Maintaining a strong pro-football presence, 27 former University of Washington players have earned NFL roster spots as the 53-player cutdown day came and went on Tuesday — which is one fewer Husky than made it a year ago.
An ample 13 of them are projected as starters, which is actually four higher than last season at this time, and does not include the injured Nick Harris, who was pegged to open at center for the Cleveland Browns but was injured in his preseason opener and lost for the season.
Former Husky defensive tackle Danny Shelton, who had recently signed on with the Kansas City Chiefs, might have been the biggest surprise among those who did not survive the roster trimming. A seven-year veteran and starter of 72 of 100 NFL games, he reportedly turned in an impressive tryout and was signed right away, but he still didn’t stick.
Each of the four UW draftees from April, cornerbacks Trent McDuffie (Chiefs) and Kyler Gordon (Bears), tight end Cade Otton (Bucs) and center Luke Wattenberg (Broncos), have roster spots, as do the four Huskies who were drafted in 2021 in outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (Bucs), defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike (Lions), and cornerbacks Elijah Molden (Titans) and Keith Taylor (Panthers). Onwuzurike, however, continues to have back issues and sat out Detroit’s exhibition games.
It should be noted that six of the eight most recent NFL-drafted Huskies are defensive players.
Three teams have three former UW players on their rosters. The Bucs will turn to defensive tackle Vita Vea, Tryon-Shoyinka and Otton; the Cardinals rely on safety Budda Baker, cornerback Byron Murphy and special-teamer Zeke Turner; and the Panthers now rely on linebackers Shaq Thompson and Cory Littleton and Taylor.
One-time Husky quarterbacks didn’t fare so well, with Jake Browning (Bengals) and Jacob Eason (Seahawks) ending up as cutdown casualties.
One player who simply won’t go away is ex-Husky running back Dwayne Washington, who is back for a seventh season with the Saints, greatly valued for his special-teams play. He started just two of the 71 games he’s played in his NFL career.
Following is a breakdown of all the pro football comings and goings, plus their NFL experience, involving one-time Huskies:
HUSKY NFL TRACKER:
Salvon AhmedRB, Miami Dolphins — 2-year veteran, starter in 4 of 18 games; made 53-player roster, backup.
Andre BaccelliaWR, Arizona Cardinals — practice squad player in 2020 and 2021; released by Cardinals on Aug. 30.
Buddha BakerS, Arizona Cardinals — 5-year veteran, starter in 68 of 78 games; made 53-man roster, starter.
Josiah BronsonDT, Dallas Cowboys — 1-year veteran, played in 6 games for Browns and Saints; released by Cowboys on Aug. 30.
Jake BrowningQB, Cincinnati Bengals — practice squad player in 2020 and 2021; released by Bengals on Aug. 30.
Myles BryantCB, New England Patriots — 2-year veteran, starter in 2 of 21 games; made 53-player roster, backup.
Will DisleyTE, Seattle Seahawks — 4-year veteran, starter in 36 of 41 games; made 53-man roster, starter.
Jacob EasonQB, Seattle Seahawks — 2-year veteran, played in 1 game for Colts; released by the Seahawks on Aug. 30.
Aaron FullerWR, Seattle Seahawks — practice squad player in 2020 and 2021; released by the Seahawks on Aug. 30.
Greg GainesDT, Los Angeles Rams — 3-year veteran, starter in 13 of 43 games; made 53-man roster, starter.
Myles GaskinRB, Miami Dolphins — 3-year veteran, starter in 17 of 34 games; made 53-man roster, backup.
Kyler GordonCB, Chicago Bears — second-round draft pick; made 53-man roster, starter
Marvin HallWR, New England Patriots — 5-year veteran, starter in 6 of 47 games for Lions, Browns and Falcons; released by Jaguars on Aug. 17.
Nick HarrisC, Cleveland Browns — 2-year veteran, starter in 2 of 23 games; placed on injured reserve on Aug. 11.
Sidney JonesCB, Seattle Seahawks — 5-year veteran, starter in 25 of 47 games for Eagles, Jaguars and Seahawks; made 53-man roster, starter.
Cory LittletonLB, Carolina Panthers — 6-year veteran, starter in 64 of 95 games for Rams and Raiders; made 53-man roster, backup.
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Trent McDuffieCB, Kansas City Chiefs — first-round draft pick; made 53-man roster, starter.
Caleb McGaryOT, Atlanta Falcons — 3-year veteran, starter in 45 of 46 games; made 53-man roster, starter.
Jordan MillerCB, Buffalo Bills — 3-year veteran, played in 12 games for Falcons and Saints; released by Bills on Aug. 24.
Byron MurphyCB, Arizona Cardinals — 3-year veteran, starter in 39 of 47 games; made 53-man roster, backup.
Elijah MoldenCB, Tennessee Titans — 1-year veteran, starter in 7 of 16 games; made 53-man roster, backup.
Levi Onwuzurike DT, Detroit Lions — 1-year veteran, played in 16 games; made 53-man roster, backup.
Cade OttonTE, Tampa Bay Bucs — fourth-round draft pick; made 53-man roster, backup.
Marcus PetersCB, Baltimore Ravens — 6-year veteran, starter in 90 of 91 games for Chiefs, Rams and Ravens; made 53-man roster, starter.
Dante PettisWR, Chicago Bears — 4-year veteran, starter in 12 of 33 games for 49ers and Giants; made 53-man roster, backup.
Benning Potoa’eDE, Tampa Bay Bucs — 2-year veteran, played in 2 games; released by Bucs on Aug. 30.
Bookie Radley-HilesCB, Cincinnati Bengals — undrafted free agent; released by Bengals on Aug. 12.
Taylor RappS, Los Angeles Rams — 3-year veteran, starter in 32 of 41 games; made 53-man roster, starter.
Drew SampleTE, Cincinnati Bengals — 2-year veteran, starter in 23 of 42 games; made 53-man roster, backup.
Coleman SheltonC, Los Angeles Rams — 3-year veteran, started 2 of 43 games; made 53-man roster, starter
Danny SheltonDT, Kansas City Chiefs — 7-year veteran, starter in 72 of 100 games for Patriots, Browns, Lions and Giants; released by Chiefs on Aug. 30.
Keith TaylorCB, Carolina Panthers — 1-year veteran, starter in 3 of 17 games; made 53-man roster, backup.
Shaq ThompsonLB, Carolina Panthers — 7-year veteran, starter in 89 of 100 games; made 53-man roster, starter
Joe Tryon-ShoyinkaDE, Tampa Bay Bucs — 1-year veteran, starter in 6 of 17 games; made 53-man roster, starter.
Ezekiel TurnerS, Arizona Cardinals — 4-year veteran, starter in 1 of 49 games; made 53-man roster, backup.
Vita VeaDT, Tampa Bay Bucs — 4-year veteran, starter in 45 of 50 games; made 53-man roster, starter.
Tristan Vizcaino, PK, New England Patriots — 2-year veteran, played in 6 games for 49ers and Chargers; released by Patriots on Aug. 30.
Dwayne WashingtonRB, New Orleans Saints — 6-year veteran, starter in 2 of 71 games; made 53-man roster, backup.
Luke WattenbergC, Denver Broncos — fifth-round draft pick; made 53-man roster, backup.
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