Cyclones sign with NFL teams as free agents

Chris Jorgensen/Iowa State Daily

Former Iowa State senior Allen Lazard celebrates after a touchdown catch in the second half against Memphis on Dec. 30, 2017. Lazard was named the MVP of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Aaron Marner

UPDATED 12:56 p.m. April 29:

Mackenro Alexander, who recorded 24 tackles as a senior for Iowa State in 2017, signed a free agent contract with Washington.

UPDATED 12:27 p.m. April 29:

Safety Kamari Cotton-Moya received a pair of NFL mini-camp invitations from the Oakland Raiders and the Washington Redskins, per NFL agent Louis Bing. 

Cotton-Moya totalled 60 tackles and three interceptions in his senior season.

UPDATED 11:40 a.m. April 29:

Punter Colin Downing received an invitation to the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie mini-camp on Saturday night. Downing pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 23 times in his senior season.

ORIGINAL: 7:16 p.m. April 28:

After no Cyclones were selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, marking the fourth-straight year without an Iowa State player being picked, several Cyclones signed free agency deals with NFL teams.

Wide receiver Allen Lazard, the most likely draft pick of the former Cyclones, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars went 10-6 last season, winning the AFC South division title. They won two games in the playoffs before falling to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

Three Cyclones signed with the Dallas Cowboys as well. Linebacker Joel Lanning, receiver Marchie Murdock and offensive lineman Jake Campos all signed with the Cowboys, who finished 9-7 last year for a second-place finish in the NFC East.