Purdue in the Pros: 2024 Preview

Twelve former Purdue players will suit up on NFL rosters this weekend as a new season begins in the professional ranks. GoldandBlack.com looks at the dozen Boilermakers on pro rosters ahead of Thursday night’s season kickoff between a pair of recent Purdue defenders.

DERRICK BARNES – DETROIT LIONS

Entering his fourth year in the Motor City, Barnes begins the 2024 season listed as a second-team linebacker on the depth chart. He’s started 23 games for the Lions, recording 111 tackles, four sacks and forcing a fumble.

DAVID BELL – CLEVELAND BROWNS

The Warren Central product begins his third season as a Brown listed as a second-team wide receiver on the depth chart. He’s started six games for Cleveland, catching 38 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns in his young career.

JA’WHAUN BENTLEY – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

For the fifth consecutive season, the former Purdue linebacker sits atop the depth chart at linebacker. He’s now in year seven as a Patriot, having started 66 games in that period, including every game he played over the past four years. He’s led the Patriots in tackles in the past two seasons and racked up a career-high four-and-a-half sacks last year.

PAYNE DURHAM – TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

After carving out a role towards the end of his rookie campaign, the second-year tight end sits number two on the depth chart in Tampa Bay. He saw the field in 13 games, catching five passes for 58 yards. He also served in a special teams role last season.

CHARLIE JONES – CINCINNATI BENGALS

“Chuck Sizzle” will suit up for Cincinnati for his second season this fall. He battled through an injury as a rookie to catch seven passes for 64 yards and return 23 punts for 248 yards and a touchdown. He’ll fight for snaps at wide receiver, listed as a second-teamer, and serve as the punt returner.

RAHEEM MOSTERT – MIAMI DOLPHINS

Mostert broke through in 2023, leading the NFL and setting a Dolphins franchise record with 18 rushing touchdowns. He cleared the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, earning Pro Bowl honors for the first time. In the Super Bowl era, his 5.21 yards per carry rank fourth among backs with 500 rushing attempts. He now enters 2024 listed as a co-starter at running back alongside De’Von Achane as he prepares for his 10th season of NFL action.

SANOUSSI KANE – BALTIMORE RAVENS

A seventh-round pick, Kane earned a spot on the 53-man roster. He’s listed third on the depth chart at free safety, so expect some special team action from him, too.

GEORGE KARLAFTIS – KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Two seasons and two Super Bowl championships for the West Lafayette Red Devil. He took a nice leap in his second year, tying the team lead with 10.5 sacks. His 16.5 sacks through two seasons rank third in Chiefs history, and he’s started each game of his career. He’ll start at one of the defensive end spots as Kansas City aims for a “three-peat” this year.

AIDAN O’CONNELL – LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Though he battled Gardner Minshew throughout training camp for the starting spot, O’Connell will begin his second NFL season as the backup signal caller in Las Vegas. He was thrust into action as a rookie, starting 10 games. O’Connell completed 62% of his passes for 2,218 yards and tossed 12 touchdowns to seven interceptions in year one. Will he once again find himself starting mid-season?

TYRONE TRACY – NEW YORK GIANTS

After a stellar transition to running back in his final collegiate season, Tracy earned a fifth-round nod in the Big Apple. He made the roster, listed as the third-team tailback after a training camp injury limited him in preseason action.

CORY TRICE – PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Trice went in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he suffered a season-ending injury early in training camp as a rookie. Now healthy, he’ll make his NFL debut this fall. Trice begins the season listed as a second-team left cornerback for the Steelers, and his size could make him an appealing special teams option, too.

PRACTICE SQUAD

The following players made NFL practice squads following the preseason: Markus Bailey (Arizona), Jalen Graham (Washington), Reese Taylor (Denver).

INJURED RESERVE

Anthony Brown (Carolina) will begin the season on injured reserve after suffering a thumb injury in preseason action. Rondale Moore (Atlanta) will spend all of 2024 on injured reserve, as he is expected to miss all of the season due to a knee injury in a training camp practice.

Top-10 NFL guys from Purdue–NFL.com