Will Brady Cook, other Missouri football prospects get drafted? Day 3 NFL Draft projections

Two Tigers are off the board.

With the seventh selection in both the first and second rounds, Missouri football players came off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. Right tackle Armand Membou was drafted by the New York Jets with the No. 7-overall pick Thursday, and wide receiver Luther Burden III was picked by the Chicago Bears in the second round with the No. 39-overall selection Friday in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

That marked the second straight year that Mizzou had players drafted in each of the opening two rounds. In 2024, defensive end Darius Robinson was a first-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals and cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was a second-round pick by the Detroit Lions.

Now, how many more MU players are going to hear their name called this year?

Quarterback Brady Cook, wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. and defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. each have a chance at being drafted on Day 3. But, if it’s going to happen for any of them, it’s likely to be late.

Here is what to expect for each of Mizzou’s top remaining prospects in Rounds 4-7 of the 2025 NFL Draft, which will begin at 11 a.m. CDT Saturday:

Missouri football QB Brady Cook: Late-round draft pick or UDFA?

Most mock drafts leading into the event had Cook, the Tigers’ three-year starter at quarterback, falling out of the draft.

All signs suggest it’s going to be a close call for the St. Louis native. In 2024, 11 quarterbacks were drafted over the course of the seven-round event, including five between Rounds 4-7. So far, five quarterbacks have heard their name called. That list notably, as you likely already know, does not include Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

Cook is the No. 12 remaining quarterback on ESPN’s best-available list.

Working in Cook’s favor, however, are his elite athleticism scores from the NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran a 4.59-second 40-yard dash and a 1.53-second 10-yard split, both elite numbers among quarterbacks tested, which ranked in the upper-echelon of all QBs. He aced the throwing drills in Indianapolis, and his leadership traits — the hospital game, anyone? — will help his cause.

If he does slip out of the draft, which is certainly possible after teams were relatively QB-shy over the course of the opening three rounds, don’t expect him to remain a free agent for long.

Johnny Walker Jr., defensive end

Multiple mock drafts in the days leading up to the draft had Walker earning a late-Day 3 pick.

But, a lot of talented edge rushers remain on the board, including Ohio State's Jack Sawyer, South Carolina's Kyle Kennard and LSU's Bradyn Swinson.

Walker produced 26 tackles for loss in 40 total appearances for Mizzou, including 18.5 sacks. In the past two seasons, he notched 22 TFLs and 14.5 sacks, as well as six forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He’s an aggressive pass-rusher, but scouts appear to have docked him for being somewhat one-dimensional at the point of attack.

He is not listed on ESPN’s best-available list of edge rushers, which has 21 defensive ends on it as of the end of the third round.

If a team is going to take a swing on Walker, who is listed at 6 foot 3, 250 pounds, it’ll likely be in the seventh round. 

Theo Wease Jr., wide receiver

Like the Tigers’ other remaining draft prospects, if it’s happening for Wease, it’s likely to happen late.

Wease’s draft projections entering the week were split, with some tabbing him to draw a late-round pick and others predicting the 6-2, Allen, Texas, native to fall into free agency. He is currently the No. 26 wide receiver on ESPN’s best-available list, which indicates he's perhaps on the outside looking in for a draft pick.

In two seasons in Columbia, Wease caught 109 passes for 1,566 yards (60.2 yards per game) and 10 touchdowns. He injured his hand in the Tigers’ Music City Bowl win over Iowa in December, and was unable to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl or go through the full range of drills at the NFL Scouting Combine.