Mississippi continues to punch far above its weight when it comes to producing NFL talent. As the 2025 season kicks off, players from every corner of the Magnolia State — from SEC powerhouses Ole Miss and Mississippi State to FCS standouts like Jackson State and Alcorn State, and even JUCO pipelines like East Mississippi and Northwest — are suiting up on Sundays. This list breaks down every Mississippi college product currently on an active NFL roster, complete with their draft history, current team, and accolades. Whether they came through the bright lights of Oxford and Starkville or sharpened their skills at small-town programs and JUCO powerhouses, these athletes showcase the depth and diversity of football talent rooted in Mississippi’s rich gridiron culture.
Arizona Cardinals
DT Walter Nolen                 Ole Miss                                                2025 Round 1 ARZ
Baltimore Ravens
S J.T. Gray (1x)                     Mississippi State                                  2018 Undrafted
DT John Jenkins                   Georgia/MS Gulf Coast                      2013 Round 3 NO
OLB Tavius Robinson          Ole Miss                                                2023 Round 4 BAL
WR Dayton Wade               Ole Miss                                                2024 Undrafted
Buffalo Bills
TE Dawson Knox (1x)         Ole Miss                                                2019 Round 3 BUF
WR Elijah Moore                 Ole Miss                                                2021 Round 2 NYJ
Carolina Panthers
LB Claudin Cherelus           Alcorn State                                         2023 Undrafted
G Damien Lewis                  LSU/Northwest Mississippi               2020 Round 3 SEA
DE Princely Umanmielen   Ole Miss                               2025 Round 3 CAR
Chicago Bears
CB Jaylon Jones                   Ole Miss                                                2022 Undrafted
Cincinnati Bengals
S Daijahn Anthony              Ole Miss                                                2024 Round 7 CIN
DE Cedric Johnson              Ole Miss                                               2024 Round 6 CIN
Cleveland Browns
QB Shedeur Sanders          Jackson State                                       2025 Round 5 CLE
Dallas Cowboys
DE James Houston              Jackson State                                       2022 Round 6 DET
WR Jonathan Mingo           Ole Miss                                                2023 Round 2 CAR
QB Dak Prescott (3x)          Mississippi State                                 2016 Round 4 DAL
DE Sam Williams                 Ole Miss                                                2022 Round 2 DAL
Denver Broncos
TE Evan Engram (2x)          Ole Miss                                                2017 Round 1 NYG
DT D.J. Jones                        Ole Miss                                                2017 Round 6 SF
Detroit Lions
DE Tyrus Wheat                  Mississippi State/Co-Lin                     2023 Undrafted
TE Kenny Yeboah                Ole Miss                                                2021 Undrafted
Green Bay Packers
C Elgton Jenkins (2x)          Mississippi State                                 2019 Round 2 GB
WR Malik Heath                  Ole Miss/Mississippi State                2023 Undrafted
Houston Texans
DE Denico Autry                  Mississippi State/East Mississippi    2014 Undrafted
Jacksonville Jaguars
P Logan Cooke                     Mississippi State                                  2018 Round 7 JAX
CB/WR Travis Hunter         Jackson State                                       2025 Round 1 JAX Â
QB Nick Mullens                 Southern Miss                                     2017 Undrafted
Kansas City Chiefs
WR Jason Brownlee           Southern Miss                                     2023 Undrafted
DT Chris Jones (6x)             Mississippi State                                 2016 Round 2 KC
QB Gardner Minshew (1x) Washington State/Northwest Mississippi 2019 Round 6 JAX
CB Eric Scott                        Southern Miss                                     2023 Round 6 DAL
Las Vegas Raiders
DT JJ Pegues                        Ole Miss                                                2025 Round 6
CB Decamerion Richardson Mississippi State                                2024 Round 4 LV
Los Angeles Chargers
WR Tre Harris                      Ole Miss                                                2025 Round 2 LAC
CB Deane Leonard              Ole Miss                                                2022 Round 7 LAC
Los Angeles Rams
CB Emmanuel Forbes         Mississippi State                                 2023 Round 1 WSH
LB Chris Paul                        Ole Miss                                                2025 Round 5 LAR
Miami Dolphins
CB Willie Gay                       Mississippi State                                  2020 Round 2 KC
DT Benito Jones                  Ole Miss                                                2020 Undrafted
Minnesota Vikings
WR Tim Jones                      Southern Miss                                     2021 Undrafted
New England Patriots
CB Isaiah Bolden                 Jackson State                                       2023 Round 7
NE C Ben Brown                        Ole Miss                                                2022 Undrafted
New York Giants
QB Jaxson Dart                    Ole Miss                                                2025 Round 1 NYG
DT Rakeem Nunez-Rochez Ole Miss                                                2015 Round 6 KC
Philadelphia Eagles
WR A.J. Brown (3x)             Ole Miss                                                2019 Round 2 TEN
DE/OLB Za’Darius Smith (3x) Kentucky/East Mississippi             2015 Round 4 BAL Â
Pittsburgh Steelers
WR D.K. Metcalf (2x)         Ole Miss                                                2019 Round 2 SEA
CB Darius Slay (6x)             Mississippi State/Itawamba               2013 Round 2 DET
San Francisco 49ers
WR Jordan Watkins            Ole Miss                                                2025 Round 4 SF
Seattle Seahawks
OT Charles Cross                 Mississippi State                                  2022 Round 1 SEA
S A.J. Finley                          Ole Miss                                               2023 Undrafted
LB Jared Ivey                        Ole Miss                                                2025 Undrafted Â
DT Jarran Reed                    Alabama/East Mississippi                 2016 Round 2 SEA
Tennessee Titans
DT Jeffery Simmons (3x)   Mississippi State                                 2019 Round 1 TEN
Washington Commanders
CB Trey Amos                      Ole Miss                                                2025 Round 2 WSH
OT Laremy Tunsil (6x)        Ole Miss                                                2016 Round 1 MIA
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