Following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft Saturday, former Virginia wide receiver Chris Tyree and tight end Tyler Neville are signing undrafted free agent deals. Tyree was picked up by the New Orleans Saints — who drafted his teammate, safety Jonas Sanker, in the third round. Neville, meanwhile, joins the Dallas Cowboys.
Tyree was a five star recruit out of Chester, Va. who played four seasons at Notre Dame. He then transferred to the Cavaliers ahead of the 2024 season. Tyree managed to record just 179 all-purpose yards in his lone season at Virginia. He did not match the production he generated with the Fighting Irish, but perhaps he can carve out a role with the Saints.
New Orleans’ only certainty in the wide receiver room is that Chris Olave should command a hefty sum of targets. Other than him, there are loads of spots available under new Coach Kellen Moore. The coach arrives after serving as offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles — with whom he deployed ample creativity on offense.
Tyree offers positional flexibility at running back and returner as well, so it is possible that he makes New Orleans’ final roster later in September.
As for Neville, he enters a very different situation. Dallas’ tight end room is firmly a two-man unit of Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker. Both incumbents are more focused on receiving than blocking, which does not bode well for Neville, who also fits that mold. New Coach Brian Schottenheimer will be looking for a blocking-first tight end so that the Cowboys can improve their run game.
Neville will have an uphill battle to earn a roster spot, but if he does, he will become the first Virginia tight end to debut since Jelani Woods in 2022.
As of Saturday, only Tyree and Neville have received an undrafted free agent contract, but it is still possible other former Cavaliers can receive a tryout at rookie minicamps in May.
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