Knights in the NFL: 2020 Rookie Free Agent Tracker

PLEASE NOTE THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED AS MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. Last update 8:48 pm EDT April 25.

Rutgers Football had hoped one of their 2019 players would have been selected in the 2020 NFL draft, but after it concluded Saturday evening that’s when things got really interesting. Several young men then hoped to ink deals as undrafted free agents in the hours following the conclusion. Additional players can be invited for a tryout at rookie mini camps that can begin May 1 (though those likely will be postponed) with a shot to join the official roster. NFL teams can carry 90 players on their roster until the days leading up to the season opener on September 5th. At that point, they cut down to 53 players.

Rutgers players have already seen former teammates Jonah Jackson selected in the 3rd round by the Detroit Lions and Ron’Dell Carter having signed with the Dallas Cowboys. It has also been reported that Tom Flacco will get a look with Baltimore.

Willington Previlon (Green Bay Packers)

Previlon was the Scarlet Knights’ dest defensive and likely best overall player in 2019, earning Honorable Mention All-Big ten honors. He came to the banks as a raw defensive lineman and got slowly, but steadily better every year he played. His best game came against Big Ten West Champion Northwestern in 2018 when he gave the Wildcat line fits and nearly led Rutgers to a historic upset. In the modern NFL as a three-technique he could have a role, especially since he has shown an ability to be coached and consistently improve.

Previlon has signed with the Green Bay Packers who are trying to assemble a team to compete in Aaron Rodgers’s final years. The Packers are also interested in the long term though as they drafted their heir apparent in Quarterback Bryce Love. Green Bay did reach the NFL championship game last year but were steamrolled by the San Francisco 49ers and need to add help on the defensive line, so opportunity is there for the former Scarlet Knight.

Kamaal Seymour (Las Vegas Raiders)

Seymour became a starter at right tackle last in his Redshirt Freshman season after moving over from the defensive line. When he lined up next to Jonah Jackson, Rutgers had some success running behind them. In the pass game, Seymour doesn’t have elite lateral movement and was susceptible to getting beat by the Big Ten’s best in obvious passing situations. When the defender had to respect both the run and the pass though, Kamaal did a great job controlling his man. In the NFL he is probably better suited to play guard, with elite size for the position.

The Raiders will play their first season in Las Vegas and want to put fans in the stands as soon as they can. The Raiders picked three wide receivers in their first four draft picks to try and help quarterback Derek Carr, wow. As a result they did not prioritize helping an offensive line that has been pretty strong in recent years, but needs depth. Seymour is going to have an opportunity here for sure.

Still looking for a home

Damon Hayes

With all the cornerbacks selected, Hayes had a reasonable chance to have had his name called. He started all four years if you count his freshman year as the nickel cornerback. As a sophomore he was forced to play outside with the injury to Blessuan Austin, then to try and get their best four DBs on the field he moved to safety as a junior. Another injury to Austin moved him back to corner, and he was really good in the slot in a hybrid safety role. This past year he was at outside corner and gave up a few big plays and penalties, but that was inevitable with zero help from the pass rush. An NFL team should take a flier on him and he will benefit from a higher level of teammate skills.

Elorm Lumor

Lumor elected to forego his final season of eligibility after leading the team in sacks each of the last two years. He began as a better run defender, although at times attempted to make plays rather than setting the edge and holding his ground. In the pass rush, he was successful in obvious passing situations when he could pin his ears back, though didn’t get enough coverage sacks. When healthy, he was an average Big Ten starter which is pretty good, though it seemed like he never reached his potential in college. Hopefully he gets a look at the next level based on his appropriate size and can turn that into an opportunity to get even better.

Zach Venesky

Venesky was stuck behind more experienced lineman for most of his career until he became a starter late in 2018. He held his position in all of 2019 as arguably the team’s best run blocker who did a serviceable job in pass protection. He struggled like everybody else against the elite teams like Ohio State and Michigan, though, so he needs some team to really have seen something they liked on tape. He may be the biggest loser that Rutgers was not able to hold a pro day.

Up Next

We don’t really know when mini-camps, training camps, or even the NFL season will begin, but whenever that happens, good luck to all the former Scarlet Knights.

Look for more updates on Rutgers players signing contracts to continue their football careers over the next few days.