdowns). He also played varsity baseball and basketball at Elder.

A four-star recruit, Royer was the 14th-ranked tight end in the 2020 class and the No. 9 recruit in Ohio. After becoming a varsity starter as a junior, he picked up his first scholarship offer, from Boston College, in November 2018. Several FBS schools quickly followed with offers, including his hometown Cincinnati. Royer attended a one-day camp at Ohio State in June 2019 and impressed coaches enough to leave with a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes, too. He announced a final six of Arizona State, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin, before officially committing to the Buckeyes. Royer was the 12th-ranked recruit in head coach Ryan Day’s 2020 class (which also included future first-round draft picks C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba). He was expected to have a breakout third season in Columbus, but he was limited by a groin injury and spent time away from the team following his mother’s death.

After another injury-riddled season in 2023, Royer graduated from Ohio State with a degree in sport industry (December 2023) and entered the transfer portal. He returned home and enrolled at Cincinnati for his final two seasons of eligibility. His desire for a fresh start and the chance to be closer to home and his father were the main reasons for that move. He declined an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Ibleedbrown

Taylen Green:

Overview

Hometown: Lewisville, TX
Birthday: October 18, 2002
Age: 23.5
Jersey: No. 10
High School: Lewisville
Year: Fifth-year senior

A two-year starter at Arkansas (and four-year starter overall), Green was a dual-threat quarterback in former offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s balanced, spread scheme. After three years at Boise State, he blossomed in Fayetteville and in 2025 ranked No. 3 in the SEC in total yards per game (290.9). He has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football — over the past two seasons, he ranked No. 1 in the FBS in plays of 10-plus yards (315) and 20-plus yards (109).

One of the most physically gifted players in the 2026 draft class (at any position), Green is big, athletic and competes with NFL-required toughness. He is a playmaker outside the pocket (with both his arm and legs), and his highlight package is full of “wow” moments. However, he is inconsistent working through his reads, and you hold your breath every time he throws over the middle. He takes too many unnecessary chances — he committed a combined 37 turnovers the past two seasons (20 interceptions, 17 fumbles).

Dane’s takeaway

Green needs to take better care of the football and refine his mechanics and passing rhythm, but he offers the physical traits and high character worth molding in a read-option, vertical passing game.

Combine stats

Tap any column header to see its definition. Scroll right to see more metrics.

STAT	HT	WT	HAND	ARM	WING	BP	10	20	40	VJ	BJ	SS	3C
Combine	6′5^7/8	227	9^7/8	34^3/4	83^3/4	DNP	1.55	2.57	4.36	43^1/2	11′2	DNP	DNP
Pro Day	6′5^7/8	228	9^3/4	34^1/2	83^1/4	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP

Note: Combine: No second 40, SS, three-cone (choice).

Strengths

Tall, with a muscular upper body; freely carries his 225 pounds
True dual-threat, because of his mobility and tight spiral
Dangerous on QB draws/options, with high success rate as a scrambler on money downs
Routinely created explosives on the ground (73 carries of 10-plus yards over past two seasons)
Big body leaves would-be tacklers falling off him in the pocket and in space
Slides inside and outside of pocket to buy time and throw on the move
Can make every throw with velocity
Aggressive passer who will challenge safeties when given the chance
Voted a team captain in 2025 and carries himself the right way (NFL scout: “Always laughing and really sharp. … (He) wants to motivate you.”)
Durable and tough — refuses to come off the field
First player in school history with 300 yards passing and 100 yards rushing in a single game

Weaknesses

Long body type, with thin lower half
Funky, long delivery (too many batted passes for a player his size)
Late getting to backside dig — needs to eliminate things more quickly in his reads
Doesn’t throw with a ton of anticipation; late to locate lurkers
Inconsistent mechanics and weight transfer go hand-in-hand with streaky ball placement
Too willing to throw into traffic and needs to take better care of the football
Didn’t show much improvement with pocket presence between junior and senior tape
More likely to work backward or roll out than climb in pocket

College stats

Tap any column header to see its definition. Scroll right to see more metrics.

