PITTSBURGH — All-Big 12 First Team linebacker Jack Kelly and fellow all-conference receiver Chase Roberts headline the former BYU football standouts pursuing NFL opportunities this week when the 91st edition of the annual NFL Draft takes place in Pittsburgh.
Televised live on ABC, ESPN, NFL Network and ESPN Deportes, the 2026 NFL Draft gets underway Thursday, April 23, and runs through Saturday, April 25. The first round begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT), followed by the second and third rounds on Friday at 7 p.m. ET (5 p.m. MT). Draft selections continue Saturday with rounds 4-7 starting at 12 p.m. ET (10 a.m. MT), with NFL teams then able to sign undrafted prospects as free agents once the seven-round draft concludes.
BYU's Kelly and Roberts, a third-team All-Big 12 selection, are joined by fellow 2025 all-conference honorees in All-Big 12 First Team safety Tanner Wall, second-team all-conference kicker Will Ferrin, third-team offensive lineman Isaiah Jatta and all-league honorable mention tight end Carsen Ryan, defensive lineman John Taumoepeau and long snapper Garrison Grimes among more than a dozen members of last year's BYU football team seeking professional opportunities with NFL teams this week through the draft and subsequent free agent signings.
Others who participated in BYU's Pro Day for NFL teams this March include defensive backs Talan Alfrey, Mory Bamba, and Jayden Dunlap, offensive linemen Weylin Lapuaho and Austin Leausa and defensive tackle Kaufusi Pakofe. Former Cougars from the 2024 roster who also participated in the Pro Day included quarterback Jake Retzlaff, running back Hinckley Ropati and defensive back Marque Collins.
Coming off an 11-2 season and No. 13 final ranking in 2024, BYU achieved one of the best resumes in college football and most impactful seasons in BYU history in 2025 while going 12-2, playing in the Big 12 Championship and finishing No. 11 in the AP Top 25.
PITTSBURGH 2026
This year's NFL Draft is being hosted in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1947. Designed to highlight the Pittsburgh skyline, riverfronts and storied football history, the draft will be conducted utilizing a unique two-site venue design that bridges the main draft stage located next to Acrisure Stadium, home of the Steelers, on the North Shore of the Allegheny River with Point State Park across the river where the Red Carpet arrivals and NFL Draft Experience festivites will occur.
COUGARS IN THE NFL
Last year no Cougars were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but seven players announced agreements with NFL teams as undrafted free agents after the seven-round draft concluded and two others earned opportunities in the CFL. From last year's class, All-Big 12 First Team defense end Tyler Batty, All-Big 12 First Team offensive tackle Caleb Etienne and All-Big 12 Second Team cornerback Jakob Robinson are currently among 18 former Cougars in the NFL entering 2026.
Half of the 18 Cougars currently in the NFL entered the league as draft selections, including linebackers Fred Warner and Kyle Van Noy; offensive linemen Kingsley Suamataia, Brady Christensen and Blake Freeland; defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga, receiver Puka Nacua, quarterback Zach Wilson and running back Tyler Allgeier. The other nine players began their NFL careers as undrafted free agents, including safety Zayne Anderson, Batty, running back Christopher Brooks, cornerback Michael Davis, Etienne, quarterback Taysom Hill, punter Ryan Rehkow, Robinson and quarterback Kedon Slovis.
Historically, the NFL has drafted a former BYU player 155 times while another 224 former Cougars have received NFL opportunities as undrafted free agents following the annual draft.
SITAKE AND THE NFL
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake has helped mentor 33 NFL Draft picks, during his coaching career, including 13 BYU draft picks since his first season in Provo in 2016. Sitake has also helped an additional 52 Cougars gain NFL opportunities as undrafted free agents in his first 10 years guiding the BYU football prgram.
Drafted Cougars who played under Sitake include left tackle Kingsley Suamataia (2024, 2nd round, Kansas City Chiefs), left tackle Blake Freeland (2023, 4th round, Indianapolis Colts), quarterback Jaren Hall (2023, 5th round, Minnesota Vikings), wide receiver Puka Nacua (2023, 5th round, Los Angeles Rams), running back Tyler Allgeier (2022, 5th round, Atlanta Falcons), quarterback Zach Wilson (2021, 1st round, New York Jets), offensive tackle Brady Christensen (2021, 3rd round, Carolina Panthers), defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (2021, 7th round, Chicago Bears), cornerback Chris Wilcox (2021, 7th round, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), wide receiver Dax Milne (2021, 7th round, Washington Commanders), linebacker Sione Takitaki (2019, 3rd round, Cleveland Browns), linebacker Fred Warner (2018, 3rd round, San Francisco 49ers), running back Jamaal Williams (2017, 4th round, Green Bay Packers).
The reigning Big 12 Coach of the Year and 2025 national Buddy Teevens Award recipient, Sitake has guided BYU to double-digit victory seasons in four of the past six seasons since 2020 while achieving a 57-20 (.740) record, which in that span is tied for No. 7 nationally in wins and tied for No. 8 in winning percentage. The Cougars are coming off back-to-back seasons contending for the College Football Playoff and earning bowl victories over ranked teams as a member of the Big 12 Conference. At 23-4 (.852) over the past two years, only Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State and Notre Dame have a better winning percentage.
Overall, Sitake has posted an 84-45 (.651) overall record during his 10 seasons in Provo, while leading the program from the ranks of FBS independents during his first seven years to contending for conference titles and CFP berths as a member of the Big 12 Conference.
FOLLOW THE DRAFT & FREE AGENCY SIGNINGS
Fans can stay connected to BYU news on BYU football's social media channels (@BYUFootball) and on BYUCougars.com for the latest draft news and free agency updates following the draft. Information about how to watch, listen and follow the 2026 NFL Draft is included below.
Live TV Coverage
| 2026 NFL DRAFT | APRIL 23-25 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1: | Thurs. | 6 p.m. MT/8 p.m. ET |
NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| Rounds 2-3: | Fri. | 5 p.m. MT/7 p.m. ET |
NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| Rounds 4-7: | Sat. | 10 a.m. MT/12 p.m. ET |
NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
- Broadcast network ABC and cable outlets ESPN and NFL Network will provide live coverage of the three-day draft, as well as Spanish-language broadcast on ESPN Deportes
- ABC will broadcast all three days of the draft for the eighth straight year with ESPN and NFL Network providing additional coverage
- Overall, the 2026 NFL Draft marks the ninth consecutive year all seven rounds will be televised over a national broadcast channel in addition to the extensive coverage provided on cable networks
Streaming, Radio & Social Media
- Live streams of the draft are also available via mobile devices, computers and connected TV devices by authenticating with participating TV providers
- Draft coverage is available via streaming through the ESPN app/ABC app, NFL+, Disney+ and Hulu
- In addition, the round-by-round coverage can be heard through participating radio providers, including ESPN Radio, SiriusXM NFL Radio (channel 88) and Westwood One Sports
- Fans can also track the NFL happenings of the draft online and via social media for additional access to highlights, stats and information about NFL prospects