Current Status of Utah Players in the NFL

[krindor]

Clear Starters (10):

• Marcus Williams (FS, Baltimore): One of the better safeties in the NFL, in the 3rd year of a 5 year/$70M deal. Has missed a few games each of the last two seasons and the cap hits are going up, so safe for this year, but a possible cap hit after next season
• Jaylon Johnson (CB, Chicago): Had a breakout season and is now considered one of the top young CBs in the NFL, including just signing a 4 yr/$76M deal
• Garrett Bolles (OT, Denver): After a rough start to his career, Bolles has turned into a solid blind-side protector and the clear starter there for the Broncos
• Julian Blackmon (S, Indianapolis): The clear starter for the Colts, they thought highly enough of him to bring him back on a $3.7M deal… but not highly enough to give him a multi-year deal. He’s the clear starter…but needs to show well to keep that role in future seasons
• Matt Gay (K, Indianapolis): Considered one of the better kickers in the league at this point
• Cody Barton (LB, Denver): After many good years in Seattle, he was just OK last year in Washington DC. But he found a spot with the Broncos as the 2nd ILB in a 3-4 base defense so should get plenty of opportunity
• Mitch Wishnowsky (P, San Francisco): He’s a punter. Pretty good at what he does
• Devin Lloyd (LB, Jacksonville): After disappointing at the end of his rookie year, he established himself as an every-down LB in his sophomore year, playing 97% of the snaps
• Zack Moss (RB, Cincinnati): After a disappointing start in Buffalo, Moss found success replacing an injured Jonathon Taylor in Indy last year. That was enough to get him a new contract with the Bengals as the presumed lead back
• Clark Phillips III (CB, Atlanta): Phillips was initially seen as a nickel corner due to his size, but took over the starting boundary corner job as a rookie. There’s not been a lot added there, so he’s still the starter

Safe on roster; potential starters or regular contributors (4):
most of these guys should get fairly regular snaps and some may even end up as starters if they aren’t already

• Dalton Kincaid (TE, Buffalo): Lots of hype about him as a pass-catching threat for Josh Allen, but for now he’s sharing the role with (or even behind) Dawson Knox. Looked good as a rookie, but still sharing snaps.
• Cole Bishop (S, Buffalo): The Bills recently moved on from both their starting safeties in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. Projections generally have Taylor Rapp starting at one spot and then either Bishop or Mario Edwards at the other. It’s likely Bishop eventually takes the starting role, but it may not be by the start of the season.
• Jonah Elliss (EDGE, Denver): There’s a lot of edge rushers (OLB in the Broncos defense) and Elliss doesn’t necessarily stand ahead of the pack yet, so likely won’t open the season as the starter. But the team just invested a 3rd round pick in him, so it’s a good bet that he’ll be largely involved in the rotation and have a real chance to seize the role.
• Tim Patrick (WR, Denver): This shocks me to have Patrick in this tier. The Broncos liked him a lot a few years back… but he then missed two consecutive seasons due to injury and I assumed he was done. But most projections now have him as the WR3 or WR4 in Denver. He has the potential to move up (if the Courtland Sutton trade rumors come to fruition or if Marvin Mims continues to be terrible)… but also the potential to move down(if 4th rounder Troy Franklin steps up quickly).

Safe on roster; primarily depth (2):
these guys won’t be playing barring injuries ahead of them… but for one reason or another, their roster spot is fairly secure

• Sione Vaki (RB/S, Detroit): If he’s an RB, he’s the RB3 at best (behind Montgomery and Gibbs). There’s more opportunity at safety, but that doesn’t seem to be where they drafted him. Bottom line, he’s probably not playing regularly unless there’s some injuries…but as a 4th rounder, he’s also basically a roster lock as a rookie.
• Nephi Sewell (LB, New Orleans – IR/PUP): He’s made the roster and contributed each of the past few seasons, but would still be on the ‘likely to survive’ tier….except that he’s hurt. That means it’s much more likely he makes the initial 53 so they can place him on IR or PUP and then use that spot for someone else. Once he comes back, he’s probably going to have a depth/ST role, but it’s no guarantee

Likely to survive cuts (4):

