There wasn’t a single player who finished his college career at a Colorado school taken in the NFL draft. But the pro dream is hardly over for a number of in-state players.

At least eight University of Colorado players and at least one apiece from Air Force, Colorado State and the Colorado School of Mines have reached agreements so far with NFL teams as undrafted free agents.

The Denver Gazette reported Saturday that Buffaloes safety Preston Hodge will sign a deal with Jacksonville. He is joined by defensive tackle Anquin Barnes Jr. (New York Giants), wide receiver Sincere Brown (Los Angeles Chargers), offensive lineman Xavier Hill (New York Jets) and defensive end Arden Walker (Minnesota) as teammates securing deals. In addition, three Colorado players will go to rookie minicamps as tryout players in quarterback Kaidon Salter (Tennessee) and defensive linemen Keaten Wade (Kansas City) and Amari McNeill (Kansas City and Philadelphia).

Air Force nose guard Payton Zdroik has reached an agreement to sign with the Los Angeles Rams. And The Denver Gazette reported Sunday that Colorado State defensive back Lemondre Joe has been invited to Philadelphia’s rookie minicamp and Colorado School of Mines defensive back Jackson Zimmermann to Tampa Bay’s rookie minicamp as tryout players.

On Friday, cornerback Colton Hood was selected by the Giants as the No. 37 overall in the second round of the draft, which ran from Thursday through Saturday. Hood played for the Buffaloes in 2024 before finishing his college career last season at Tennessee.

Hood will rejoin a former teammate on the Giants in Barnes. The Broncos had expressed interest in signing both Barnes and Brown before they went elsewhere.

“I really think Anquin and Sincere had tremendous pro days (March 31 at Colorado) and put themselves on the map to the point that we had a number of teams contacting us,” said Peter Schaffer, the agent for both players. “Both were pretty hot commodities once the draft ended. And I think both are in great situations to contribute and make the Giants and the Chargers, respectively.”

Robert Brown, the agent for Hill, is confident about his client making the Jets.

“He’s a young man who got a lot of experience in the trenches,” Brown said of Hill, who played at LSU for three seasons and Memphis for two before joining the Buffaloes last year. “He played a lot of good snaps. … To me, I think he’s going to be a steal. He’ll go into the (training) camp with the right mindset and he has the potential to truly, truly make that team. It was a good fit.”

In the 2025 draft, Colorado had four players selected and Colorado State one. When Buffaloes cornerback-receiver Travis Hunter went No. 2 to Jacksonville, he tied the school record for the highest a player has been selected. Hunter now will be reunited with Hodge on the Jaguars.

York heads Broncos’ expected signees

Taurean York will receive perhaps the biggest contract when Denver’s 14 undrafted free agents sign expected deals.

A source said the linebacker from Texas A&M is in line to get a $25,000 signing bonus and have $300,000 of his salary guaranteed for a total guarantee of $325,000. York was projected by some analysts to go as high as the fifth round in the draft. He was an Aggies teammate last season of defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim, taken Friday in the third round of the draft by the Broncos.

Also in line to get notable deals are Iowa State offensive lineman Tyler Miller and Nebraska outside linebacker Dasan McCullough. Miller agreed to receive a $25,000 signing bonus and a $250,000 guarantee on his contract for a total guarantee of $275,000. McCullough agreed to receive a $20,000 signing bonus and a $245,000 guarantee on his contract for a total guarantee of $265,000.

Among others to have agreed to deals, Weber State offensive lineman Gavin Ortega is in line to receive a $7,500 signing bonus and a $135,000 contract guaranteed for a total guarantee of $142,500. And Northern Arizona wide receiver Kolbe Katsis has agreed to a deal for a $5,000 signing bonus and a $25,000 contract guarantee for a total guarantee of $30,000.

Katsis is being looked at primarily by the Broncos as a kick returner. He was fourth in the FCS in 2025 with a kickoff return average of 30.6 yards, which included a 100-yard return for a touchdown against Northern Colorado.

Denver’s 14 college free agents are due in Denver on May 7 to take physicals before signings are completed. They then would participate in a May 8-10 rookie minicamp.

The Broncos, including their seven draft picks, have 80 players on their roster and the offseason limit is 90. If all 14 undrafted players sign, Denver would need to let four players go. However, it could end up that some players let go are brought back if any of the college free agents are cut after the minicamp.

Briefly

Running back Jonah Coleman, selected in the fourth round Saturday by Denver, wrote on social media Sunday, “I’ve never been to an NFL game.” … Offensive lineman Kage Casey, who played for the Boise State Broncos, on being taken in the fourth round and about to be an orange-clad Denver Bronco: “It’s so surreal. Same color scheme, same everything. I’m so excited.” … The Broncos on Saturday became the first team to have the final two picks in an NFL draft. The first draft was held in 1936.