YEAR	SCHOOL	GP	GS	CP	ATT	CP%	PASS YDS	PASS TD	INT	CAR	RUSH YDS	RUSH AVG	RUSH TD
2021	Boise State	2	0	0	0	0%	0	0	0	5	2	0.4	0
2022	Boise State	13	10	166	271	61%	2,042	14	6	81	586	7.2	10
2023	Boise State	13	12	121	212	57%	1,752	11	9	78	436	5.6	9
2024	Arkansas	13	13	230	381	60%	3,154	15	9	156	602	3.9	8
2025	Arkansas	12	11	198	326	61%	2,714	19	11	139	777	5.6	8

2021 Redshirted; enrolled June 2021
2022 Freshman All-American; MWC Freshman of the Year; bowl MVP
2023 MWC Championship Game MVP; missed bowl (transfer portal)
2024 Bowl game MVP
2025 Team captain

Background

Taylen Green, the middle child of three in his family, was born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex by his parents (Quinton and Latrice). Quinton played basketball at Collin College (north of Dallas). Taylen’s older sister (Nyah) was a McDonald’s All-American basketball player in high school and one of the top recruits in the country (she started receiving scholarship offers in sixth grade). After signing with Louisville (2019-20), Nyah transferred to Duke (2021-22).

While growing up in a basketball family, Taylen Green developed his competitiveness by going against his sister (who is 20 months older) on the court. After eighth grade, Green gave up basketball to focus on his football career. Green and his fiancée (Analisse Batista), who runs track for the Razorbacks, were engaged in June 2025.

Green started his prep career at Allen High School, a powerhouse program that’s produced quarterback Kyler Murray and dozens of other NFL players. He started to get attention as a recruit before high school and was invited to Regional Elite 11 as a 150-pound freshman. However, Green found himself blocked on Allen’s depth chart for two years, and he transferred to Lewisville High School prior to his junior year. He became the starting quarterback on varsity and helped lead Lewisville to a 7-4 record, including a close loss to bitter rival Marcus High (led by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier). Green finished his junior season with 2,217 passing yards, 445 rushing yards and 37 total touchdowns (25 passing, 12 rushing). As a senior captain, he led Lewisville back to the 6A state playoffs and finished with 2,431 passing yards, 653 rushing yards and 29 total touchdowns (22 passing, nine rushing). He shared a backfield at Lewisville with running back Damien Martinez, a 2025 NFL Draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks. Green also lettered in track (jumps and relays). He set a school record in the long jump (23 feet 5 inches) and had personal bests of 44-3.5 in the triple jump and 55.02 seconds in the 400-meter dash.

A three-star recruit, Green was the 79th-ranked quarterback in the 2021 class and the No. 185 recruit in Texas. Before he’d even become a varsity starter, he received his first FCS scholarship offer (Illinois State). His recruitment picked up after he transferred to Lewisville and earned a starting job, as he received offers from FBS schools including San Diego State, Rice, UTEP, New Mexico State and Central Michigan. The summer before his senior year, Green had a final three of Boise State, San Diego State and Wyoming, and he committed to the Broncos in July 2020. He was the third-ranked recruit in former head coach Andy Avalos’ first recruiting class at Boise State. After redshirting in 2021, Green led Boise State to the 2022 Mountain West championship game and was named the conference’s Freshman of the Year. However, his 2023 season was inconsistent, and he lost some playing time to Maddux Madsen. Despite having a strong finish to his sophomore season, Green was looking for a change of scenery and entered the transfer portal in December 2023. He considered Baylor, LSU, Miami, Michigan State and others before committing to Arkansas, a program he had visited (but from which he didn’t receive an offer) during the high school recruiting process.

Green accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Ibleedbrown

Carsen Ryan:

Overview

Hometown: Orem, UT
Birthday: August 21, 2003
Age: 22.7
Jersey: No. 20
High School: American Fork
Year: Fourth-year senior

A one-year starter at BYU (and a starter for two-and-a-half years overall), Ryan was a Y tight end (59.6 percent of career snaps inline) in offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick’s scheme. After stops at UCLA and Utah, he transferred to Provo to become more involved as a pass catcher in his final year of eligibility — and that is exactly what happened. He finished third on the team in targets in 2025 and tied for sixth-most receiving yards (620) among FBS tight ends (ironically, tied with Utah’s Dallen Bentley).

