Maintaining a strong pro-football presence, 27 former University of Washington players have earned NFL roster spots after the 53-man cut day came and went on Tuesday — which is one less Husky than one year ago.
A whopping 13 of them are projected as starters, which is actually four more than last season at this time, and doesn’t include the injured Nick Harris, who was slated to start under center for the Cleveland Browns but was injured in his preseason opener. and lost for the season.
Former Husky defensive tackle Danny Shelton, who recently signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, might have been the biggest surprise among those who didn’t survive the roster cut. A seven-year veteran and starter in 72 of 100 NFL games, he reportedly gave an impressive tryout and was signed immediately, but he still didn’t stick.
Each of UW’s four April draftees, cornerbacks Trent McDuffie (Chiefs) and Kyler Gordon (Bears), 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 Huskies drafted by the NFL are defensive players.
Three teams have three former UW players on their rosters. The Bucs will return defensive tackles Vita Vea, Tryon-Shoyinka and Otton; The Cardinals depend 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.
Once Husky quarterbacks didn’t fare so well, with Jake Browning (Bengalis) and Jacob Eason (Seahawks) ending up as casualties of the cut.
One player who just won’t go away is former Husky running back Dwayne Washington, who is back for a seventh season with the Saints, highly regarded for his play on special teams. He started just two of the 71 games he played in his NFL career.
Nearly a dozen former UW players are free agents and did not go to training camp with anyone, with cornerbacks Kevin King and Desmond Trufant and wide receiver John Ross among the most notable.
Below is a rundown of all the pro football comings and goings, plus their NFL experience, which includes the Huskies once:
HUSKY NFL TRACKER:
Salvon AhmedRB, Miami Dolphins — 2-year veteran, starter in 4 of 18 games; made the 53-man roster, reserve.
Andre BaccelliaWR, Arizona Cardinals – practice squad player in 2020 and 2021; releasing by the Cardinals on Aug. 30.
Buddha BakerS, Arizona Cardinals — 5-year veteran, started 68 of 78 games; made the 53-man roster, starter.
Josiah BronsonDT, Dallas Cowboys — 1-year veteran, played in 6 games for Browns and Saints; released by the Cowboys on Aug. 30.
Jake BrowningQB, Cincinnati Bengals – practice squad player in 2020 and 2021; released by the Bengals on Aug. 30.
Myles BryantCB, New England Patriots – 2-year veteran, started 2 of 21 games; made the 53-man roster, reserve.
Will DisleyTE, Seattle Seahawks — 4-year veteran, started 36 of 41 games; made the 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, started 13 of 43 games; made the 53-man roster, starter.
Myles GaskinRB, Miami Dolphins — 3-year veteran, started 17 of 34 games; made the 53-man roster, reserve.
Kyler GordonCB, Chicago Bears – second round draft pick; made the 53-man roster, starter
Marvin HallWR, New England Patriots — 5-year veteran, started 6 of 47 games for Lions, Browns and Falcons; released by Jaguar on August 17.
Nick HarrisC, Cleveland Browns – 2-year veteran, started 2 of 23 games; placed on injured reserve August 11.
Sidney JonesCB, Seattle Seahawks — 5-year veteran, started 25 of 47 games for Eagles, Jaguars and Seahawks; made the 53-man roster, starter.
Littleton ChoirLB, Carolina Panthers — 6-year veteran, started 64 of 95 games for Rams and Raiders; made the 53-man roster, reserve.
Scroll to Continue
Trent McDuffieCB, Kansas City Chiefs – first round draft pick; made the 53-man roster, starter.
Caleb McGaryOT, Atlanta Falcons – 3-year veteran, started 45 of 46 games; made the 53-man roster, starter.
Jordan MillerCB, Buffalo Bills – 3-year veteran, played in 12 games for Falcons and Saints; released by the Bills on Aug. 24.
Byron MurphyCB, Arizona Cardinals — 3-year veteran, started 39 of 47 games; made the 53-man roster, reserve.
Elijah MoldenCB, Tennessee Titans — 1-year veteran, started 7 of 16 games; made the 53-man roster, reserve.
Levi Onwuzurike DT, Detroit Lions — 1-year veteran, played in 16 games; made the 53-man roster, reserve.
Cade OttonTE, Tampa Bay Bucs – fourth round draft pick; made the 53-man roster, reserve.
Marcus PetersCB, Baltimore Ravens – 6-year veteran, started 90 of 91 games for Chiefs, Rams and Ravens; made the 53-man roster, starter.
Dante PettisWR, Chicago Bears — 4-year veteran, started 12 of 33 games for 49ers and Giants; made the list of 53 people, reserve.
Benning SmartDE, Tampa Bay Bucs — 2-year veteran, played in 2 games; released by the Bucs on Aug. 30.
Bookie Radley-HilesCB, Cincinnati Bengals – undrafted free agent; released by the Bengals on Aug. 12.
Taylor RappS, Los Angeles Rams — 3-year veteran, started 32 of 41 games; made the 53-man roster, starter.
Drew SampleTE, Cincinnati Bengals — 2-year veteran, started 23 of 42 games; made the list of 53 people, reserve.
Coleman SheltonC, Los Angeles Rams – 3-year veteran, started 2 of 43 games; made the 53-man roster, starter
Danny SheltonDT, Kansas City Chiefs — 7-year veteran, started 72 of 100 games for Patriots, Browns, Lions and Giants; issued by the Chiefs on August 30.
Keith TaylorCB, Carolina Panthers — 1-year veteran, started 3 of 17 games; made the list of 53 people, reserve.
Shaq ThompsonLB, Carolina Panthers — 7-year veteran, starter in 89 of 100 games; made the 53-man roster, starter
Joe Tryon-ShoyinkaDE, Tampa Bay Bucs — 1-year veteran, started 6 of 17 games; made the 53-man roster, starter.
Ezekiel TurnerS, Arizona Cardinals — 4-year veteran, started 1 of 49 games; made the list of 53 people, reserve.
Vita VeaDT, Tampa Bay Bucs — 4-year veteran, started 45 of 50 games; made the 53-man roster, starter.
Tristan Vizcaino, PK, New England Patriots — 2-year veteran, played in 6 games for 49ers and Chargers; released by the Patriots on Aug. 30.
Dwayne WashingtonRB, New Orleans Saints — 6-year veteran, started 2 of 71 games; made the list of 53 people, reserve.
Luke WattenbergC, Denver Broncos – fifth round draft pick; made the 53-man roster, reserve.
Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Inside the Huskies stories as they are published.
Not all stories are posted on fan sites.
Find Inside the Huskies on Facebook by searching: Husky Maven/Sports Illustrated
Follow Dan Raley of Inside the Huskies on Twitter: @DanRaley1 and @HuskyMaven