Wyoming offensive tackle Frank Crum may not have been drafted over the weekend, but the third-generation Cowboy was one of four former Wyoming players to receive contracts as undrafted free agents this week.
Crum appeared on Wyoming News Now with his family to discuss his chance to play at the next level.
“[Broncos’ head coach Sean Payton and o-line coach Zach Strief expressed that they really needed a tackle and that I was their first guy that they wanted. We ended up working out a deal that was that great. I’m excited as heck to be going down to Denver.”
Crum started 48 games at Wyoming, earning a full-time role as a starter on the offensive line each of his last four seasons in Laramie. His final season was spent at left tackle while the previous ones were at right tackle. Crum was a multi-time Academic All-Conference selection and a 2023 All-Mountain West selection.
“I’ve got to go earn my role. It is an opportunity presented to me and now I got to go out there and take it,” Crum further noted of his upcoming pro opportunity.
Wyoming’s Easton Gibbs (Seahawks), Ayir Asant (Giants), and Treyton Welch (Browns) also signed contracts this week.
The American Athletic Conference had yet another productive NFL Draft weekend this year. The league may not have had any selections in the first two rounds, but the AAC saw many of last season's best players get picked up from #100 on through the final day.
These are the names of the five players from the AAC in 2024 who were selected during the festivities in Detroit.
A converted quarterback, the younger brother of Christian McCaffrey took to the wide receiver position very well. He had 126 receptions for almost 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons for Rice. He'll now likely be catching passes from 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels in Washington.
Over the course of his four seasons in Philadelphia, Magee totaled 235 tackles with 31 for a loss and eight sacks. He had over 80 tackles in each of the last two seasons. Magee was, by far, Temple's biggest defensive piece last season, but their loss is the NFL's gain.
Through five seasons with the Greenwave, Jackson hauled in 109 receptions for 1,743 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jackson was an important piece of a two-year stretch at Tulane that included an AAC championship, a win over Caleb WIlliams and USC in the Cotton Bowl, and a record of 23-5.
Palmer had 47 receptions, 858 yards, and seven touchdowns for the Blazers in 2023. He becomes the first UAB wide receiver to be drafted since longtime Atlanta Falcon Roddy White in 2005. Palmer measured 6’1”, and 210 pounds with the Blazers.
Throughout his four years with the Green Wave, Pratt threw for 9,611 yards, 90 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. The seventh round was admittedly much farther than most thought Pratt would fall, however, getting to backup Jordan Love and learn from Packers' quarterbacks coach Tom Clements is a good spot to be in.
The entire AFC is chasing the Kansas City Chiefs. Last week, some teams closed the gap during the 2024 NFL draft. Others saw it only grow wider.
But which teams did the best? Which added the most potential while also finding immediate starters? And, conversely, who failed to find enough help, making them vulnerable?
We analyzed and ranked all 16 of the AFC draft classes, going from least-inspiring to most.
16. Tennessee Titans
Tennessee did a nice job picking up OT JC Latham in the first round to bolster its offensive line, but the rest of the draft was underwhelming. The Titans gambled big on DT T’Vondre Sweat despite his off-field concerns, and then selected three linebackers as the rounds clicked off. Not enough upside.
15. Buffalo Bills
The Bills traded back twice in the first round before ultimately selecting WR Keon Coleman with the first pick of the second round. Buffalo then decided to pass on a litany of other talented wideouts, instead loading up on the offensive line with four picks. The Day 2 choices of S Cole Bishop and DT DeWayne Carter were their best.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars
With a big need at cornerback, the Jaguars chose to select Thomas with their first pick.
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Jacksonville had the opportunity to draft any corner in the draft, but traded back to hoard picks. Fair enough. However, the Jaguars then took WR Brian Thomas Jr. instead of addressing a major need. Afterwards, Jacksonville took a kicker and a reserve running back, passing on more high-upside talent. Not awful, but not great.
13. Cleveland Browns
The Browns were once again without their first-round pick as a result of the disastrous Deshaun Watson deal, which gets hilariously worse by the year. Cleveland’s first pick came Friday, when it took a high-upside defensive end in Michael Hall Jr. despite his lack of statistics at Ohio State. Down the board, the Browns finished the draft with three defensive players, hoping to find depth.
12. Denver Broncos
If Bo Nix turns out to be a quality quarterback, my team grade is going to look silly. If he’s not, the Broncos are going to be spinning their wheels for the next few years. The Broncos were also without a second-round pick before taking edge rusher Jonah Elliss and receiver Troy Franklin in the middle rounds. Not a bad haul, but everything hinges on the 24-year-old quarterback.
11. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins decided to go for an edge rusher in the first round, selecting Penn State’s Chop Robinson to bolster depth after injuries to Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillips. In the second round, general manager Chris Grier took Miami’s future left tackle in Patrick Paul, a three-year starter at Houston. On Day 3, the Dolphins took another running back in Jaylen Wright. An intriguing class.
10. Houston Texans
The Texans didn’t have a first-round pick after trading back with the Minnesota Vikings, but they still had a nice haul. Houston got a pair of defensive backs on Day 2 with CB Kamari Lassiter and S Calen Bullock, before getting great value in Ohio State TE Cade Stover. Ultimately, Houston added a few potential starters plus depth.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati loaded up in the trenches, while also taking a pair of boom-or-bust SEC prospects. The Bengals used three of their first four picks on offensive and defensive linemen, including Georgia’s Amarius Mims in the first round. Mims is incredibly talented, but only started eight games for the Bulldogs. In the third round, Cincinnati gambled on WR Jermaine Burton, who has great film but character-driven red flags.
8. New York Jets
Protecting Aaron Rodgers was the top priority for the Jets, who picked Fashanu in the first round.
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The Jets started strong by taking OT Olu Fashanu to lock down the left side for years to come. However, after not having a pick in the second round due to the Aaron Rodgers trade, New York took a pair of running backs. The Jets also took WR Malachi Corley, a 215-pounder who can create yards after the catch. It was an offensively driven class with upside.
7. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs hit on their two biggest needs in the first two rounds, trading up for WR Xavier Worthy and OT Kingsley Suamataia. On Day 3, Kansas City found quality value in S Jaden Hicks and CB Kamal Hadden, upgrading an already strong secondary despite the loss of L’Jarius Sneed in a trade with the Titans.
6. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore made an already strong roster even better, utilizing all three days of the draft. After getting good value at No. 30 with CB Nate Wiggins, the Ravens continued to take ready-made contributors in edge rusher Adisa Isaac, OT Roger Rosengarten and WR Devontez Walker, along with an intriguing talent in CB TJ Tampa.
5. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts understood their assignment going into the draft. They had to make second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson comfortable, and that appears to have been achieved. GM Chris Ballard landed receivers Adonai Mitchell and Anthony Gould along with a pair of mid-round offensive linemen. Indianapolis also added to its pass rush with edge Laiatu Latu, a potential star off the edge.
4. New England Patriots
The Patriots drafted a pair of receivers after selecting Maye with the third pick in the first round.
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New England did exactly what it needed to in the draft. The Patriots resisted the temptation to trade back and took Drake Maye as their next franchise quarterback. Then they spent the rest of the draft surrounding him with an improved offense ranging from receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, to a pair of offensive linemen in Caeden Wallace and Layden Robinson.
3. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders were patient, and that paid off. Instead of trading up into the top 10 for a quarterback, veteran GM Tom Telesco stayed at No. 13 and tabbed TE Brock Bowers. On the second day, Telesco upgraded the offensive front with G Jackson Powers-Johnson and OT Delmar Glaze out of Maryland. The Raiders still need a quarterback, but when they find him, he’ll be in a better spot.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers needed to find talent across the board in this class after losing receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, among others. To that end, Los Angeles nabbed Notre Dame OT Joe Alt at No. 5 before trading up for WR Ladd McConkey in the second round. On Day 3, the choices of CB Cam Hart and WR Brenden Rice represent great value.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Fautanu will likely start at tackle for the Steelers.
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Nobody in either conference had a better draft than GM Omar Khan and the Steelers. Pittsburgh found a litany of offensive linemen who could start soon between OT Troy Fautanu, C Zach Frazier and G Mason McCormick. Then there’s the third-round choices of WR Roman Wilson and LB Payton Wilson, both excellent values. Home run stuff from Pittsburgh.
The weekend of the 2024 NFL Draft was a productive one for Confefence USA. In particular, it was something of a historic draft for the UTEP miners with not one, but two selections. Three total players from Conference USA schools heard their names called. With those three selections, CUSA has now seen 62 players chosen in the NFL Draft since 2016.
Here are the important things to know about the latest batch of Conference USA NFL talent.
Corley spent all four of his college seasons at Western Kentucky where he hauled 259 receptions for 3,035 yards and 29 touchdowns. Corley was also impressive in Senior Bowl practices, helping him land an opportunity in a Jets offense that needs help to reach rejuvenation.
Over the previous four seasons, nobody in Conference USA had more tackles than Tyrice Knight. He had 140 in 2023 alone. Knight was the first UTEP player to be drafted since 2018. He finished his college career with 32 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
Elijah Klein (UTEP OL) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, #220 Overall
Klein started games at four different offensive line positions this season alone. He made a whopping 50 consecutive starts for the Miners over the last several seasons. With Klein's selection, 2024 marks the first time since 2008 that multiple UTEP players were selected in the NFL Draft.
