9. Tennessee Titans
Daren Bates is the lone Auburn football alumni suiting up in the music city, but he has had a positive impact on a defense that has helped the team get out to an AFC South-leading 8-4.
8. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have starting nose tackle Angelo Blackson terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, and as a fun bonus, they feature the uber-athletic Kyler Murray running the offense and DeAndre Hopkins and long-time great Larry Fitzgerald catching passes out in the desert.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are generally a mess of an organization, but they do have three former Tigers on the roster with starting inside linebacker Josh Byrnes, backup defensive end Carl Lawson, and reserve tight-end CJ Uzomah.
6. Buffalo Bills
Fun is associated with the Buffalo Bills fanbase (as is the word crazy). What’s even more fun than cheering for a team whose faithful throw each other through flaming tables is cheering for a wide receiving core that features former Auburn football standout Duke Williams.
As an added bonus, Marquell Harrell is on the offensive line.
5. Miami Dolphins
South Beach is home to four different former Tigers. Javaris Davis starts in the secondary while Chandler Cox contends for handoffs in the backfield.
Defensive end Nick Coe and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (say that 10x fast…or even once regularly) are also Miami footballers.
4. Detroit Lions
It’s all about Kerryon Johnson with this top-four ranking for the Detroit Lions, because the mundane Matthew Stafford surely isn’t the reason why.
No disrespect to Arryn Siposs but it isn’t because of him either.
3. Washington Football Team
Washington’s new politically correct football team features Peyton Barber, who has punched in three touchdowns this season compared to Johnson’s one. They also feature Devaroe Lawrence on their defensive line.
2. New York Giants
Daniel Jones’ top target in the New York Giants offense is supposed to be Darius Slayton. The weird thing is that the current quarterback for the G-Men is Colt McCoy and his top receivers this past Sunday were Golden Tate and tight end Evan Engram.
When things get back to normal, Slayton could be the key to New York making the postseason as the eventual winners of the NFC East. Chad Slade is also on the team’s offensive line.
1. New England Patriots
I mean, come on. New England has not only the 2010 Heisman winner that led Auburn football to its last National Championship under center as the starter, but Jarrett Stidham is the primary backup for Bill Belichick’s team too.
Stidham scored 43 touchdowns in his two seasons as the starter for the Tigers. Whatever happens with Newton beyond this season, a former Auburn great figures to be the lead signal-caller in New England for the foreseeable future.