Rashaan Evans, Julio Jones among unsigned NFL players
On March 15, 41 players from Alabama high schools and colleges became unrestricted free agents. Four months later, 13 of them still are.
And they’re running out of time to find a team for the 2023 NFL season.
The rookies for nine teams report for training camp on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the New York Jets will become the first team with its full roster in training camp. By July 26, all 32 NFL teams will be in camp.
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The unsigned players include linebacker Rashaan Evans, one of the NFL’s top tacklers in 2022, and wide receiver Julio Jones, who has the sixth-most receiving yards in the NFL in this century.
But seven weeks until the kickoff of the 2023 NFL season, they don’t have a contract to keep playing.
The players with Alabama football roots who became unrestricted free agents on March 15 and remain unsigned include:
· Linebacker Kwon Alexander (Oxford) had 69 tackles, six tackles for loss, one-half sack and one forced fumble in 17 games, including 12 starts, for the New York Jets in 2022. He played 49 percent of the Jets’ defensive snaps.
· Cornerback Anthony Averett (Alabama) started six games for the Las Vegas Raiders, but injuries limited him to seven games in 2022.
· Safety Landon Collins (Alabama), a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro, played in six games for the New York Giants in his eighth NFL season in 2022.
· Running back Kenyan Drake (Alabama) had 482 yards and four touchdowns on 109 rushing attempts and 89 yards and one touchdown on 17 receptions in 12 games, including five starts, for the Baltimore Ravens in 2022.
· Linebacker Rashaan Evans (Auburn High, Alabama) finished eighth in the NFL with 159 tackles as he played 98 percent of the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive snaps in his fifth NFL season in 2022.
· Outside linebacker Trey Flowers (Columbia) was limited to four games for the Miami Dolphins by a foot injury in 2022 after injuries limited him to seven games in each of the previous two seasons.
· Defensive end Da’Shawn Hand (Alabama) played in one game for the Tennessee Titans in 2022 because of a quadriceps injury.
· Safety Ronnie Harrison (Alabama) played 252 defensive snaps and 153 special-teams plays in 16 games, including five starts, for the Cleveland Browns in 2022.
· Offensive tackle Chris Hubbard (UAB) played in four games, with one start, in an injury-affected season with the Cleveland Browns in 2022.
· Wide receiver Julio Jones (Foley, Alabama) had 24 receptions for 299 yards and two touchdowns for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. For the third season in a row, Jones missed seven games because of hamstring ailments.
· Tight end Jordan Matthews (Madison Academy) spent his ninth NFL season on the San Francisco 49ers’ injured reserve because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2022.
· Linebacker Reggie Ragland (Bob Jones, Alabama) played in four games, with two starts, for the Cleveland Browns in 2022.
· Long snapper Carson Tinker (Alabama) handled all the snaps on punts and place-kicks for the Seattle Seahawks in his seventh NFL season in 2022.
The 28 players from Alabama high schools and college who became unrestricted free agents on March 15 and are preparing to report for training camp (with one exception) include:
· Defensive lineman Angelo Blackson (Auburn) signed with the Baltimore Ravens after playing for the Chicago Bears.
· Center Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama) re-signed with the Carolina Panthers.
· Cornerback James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford) re-signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.
· Cornerback Tony Brown (Alabama) re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts.
· Defensive lineman Byron Cowart (Auburn) signed with the Houston Texans after playing for the Indianapolis Colts.
· Linebacker Tae Davis (Oxford) signed with the Atlanta Falcons after playing for the Cleveland Browns.
· Cornerback Jamel Dean (Auburn) re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
· Safety Rudy Ford (New Hope, Auburn) re-signed with the Green Bay Packers.
· Running back Damien Harris (Alabama) signed with the Buffalo Bills after playing with the New England Patriots.
· Tight end O.J. Howard (Autauga Academy, Alabama) signed with the Las Vegas Raiders after playing for the Houston Texans.
· Running back Mark Ingram (Alabama) joined the FOX Sports’ college-football show after playing with the New Orleans Saints.
· Safety Kareem Jackson (Alabama) re-signed with the Denver Broncos.
· Linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville) signed with the Philadelphia Eagles after playing for the Chicago Bears.
· Quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
· Defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) signed with the New York Giants after playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
· Defensive tackle Jarran Reed (Alabama) signed with the Seattle Seahawks after playing for the Green Bay Packers.
· Outside linebacker Malik Reed (Dothan) signed with the Miami Dolphins after playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
· Defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama) signed with the New York Giants after playing with the Los Angeles Rams.
· Punter JK Scott (Alabama) re-signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.
· Offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) signed with the Washington Commanders after playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
· Wide receiver Cam Sims (Alabama) signed with the Las Vegas Raiders after playing for the Washington Commanders.
· Wide receiver Darius Slayton (Auburn) re-signed with the New York Giants.
· Tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama) signed with the Cincinnati Bengals after playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
· Cornerback Tre Smith (Saks) signed with the Denver Broncos after playing with the Houston Texans.
· Quarterback Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) signed with the Denver Broncos after playing with the Las Vegas Raiders.
· Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama) signed with the Cleveland Browns after playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
· Safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) signed with the Houston Texans after playing for the San Francisco 49ers.
· Defensive lineman Nick Williams (Minor, Samford) signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after playing for the New York Giants.
· Linebacker Quincy Williams (Wenonah) re-signed with the New York Jets.
· Linebacker Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery, Alabama) re-signed with the New England Patriots.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.