A surprising NFL combine snub, Ryan stands out in both phases as a receiver and blocker. He is an urgent, controlled route runner who feasts underneath against zone coverage, with reliable hands and some creativity after the catch. He is limited by some body stiffness and needs to do a better job with body position to win a crowd. As a blocker, he is both quick and physical with his inline duties to reach, cut off or get outside defenders.

Dane’s takeaway

Ryan is more coordinated than explosive and offers an appealing mix of pass-catching talent and blocking toughness. Regardless of where he is drafted, he has the type of talent that sticks on a roster and becomes valuable for an NFL offense.

Combine stats

Tap any column header to see its definition. Scroll right to see more metrics.

STAT	HT	WT	HAND	ARM	WING	BP	10	20	40	VJ	BJ	SS	3C
Pro Day	6′3^3/8	255	10	31^3/8	77^3/8	23	1.6	2.68	4.71	33^1/2	9′7	4.22	6.97

Strengths

Broad build, with meaty thighs and well-distributed mass (looks the part)
Good route speed to reach landmarks on time
Catches ball cleanly with his hands; focus doesn’t wane in stride
Natural body control in his routes and at the catch point
Gashes defenses with leaks and delayed patterns
Strong and balanced as a runner — open-field tacklers often slide off his frame
Physical and smart with inline blocking duties
Strong at the point but also maximizes body positioning to shield
Outstanding football toughness (“All he does is work,” according to an NFL scout)

Weaknesses

Some tightness in lower half, especially when moving laterally
Lacks burst in/out of his breaks for easy separation
Production a tad inflated by underneath targets versus zone (6.5-yard average depth of target in 2025)
Very low success rate in high-traffic situations (five catches on 16 contested targets)
Quality catch radius but some body stiffness adjusting to throws
Can do a better job sinking as a blocker to re-leverage
Only one season of steady receiving production

College stats

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YEAR	SCHOOL	GP	GS	REC	REC YDS	REC AVG	REC TD	DROPS
2022	UCLA	5	0	6	82	13.67	0	0
2023	UCLA	12	8	13	205	15.77	3	1
2024	Utah	12	5	10	113	11.3	1	1
2025	BYU	14	13	45	620	13.78	3	2

2022 Enrolled January 2022
2024 Enrolled January 2024
2025 Enrolled January 2025

Background

Carsen Ryan, the oldest of four children in his family, was born in Iowa with his parents (Chas and Danielle). The family lived in Oskaloosa, Iowa, while his father played linebacker at William Penn University, where he set school records for sacks and tackles for loss. The family then relocated to Utah, where Chas ultimately accepted a job on Snow College staff and coached several future NFL players, including offensive tackle Garett Bolles. Danielle is a former athlete and now a nurse.

Carsen Ryan was a multisport athlete, including baseball and basketball, growing up in the Orem youth athletic system. Football has been his favorite sport since elementary school.

Ryan originally attended Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, where he was a three-year letterman and played on both sides of the ball (tight end and defensive end). He became a varsity starter as a sophomore and posted 31 catches for 318 yards and five touchdowns, helping Timpview to a 10-win season and a deep run in the 2019 Class 5A state playoffs. As a junior, Ryan led Timpview to a 2020 regional title, catching 53 passes for 609 yards and three touchdowns. For his senior season in 2021, he transferred to American Fork High School and helped the program to seven wins and a playoff berth.

A three-star recruit, Ryan was the 15th-ranked tight end in the 2022 class and the No. 3 recruit in Utah. He received his first scholarship offer after his sophomore season, from Utah State (January 2020). The offer sheet quickly filled up during his junior year — Arizona State, Arkansas, Kansas, TCU, Tennessee, Washington and a dozen others. He announced a top six of BYU, Colorado, Nebraska, UCLA, Virginia and Washington, and he committed to the Bruins. Ryan was the sixth-ranked recruit in former head coach Chip Kelly’s 2022 class.

