As Boise State heads toward the 2026 season, one of the simplest questions is also one of the most revealing: who’s next in line to hear his name called in the NFL Draft?
That question matters because the Broncos’ best teams have usually been the ones with NFL talent all over the roster. The 2006 team produced four draft picks the next spring.
The 2011 group had six, including two first-rounders. Even Boise State’s most recent Fiesta Bowl team, while it sent only two players to the draft, still had Ashton Jeanty, who went No. 6 overall and became the highest pick in program history.
A year ago, the answer was a lot clearer. Kage Casey was the obvious name, and he ended up being the only Bronco drafted. Casey went 111th overall in the fourth round, giving Boise State a second straight year with a draft pick and extending the program’s run to 16 times in the past 17 NFL Drafts with at least one selection.
This year, there isn’t a slam-dunk prospect like that. But there are several Broncos who are at least on the radar, and one player stands out as the most likely next one to get drafted.
Jayden Virgin-Morgan is the best bet. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive end is entering his final season on The Blue and already has NFL attention.
Right now, the expectation is that he profiles as a day three prospect, much like Ahmed Hassanein two seasons ago. If he puts together a big defensive season, though, he could climb.
Jaden Mickey is another name scouts are watching. That might surprise some fans, but the former four-star recruit from Corona, CA has drawn interest from NFL evaluators.
He played well at nickel last season, finishing with five pass breakups, allowing just one touchdown and posting a PFF coverage grade of 73.5. If the draft were tomorrow, he’d look more like a priority UDFA, but a strong fall could push him into the back end of the draft.
The group of players who feel more like future draft picks than immediate ones starts with Dylan Riley. The running back has all the traits, and after a breakout sophomore season, he finished second in the Mountain West with 1,125 rushing yards and earned second-team All-Mountain West honors.
He’s an explosive runner who can turn a modest gain into a long touchdown. Still, with two years of eligibility after this season, he looks more likely to be back in college football in 2027 unless he blows up again.
Boise State has seen underclassmen running backs leave early before, including Ashton Jeanty, Alexander Mattison and Jeremy McNichols, so Riley is the most likely in this group to make that kind of jump.
Sire Gaines fits the same broad mold, just a little further down the road. He served as the thunder in Boise State’s lightning-and-thunder backfield and was highly efficient as a short-yardage runner.
At 6-foot-0 and 217 pounds, he has the frame and athletic profile of an NFL back. He looks like a future league player, but probably not until after 2027.
Matt Wagner is another player with pro traits and a position that can help. The redshirt junior tight end is 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, and he brings versatility too.
That matters in a league that keeps leaning on 12 and 13 personnel. Wagner played 588 offensive snaps last season, but this is his first year as the primary tight end option, and he still seems likelier to return in 2027 than leave for the NFL after this season.
Sherrod Smith is in a similar spot. Boise State hasn’t shown him much yet, but the staff clearly believes in him.
At 6-foot-1, he has the size and athleticism NFL corners need. He spent most of last season in a rotational role, then broke out late after A’Marion McCoy was sidelined with a season-ending injury.
PFF graded Smith as the Broncos’ second-highest cornerback last season, ahead of Jeremiah Earby, who earned All-Mountain West honors. Even so, this is shaping up to be his first full season as an FBS starter, so he still looks a year away.
There are also a few long shots worth keeping in mind.
Roger Carreon has the talent to belong higher on the list, but injuries have been the big issue. Unless he puts together a healthy, elite season, he’s probably headed for UDFA territory because of his medical history and age.
Max Stege, the senior edge rusher from Germany, has the NFL frame at 6-foot-4 and 269 pounds. He hasn’t produced like a draft prospect yet, but a breakout year could change that quickly.
Jake Ripp has had a winding Boise State career, moving from linebacker to STUD and back to linebacker before last season. His first full season back at linebacker had mixed results, but the athletic tools are there, and if things finally click, he could get on draft boards.
David Latu rounds out the list. Like Carreon, he has the kind of film and frame NFL teams notice, but health has been the main obstacle.
When he was on the field in 2025, he was one of Boise State’s most impactful interior run defenders. Massive nose tackles always have a place somewhere in the league, so Latu can’t be ruled out entirely, even if the odds are long.
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