Illinois’ representation in NFL growing – The News-Gazette

Nearly three dozen former Illinois standouts are on NFL rosters with training camps underway

across the league. Beat writer Scott Richey spotlights them all ahead of the 2026 season:

Isaiah Adams Arizona Cardinals

Adams’ role has grown during the course of his first two seasons in the desert. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound offensive lineman started 11 of 17 games last season for the Cardinals and projects to be back in his spot at right guard as long as the weapons charge he currently faces in Canada is resolved.

Tony Adams Tennessee Titans

Four productive seasons with the New York Jets landed Adams a one-year, $2.14 million deal with Tennessee this offseason. The 5-11, 203-pound safety started nine of 12 games for the Jets in 2025, finishing with 49 tackles and five pass breakups, and currently projects as Kevin Winston Jr.’s backup with the Titans.

Nick Allegretti Washington Commanders

Two starts at center to end the 2025 season prompted Allegretti’s full-time move to the position for the Commanders. Allegretti, who has 34 starts in 107 games across seven seasons in the league, earned a two-year extension worth as much as $11.119 million with Washington following the switch from guard.

Luke Altmyer Detroit Lions

Detroit has just three quarterbacks on its roster heading into training camp, and Altmyer has a real opportunity to wind up Jared Goff’s (mostly unneeded) backup. Goff hasn’t missed a start in five seasons with the Lions, and their current No. 2, Teddy Bridgewater, hasn’t played a meaningful snap since 2021.

Tanner Arkin New England Patriots

Sticking with the Patriots after signing in April as an undrafted free agent will be the challenge for Arkin. Known more for his blocking than participation in Illinois’ passing game, Arkin is one of five tight ends in camp for New England — a group led by Hunter Henry and 2026 third-round pick Eli Raridon.

Hank Beatty Tennessee Titans

Beatty is one of a baker’s dozen wide receivers in camp with the Titans, which is basically twice as many as teams keep on their 53-man rosters. Competition in the slot is stiff, with Tennessee spending $70 million on free agent Wan’Dale Robinson and bringing back Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor.

Chase Brown Cincinnati Bengals

True workhorse running backs are in the NFL’s past, but Brown is about as close as it gets. Kind of like his final season in Champaign. The 26-year-old Brown is in the final year of his contract and could command plenty in free agency if he builds off last year’s 232 carries for 1,019 yards and six touchdowns.

Sydney Brown Atlanta Falcons

Brown got back to form last season with the Philadelphia Eagles after a torn ACL cost him the first half of the 2024 season and a concussion derailed the end of his year. But after playing in all 17 games in 2025, including three starts, the Eagles dealt the 5-10, 211-pound safety to Atlanta for draft picks.

Pat Bryant Denver Broncos

Year one for Bryant in Denver saw the 6-2, 204-pound wide receiver’s role grow throughout the course of the 2025 season. Bryant finished sixth on the team with 31 catches for 378 yards and one touchdown and enters camp as the top backup for two-time Pro Bowl receiver Courtland Sutton.

Seth Coleman Miami Dolphins

Coleman was among the final cuts by the Seattle Seahawks last August ahead of the 2025 season and later spent a week on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad in October. While he was selected in the 2026 UFL draft by the Houston Gamblers on Jan. 13, he instead signed with the Dolphins eight days later.

J.C. Davis New York Giants

Jaxson Dart’s blind side will primarily be protected by Andrew Thomas, but Davis is a potential backup option for the longtime starter who’s had some injury issues during his first six seasons with the Giants. Davis’ competition for New York’s swing tackle spot entering his rookie season is second-year lineman Marcus Mbow.

Tommy DeVito New England Patriots

DeVito landed as New England’s third-string quarterback last season after two years, including that magical 2023 run, with the New York Giants. The 27-year-old didn’t appear in a game for the Patriots in 2025, but he will back up Drake Maye this season after signing a two-year, $7.4 million extension in March.

TeRah Edwards Los Angeles Chargers

Edwards provided one of the top highlights of the Chargers’ preseason games last year with his interception off Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett he returned 27 yards. But that didn’t land him on the 53-man roster, and Edwards spent the 2025 season on the Chargers’ practice squad.

Josh Gesky Green Bay Packers

The Manteno native had some draft buzz after starting all 13 games at left guard for Illinois in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, but he wound up signing with Green Bay as an undrafted free agent in April. Gesky will provide the Packers’ offensive depth at guard during training camp.

Kendrick Green Cleveland Browns

Green will try to stick with Cleveland after signing last December and appearing in one game after spending most of the 2025 season on the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad. The Peoria native hasn’t played many meaningful snaps, though, since his rookie year in 2021 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jake Hansen Houston Texans

An offseason injury to E.J. Speed could open the door for Hansen to take on more responsibility at linebacker for Houston. The 28-year-old has carved out a role with the Texans the past four seasons as a special teams standout, but Speed’s full quadriceps tear could see Hansen pick up more defensive snaps.

Nate Hobbs San Francisco 49ers

Hobbs’ single season in Green Bay reflects the NFL’s finicky nature. The 27-year-old cornerback signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Packers ahead of the 2025 season, only to be released in March after struggling in just 11 games. His new deal with the 49ers? Just one year for $4.5 million.

