The 32 teams in the NFL trimmed their rosters to 53 players each on Tuesday. Among the nearly 1,700 players who made the cut are 24 from the University of Illinois , which happens to open its college season Thursday night at home against Eastern Illinois.
Here is a look at each of the former Illini, their team, along with their position and role headed into 2024.
Tony Adams, New York Jets
The 5-foot-11, 203-pounder is a starting free safety. The undrafted Adams has played 26 games and is starting his third season with the Jets.
Isaiah Adams, Arizona Cardinals
The 6-foot-4, 316-pounder is a third-round draft pick in his rookie season with the Cardinals. Adams is listed as the reserve left guard.
Nick Allegretti, Washington Commanders
The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder is the starting left guard in his first season with the Commanders. He played the previous five seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, who drafted him in the seventh round in 2019.
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
The 5-foot-10, 211-pound running back is in his second year with the Bengals, who picked him in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. Brown and Zack Moss are expected to take over the Cincy backfield vacated by Joe Mixon, now in Houston.
Sydney Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
The 5-foot-10, 211-pound special teamer and safety will begin his second season on the PUP list and not count toward the Eagles' 53-man roster. As a rookie, he played in 14 games, with 45 tackles and a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Tommy DeVito, New York Giants
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound is a backup quarterback in his second season as an undrafted free agent. He started six games last season for the injured starter Daniel Jones.
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound offensive lineman is a reserve guard in his first full season with the Texans. The Peoria native was traded to Houston last year from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who selected him in the third round of the 2021 draft. Of his 19 career games played, he has started 18.
Jake Hansen, Houston Texans
The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder is the starting middle linebacker in his third season. The undrafted free agent has played 25 games in two seasons in Houston.
Nate Hobbs, Las Vegas Raiders
The 6-foot, 195-pound cornerback is the starting nickel back in his fourth season. The 2021 fifth-round draft pick has played 40 games with the Raiders.
Kerby Joseph, Detroit Lions
The 6-foot-1, 203-pounder is the starting free safety heading into his third season. The 2022 third-round draft pick has eight interceptions and 164 tackles in 32 games for the Lions.
Ted Karras, Cincinnati Bengals
The 6-foot-4, 310-pounder is the starting center in his ninth NFL season and third with the Bengals. The 2016 sixth-round pick previously played with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins and has started 82 of his 126 career games.
Doug Kramer Jr., Chicago Bears
The 6-foot-2, 300-pound reserve center is in his third season. The 2022 sixth-round draft pick has played two games in his career.
The 6-foot-5, 315-pound reserve right tackle is in his third season and second with the Patriots after being drafted in the 2022 sixth round by the Minnesota Vikings. He was started eight of his 15 career games.
Quan Martin, Washington Commanders
The 6-foot, 195-pound starting safety played 16 games last season as a rookie, starting five games and snagging two interceptions. He was a second-round pick in the 2023 draft.
Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 6-foot, 190-pound kicker is in his sixth NFL season and second with the Bucs after a 29-for-31 season on field goals. He has made 96 of his 116 career attempts with seven NFL teams since his 2019 rookie season.
Jer'Zhan Newton, Washington Commanders
The 6-foot-2, 295-pounder is a reserve defensive tackle in his rookie season. He was selected in the second round of the 2024 draft, 36th overall.
Alex Palczewski, Denver Broncos
The 6-foot-6, 314-pounder is the backup right tackle in his second season. The undrafted free agent spent his rookie season on injured reserve with hand and knee injuries.
Del'Shawn Phillips, Houston Texans
The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder is a reserve linebacker in his fifth season and first with the Texans. The undrafted free agent has played 50 games over the last three seasons with New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens. He played two games in 2020 with the Buffalo Bills.
Tip Reiman, Arizona Cardinals
The 6-foot-4, 273-pounder is a backup tight end in his rookie season. He was selected in the third round of the 2024 draft, 82nd overall.
Dawuane Smoot, Buffalo Bills
The 6-foot-3, 264-pounder is a reserve defensive end in his seventh NFL season and first with the Bills. He played six seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected him in the third round of the 2017 draft. He has 23.5 sacks and 133 tackles in 99 career games.
Jihad Ward, Minnesota Vikings
The 6-foot-5, 285-pound linebacker is in his ninth NFL season and first with the Vikings. He played the last two seasons with the New York Giants after time with four other teams, including the Raiders, who drafted him in the second round of the 2016 draft. He has 18 sacks and 158 tackles in 102 career games.
Casey Washington, Atlanta Falcons
The 6-foot, 200-pounder is a reserve wide receiver in his rookie season. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 draft.
Isaiah Williams, Detroit Lions
The 5-foot-10, 186-pounder is a reserve wide receiver in his rookie season. The converted college quarterback signed with Detroit as an undrafted free agent.
Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks
The 6-foot, 185-pound corner is the starting nickel back in his second season. The 2023 fifth overall draft pick had 79 tackles, three sacks and an interception in 14 games his rookie season.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illini in the league: The 24 former Illinois football players who made NFL rosters for 2024
Local News
Comments / 0