• Leki Fotu (DT, NY Jets): He’s bee a contributor for years in Arizona, but the bottom line is based on position. As a NT he’s never going to play a major role, but he’s also unique enough to likely stay on the roster for the times he is needed.
• Satoa Laumea (OG, Seattle): It’s a bit shocking to have a drafted player here…but Seattle drafted an OL in the 3rd, two more (Laumea included) in the 6th, signed another as a UDFA and added a few in free agency. That shows how much work they felt they needed there… but also the level of competition. For now, the draft capital means Laumea is more likely to make it than not….but it’s a precarious situation
• Devaughn Vele (WR, Denver): He’s a 7th on a team with a lot of WR (even if none besides Sutton are particularly good), so the default is to have some risk and early analysis out of Denver already has him mentioned as a practice squad candidate (lots of upside but still raw), so he’ll start here.
• Braeden Daniels (OG/OT, Washington): A 4th rounder in 2023, Daniels missed his rookie season with a torn pec. Every early projection I saw has him making it, but most pointed out that he’s a bit of an unknown after not playing, so hedging bets by putting him here

Right on the bubble (2):

• Mohamoud Diabate (LB, Cleveland): Diabate was a UDFA last season and one of the biggest surprises to make a roster, but played very well in preseason. He’s probably more likely than not to make it again this year, but the new coach may not roster as many LBers, so he has to prove himself again.
• Britain Covey (WR/RS, Philadelphia): Covey opened up each of the past two seasons on the practice squad before eventually joining the active roster. And in 2023 he showed himself as one of the best punt returners in the league, which should help him. But the Eagles also drafted Cooper DeJean who is an excellent return man. And also drafted some other WR. If Covey is cut, he’s likely shown enough as a returner to get a job elsewhere or at least end up on the practice squad. But I’d lean slightly towards him not making it this year, just given the roster moves around him.

Likely cut (3):

• Jackson Barton (OT, Arizona): Spent 2022 bouncing between the Raiders’ active roster and practice squad, then 2023 on the Cardinals practice squad. He’s spent enough time on active rosters that it wouldn’t be a shock for him to make it, but the practice squad is definitely more likely
• Miles Battle (CB, Kansas City): Signed after the first wave of UDFA and competing with 2 other UDFA cornerbacks, my inclination is to put him in “almost certainly cut”, but I found at least one local site which spotlighted him as one of the UDFAs most likely to make the roster…so I’ll leave him here for now
• Cole Fotheringham (TE, Las Vegas): Spent 2022 and most of 2023 on Raiders’ practice squad, but was active for a few weeks. Obviously Bowers and Michael Mayer are locks, so there’s not a lot of opportunity for him, especially with Harrison Bryant also coming in as a free agent. As a general rule though, I’m not going to put a guy who played last season in the ‘Almost certainly cut’ grouping – at least not yet. Plus Fotheringham is a good blocker, which isn’t the strong suit for either Bowers or Mayer. If the team carries 4, he’s probably in… but that seems unlikely.

Almost certainly cut (3):

• Keaton Bills (OG, Buffalo): Brought in as a UDFA, the Bills already have two solid starting guards and a guy who likely brings OG/C flexibility as a backup. Given that they’ll want two backup OTs, that leaves one spot for Keaton Bills, Alec Anderson (2022 UDFA) and Travis Clayton (2024 7th round pick). Given that Anderson has been on the roster before and that Clayton was drafted ahead of Bills, it’s likely Keaton Bills has an uphill battle for that last Buffalo Bills spot.
• Tyler Huntley (QB, Cleveland): At one point there was some hype about Huntley as an underrated asset. That’s unfortunately no longer the case. The Browns have a clear top 2 at the position (Deshaun Watson and Jameis Winston) and then Huntley and DTR are competing for QB3 and QB4. DTR is probably the favorite for #3 (and younger so a better fit for the practice squad), but I’d be shocked if either of them were on the 53 to open the season. Hard to see any path to Huntley making the Browns roster but a good showing could give him opportunities elsewhere
• John Penisini (DT, New Orleans): Penisini medically retired after 2022, then tried to come back in 2023 only to be waived due to a failed physical. There’s enough talent/physicality there that he was again signed by the Saints to their practice squad and an off-season reserve contract…but he might be the guy I’d be more shocked to see on an active roster than any player on these lists. Just medical issues and time away

Already cut or unrostered (6):
These are generally players who were rostered or played last year but are currently not under contract with any team. Most of them won’t end up catching on, but occasionally they’re worth keeping an eye on

