Former Colorado State Rams Pursue NFL Dreams Following 2025 Draft

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The 2025 NFL Draft brought excitement and opportunity for several former Colorado State University (CSU) football players as they took their first steps toward professional careers. While only one Ram was selected during the seven-round event, others found homes shortly after the draft concluded, demonstrating the depth and talent of the CSU football program. Wide receiver Tory Horton became the lone Ram selected in this year's draft. Taken in the fifth round with the 166th overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks, Horton’s dream of playing in the NFL became a reality. Despite suffering a season-ending injury during his senior year, he impressed scouts with a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and a strong performance during his pro day workouts. The Seahawks, undergoing an offensive transformation, will look to Horton as part of their evolving receiver corps, which now features Jaxon Smith-Njigba and 2022 Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp. With longtime receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett no longer on the roster, Horton will compete with veterans Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Steven Sims for the wide receiver three position. The upcoming season also marks a new era for Seattle, with former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold set to start under center.

Shortly after the draft’s conclusion, offensive lineman Drew Moss signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. Moss, who weighs in at 303 pounds, impressed scouts with his agility, posting a 4.58-second 20-yard shuttle time during pro day testing. While initially listed as a guard, his shorter arm length—measuring 34 inches—could result in a transition to center at the professional level. Moss will now look to earn a spot on a San Francisco offensive line headlined by future Hall of Fame tackle Trent Williams.

On the defensive side, former CSU defensive back Dom Jones signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, Jones’s size and athleticism make him a promising prospect in the NFL. During the 2024 college season, he tied for the team lead in interceptions and helped solidify CSU’s secondary. He now joins a Browns defensive backfield featuring established players such as Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, and Grant Delpit. With Cleveland’s secondary ranked sixth in the NFL in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, Jones enters a competitive but opportunity-rich environment. Notably, Jones will reunite with former rival and now-teammate Shedeur Sanders, whom the Browns selected in the fifth round out of the University of Colorado.

Additionally, running back Avery Morrow received an invitation to participate in the New York Giants’ rookie minicamp. While not signed to a contract, the invite provides Morrow a chance to prove his abilities and potentially secure a spot on the Giants’ offseason roster. As rookie minicamps approach, Ram fans will eagerly watch these former players as they begin their journeys in the NFL. Whether drafted or signed afterward, each has taken a significant step forward in their professional careers. The spotlight now turns to training camp and preseason as they strive to turn opportunity into long-term success in the league.