Tracking the Husky Winners and Losers in Pursuit of NFL Jobs

Final NFL roster cuts this week showed University of Washington football players every reason why they should complete their college degrees or wisely invest that name, image and licensing money.

Their collective pro football job hunt went like this: of 48 candidates with Husky ties, 24 came away with jobs when the NFL rosters were finalized at 53 and just nine of them currently are pegged as starters.

Once highly regarded UW players from different eras such as offensive guard Jaxson Kirkland, running back Myles Gaskin and defensive tackle Danny Shelton each came away empty, faced with finding another franchise to impress or turning to a career in the real world.

Their Montlake credentials were ample: Kirkland was a three-time All-Pac-12 selection, Gaskin remains the Huskies' all-time leading rusher with 5,323 career yards and Shelton not only was the 12th player taken in the 2015 NFL draft, he owns a pair of Super Bowl rings.

No Huskies from Kalen DeBoer's 11-2 team last season were drafted this past April, leaving seven players to go the undrafted free agent route. Yet they went 0-for-7 in trying to show the draft analysts they were wrong.

On the upbeat side, former UW quarterback Jake Browning, who threw for 12,296 yards and 94 touchdowns in his college career in Montlake, won the Cincinnati Bengals back-up role behind Joe Burrow, beating out NFL journeyman and ex-Northwestern signal-caller Trevor Siemian.

"Yeah, I thought Jake did a good job," Bengals coach Zac Taylor told reporters. "I thought both those guys really gave us what we wanted there those last two weeks. Jake was deserving of that opportunity so he is the No. 2 quarterback and I feel confident with where he ended training camp."

Browning has spent four years on NFL practice squads in Cincinnati and Minnesota, but never appeared in a regular-season game.

That could change on Sept. 9, when the Bengals open against the Cleveland Browns on the road. It's unclear whether Burrow, nursing an ankle injury, will be ready to go. Browning, providing Cincinnati doesn't add another QB, could be the starter that day.

The following is a breakdown of all of the NFL roster comings and goings recently involving one-time Huskies.

HUSKY NFL TRACKER:

Salvon Ahmed, RB, Miami Dolphins — 3-year veteran, starter in 4 of 30 career games, 532-yard career rusher; made 53-player roster.

Andre Baccellia, WR, Arizona Cardinals — 1-year veteran, played in 8 games without starting; released by Cardinals on Aug. 29.

Budda Baker, S, Arizona Cardinals — 6-year veteran, starter in 83 of 93 games, 5-time Pro Bowl selection; made 53-man roster, starter.

Cam Bright, LB, Cleveland Browns — undrafted free agent; released by Browns on Aug. 27.

Josiah Bronson, DT, Miami Dolphins — played in 8 games for Browns, Saints and Dolphins over 2 seasons; released by Dolphins on Aug. 28.

Jake Browning, QB, Cincinnati Bengals — 4-year practice squad player for Bengals and Minnesota Vikings; made 53-man roster.

Myles Bryant, CB, New England Patriots — 3-year veteran, played in 38 games, has 3 interceptions: made 53-man roster.

Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Seattle Seahawks — 2-year veteran, played in 32 games, missed last 2 seasons; released by Seahawks on Aug. 29.

Terrell Bynum, WR, Los Angeles Chargers — undrafted free agent from USC after playing for UW; released by Chargers on Aug. 29.

Alex Cook, S, New York Giants — undrafted free agent; released by Giants on Aug. 29.

Darrell Daniels, TE, Detroit Lions — 5-year veteran, starter in 18 of 61 games for Colts, Cardinals and Seahawks; released by Lions on Aug. 29.

Will Dissly, TE, Seattle Seahawks — 5-year veteran, starter in 51 of 56 games, has 110 career catches for 1,249 yards and 12 TDs; made 53-man roster.

Milo Eifler, LB, Washington Commanders — 2-year veteran, played in 10 games, after signing as undrafted free agent from Illinois and UW; released by Commanders on Aug. 28.

Greg Gaines, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 4-year veteran, starter in 25 of 59 games for Rams, has Super Bowl ring; made 53-man roster.

Myles Gaskin, RB, Miami Dolphins — 4-year veteran, starter in 17 of 38 games, career 1,355-yard rusher; released by Dolphins on Aug. 29.

Kyler Gordon, CB, Chicago Bears — 1-year veteran, started 14 of 14 games; made 53-man roster.

Nick Harris, C, Cleveland Browns — 2-year veteran, starter in 2 of 23 games, missed 2022 season with injury; made 53-man roster.

Sidney Jones IV, CB, Cincinnati Bengals — 6-year veteran, starter in 27 of 57 games for Eagles, Jaguars, Seahawks and Raiders; released by Bengals on Aug. 29.

