No Mountaineers heard their names called in the 2026 NFL Draft, but six will still get a chance to prove themselves as undrafted free agents and rookie camp invitees. Read more: Mountaineers headed to the NFL: One signing, five camp invites.
Five NFL squads are taking a chance WVU prospects in Rookie Camp, including the Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets.
In addition, one Mountaineer signed as a free agent.
Here is a complete breakdown of each player and their next stop.
DB Michael Coats Jr. – UDFA (Cleveland Browns)
Michael Coats Jr. is the lone Mountaineer to sign as an undrafted free agent, heading 200 miles from Morgantown to the Cleveland Browns.
Coats started all 12 games for the Mountaineers this past season at cornerback and special teams. He recorded one forced fumble and seven broken passes while at West Virginia.
The Browns could use some depth in the backfield, as the team tied for 16th this past season in defensive interceptions with 11. Only two of those interceptions came from corners, with four grabs from safeties and five from linebackers.
The core is led by former fourth overall pick Denzel Ward and saw former 27th overall pick Greg Newsome II exit this season to join the New York Giants. The depth chart lists Tyson Campbell as the other starting corner with Anthony Kendall, Dom Jones, D’Angelo Ross and Tre Avery filling out the reserves. The Browns did not use a 2026 draft selection on corners.
LB Reid Carrico – Rookie Camp invite (Cleveland Browns)
The Cleveland Browns saw interest in a second Mountaineer prospect, Reid Carrico. A native of Ironton, Ohio, Carrico aims to earn a professional opportunity in his home state. Carrico also played at the collegiate level as an Ohio State Buckeye, before transferring to play his final two seasons at West Virginia.
Carrico played in all 12 games in 2025, starting two. He recorded four and a half sacks, 39 solo stops and a fumble recovery.
The Browns’ linebacker room is a bit crowded as the team led the league in tackles for loss (117) and seventh in defensive sacks (51). Standout Carson Schwesinger achieved the 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading the team in tackles.
In addition to Schwesinger, the depth chart lists former second-round pick Jeremiah Owusa-Koramoah and recent signee Quincy Williams as starters at the linebacker position. The Browns also used a fifth-round draft selection on linebacker Justin Jefferson out of Alabama.
Related: Mountaineer prospects to watch for in 2026 NFL Draft
DL Edward Vesterinen – Rookie Camp invite (Minnesota Vikings)
Edward Vesterinen received an invitation to attend the Minnesota Vikings rookie camp. He hails from Helsinki, Finland playing for Finland’s Men’s National Team in 2019. Vesterinen played for the Mountaineers for all five years of his collegiate career.
In total, Vesterinen made 47 career appearances and 28 starts with West Virginia. This past season, he recorded 30 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery in 11 starts at defensive tackle and one at nose tackle.
The Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line is currently not the strongest. It is a position that the Vikings addressed heavily in this year’s draft, selecting Florida’s Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick and Iowa State’s Domonique Orange with the 82nd overall pick.
Right now, the depth chart lists Banks as the starter at nose tackle and Orange as the backup. Jalen Redmon and Levi Drake Rodriquez are listed as the starting defensive tackles. The Vikings still have plenty of room at the position, so an impressive camp might just land Vesteinen a spot on the 53-man roster.
WR Jeff Weimer – Rookie Camp invite (Kansas City Chiefs)
Jeff Weimer is the lone offensive player from West Virginia to receive a rookie camp invite. The Kansas City Chiefs will give the Salinas, California native an opportunity to prove himself.
Weimer played just one season with the Mountaineers, appearing in all 12 games and starting six at wide receiver. He recorded 15 receptions for 306 yards and two touchdowns. He showed some speed at this year’s Pro Day, completing the three-cone drill in a team-leading 4.19 seconds.
The Kansas City Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in Patrick Mahomes’ career this past season. Many believe the team has retooled itself to jump right back into Super Bowl contention next season.
The Chiefs’ wide receiver room is led by former first-round pick Xavier Worthy and former second-round picks Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton. The Chiefs used a fifth-round selection on Cincinnati wide receiver Cyrus Allen in this year’s draft.
LB Chase Wilson – Rookie Camp invite (New York Jets)
Chase Wilson also received a rookie camp invite. The New York Jets were the team to invite the Arvada, Colorado native.
Wilson transferred from Colorado State to play his final season at West Virginia, starting 11 games at linebacker and special teams. He recorded 46 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.
The New York Jets were one of the worst defensive squads in the NFL this past season, allowing the second-most points (503) and the fourth-most rushing yards (2,371). The team also finished the season with zero interceptions and only recovered four fumbles. The linebacker core listed on the depth chart only managed two and a half sacks this past season and three forced fumbles.
Expected to start this coming season at the linebacker position are Kiko Mauigoa, Demario Davis and Mykal Walker. Despite the struggles at the position, the Jets did not use a 2026 draft selection at the position. This appears to be another situation where, if things go right at camp, Wilson may just make the 53-man roster.
DB Kekoura Tarnue – Rookie Camp invite (Denver Broncos)
Kekoura Tarnue is the most recent Mountaineer prospect to receive a rookie camp invite. It was announced yesterday that the Denver Broncos would invite the Monrovia, Liberia native.
Tarnue played two seasons at WVU, starting 11 games at safety and making appearances on special teams. This past season, he recorded 40 tackles and a forced fumble.
The Denver Broncos were a top defense in the league this past season, finishing with the second-least overall yards allowed (4,730) and the third-least points allowed (311). Still, the Broncos’ safety room is not the strongest aspect of the team.
The depth chart lists Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones as the starting safeties this upcoming season. Together, they only recorded two sacks, one fumble recovery and one interception this past season. The Broncos addressed their need at safety in this year’s draft by selecting Illinois prospect Miles Scott in the seventh round. Still, if Tarnue impresses, there could be a chance he can make the roster.
Other Draft news, what’s next
In addition to the six prospects who played at WVU this past season, former Mountaineer Josiah Trotter was selected 46th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this year’s draft. Trotter played two seasons at West Virginia before transferring to play his final season at Missouri.
Rookie camp start dates vary from team to team, but players should be reporting sometime in early May. Following rookie camps, preseason training camps will open in the middle of July.
To date, 199 West Virginia players have been drafted. While the program didn’t see its 200th drafted player this year, there are several prospects to watch out for, including Cam Cook next season.
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