Auburn Tigers in the NFL: Can Chandler Wooten stick with the Cards?
The last time many of you saw Chandler Wooten, he was making plays at linebacker for Auburn. A lot of them.
In 2021, he finished with 95 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss and an interception.
A team captain, Wooten capped his Tigers career with 12 tackles and a pick in the Birmingham Bowl.
Despite having a solid senior season, he went undrafted in the spring but later signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Now, he’s trying to secure a spot on the roster in the desert.
Whether or not that happens, the Auburn product is making a good impression on the organization.
Here’s what Kevin Parrish Jr. of Azcardinals.com wrote about Wooten this week:
As a fourth-stringer on the depth chart, Wooten faces an uphill battle to make the final roster. He’s fighting for his future and the chance to take care of his family.
He doesn’t know how things will play out, but he’s controlling what he can control. His next test comes when the team heads to Tennessee with a joint practice with the Titans.
He became a father while at Auburn
“My son is all the motivation I need,” Wooten said. “I had him in 2020. He’ll be 2 in November. Him and his mom are my why’s. I do it for them and can’t have a bad or off day because they have to eat. That pushes me to keep going and never stop.”
Wooten had an interception in Arizona’s most recent preseason game that seemed to get everyone’s attention.
“He just continues to improve,” Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporter. “He acts like a pro, and he’s prepared like a pro since he’s gotten here,” the head coach said. “(Wooten) continues to flash, so that was good to see.”
Tuesday, NFL teams cut the roster from 85 to 80. On Aug. 30, they go from 80 to 53 players.
A look at some other former Auburn players in the league
Elsewhere in the NFL …
*The Titans, according to this report, are “gushing” about rookie second-rounder Roger McCreary, a corner and first-team Auburn All-American. This comes from Gentry Estes of the Nashville Tennessean:
You can tell coach Mike Vrabel respects McCreary, too. He has continued to praise the cornerback’s competitiveness and coachability, two terms of endearment for someone in Vrabel’s shoes.
“They may catch a couple on him,” Vrabel said, “but he’s going to keep competing.”
However the cornerback rotation shakes out for the Titans this season, it’s becoming a safer bet that McCreary is going to be part of it.
During Saturday’s preseason victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, McCreary played multiple positions in the secondary, as has been the case in practices. He was a top-two cornerback opposite Kristian Fulton. Then when the Titans went to three DBs to match the offense, Farley came in to play the boundary and McCreary shifted to the slot.
Another injury setback for one former Tiger
*Former Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson, a second-teamer competing for playing time at the 5-technique position, had his knee scoped (last) Thursday morning, and will miss the rest of the preseason, according to ESPN. Making the roster is no sure thing for Davidson, ESPN’s Michael Rothstein Tweeted: “Davidson, Atlanta’s 2nd round pick in 2020, has been fighting for a roster spot and has not been considered a roster lock throughout camp.”
*Now in his 12th year in the NFL, former Auburn standout Josh Bynes is a projected starter at inside linebacker with the Ravens. On the same team, undrafted rookie linebacker Zakoby McClain of Auburn is fighting for a roster spot. It won’t be easy.
*Steelers Now projects Montravius Adams, playing in his sixth season, to make Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster. He’s current running with the second team at nose tackle.
*Here’s a complete list of former Auburn players in the NFL with updates on their depth chart status.