After two seasons at UCLA, he entered the transfer portal and returned home, signing with Utah for the 2024 season. Ryan played one season with the Utes before transferring to BYU for his final season of eligibility. He accepted an invitation to the Hula Bowl.

Ibleedbrown

There are some in depth write ups on some of the udfa’s the Browns got. I’ll paste the ones l can find.

Aaron Anderson:

Overview

Hometown: Algiers, LA
Birthday: December 2, 2002
Age: 23.4
Jersey: No. 1
High School: Edna Karr
Year: Fourth-year junior

A two-year starter at LSU, Anderson worked primarily out of the slot (89.5 percent of snaps) in former offensive coordinator Joe Sloan’s scheme. After a redshirt season at Alabama, he returned to his home state for his final three college seasons. He was used primarily as a quick-strike target (screens, slants, etc.) in 2025, with 75.8 percent of his grabs coming within nine yards of the line of scrimmage.

More quick than explosive, Anderson has the lower-body lightning to reach his landmarks and access top gear in a hurry. His focus lapses and smaller catch radius are frustrating, but he plays tough through contact with his rocked-up build. Though there are some wasted movements in his releases and breaks, he can create his own separation with his athleticism.

Dane’s takeaway

Anderson is more than just a gadget player (as his usage in 2025 would suggest). Given his size and injury history, though, it can be tough to feel great about his NFL ceiling. A Ray-Ray McCloud-type career might be his best NFL path.

Combine stats

Tap any column header to see its definition. Scroll right to see more metrics.

STAT	HT	WT	HAND	ARM	WING	BP	10	20	40	VJ	BJ	SS	3C
Combine	5′8	191	9^1/4	29^3/4	72^3/8	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	30	9′5	DNP	DNP
Pro Day	5′7^7/8	198	9	29^3/4	72^3/8	15	1.6	2.69	4.58	28^1/2	9′6	4.7	7.33

Note: Combine: Limited workout (choice).

Strengths

Rocked-up physique (short, but not small)
Accelerates quickly to make things difficult for open-field defenders
Feet flash suddenness for abrupt cuts and movements
Gets underneath man coverage and understands how to attack leverage
Out of control at times but gets in and out of breaks
Has a nose for space once the ball is in his hands
Covers up the ball and grinds his legs to finish as a ball carrier
Wasn’t a regular returner but put up a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown in 2024
Not afraid of the work — has the competitive juices to fight for a spot

Weaknesses

Lack of size and length shows in multiple ways
Can be outreached and redirected by long-armed corners
Hands tend to be hit or miss, with too many double catches
Limited route tree on 2025 tape
Expected to see better elusiveness after the catch
Dealt with lingering left knee issues throughout college — MCL and meniscus injuries prior to his freshman season in 2022 required minor surgery; surgery on the same knee before enrolling at LSU and played through “irritation” at different points the past few seasons; also battled toe and elbow injuries during his redshirt junior season in 2025.

College stats

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YEAR	SCHOOL	GP	GS	REC	REC YDS	REC AVG	REC TD	DROPS
2022	Alabama	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
2023	LSU	11	2	12	59	4.92	0	0
2024	LSU	13	9	61	884	14.49	5	6
2025	LSU	9	5	33	398	12.06	0	4

2022 Redshirted; missed most of season (knee); enrolled January 2022
2024 100-yard KR TD; led team in receiving
2025 Missed three games (knee, elbow, toe); missed bowl game (opt-out)

Background

Aaron “Deuce” Anderson was raised in Algiers, La., a New Orleans neighborhood on the west bank of the Mississippi River, by his parents (Bryan and Bridgett). While growing up in a high-crime area, sports helped Anderson stay out of trouble. He has a tattoo on his chest of his best friend (Jarmall Washington), who was murdered in 2020. Anderson and the Edna Karr High School team were featured on a five-episode Hulu series called “Algiers, America,” which highlighted the team’s on-field success and off-field hardships.

With two older brothers who played football, Anderson started playing in elementary school and quickly established himself as one of the top players in the area.

