Category: Auburn in NFL

Jarrett Stidham ready to ‘compete’ for Denver Broncos starting QB job

The former Auburn QB will battle Bo Nix and Zach Wilson for the title of QB1 of the Denver Broncos.

Former Auburn quarterback [autotag]Jarrett Stidham[/autotag] started the final two games for the Denver Broncos last season. He led the Broncos to a 16-9 win over the Los Angeles Chargers by passing for 224 yards and a touchdown.

Heading into the 2024 season, Stidham faces a similar scenario by entering a quarterback battle. The Broncos drafted [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag] with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft and added former New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson during the offseason, which will spark competition for head coach Sean Payton.

Luckily for Stidham, he is used to competing for a starting role.

“I’ve dealt with this before when I was in New England with Mac Jones,” Stidham said in a recent press conference, “It’s a business and I totally understand it. But at the same time, I’m here to compete. I’m not going to just sit down and let someone else walk in here and [just take the role]. I’m going to work my butt off to get the job. (And) I’m super excited about it.”

In four NFL seasons, Stidham has completed 59.4 of his passes for 1,422 yards and eight touchdowns. Stidham will continue to work towards a starting role with the Broncos this offseason, and will have a chance to prove himself in a game setting beginning Aug. 11 when the Broncos kickoff the preseason against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Former Tiger Marlon Davidson re-signs with Tennessee Titans

The former All-SEC defensive lineman appeared in five games in 2023, totaling 10 tackles and a sack.

Former Auburn star defensive lineman and 2020 second-round pick [autotag]Marlon Davidson[/autotag] is staying with the Tennessee Titans in 2024.

After an up-and-down start to his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons and San Fransisco 49ers, Davidson found a home in Music City last season. The former All-SEC lineman appeared in 5 games in 2023, totaling 10 tackles and a sack. Davidson earned a start in 3 of those 5 games despite opening the season on the teams’ practice squad.

Despite the Titans actively pursuing and acquiring free agents this offseason, the team is still a few years away from challenging the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs, and maybe the AFC South rival Houston Texans, for AFC Championship honors. This makes a short-term deal with the 25-year-old Davidson a win for both sides, as Davidson gets to prove his second-round worth while Tennessee staff works towards evaluating young talent to build a winner.

Davidson’s career numbers sit at just 39 total tackles with two sacks, one fumble recovery, and one interception. If the former Tiger has a solid camp in Nashville, he realistically could double those career numbers next season.

Davidson and the Titans will open up the NFL preseason in early August. The full schedule for each team across the league is expected to be released later in May.

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Photos: Jaylin Simpson through the years

As Simpson begins the next step in his football-playing career, let’s take a look back at the best moments from Simpson’s Auburn days.

Former Auburn safety [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] was the second Tiger selected in the 2024 NFL draft.

The Indianapolis Colts selected Simpson in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL draft with the No. 164 overall pick. He was the second former Auburn player taken in the 5th round, joining fellow defensive back [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] who was selected with the No. 136 pick by the Seattle Seahawks.

Simpson chose Auburn over Clemson during the 2019 recruiting cycle, joining key players such as [autotag]Owen Pappoe[/autotag], [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag], and [autotag]Deric Hall[/autotag] by signing with Auburn during the signing period. He was a four-star cornerback from Frederica Academy in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, and was the No. 36 player from Georgia during the 2019 recruiting cycle. He was the No. 35 overall cornerback according to 247Sports.

In five seasons on the Plains, Simpson made 116 tackles with seven interceptions and 14 pass deflections. Simpson recorded a career-high 37 tackles in 2022 while hauling in a career-high four interceptions in 2023.

As Simpson begins the next step in his football-playing career, let’s take a look back at the best images from Simpson’s Auburn days.

Seahawks select Nehemiah Pritchett in 5th round of NFL Draft

The senior defensive back was rising up draft boards as recently as Wednesday, and the Seahawks saw enough promise in the 23-year-old to select him with the 156th overall pick of the draft. 

Auburn cornerback [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] became the first Tiger selected in the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday. The senior defensive back was rising up draft boards as recently as Wednesday, and the Seattle Seahawks saw enough promise in the 23-year-old to select him with the 156th overall pick of the draft.

Pritchett is coming off a 2023 season in which he appeared in 9 games for Auburn, totaling 22 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 1 interception. His play earned him a spot in the Senior Bowl, where he further impressed scouts with his physicality and toughness.

The Jackson, Alabama native is set to join a young and talented Seahawks secondary featuring 2023 Rookie of the Year candidates Tariq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon. While the pair are virtual locks to earn starting roles on the outside in 2024, Pritchett could earn reps as a slot cornerback or backup to the two. He will also reunite with former Auburn linebacker Deric Hall, who was selected by the Seahawks in last year’s draft.

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Former Auburn star Derrick Brown signs $96 Million contract extension

Former Auburn captain Derrick Brown became the fourth highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL on Friday.

Former Auburn captain Derrick Brown became the fourth highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL on Friday, signing a four-year, $96 Million contract extension with the Carolina Panthers.

The AAV of $24 Million is the highest value of any contract extension signed by a defensive tackle. Chiefs star Chris Jones, Raiders tackle Christian Wilkins, and the Ravens Justin Madubuike all have more substantial contracts but signed them as free agents on the open market.

Brown’s pay-day comes after a record-breaking season in which he became the first-ever defensive lineman to collect 103 tackles. The “run-stopper” has now collected 245 tackles, 8 sacks, 41 stuffs, and 2 interceptions in his four-year career.

