It’s that time again! What former Gophers will make an NFL Roster?
It’s that time again. NFL training camps and the preseason are in full swing with 22 former Gophers in NFL camps. Not all 22 will end up on an NFL roster when all is said and done, but were is a summary of where the ex-Gophers are, how they are doing this summer, and what we think their chances are of making a final 53-man regular season roster spot, or if they may end up somewhere on a practice squad somewhere.
Baltimore Ravens:
Rashod Bateman-WR
Bateman begins his fourth NFL season with the Ravens and will see if this is the year he can grab a consistent starting spot in the Ravens lineup. Bateman signed a 2 year $12 Million extension in the offseason and is expected to start alongside Zay Flowers and be one of Lamar Jackson’s main targets. If he can stay healthy…
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
Daniel Faalele-OL
Faalele enters his third season with the Ravens and for the first time in his career appears in line for a starting spot. He started his NFL career at right tackle just as he did at Minnesota but this offseason has been moved inside to right guard where is currently sits atop the depth chart. If he does earn the starting job as it appears, he will be the biggest guard in the NFL at 6’8 380.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
Chicago Bears
Terrell Smith-CB
Smith started four games in his rookie year for the Bears a year ago playing in 12 total games after missing five games with appendicitis. Smith will likely be the third cornerback for the Bears this season with some starts and playing a good amount whether he starts or not.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
Dallas Cowboys
Brevin Span-Ford-TE
Span-Ford joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent this offseason. Om two preseason games he has been targeted three times with two catches for 13 yards. He currently sits at best 5th on the Cowboy’s depth chart and will be in a dogfight not to make the main roster, but to try and show enough to earn a practice squad spot.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 0%
Chance of making the practice squad: 10%
Damien Wilson-LB
Wilson is back in the NFL after not playing in 2023. He’s back in Dallas where he started his career playing four seasons. Currently he is slated as the backup middle linebacker on the depth chart and appears to have a good chance to return to the league at the age of 31.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 85%
Houston Texans
Eric Murray-S
Murray returns to Houston for his 5th season and his 10th NFL season in total. Murray played less last season than he had ever in his career seeing action in just six games. He currently is slated as the Texans backup strong safety and should be fairly safe to make the final roster.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 90%
Jacksonville Jaguars
Esezi Otomewo-DL
Otomewo is back in Jacksonville for a season season after ending up there after the Minnesota Vikings cut him in training camp last fall. He spent the season on the Jaguars practice squad and did not see any regular season action. He currently is a 4th string DT and will most likely need to earn a practice squad spot once again,
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 0%
Chance of making the practice squad: 50%
Los Angeles Chargers
Chris Collins-LB
Collins signed as a UDFA with the Chargers in April. He has shown limited sparks in camp but is buried in the depth chart and will likely need to fight for a practice squad spot after cutdown day.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 0%
Chance of making the practice squad: 10%
Los Angeles Rams
Tyler Johnson-WR
Johnson is trying to make the Rams roster in training camp for the first time after signing midseason with the Rams a year ago. He currently sits on the 2nd team and will be in a fight to earn one of the final roster spots on the Rams 53-man roster. He made one nice catch in the Rams most recent preseason game and it will be a numbers game for him whether he can earn the #4 or #5 WR spot or whether he will need to see if he can catch on elsewhere.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 55%
Minnesota Vikings
Blake Cashman-LB
Cashman returns home after signing a free agent deal with the Vikings in the offseason. Cashman is coming off of a career year with the Texans in 2023 and looked to play a large role in the Vikings defense this season. He injured a finger early in camp and has missed some time but should be back for the regular season opener.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
New Orleans Saints
Jordan Howden-S
Howden started seven games a season ago for the Saints and looks to play an even larger role this season. Unfortunately he has not had a great camp this far and while he appears safe to make the roster will need to make up some serious ground to see major playing time early in the season.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 95%
New York Giants
Tyler Nubin-S
Nubin was drafted in the 2nd round by the Giants last spring and looks to jump into a starting role right away if he can remain healthy. He currently is running with the second team but has the ability to jump into that starting role.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
John-Michael Schmitz-C
Schmitz jumped right into the starting center role as a rookie for the Giants only missing time with a shoulder injury. He will once again start for the Giants as they try to have a better 2024.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
Carter Coughlin-LB
Coughlin will stat his 5th season with the Giants in 2024. He has not ever seen significant playing time on the defense, but has been a special teams mainstay for the Giants for the past four seasons. He currently is slated as a second team linebacker, but again should play a large role on all four special teams units.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
Kyler Baugh-DL
Baugh signed with the Giants this eek after being cut by the Saints last week after the first preseason game. Baugh is most likely a camp body for the Giants, but they will give him a chance to play out in the final preseason game to see if he is worthy of a practice quad spot.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 0%
Chance of making the practice squad: 3%
Seattle Seahawks
Boye Mafe-Rush
Mafe will begin his third season with the Seahawks and look to put a complete season together. He had a great middle section of the season last year with sacks in seven straight games, but was basically held without a sack the rest of the season. If he can be more consistent he could be a major threat for Seattle.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
San Francisco 49ers
De’vondre Cambell-LB
Campbell ended up signing with the 49ers in the offseason after he was cut by the Packers after an injury prone season. He is slated to start for the 49ers and moves into a big spot with a potential Super Bowl contender.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Antoine Winfield-S
After becoming the highest paid DB in the NFL in the offseason—yeah I think he’s pretty safe.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
Ko Kieft-TE
Kieft enters year three with the Buccaneers on the edge of the roster bubble. Under the new Buccaneer regime his playing time decreased significantly last season from his rookie year. He still is slated as the 3rd tight end on the Bucs roster and probably will make the squad, but he will be in a fight with 7th round pick Devin Culp especially if the Buccaneers keep moving more towards spread offense which does not suit Kieft.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 70%
Tennessee Titans
Jack Gibbens-LB
Gibbons had a breakout season a year ago starting 13 games for the Titans. He has not had a great camp but will definitely be in consideration of that starting spot again until the regular season opener.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
Thomas Rush-DE
Rush signed with the Titans as a UDFA in 2023 and was one of the last cuts of the roster. He’s back with the Titans in 2024 trying to change that, but is in a fight again for a spot. He has his work cut out for him.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 15%
Chance of making the practice squad: 50%
Washington Commanders
Benjamin St. Juste-CB
St. Juste enters his fourth season in Washington after starting 16 games for the Commanders a year ago. He is in the drivers seat to start again this season.
Chance of making the 53-man roster: 100%
NFL rosters need to be down to the 53 man limit by August 27th. We will check back in after the cuts and see just how the ex-Gophers faired as NFL teams get ready to start the season.