Purdue football coach Barry Odom previews Southern Illinois
The Boilermaker coach reflected on the opening victory over Ball State, the need for better line play, wanting more “sideline juice” and the Salukis.
- Purdue football has 14 players in the NFL this season. Here’s a rundown.
Purdue football’s collection of players on NFL rosters at the outset of the 2025 season includes two pairs of teammates.
Aidan O’Connell and Raheem Mostert’s Boilermaker careers were separated by five years. The quarterback and running back now occupy the same backfield with the Las Vegas Raiders.
At some point this season, New York Giants rookie offensive tackle Marcus Mbow could again block for running back Tyron Tracy Jr. They were Boilermaker teammates in 2022-23 after Tracy transferred in from Iowa.
Here’s a rundown of all 14 former Boilermakers in the NFL this season:
- George Karlaftis, DE, Kansas City Chiefs: The two-time Super Bowl champion signed a four-year, $93 million deal in the offseason. He has recorded eight sacks in 10 career postseason games.
- Aidan O’Connell, QB, Las Vegas Raiders: Was in line to be the backup to Geno Smith before suffering a wrist fracture. He will start the season on injured reserve and is expected to miss at least the first month of games.
- Raheem Mostert, RB, Las Vegas Raiders: The 33-year-old joined his sixth organization in the offseason. It’s rookie Ashton Jeanty, though, who is expected to be the primary ball carrier in Vegas.
- Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants: Enjoyed a productive rookie year with 1,123 combined yards rushing and receiving and six total touchdowns. He’ll face competition for the lead back job, though, including from rookie Cam Skattebo.
- Marcus Mbow, OT, New York Giants: Projects as the backup right tackle. He offers some versatility, having started Purdue’s entire 2022 season at guard.
- Charlie Jones, WR, Cincinnati Bengals: Offseason included surgeries for a sports hernia and a neve issue in his oblique. Reports in recent weeks, though, suggested “Chuck Sizzle” showed up in preseason camp.
- Payne Durham, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield’s No. 2 tight end option behind Cade Otton. Doubled his production to 115 yards and two touchdowns on 11 receptions in his second season.
- Derrick Barnes, LB, Detroit Lions: Reliable starter limited to only three games last season due to a knee injury. Lions expressed belief in the Sam linebacker’s value with a three-year, $25.5 million extension in March.
- Sanoussi Kane, S, Baltimore Ravens: Played in 15 games last season as a rookie after being a seventh-round selection. Projects as a backup in an annually solid defense.
- Rondale Moore, WR, Minnesota Vikings: More bad luck for the once-electric slot receiver. After missing all of last season with the Falcons, suffered a season-ending knee injury on the first play of the preseason opener.
- David Bell, WR, Cleveland Browns: Placed on the active/non-football injury list at the start of camp. Played only one game last season and may be running out of chances in Cleveland.
- Cory Trice Jr., CB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Played in six games last season, including one start. However, he’ll miss at least the first four games this season after a lingering hamstring injury forced him to IR.
- Jalen Graham, LB, San Francisco 49ers: Is in his second stint with the 49ers, mostly as a practice squad player. That’s how he opens this season.
- Reese Taylor, CB, Denver Broncos: Former undrafted free agent opens the season on the practice squad.
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