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Forty-nine former Michigan football players land on initial 53-man NFL rosters

clayton-sayfieby: Clayton Sayfie08/27/25CSayf23
Will Johnson Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson was an All-American with Michigan Wolverines football. (Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

NFL teams were mandated to reduce rosters to 53 players this week, and Michigan Wolverines football is represented well across the league heading into the 2025 campaign. There are 49 former U-M players on initial 53-man rosters.

Included in that 49 are eight rookies, including six of the seven who were picked in the draft. The only 2025 selection to not make an initial 53-man roster is offensive lineman Myles Hinton, but only because he’s on the injured reserve list with a ‘designated to return’ tag. Additionally, one undrafted free agent from this year’s draft class made his team — long snapper William Wagner.

Numerous players were cut. However, they’ll have the opportunity to be picked up on waivers, eventually signed to a team or added to a practice squad. Their journeys aren’t over.

Here are the former Michigan players who were on training camp rosters but got cut before the roster deadline Tuesday: defensive end Luiji Vilain (Dallas Cowboys), offensive tackle Andrew Stueber (Cincinnati Bengals), wide receiver Ronnie Bell (Detroit Lions), wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (Green Bay Packers), offensive guard LaDarius Henderson (Houston Texans), cornerback David Long Jr. (Indianapolis Colts), tight end Sean McKeon (Indianapolis Colts), linebacker Michael Barrett (Las Vegas Raiders), defensive lineman Christopher Hinton (Los Angeles Chargers), offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart (Los Angeles Chargers), offensive tackle Ryan Hayes (Miami Dolphins), wide receiver A.J. Henning (Miami Dolphins), offensive lineman Josh Priebe (Miami Dolphins), wide receiver Tarik Black (Miami Dolphins), cornerback Ambry Thomas (Minnesota Vikings), wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (New Orleans Saints), safety Makari Paige (New York Giants), running back Donovan Edwards (New York Jets), wide receiver Giles Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles), linebacker Julius Welschof (Pittsburgh Steelers), offensive lineman Drake Nugent (San Francisco 49ers), linebacker Josh Ross (Seattle Seahawks) and linebacker Khaleke Hudson (Tennessee Titans).

In addition to Hinton with the Eagles, two other former Michigan players are on the injured reserve for their teams — tight end Erick All (Cincinnati Bengals) and linebacker Junior Colson (Los Angeles Chargers). All is still recovering from a knee injury suffered last season, while Colson will miss the entire 2025 campaign with an undisclosed ailment.

Here’s a look at all of the former Michigan players on initial 53-man NFL rosters for the 2025 season:

PlayerPositionNFL TeamPlayed at Michigan
Will JohnsonCBArizona Cardinals2022-24
David OjaboOLBBaltimore Ravens2019-21
Brad RobbinsPBuffalo Bills2017-22
Colston LovelandTEChicago Bears2022-24
Dax HillCBCincinnati Bengals2019-21
Kris JenkinsDTCincinnati Bengals2020-23
DJ Turner IICBCincinnati Bengals2019-22
William WagnerLSCincinnati Bengals2019-24
Devin BushLBCleveland Browns2016-18
Mason GrahamDTCleveland Browns2022-24
Zak ZinterOGCleveland Browns2020-23
Joe Milton IIIQBDallas Cowboys2018-20
Luke SchoonmakerTEDallas Cowboys2018-22
Mazi SmithDTDallas Cowboys2019-22
Graham GlasgowOLDetroit Lions2012-15
Aidan HutchinsonDLDetroit Lions2018-21
Rashan GaryDLGreen Bay Packers2016-18
Nico CollinsWRHouston Texans2017-19
Cameron McGroneLBIndianapolis Colts2018-20
Kwity PayeDEIndianapolis Colts2017-20
Jourdan LewisCBJacksonville Jaguars2013-16
Mike DannaDEKansas City Chiefs2019
Hassan HaskinsRBLos Angeles Chargers2018-21
Benjamin St-JusteCBLos Angeles Chargers2017-18
Blake CorumRBLos Angeles Rams2020-23
Josaiah StewartOLBLos Angeles Rams2023-24
Josh WallaceCBLos Angeles Rams2023
Kenneth GrantDTMiami Dolphins2022-24
J.J. McCarthyQBMinnesota Vikings2021-23
Joshua MetellusSMinnesota Vikings2016-19
Mike OnwenuOLNew England Patriots2016-19
Jabrill PeppersSNew England Patriots2014-16
Cesar RuizC/GNew Orleans Saints2017-19
James Hudson IIIOTNew York Giants2017-18
Jon RunyanOGNew York Giants2016-19
Braiden McGregorEDGENew York Jets2020-23
Trevor KeeganOGPhiladelphia Eagles2019-23
Joshua UcheOLBPhiladelphia Eagles2016-19
Ben VanSumerenFBPhiladelphia Eagles2018-20
Roman WilsonWRPittsburgh Steelers2020-23
Jake MoodyKSan Francisco 49ers2018-22
AJ BarnerTESeattle Seahawks2023
Zach CharbonnetRBSeattle Seahawks2019-20
Mike MorrisDESeattle Seahawks2019-22
Olu OluwatimiCSeattle Seahawks2022
Ben BredesonOGTampa Bay Buccaneers2016-19
Jaylen HarrellOLBTennessee Titans2020-23
Kalel MullingsRBTennessee Titans2020-24
Mike SainristilCBWashington Commanders2019-23