Gabe Jacas New England Patriots

Big news for Jacas, who entered training camp with a signed contract after a holdout related to offseason knee surgery for the 6-4, 261-pound edge rusher and other pre-draft injury concerns. Not enough concern, of course, to keep the Patriots from trading up to snag the Illinois standout in the second round of the draft.

Kerby Joseph Detroit Lions

Detroit made Joseph the highest paid safety in NFL history (briefly) when it signed him to a four-year, $86 million deal in April 2025. Then he missed 11 games with a left knee injury that didn’t require surgery but has created questions about the All-Pro safety’s availability in 2026.

Ted Karras Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati has gotten its money’s worth from Karras, who has started 68 of 68 regular-seasons games and all three playoff games at center since joining the organization ahead of the 2022 season. The 33-year-old, with a pair of Super Bowl titles in New England, is entering his 11th year in the NFL.

Josh Kreutz Indianapolis Colts

Kreutz, unsurprisingly, got an invitation to Chicago’s rookie minicamp in May, but the son of former All-Pro Bears center Olin Kreutz ultimately signed with the Colts in June. The younger Kreutz, who was a three-year starter for the Illini, will compete to try and back up Indianapolis center Tanor Bortolini.

Vederian Lowe San Francisco 49ers

Lowe’s first four seasons in the NFL — one with the Minnesota Vikings and the past three with the New England Patriots — saw the 27-year-old offensive lineman start 25 of the 46 games he played. Enough to land a two-year, $9.5 million deal to provide experienced depth for the 49ers as the likely swing tackle.

Quan Martin Washington Commanders

Martin has started 33 of 34 games the past two seasons, racking up 186 tackles, six pass breakups and four forced fumbles in the process. The 6-foot, 195-pound safety’s role shouldn’t change entering the final year of his rookie contract, with similar production this year key entering free agency in 2027.

Chase McLaughlin Tampa Bay Buccaneers

McLaughlin lived a typical kicker’s life at the start of his NFL career, playing for six teams (including twice with the Indianapolis Colts) in his first four years in the league. The 30-year-old has stuck with the Bucs since 2023, however, because he’s made kicks, drilling 91 of 101 field goals and 119 of 122 PATs.

Jer’Zhan Newton Washington Commanders

Newton started fewer games in 2025 than he did as a rookie the year prior, but his snap count didn’t dip too much. The 6-2, 295-pound defensive tackle was actually more disruptive in year two with career highs in sacks (five) and quarterback hits (nine) to go with 38 tackles and one forced fumble.

Alex Palczewski Denver Broncos

Denver brought Palczewski back on a two-year, $9.5 million extension after he started 10 games at left guard last season and should compete at both guard and tackle this year. Not bad for the undrafted offensive lineman, who didn’t play at all in 2023 because of an injury and then sparingly in 2024.

Del’Shawn Phillips Los Angeles Chargers

Phillips has stuck in the NFL as a special teams weapon and earned All-Pro Second Team honors last season for the Chargers. The 29-year-old linebacker set a new franchise record with 24 special teams tackles in 2025, finishing second overall in the league during the regular season.

Melvin Priestly Detroit Lions

The path to a spot on Detroit’s 53-man roster was always the expectation for the 6-foot-4, 316-pound rookie. After starting 26 straight games at right tackle for the Illini the last two seasons, Priestly is moving inside to guard at the next level. He’ll be a depth piece for the Lions in camp, competing for a backup spot.

Tip Reiman Arizona Cardinals

Reiman missed most of last season with a right ankle injury sustained in early October last year, cutting short what was looking to be a productive 2025. Arizona’s tight end depth chart is still topped by Trey McBride, but new coach Mike LaFleur’s willingness to play more than one bodes well for Reiman.

Miles Scott Denver Broncos

A healthy Brandon Jones should start at free safety for the Broncos, but the position as his backup is up for grabs after P.J. Locke signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. Enter Scott, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2026 draft and will compete in camp for those snaps with Denver.

James Thompson Jr. San Francisco 49ers

Thompson making San Francisco’s 53-man roster could be as simple as out-performing fellow undrafted rookie free agent Bryson Eason. They had similar collegiate careers at Wisconsin/Illinois and Tennessee, respectively, but the 6-6, 308-pound Thompson’s length gives him an edge with a 6-71/8 wingspan.

Malik Turner San Francisco 49ers

A record-setting performance in the 2025 UFL championship game with 168 receiving yards and three touchdowns for the Michigan Panthers helped Turner get back to the NFL. While he spent most of the 2025 season on the 49ers’ practice squad, he did appear in an NFL game for the first time in three years.

Isaiah Williams New York Jets

Year two in the NFL for Williams started with getting waived by the Jets before immediately getting re-signed to the practice squad and then back to the 53-man roster a week later. By the end of the season, the 25-year-old had been named team MVP for his contributions as a returner and wide receiver.

Devon Witherspoon Seattle Seahawks

Seattle is close to making Witherspoon the highest paid cornerback in NFL history with an extension reportedly worth more than $30 million annually. The 25-year-old has earned it, with three Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl title in 2025 (a 29-13 victory against the Patriots) to go with All-Pro Second Team honors.