Anderson attended Edna Karr High School, a public charter school with a football program that has produced numerous recruits, including Patrick Surtain Sr. He had a father-son relationship with head coach Brice Brown, who played an important role in Anderson’s life. Anderson became an immediate starter as a freshman and scored a kick return touchdown in the second game of the 2018 season. He played a key role in Edna Karr’s back-to-back Class 4A state championships in 2018 and 2019. He helped the program reach the state title game again in 2020 (lost to Carencro) and finished his junior season with 36 catches for 678 yards and eight touchdowns. (However, he was kicked out of the team’s semifinal playoff game for throwing a punch). As a senior in 2021, Anderson was all-metro offensive player of the year and finished with 74 receptions for 926 yards and 14 touchdowns, while adding five kickoff return touchdowns (three in one game). He earned all-state honors as a junior and senior and finished his prep career with 6,138 all-purpose yards and 70 touchdowns, including 20 combined touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns. Anderson also ran track at Edna Karr, setting personal bests of 10.77 seconds in the 100-meter dash, 22.77 in the 200 and 7.03 in the 60 indoor.

A four-star recruit, Anderson was the fourth-ranked wide receiver (one spot ahead of Tetairoa McMillan) in the 2022 class and the No. 1 recruit in Louisiana (one spot ahead of Will Campbell). He was the No. 35 recruit nationally. FBS offers started to arrive during the spring of his freshman year, and the major offers then rolled in after his sophomore season, including from Georgia, Texas and USC. But when LSU offered during the playoffs of his junior year, Anderson committed to his “dream school” on the spot and developed a close relationship with former head coach Ed Orgeron. However, after Orgeron and LSU parted ways in October 2021, Anderson decommitted. Back on the market, he committed to Nick Saban and Alabama two weeks later. New LSU head coach Brian Kelly continued to recruit him up until signing day, but Anderson signed with the Tide. He was the fifth-ranked recruit in Saban’s 2022 class (No. 2 receiver behind Isaiah Bond). Anderson battled a knee injury during his freshman year at Alabama and played in just one game.

After the 2022 season, Anderson wanted to be closer to home and transferred to LSU. After three years with the Tigers, he opted out of the Tigers’ bowl game and skipped his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft. Anderson accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Ibleedbrown

Logan Fano:

Overview

Hometown: Spanish Fork, UT
Birthday: June 19, 2002
Age: 23.8
Jersey: No. 0
High School: Timpview
Year: Fourth-year junior

A starter for two-and-a-half years at Utah, Fano lined up on the edge (primarily five- or seven-technique) in defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley’s four-man front. After a messy split from BYU, he joined his brother at Utah and continued his family’s rich football legacy. Injuries hampered him over the last few seasons, but he was disruptive when on the field.

Fano is a charged-up pass rusher, with a rush plan built more on motor and football temperament than overwhelming physical tools. He doesn’t have ideal explosiveness or length to easily deconstruct blocks, but he uses timely two-hand stabs or shoulder shivers to work off contact and find the football.

Dane’s takeaway

Fano has decent burst and play strength, but effort — when channeled correctly — is his best quality versus both the pass and run. Though not a first-round prospect like his younger brother, he has talent worth developing.

Combine stats

Tap any column header to see its definition. Scroll right to see more metrics.

STAT	HT	WT	HAND	ARM	WING	BP	10	20	40	VJ	BJ	SS	3C
Combine	6′4^7/8	257	9^3/8	31^3/8	76^3/4	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Pro Day	6′4^5/8	252	9^1/2	31^1/2	76^7/8	DNP	1.56	2.66	4.59	32	9′10	DNP	DNP

Note: Combine: No workout (hamstring).

Strengths

Thick torso, with quality bulk throughout frame
Adequate use of hands to defend against punches (loves watching UFC and is always looking for tips)
Shows equal parts balance and strain to work through contact
Quick out of stance to read and close space vs. run and pass
Shows strong inside move after setting up blockers outside
Second-effort rusher — more likely to speed up than slow down after first move is stopped
Strong grip strength; rarely allows runners out of his web
Penalized only once in college career (and it was declined)
Voted one of four team captains in 2025
Puts his head down and works to set an example (NFL scout: “He was an older brother for a lot of guys, not just Spencer.”)

