‘Emotional’ Cobee Bryant lashes out after going undrafted

Former Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant went undrafted but quickly landed with the Atlanta Falcons as a UDFA.

‘Emotional’ Cobee Bryant lashes out after going undrafted

Cobee Bryant (Image via On3.com)

Cobee Bryant had entered the 2025 NFL Draft with solid expectations of hearing his name called early. Analysts had once projected him as a second-round pick, considering his collegiate production and versatility.

However, the former Kansas Jayhawks cornerback experienced a dramatic slide, eventually going undrafted by all 32 teams. Despite not hearing his name announced, Bryant quickly found an opportunity to pursue his professional dreams elsewhere.

Atlanta Falcons‘ officials had reportedly admired Bryant’s skill set well before the conclusion of the NFL Draft. After the final selection, the Falcons moved swiftly to secure Bryant as an undrafted free agent.

The 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back had enjoyed a distinguished college career marked by consistent performances. He had achieved three consecutive First-Team All-Big 12 selections, becoming a standout name in the conference.

In an Instagram story after the conclusion of the draft, Bryant acknowledged his initial disappointment.

Crazy if you think 26 corners better than me wild bro n ik I worked my a** off.

Cobee Bryant wrote

While at Kansas, Bryant had demonstrated excellent instincts, recording 13 interceptions and making 128 combined tackles. Scouting reports praised his awareness in zone coverage but noted occasional struggles against bigger receivers in man coverage. His competitiveness and nose for the football had earned him admiration among scouts despite physical limitations.

Bryant also excelled against the run, earning one of the top run-defense grades among college cornerbacks last season. Now with Atlanta, Bryant has entered a situation offering significant opportunity within the Falcons’ evolving secondary.

Biggest names who went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft concluded with some notable players surprisingly left without a selection. While the draft spotlighted top talents, a significant number of highly-ranked prospects slipped through, leading to a scramble in undrafted free agency.

Cobee Bryant
Cobee Bryant (Image via 247 Sports)

Leading the list was Mississippi defensive end Jared Ivey, ranked No. 102 on pre-draft boards. Despite an impressive record of 32.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks, Ivey’s inconsistency caused teams to hesitate. His size and physicality, however, still make him an intriguing prospect.

Joining him among surprising omissions were offensive linemen Logan Brown and Seth McLaughlin. Brown, a former five-star recruit from Kansas, carried off-field concerns that damaged his stock. McLaughlin, meanwhile, proved reliable for Ohio State but lacked elite athleticism, limiting his perceived upside.

The secondary saw a surprising group of undrafted names, including Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant, LSU’s Zy Alexander, and Nebraska’s Tommi Hill. Bryant, a physical and competitive defender, drew attention for both his big plays and occasional discipline issues. Alexander and Hill also brought size and toughness, but needed to find scheme-specific fits.

In the skill positions, Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond and Miami’s Xavier Restrepo went undrafted due to off-field issues and disappointing testing numbers, respectively. Defensive tackles Nazir Stackhouse and lineman Joshua Gray were overlooked despite their versatility and leadership qualities.

Jordan Nash is yet another name who also went undrafted. Furthermore, he is to be signed with the Falcons as per Jordan Schultz. Nash converted from quarterback to wide receiver, emerged as one of the standout performers in the Mountain West in 2024, leading the conference in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns during his sixth collegiate season.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds, Nash brings solid size to the table, but his rawness as a route runner and lack of experience against elite competition are notable concerns.

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