With fellow standout lineman Brian Burnes now playing in New York, the former Tiger is now the leader his position group in Carolina. The Panthers front office made sure the 2020 first-round pick will stay that leader for years to come.

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Montravius Adams signs two-year deal with Steelers

Adams, who has spent three seasons in the “Steel City”, has appeared in 30 games over the last two seasons, accumulating 50 total tackles and a forced fumble.

28-year-old Auburn alumni [autotag]Montravius Adams[/autotag] has signed a two-year deal to stay with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced on Wednesday.

Adams, who has spent three seasons in the “Steel City”, has appeared in 30 games over the last two seasons, accumulating 50 total tackles and a forced fumble.

The former Auburn Tiger played the most snaps of his career last season, picking up a career-high six stuffs in the process.

Adams has seemed to find a home in Pittsburgh after struggling to garner playing time during his tenure with the Green Bay Packers. The two-year deal will keep him in the middle of the Steelers defensive line until his age-30 season.

After getting selected in the third-round of the 2017 NFL Draft by Green Bay, Adams has finally found a home in the AFC North.

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Former Auburn football CB Carlton Davis traded to Detroit Lions

After six years of playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, former Auburn football cornerback Carlton Davis III is headed to the Detroit Lions

The NFL free agency period has begun for 2024, and many teams have made dramatic moves that will set the stage for next season. Many stars are going to wear different uniforms, which will create a lot of noise for next season.

One of those moves includes former Auburn cornerback [autotag]Carlton Davis III[/autotag], who was part of the Tigers’ roster from 2015-17. After spending the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Davis has been traded to the Detroit Lions.

The former Auburn star was traded with multiple sixth-round draft picks in exchange for a third-round pick.

From 2018-2023, Davis appeared in 76 games, racking up 324 total tackles to go along with three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and nine interceptions.

While with the Tigers, he started in all three of his seasons at cornerback, making the second team on the all-SEC roster in his junior year. He appeared in 38 games, posting 138 total tackles with three forced fumbles and four interceptions.

Davis looks to be the new veteran leader and No. 1 cornerback on the roster heading into his time in Detroit.

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Prince Tega Wanogho ruled out for Super Bowl 58

Auburn alumni Prince Tega Wanogho has been ruled out ahead of the biggest game of the NFL season.

Auburn’s lone representative in the Super Bowl, Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle [autotag]Prince Tega Wanogho[/autotag], has been ruled out ahead of Super Bowl 58.

The designation marks the end of a disappointing season for the Auburn alumni. Injury issues forced the 26-year-old to miss all but 3 games this season in Kansas City.

He could have been in for an increase in snaps with the Chiefs set to miss star guard Joe Thuney in the game.

Instead, quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be playing behind a banged-up line in front of a stout 49ers defense. For what it’s worth, Mahomes’ lone Super Bowl loss occurred against the Tampa Bay Buccanneers when his offensive line failed to hold up.

We’ll see if Kansas City suffers the same fate today. As for Wanogho, the young tackle will look to prove his worth in the offseason as he looks for a new contract.

The Kansas City Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 58 Sunday at 5:30 p.m. CT. The big game will be broadcasted on CBS.

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Former Auburn walk-on Joe Whitt Jr. signs on as Washington Commanders Defensive Coordinator

Whitt Jr. will serve as defensive coordinator under new head coach Dan Quinn’s staff.

Former Auburn receiver [autotag]Joe Whitt Jr.[/autotag] has been named the next defensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Whitt Jr. has spent years coaching in the National Football League, mainly under new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn in Atlanta and most recently, Dallas.

Despite his playing experience on the offensive side of the ball, Whitt Jr. has almost exclusively coached defensive backs during his coaching career.

After a brief stint as the wide receivers coach for The Citadel in 2002, the former Auburn walk-on moved on to the University of Louisville to coach cornerbacks from 2003-2006.

Whitt Jr. would then move on to the NFL as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Atlanta Falcons before spending 11 seasons with the Green Bay Packers as a defensive quality control coach, cornerbacks coach, and defensive pass game coordinator.

He would then join the Cleveland Browns in 2019 before hooking up with Dan Quinn for the first time in 2020 with the Atlanta Falcons.

After Quinn was fired, the now-Commanders head coach moved on to be the defensive Coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. Whitt Jr. followed, and spent the past 3 seasons coaching alongside his friend and mentor.

Now, the former Auburn Tiger’s hard work has paid on in his first defensive coordinator role with the Commanders.

Washington gutted much of its defensive roster after struggling last season, so Whitt. Jr certainly will have his work cut out for him in 2024.

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Former Auburn wide receivers coach to join Atlanta Falcons staff

Hilliard served as wide receivers coach for Auburn during the final season of the Bryan Harsin era.

A former Auburn assistant is heading back to the NFL to serve on a professional staff.

[autotag]Ike Hilliard[/autotag], who coached wide receivers and later served as interim offensive coordinator at Auburn during the 2022 season, has been hired by the Atlanta Falcons to coach wide receivers as part of new head coach Raheem Morris’ staff.

During his one season at Auburn, Tiger receivers reeled in 159 passes for 2,072 yards and nine touchdowns. According to Pro Football Focus data, Auburn receivers dropped 17 passes in 2022 and earned an additional 1,077 yards after first contact.

[autotag]Ja’varrius Johnson[/autotag] was the team’s leading receiver with 493 yards and three touchdowns on 26 catches. [autotag]Koy Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Shedrick Jackson[/autotag] were next in line with a combined 531 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Hilliard returns to the NFL after spending 11 seasons as a wide receivers coach for a variety of teams such as the Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins, and Buffalo Bills. Before joining the coaching ranks, he played 12 seasons in the NFL for the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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