Weaknesses

Sawed-off player who takes on a lot of chest-to-chest encounters
Average muscle twitch in his take-off and redirects
Lacks deception in setup and execution as a pass rusher
Speed-to-power conversions run hot and cold
Mediocre backfield production (10.5 career sacks)
Three ACL injuries in past seven years: missed sophomore year of high school after tearing ACL in his right knee (spring 2018); tore right ACL again during spring practices at BYU (March 2022), which sidelined him for the season; tore ACL in left knee (Sept. 2023) and had season-ending surgery (Oct. 2023); limited at NFL combine by hamstring injury

College stats

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YEAR	SCHOOL	GP	GS	TKLS	TFL	SACK	FF	PD	INT
2021	BYU	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2022	BYU	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2023	Utah	5	3	14	4	3.5	2	1	0
2024	Utah	12	9	35	6.5	2.5	1	1	0
2025	Utah	11	11	44	7.5	4.5	0	2	0

2021 LDS mission (San Antonio, Texas)
2022 Missed season (right knee)
2023 Missed final eight games (left knee)
2025 Second Team All-Big 12; missed one game (precautionary); missed bowl game (opt-out); captain

Background

Logan Fano (fawn-oh), one of six children (five boys, one girl) in his family, was born and raised in Spanish Fork, Utah, by his parents (Bingham and Lori). His father, who grew up in American Samoa, attended Harvard Business School and is now a marketing vice president. His younger brother (Spencer) was an All-American offensive tackle at Utah and is a first-round prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class. His sister (Shalyn) played college basketball at Southern Utah (2019-20), Utah Valley (2020-23) and Grand Canyon (2023-24). His younger brother (Mataio) is a four-star offensive tackle recruit in the 2028 class and holds offers from BYU and Utah. He has four uncles (Gabe Reid, Spencer Reid, Tenny Palepoi and Anton Palepoi) who played in the NFL. Anton Palepoi played defensive end at UNLV and was a second-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2002 NFL Draft. Fano’s cousin (Karene Reid) was a linebacker at Utah (2021-24) and played for the Denver Broncos in 2025 as an undrafted free agent.

Logan Fano started playing sports, including basketball and wrestling, in elementary school. He started youth football in third grade and was trained by his father throughout childhood, putting him on a path to a football career. Fano married his wife (Anuhea) in July 2025.

Fano enrolled at Timpview High School, a program that has produced several NFL players, including Stephen Paea, Bronson Kaufusi and Xavier Su’a-Filo. He saw varsity action in 10 games as a freshman outside linebacker and defensive end. However, Fano suffered a torn ACL in spring of 2018, which sidelined him for his sophomore season. He returned as a junior and helped Timpview to a 10-win season, with 58 tackles, eight sacks and one interception. Fano had his best season as a senior, helping lead the team to a 2020 regional championship. He earned all-state, all-conference and regional defensive MVP honors (115 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks and two interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown). Fano was also a standout basketball player at Timpview.

A four-star recruit, Fano was the 25th-ranked edge rusher in the 2021 class and the No. 5 recruit in Utah (behind Kingsley Suamataia and Jaxson Dart). Because of his familial connections to BYU, he picked up an offer from the Cougars in February 2017, while he was in eighth grade, and committed on the spot. Over his first two years of high school, Fano added offers from Arizona State, Michigan, Nebraska, Utah, Washington and others. After his junior season, he officially decommitted from BYU and reopened his recruitment. Midway through his senior year, Fano announced a final four of BYU, Oklahoma, Utah and Washington, then recommitted to the Cougars. Before joining the football team, he served a mission in San Antonio in 2021 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Fano enrolled at BYU in January 2022 but suffered a torn ACL during spring practices and was sidelined for the 2022 season. After a rough rehab, he entered the transfer portal in December 2022 (Fano: “A lot of things took place that I didn’t like.”).

