Here's where Utah's newest Locals in the NFL signed after the 2024 draft

AROUND THE SHIELD — For the first time since 2019, no former Utah high school or college football player was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

But plenty will have an opportunity to make it in the league.

For football fans along the Wasatch Front, the draft started in the second round. That's when former Corner Canyon standout Jackson Powrs-Johnson was drafted with the No. 44 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders — the team he grew up cheering for since the franchise was located in Oakland.

"That game really started the dream for me. Kind of a full circle moment," said Powers-Johnson, who won the Rimington Trophy as the top center following his junior season at Oregon but will play guard in Las Vegas.

Former Utah safety Cole Bishop followed shortly as the No. 60 overall pick to the Buffalo Bills — where he joins former teammate Dalton Kincaid and a defensive backfield that also includes Weber State star Taron Johnson.

As the coach of the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, there are two things Andy Reid loves most: developing his offensive line and BYU graduates. He got both of them when the Chiefs traded up to snatch BYU tackle Kingsley Suamataia with the 31st pick of the second round.

Utah legacy product Jonah Elliss followed in the footsteps of his father, Luther, as the No. 76 overall pick in the third round by the Denver Broncos. Luther Elliss, who is currently the defensive tackles coach at his alma mater, finished his decade-long NFL career in Denver and transitioned to work two years as the Broncos team chaplain upon retirement.

Here's a look at where other new Locals in the NFL landed after the 2024 NFL draft, from late-round selections to undrafted free agents and more.

BYU

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT (Orem) — Kansas City Chiefs, 2nd round
• Kedon Slovis, QB (from USC and Pitt) — Indianapolis Colts, Undrafted free agent (with a $30,000 signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
• Aidan Robbins, RB (from Louisville and UNLV) — Cleveland Browns, Undrafted free agent
• Clark Barrington, OL (via Baylor) — Las Vegas Raiders, Undrafted free agent
• Isaac Rex, TE — Detroit Lions, Undrafted free agent
• Max Tooley, LB (Bountiful) — Houston Texans, Undrafted free agent (with a $25,000 signing bonus and $125,000 guaranteed, according to Aaron Wilson)
• Gabe Jeudy-Lally, CB (via Tennessee) — Tennessee Titans, Undrafted free agent
• Ryan Rehkow, P — Kansas City Chiefs, Undrafted free agent
• Eddie Heckard, CB (from Weber State) — Denver Broncos, Mini-camp invite
• AJ Vongphachanh, LB (from Utah State): New York Jets, Mini-camp invite

Southern Utah

• Tanner McLachlan, TE (via Arizona) — Cincinnati Bengals, 6th round
• Isaiah Wooden, WR/RS (from Kent State) — Atlanta Falcons, Undrafted free agent
• Timothy Patrick, WR (from Utah State) — San Francisco 49ers, Mini-camp invite

Utah

• Cole Bishop, S — Buffalo Bills, 2nd round
• Jonah Elliss, DE — Denver Broncos, 3rd round
• Sione Vaki, RB — Detroit Lions, 4th round
• Sataoa Laumea, OG — Seattle Seahawks, 6th round
• Devaughn Vele, WR — Denver Broncos, 7th round
• Keaton Bills, OG (Corner Canyon) — Buffalo Bills, Undrafted free agent (via BR's Jordan Schultz)
• Thomas Yassmin, TE — Denver Broncos, Undrafted free agent (via Aaron Wilson, including $12,000 signing bonus and $47,000 guaranteed)
• Miles Battle, CB (from Ole Miss) — Kansas City Chiefs, Undrafted free agent
• Clayton Isbell, CB (via Coastal Carolina/Illinois State) — Carolina Panthers, Undrafted free agent (via Aaron Wilson)

Utah State

• Byron Vaughns, LB (via Baylor) — Dallas Cowboys, Undrafted free agent
• Hale Motu'apuaka, DT — Indianapolis Colts, Mini-camp invite
• Terrell Vaughn, WR — Seattle Seahawks, Mini-camp invite

Utah high school football alums

• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL (Corner Canyon) — Las Vegas Raiders, 2nd round
• Dallin Holker, TE (Lehi/BYU via Colorado State) — New Orleans Saints, Undrafted free agent
• Nathan Latu, DE (Olympus/Snow College via Oklahoma State) — New Orleans Saints, Undrafted free agent (including a $3,000 signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
• Taki Taimani, DL (East via Washington/Oregon) — Minnesota Vikings, Undrafted free agent

Weber State

• Winston Reid, LB (Copper Hills) — Cleveland Browns, Undrafted free agent
• Noah Atagi, OL (Bonneville) — Chicago Bears, Mini-camp invite
• Max Anderson, CB — San Francisco 49ers, Mini-camp invite

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