• Bradlee Anae (DE, last with NY Jets): Anae played out his contract in 2023, but mostly due to being injured and not taking up a roster spot. Hard to see him finding a spot now, but he’s been on an NFL roster for 4 years which is impressive
• Eric Rowe (S/CB, last with Pittsburgh): Rowe has had a long career, but it’s clearly trending toward an end. He’s been on practice squads each of the last few seasons…and in each season he’s been activated and played fairly well. As a vet, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him repeat the same process again, but it’s an inevitability that at some point he’ll stop getting those chances. It’ll be interesting to see if a team signs him this year and if so, which one
• Javelin Guidry (CB, NY Jets): Guidry has bounced around from team to team, mostly on practice squads. He’s incredibly fast (an official 4.29 40), and teams keep bringing him in for a look. Had a very strong 2023 preseason and was making a case…but then got hurt and waived with an injury settlement. For a guy who relies on athleticism, that injury is definitely an issue.
• Terrell Burgess (S, Washington): Burgess was cut by the Commanders in 2023, signed to the practice squad…but then later activated and spent most of the season on the active roster. He has potential to be picked up by someone but will be competing for a roster spot at best.
• Marquise Blair (S, Philadelphia): Was a starter in 2020 before tearing his ACL that year. Had another knee injury in 2021, then spent 2022 bouncing between practice squads. Was signed by Eagles spring 2023 before being released due to injury. They then resigned him in Spring 2024…and then re-released him due to non-football injury in April 2024. Too many injuries have taken their toll and it seems he’s done.
• Chase Hansen (LB, New Orleans): Was on the Saints active roster for 4 seasons before suffering a season-long injury for 2023 and not playing. Nobody has picked him up for 2024 and it’s necessarily likely he will find a spot, but worth keeping an eye on, as he could be a veteran option for some team

[krindor]

If you’re curious on BYU, USU, Weber St, Southern Utah, or Utah Tech players, you can also see more in my post on that other site –> https://www.cougarboard.com/board/message.html?id=32997104

Figured I’d rewrite the Utah breakdown here, but didn’t want to redo all of it

[The Miami Ute]

Excellent summary Krindor. Appreciate you putting it together.

[Yergensen]

As always love your work. Allow me to quibble on a few points:

JJ is not just considered a top young corner, he’s considered a top corner period. PFF top rated NFL CB in 2023.

Dalton Kincaid is not only the top TE in Buffalo, he’s looking like Allen’s top weapon in 2024. He was second only to Diggs in 2023 targets. Diggs is gone. He’s a starter.

Write Huntley off at your own peril. He has proven everyone wrong to date. Stepfanski is a really good coach, he gets it. If Huntley proves himself, he not only sticks, he could be QB2.

[krindor]

Agree with everything you’ve said – here’s why I wrote it up the way I did

Jaylen Johnson, I was trying to point out that he’s not just great, but also young

Kincaid is a stud….but his offensive snap share in the last 4 games was 49%, 42%, 55%, 55% for 137 offensive snaps. Dawson Knox had 155 snaps over those same 4 games. Kincaid is clearly the bigger receiving threat, but he hasn’t established himself as THE tight end for the Bills.

And I’m absolutely not writing anyone off – it has more to do with reporting what local writers are saying about their teams. I think the Browns are not a great spot for Huntley and hope he ends up somewhere else with more opportunity

[Utecity]

Great write up, only correction is that Devaughn Vele was not an UDFA, but rather a 7th round draft pick by Denver. Thanks for all the info

[krindor]

Thanks. I knew that and somehow with all the info overload it slipped out. I had thought he’d be UDFA so my brain reverted to that somehow. Knowing he’s drafted, his odds are much higher

[UteNamedOg]

My hope is that Covey benefits from the newer kickoff rules much more resembling punts than the old format. Never had blazing straight line speed, but he’s got the agility of a bird you’re trying to shoo out of the garage

[RedRocks]

This is awesome, thank you!

[Rick]

Thanks Krindorr. I took a look at this list with my sons tonight. Lots of fun to see and track some Utes.

[UTEopia]

Blair, Anae and Tony Bergstrom were on the list of Ute footballers receiving their degrees from the U last week. Good for them for coming back and finishing school.

[Uteanooga]

Matt Gay has the 2nd highest 3yr average salary amongst kickers at 5.9m/yr and the 3rd highest guaranteed money at 13m. Very impressive career for our former walk on. He has put in a lot of hard work to make it happen and I’m happy for him.

These stats are interesting to peruse. In terms of money it is QB and then everyone else.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34096853/highest-paid-nfl-players-tracking-most-money-guaranteed-per-year-every-position#kicker

[Author]

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