Having always dreamed of playing college ball with his brother, Spencer, he committed to Utah (Logan was a silent commit to Utah during his senior year of high school and had always wanted to play for the Utes). Logan Fano became a starter in his first season with the Utes but suffered his third torn ACL (the first in his left knee) and missed the second half of the 2023 season. Just as the brothers arrived at Utah together, they left together, electing to opt out of the Utes’ bowl game and declare for the NFL Draft.

Logan Fano graduated with a degree from Utah (May 2025). He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Ibleedbrown

Tyreak Sapp:

Overview

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Birthday: October 5, 2002
Age: 23.6
Jersey: No. 94
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas
Year: Fifth-year senior

A three-year starter at Florida, Sapp lined up head-up or just outside the tackle in former defensive coordinator Ron Roberts’ four-man front. He had a breakout junior season in 2024, when he led the Gators in tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles. He played the same number of snaps as a senior in 2025 but saw a considerable production dip — his tackles for loss dropped from 13.0 to 3.5; sacks from seven to one.

Sapp looks like a certified dude with his stocky physique, which complements his physical, high-effort play style. He comes off the ball low with a compact punch to jar opponents but lacks a feel for reacting to offensive line movement and is more stack and stick than stack and shed. He isn’t a pass-rush technician and lacks the burst to get offensive tackles turned when attempting to win the corner.

Dane’s takeaway

Sapp is stout, strong and flashes gap quickness, but a missing dynamic element diminishes his NFL impact potential. He projects as a backup base end who will help his chances of staying on a pro roster if he can play reduced on passing downs.

Combine stats

Tap any column header to see its definition. Scroll right to see more metrics.

STAT	HT	WT	HAND	ARM	WING	BP	10	20	40	VJ	BJ	SS	3C
Combine	6′2^3/8	273	9^1/2	32	76^1/2	28	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Pro Day	6′2^3/8	283	9^1/2	32	76^3/4	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP

Note: Combine: Limited workout (choice; left hip).

Strengths

Low-fat, muscular build, with big shoulders, rocked-up traps and tree-trunk quads
Attacks from leveraged position and gives up very little ground in run game
Heavy hands to stack blocks and play stout vs. edge runs
Cognizant of gap responsibilities to feed ball carriers to linebackers
Best pass-rush maneuver happens when he dips his shoulder to create an inside/outside path with force
Gears down well on the move; forceful as a tackler
Motor stays cranked to work laterally and chase through the whistle
Strains in the weight room (445-pound max bench press)
Played on kick and punt coverages all four seasons
Competes with positive energy, on and off the field (Billy Napier: “He never has a bad day. … (He’s) one of our best practice players.”)

Weaknesses

Lacks elite first-step quickness or ideal arm length
Finds himself stuck at top of his rush
Looks stiff when attempting to create short corners
Meets resistance when he tries to rush blockers down the middle
Rudimentary pass-rush plan; labors transitioning his moves
Strong initial strike, but slow to shed and flow
Doesn’t offer much value working in reverse
Below-average backfield production in 2025 — just six combined pressures in final seven games
Limited during pre-draft process following hernia surgery

College stats

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YEAR	SCHOOL	GP	GS	TKLS	TFL	SACK	FF	PD
2021	Florida	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2022	Florida	13	0	20	0.5	0	0	0
2023	Florida	11	11	24	4.5	2	2	1
2024	Florida	13	9	47	13	7	2	0
2025	Florida	12	12	34	3.5	1	0	1

2021 Redshirted; enrolled August 2021
2023 Led team in FF; missed one game (upper body)
2024 Led team in FF, sacks and TFL

Background

Tyreak Sapp, who has an older sister, grew up in Palatka County, Fla., with his mother (Mecy Savage), who works in the school system. While growing up in a rural area, Sapp learned how to fish and hunt as a kid, mostly from his grandfather. He also started playing sports, including football. Always one of the bigger kids for his age, he was forced to play up two or three levels. He continued playing through Pop Warner and into middle school. As a member of the Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes, Sapp developed a reputation as one of the best youth players in South Florida. During his first year of college, his daughter (Kacii), whom he calls his “everything,” was born in December 2021.

