In a year when only three Utah athletes heard their name called in the NFL draft, more than a dozen players signed undrafted free agent contracts on Saturday.
The headliner of this group was former Utah wide receiver Britain Covey, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Covey was a team captain of the Utes’ Rose Bowl team a year ago, leading the program in all-purpose yards with 1,400.
Another Utah player who fell in the draft, linebacker Nephi Sewell, wound up signing with the New Orleans Saints. Sewell was invited to the NFL Combine earlier this winter and was a first-team All-Pac-12 player in 2021.
A handful of BYU players also signed free agent contracts after the draft. Wide receiver Samson Nacua will head to the Indianapolis Colts. And four-year starter James Empey signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Interestingly, Empey trained at the Cowboys practice facility in Texas in the lead-up to the draft.
Three players from Utah colleges were drafted. University of Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round, and two players were taken in the fifth round — BYU running back Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons) and Southern Utah offensive lineman Braxton Jones (Chicago Bears).
Here is a full list of undrafted Utah players to find a new home:
Utah:
- Britain Covey, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
- Nephi Sewell, LB, New Orleans Saints
- Nick Ford, OL, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Bamidele Olaseni, OL, Las Vegas Raiders
- Cole Fotheringham, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
- Hauati Pututau, DT, Green Bay Packers
- Mika Tafua, DE, Dallas Cowboys
BYU:
- Samson Nacua, WR, Indianapolis Colts
- James Empey, OL, Dallas Cowboys
- Neil Pau’u, WR, Buffalo Bills
Utah State:
- Savon Scarver, WR, Chicago Bears
- Deven Thompkins, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Derek Wright, WR, Carolina Panthers
The Tribune will update this story.
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