By his own admission, former BYU receiver Chase Roberts did not perform well at February’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
“I was dead last (among 34 receivers) in the 40-yard-dash,” Roberts said. “It obviously didn’t go how I wanted it to.”
Although he improved his 40 time to 4.51 at BYU’s pro day last month when he was considerably more healthy, that time of 4.64 seconds in Indy in front of a national television audience, in addition to the 25-year-old Roberts’ age, could keep one of the most-accomplished and productive receivers in BYU history from hearing his name called when the NFL draft is held this week in Pittsburgh.
Most mock drafts say Roberts won’t be taken in any of the seven rounds and will likely be signed as a priority free agent; others, such as one by Jaime Eisner of The Draft Network, have him going in the seventh round.
I have established a faith and trust in God that I know will carry me far in the NFL if it is His will.
— former BYU receiver Chase Roberts
“If Chase wasn’t 25 he is probably a mid-round pick,” noted his agent, Carter Chow of Red Envelope Sports. “… I still think he gets picked, but it will be late.”
In his typical fashion, Roberts, who is older than most college seniors because he served a two-year mission to Calgary, Alberta, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, remains optimistic.
“Every once in a while I will look (at mock drafts), but I am not huge into that stuff,” he told the Deseret News on Monday. “I do all I can throughout the process, and then let God take care of the rest, and just trust that wherever I go is the right place.”
Roberts said a lot of scouts and NFL general managers have asked about his age and missionary service throughout the process, and he has told them it will be a “benefit” to them as he’s more mature and will have a stronger locker room presence than most rookies.
“I have established a faith and trust in God that I know will carry me far in the NFL if it is His will,” Roberts said.
Turning negative into a positive at BYU pro day
Referring to a LinkedIn post he made last week in which he describes his experience at the combine and impressive improvement at BYU’s pro day three weeks later, he called the ordeal “one of the most joyful moments” of his life “because I knew I acted in faith.”
Roberts said that after BYU’s 25-21 win over Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, he went directly into training at California Strength in Los Gatos, California, and spent so much time rehabbing “an Achilles issue” that he didn’t have enough time to fully prepare for the combine.
In fact, he wasn’t going to run at the combine, and most people in his camp advised against it, but he had a change of heart a few days before the event and ran anyway.
“That improvement (in Provo) didn’t just come from training — it came from the lesson I learned: trust the process, trust God, and don’t let fear dictate your decisions,” he wrote.
Roberts said after the combine he went back to Cal Strength with teammate Carsen Ryan, the BYU tight end, and other athletes from Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss, got his Achilles right, and shaved 1.3 seconds off his 40 time. Roberts also completed the 20-yard shuttle in 4.28 seconds and the 3-cone drill in 6.90 seconds at pro day. Both times would have ranked him No. 3 among wide receivers at the combine.
“I was able to run the times I wanted to run at the pro day, which I believe put myself in a position to get drafted,” he said.
An interesting thing about the whole draft process, noted Chow, is that Roberts will get more guaranteed money as a free agent if he isn’t drafted. The same goes for Ryan, whom Chow also represents.
One highly respected draft analyst, Dane Brugler of The Athletic, does not have Roberts in his seven-round mock draft, but does have the 6-foot-3, 209-pound redshirt senior from Highland in the “draftable” range of his “The Beast” draft preview.
Roberts “lacks ideal measurables, but can be a crafty possession target for the right team,” Brugler wrote.
Fesi Sitake, Roberts’ receivers coach in all five of his seasons in Provo — he redshirted in 2021 after his mission — said Roberts is “one of the greatest leaders I have ever been around” and will flourish in the NFL if he’s given a chance.
“He’s got a very physical, demanding presence about him,” Sitake said. “For his size, he is so fluid. He’s got a great feel for the game. … He is so intentional and deliberate in his craft, and he has his priorities straight and prioritizes things the way you should, which is really hard to do at this stage in any young adult’s life.
“That just really speaks to him and all that he is as a person,” Sitake continued. “He just happens to be a really good football player on top of that. Any organization is going to get a heck of a player and a heck of a person.”
Which NFL teams are interested in Roberts?
Roberts was a San Francisco 49ers fan growing up, because his mother — Jessica — is from the Bay Area and he idolized Steve Young, Tom Holmoe, Fred Warner and others. But that doesn’t mean the 49ers have returned the interest.
Roberts wasn’t invited to make any team visits — clubs are allowed to invite only 30 players each — but several teams came out to Provo to conduct interviews or workouts with him, including the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. The Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams have also shown a lot of interest.
“It would be cool to go play with Puka (Nacua) again, in Los Angeles,” Roberts said. The receivers were teammates in Provo in 2021 and 2022.
Between participating in the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas, and attending the NFL Combine and BYU’s pro day, Roberts figures he has spoken to almost every team in the league.
“Staying on the West Coast would be nice to be close to family, but I’m excited for wherever I end up,” he said. “I would love to just be able to play in the NFL. Where at is not a big deal to me.”
Roberts said he will spend the draft weekend at his parents’ home — his father, Kyle, played defensive back for BYU from 1990-93 — and try to make it a “cool, memorable moment” for his immediate family.
He’s been saving for a new, bigger truck to replace his Toyota, and will likely get one if he’s fortunate enough to get an NFL paycheck one day.
“Whatever happens, I will forever be grateful for the experience,” he said. “I am just grateful for God and my Savior Jesus Christ.”
