Spann-Ford, Autman-Bell among Gophers picked up after NFL Draft

Tyler Nubin (No. 47/NYG) was the only former Gophers player to hear his name called in the 2024 NFL Draft, but four more found NFL homes despite going undrafted.

Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE (Dallas Cowboys)

Former Gophers tight end and St. Cloud, Minnesota native Brevyn Spann-Ford signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. 

He was one of the most sought-after free agents following the draft, but he now lands in a favorable situation in Dallas. The Cowboys return three tight ends (Jake Ferguson, Payton Hendershot and Luke Schoonmaker) from the active roster and second-year player Princeton Fant from the practice squad.

The former St. Cloud Tech high school standout will have a real chance to catch onto the active roster, but more likely the practice squad on one of the most storied franchises in the NFL.

Chris Autman-Bell, WR (New York Giants)

Autman-Bell adds to a growing Gophers pipeline in New York, joining former teammates, John Micahel-Schmitz, Tyler Nubin and Carter Coughlin. 

The veteran Gophers receiver was invited to the Giants Rookie Minicamp, therefore he does not have a contract with the franchise, but for a week later this spring he will have a chance to compete for a roster spot and get NFL tape out there for other prospective teams.

Kyler Baugh, DT (New Orleans Saints)

Transferring to Minnesota from Houston Christian (FCS) in the 2022 offseason, Kyler Baugh improved every season he was with the Gophers. 

He joins the Saints as an undrafted free agent. With six interior defensive linemen on the roster, Baugh will have to earn his spot on the roster, but his remarkable football journey will continue from one of the smallest schools at the FCS level to the NFL.

Corey Crooms Jr., WR (Dallas Cowboys)

Crooms Jr. is another former Gopher who began his college career at a different school; Western Michigan. He will be joining Spann-Ford as an undrafted free agent in Dallas for the Cowboys.

Dallas has 11 other wide receivers on its roster, so it will not be an easy task to make the roster, but it's a great opportunity on one of the better offenses in the NFL.