Jaxson Kirkland, OT, Cincinnati Bengals — undrafted free agent; released by Bengals on Aug. 29.

Cory Littleton, LB, Houston Texans — 7-year veteran, starter in 71 of 110 games for Rams, Raiders and Panthers; released by Texans on Aug. 29.

Corey Luciano, C, San Francisco 49ers — undrafted free agent; released by 49ers on Aug. 29.

Jeremiah Martin, ER, Cleveland Browns — undrafted free agent; released by Browns on Aug. 29.

Trent McDuffie, CB, Kansas City Chiefs — 1-year veteran, started 11 of 11 games, has Super Bowl ring; made 53-man roster, starter.

Kaleb McGary, OT, Atlanta Falcons — 4-year veteran, starter in 62 of 63 games; made 53-man roster, starter.

Jaydon Mickens, WR, New York Giants — 5-year veteran, played in 38 games without starting for Bucs and Jaguars, has Super Bowl ring; released by Giants on Aug. 27.

Elijah Molden, CB, Tennessee Titans — 2-year veteran, starter in 8 of 18 games; made 53-man roster.

Byron Murphy, CB, Minnesota Vikings — 4-year veteran, starter in 48 of 56 games for Cardinals, has 5 career interceptions, 2 defensive TDs; made 53-man roster, starter.

Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams — 5th-round draft pick from BYU, played two years for the UW; made 53-man roster.

Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Detroit Lions — 1-year veteran, played in 16 games without starting, missed 2022 season with injury; made 53-man roster.

Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Bucs — 1-year veteran, started 11 of 16 games, 42 receptions for 391 yards and 1 TD; made 53-man roster, starter.

Jordan Perryman, CB, Las Vegas Raiders — undrafted free agent; placed on injured reserve and waived on July 26.

Marcus Peters, CB, Las Vegas Raiders — 7-year veteran, starter in 103 of 104 games for Chiefs, Rams and Ravens, has 32 career interceptions, 6 for TDs; made 53-man roster, starter.

Dante Pettis, WR, Chicago Bears — 5-year veteran, starter in 19 of 50 games for Bears, 49ers and Giants, 71 career catches for 984 yards and 12 TDs; placed on injured reserve on Aug. 25.

Benning Potoa'e, DE, Washington Commanders — 3-year veteran, played in 4 games for Bucs and Commanders, has Super Bowl ring; released by Commanders on Aug. 29.

Taylor Rapp, S, Buffalo Bills — 2-year veteran, starter in 48 of 57 games for Rams, 9 career interceptions, has Super Bowl ring; made 53-man roster.

John Ross, WR, Kansas City Chiefs — 5-year veteran, starter in 21 of 37 games for Bengals and Giants, 62 career receptions for 957 yards and 11 TDs; retired on July 26.

Drew Sample, TE, Cincinnati Bengals — 4-year veteran, starter in 25 of 44 games, 58 career receptions for 458 yards and 1 TD; made 53-man roster.

Coleman Shelton, C, Los Angeles Rams — 4-year veteran, started in 15 of 56 games at guard and center, has Super Bowl ring; made 53-man roster.

Danny Shelton, DT, Kansas City Chiefs — 8-year veteran, starter in 72 of 101 games for Patriots, Browns, Lions, Giants and Chiefs, has two Super Bowl rings; released by Chiefs on Aug. 29.

Wayne Taulapapa, RB, Seattle Seahawks — undrafted free agent; released by Seahawks on Aug. 27.

Keith Taylor, CB, Carolina Panthers — 2-year veteran, starter in 5 of 34 games; released by Panthers on Aug. 29.

Shaq Thompson, LB, Carolina Panthers — 8-year veteran, starter in 106 of 117 games, 709 career tackles; made 53-man roster, starter.

Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, DE, Tampa Bay Bucs — 2-year veteran, stater in 22 of 34 games; made 53-man roster, starter.

Zeke Turner, S, Arizona Cardinals — 5-year veteran, starter in 2 of 62 games, mostly a special-teams player; made 53-man roster.

Vita Vea, DT, Tampa Bay Bucs — 5-year veteran, starter in 59 of 64 games, 137 career tackles, has Super Bowl ring; made 53-man roster, starter.

Tristan Vizcaino, PK, Dallas Cowboys — 3-year veteran, played in 10 games for 49ers, Cowboys, Giants and Patriots; released by Cowboys on Aug. 7.

Dwayne Washington, RB, Denver Broncos — 5-year veteran, starter in 2 of 83 games for Lions and Saints, 592-yard career rusher; released by Broncos on Aug. 29.

Luke Wattenberg, C, Denver Broncos — 1-year veteran, started 1 of 7 games; made 53-man roster.

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