Sapp enrolled at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, a private Catholic school in Fort Lauderdale and alma mater of numerous NFL players, including Nik Bonitto, Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa and Michael Irvin. He was a four-year starter on varsity and made an immediate impact as a freshman under NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, who served as Aquinas’ defensive line coach for three seasons (2017-19) and was a “football father” for Sapp. As a sophomore, Sapp led Aquinas to a 13-2 record and the 2018 Class 7A state championship game (lost to Lakeland). He finished his sophomore season with 26 tackles, four sacks and one forced fumble. As a junior, Sapp helped Aquinas post a 15-0 record (and No. 3 national ranking) and the 2019 Class 7A state championship (the 11th title in school history). He had 29 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and two fumble recovery touchdowns. As a senior, Sapp led Aquinas to an 8-1 record and another 7A state championship in a pandemic-shortened season. He finished with 22 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception, earning all-state honors for the second straight season. Sapp was the first player invited to the 2021 All-American Bowl. He also wrestled at Aquinas.

A four-star recruit, Sapp was the No. 15 defensive lineman in the 2021 class and the No. 15 recruit in Florida (his Aquinas teammate, Dallas Turner, was No. 2). He received a flurry of recruiting interest during his freshman season, including from nearby Florida and Miami. Toward the end of his sophomore season, Sapp committed to former head coach Dan Mullen and Florida (December 2018). Despite the commitment, he continued to take visits and accept offers. The summer before his senior year, Sapp announced a final five of Alabama, Florida, Georgia Tech, Miami and Ohio State. Ultimately, he stuck with the Gators and was the third-ranked recruit in Mullen’s 2021 class.

Sapp twice earned SEC Academic Honor Roll honors, and he graduated with a degree in Education Sciences (December 2025). He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Ibleedbrown

Michael Coats Jr:

Overview

Hometown: Louisville, MS
Birthday: June 20, 2001
Age: 24.8
Jersey: No. 3
High School: Biloxi
Year: Sixth-year senior

Michael Coats Jr., who has two sisters, grew up in central Mississippi with his father (Michael Coats Sr.) and mother (Latisha Steele). He played baseball, basketball and football in childhood but stopped playing football after Pop Warner. He continued playing basketball when he arrived at Biloxi High School, but he didn’t play any sports his junior and senior years.

He was working at a local arcade after graduating from high school when he saw a flier for football tryouts at East Central (Miss.) Community College. Despite having bare-bones football experience, he made the team in 2020 and learned both cornerback and safety. After the 2022 season, he committed to Nevada, where he had a productive two years, including an All-MWC 2024 season. He entered the portal and transferred to West Virginia in 2025, for his sixth season.

An unlikely longshot, Coats has gone from not playing high school football to trying out at the junior college level and now being on the doorstep of the NFL. Though undersized in his height and build, he matches up well with receivers because of his athleticism. He is quick at the snap to mirror, turn and match routes with speed, up and down the field. He swarms throws and puts himself in position for on-ball production. He needs to learn how to trust his technique over grabbing, but he plays with a short memory and bounces back quickly. He is a competitive tackler and limits misses.

Dane’s takeaway

Coats’ lack of size will be more noticeable versus NFL talent, but he is an instinctual, twitchy athlete with the toughness to compete for a nickel role once in an NFL camp.

Combine stats

Tap any column header to see its definition. Scroll right to see more metrics.

STAT	HT	WT	HAND	ARM	WING	BP	10	20	40	VJ	BJ	SS	3C
Pro Day	5′9^1/4	184	9^1/4	31^1/2	71^3/4	14	1.52	2.49	4.4	36	10′8	4.44	6.83

College stats

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YEAR	SCHOOL	GP	GS	TKLS	TFL	SACK	FF	PD	INT
2020	East Central Community College (Miss.)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2021	East Central Community College (Miss.)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2022	East Central Community College (Miss.)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2023	Nevada	10	0	13	0	0	0	5	1
2024	Nevada	13	13	41	0.5	0	0	14	4
2025	West Virginia	12	12	30	2	0	0	7	0

2024 First Team All-MWC; led team in INTs and PD
2025 Led team in PD; graduated with degree (Dec. 2025); enrolled January 2025