NFL contract projections for 2 former Auburn football CBs
Spotrac has recently revealed the market value for a number of cornerbacks set to hit the open market in NFL free agency this summer and two Auburn football cornerbacks are set to be part of the money-making in a big way.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers corner Jamel Dean, who played on the Plains from 2015-2018, and New Englands Patriots CB Jonathan Jones, who repped the orange and blue from 2012-2015, are valued at three years and $49.7 million, and two years and $24.9 million, respectively.
Both former Auburn football CBs played with Tom Brady, with Jones winning two titles alongside the NFL’s quarterback G.O.A.T. in New England and Dean winning one during Brady’s first of three seasons in Tampa.
Most recent Auburn football draft pick at CB excelled in first NFL season
The most recent cornerback to be taken in the NFL draft — and the only selection that followed Bryan Harsin’s first and only full season on the Plains — from Auburn was a success at the NFL.
Roger McCreary, per AL.com’s Mark Inabinett, played 1,165 defensive snaps during the 2022 regular season — which was more than any other NFL defensive back. Also per Inabinett, McCreary also played more snaps at his position than any other player from an Alabama high school or college during the 2022 regular season. He missed three snaps and played an unfathomable 99.74 percent of Tennessee’s defensive snaps.
Given the circumstances of his draft and his final two years at Auburn being clouded with so much controversy, COVID-19-related and otherwise, McCreary thriving so much during his rookie season was a major win for Auburn football, particularly Zac Etheridge.
Nehemiah Pritchett could be next Auburn football NFL draft pick
More than likely, Nehemiah Pritchett will be in contention to be selected during the 2024 NFL draft after backing out of the draft process, including the Senior Bowl in Mobile, earlier this year.
Under Ron Roberts, the Tigers figure to make more explosive plays, increasing the chances Pritchett has enough eye-popping and needle-moving moments to get NFL scouts to take notice of the Jackson product.